1.Level of vitamin D in children with cholestatic liver disease and its clinical features
Ziyun GUO ; Lina DU ; Xiaoxuan XIE ; Yan YANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):99-103
ObjectiveTo investigate vitamin D level in children with cholestatic liver disease, and to provide a theoretical basis for vitamin D supplementation therapy in children with this disease. MethodsA total of 116 children with cholestatic liver disease who attended Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, for the first time from January 2022 to January 2024 were enrolled and divided into groups for comparison based on sex, age, vitamin D supplementation dose, course of the disease, and etiology. The data on the serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) and related biochemical parameters were collected to assess the correlation between vitamin D level and biochemical parameters. The chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups, and the Spearman rank correlation test was used for correlation analysis. ResultsAmong the 116 children, 76 (65.5%) had vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The children with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency accounted for 65.7% (46/70) among boys and 65.2% (30/46) among girls, with no significant difference between boys and girls (χ2=0.003, P=0.956). The children with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency accounted for 83.3% (25/30) among the children who had never received vitamin D supplementation, 58.7% (27/46) among the children with a daily supplementation dose of 500 IU, 64.3% (18/28) among the children with a daily supplementation dose of 700 IU, and 50.0% (6/12) among the children with a daily supplementation dose of>700 IU, and there was no significant difference between these groups (χ2=6.460, P=0.091). Comparison between the groups with different etiologies showed that the children with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency accounted for 57.7% (15/26) in the infectious disease group, 66.7% (10/15) in the inherited metabolic disease group, 66.7% (6/9) in the drug-induced liver injury group, 100.0% (8/8) in the group with abnormal structure of the biliary system, and 63.8% (37/58) in the group with unknown etiology, and there was no significant difference between these groups (χ2=5.304, P=0.252). Comparison between the groups with different courses of the disease showed that the children with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency accounted for 78.4% (29/37) in the<1 month group, 54.3% (25/46) in the 1 — 3 months group, 53.3% (8/15) in the 3 — 6 months group, and 77.8% (14/18) in the>6 months group, with no significant difference between these groups (χ2=7.432, P=0.059). Comparison between different age groups showed that compared with the infant group, the children group had a significantly higher proportion of children with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency (χ2=9.504, P=0.018). The correlation analysis showed that serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase had no significant correlation with 25-OH-D (P>0.05); serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (r=-0.286, P=0.002), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (r=-0.248, P=0.007), total bilirubin (TBil) (r=-0.353, P<0.001), direct bilirubin (DBil) (r=-0.299, P=0.001), and total bile acid (r=-0.236, P=0.011) were negatively correlated with 25-OH-D, while serum calcium (r=0.263, P=0.004) and phosphorus (r=0.385, P<0.001) were positively correlated with 25-OH-D. ConclusionMost children with cholestatic liver disease have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, and the increase in serum ALP, GGT, TBil, DBil or total bile acid and the reduction in calcium or phosphorus may suggest vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency.
2.Value of serum Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma
Yunling DU ; Changjiang SHI ; Fangyuan GAO ; Mengna ZHANG ; Lingling WANG ; Zhuqing ZHANG ; Ying MING ; Shoujun XIE
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):684-689
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of serum Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in northern China, and to provide a new and valuable biomarker for the clinical diagnosis of HCC. MethodsThis study was conducted among 102 patients with HCC, 119 patients with benign liver disease, and 132 patients with other malignant tumors who attended The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University and 148 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination from May 2020 to May 2024. ELISA and chemiluminescence were used to measure the serum levels of AKR1B10 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). The Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between three groups and further comparison between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to assess diagnostic efficiency. ResultsThe expression level of AKR1B10 was 3 053.79 (1 475.67 — 4 605.86) pg/mL in the HCC group, 1 324.42 (659.68 — 2 023.88) pg/mL in the benign liver disease group, 660.68 (377.56 — 2 087.77) pg/mL in the other malignant tumor group, and 318.30 (82.73 — 478.82) pg/mL in the healthy group, with a significant difference between the four groups (H=240.86, P<0.001), and further comparison between two groups showed that the HCC group had a significantly higher level than the other three groups (all P<0.001). The ROC curve analysis of the HCC group and the other three groups showed that serum AKR1B10 had an optimal cut-off value of 1 584.97 pg/mL in the diagnosis of HCC, with an AUC of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.82 — 0.90), a sensitivity of 74.3%, and a specificity of 85.2%. Compared with each indicator alone, a combination of AKR1B10 and AFP could improve the sensitivity (81.8%) and specificity (91.4%) of HCC diagnosis. AKR1B10 had an AUC of 0.84 (95%CI: 0.78 — 0.90) in the diagnosis of patients with early- or middle-stage HCC, with a sensitivity of 76.2% and a specificity of 81.2%. AKR1B10 had an AUC of 0.85 (95%CI: 0.77 — 0.92) in the diagnosis of patients with AFP-negative HCC, with a sensitivity of 81.6% and a specificity of 79.9%. ConclusionAKR1B10 is a promising serological marker for the diagnosis of HCC, and a combination of AKR1B10 and AFP can improve the detection rate of HCC patients in northern China, especially those with early- or middle-stage HCC and AFP-negative HCC.
3.Analysis of detection of repeat blood donors with unqualified alanine aminotransferase
Zijian ZENG ; Fenfang LIAO ; Junmou XIE ; Zhiting WAN ; Rongsong DU ; Zhongping LI ; Haojian LIANG ; Shijie LI ; Yanli JI ; Huaqin LIANG ; Hao WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(4):482-487
[Objective] To retrospectively analyze the detection results of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) unqualified repeat blood donors in Guangzhou, so as to provide evidence for further expanding the repeat blood donor pool, reducing the rate of blood discarding and improving the qualified rate of blood test. [Methods] Blood donors with unqualified ALT in Guangzhou Blood Center from January 2018 to April 2024 were selected as the research objects. The past blood donation and population characteristics were analyzed according to the number of blood donations and ALT unqualified times. [Results] Among repeat blood donors with previous ALT disqualification, 99.5% to 99.7% did not have reactive markers for transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTD), which was higher than the rate among first-time blood donors with unqualified ALT (95.8%) (P<0.05). The rate of single-item ALT disqualification in repeat blood donors was higher in males than in females (P<0.05); it also varied by age (18-25 years > 26-35 years > 36-45 years > over 45 years) (P<0.05); and by quarter (third and fourth quarters > first and second quarters) (P<0.05). The ALT unqualified rate was significantly higher whole blood donors than that of platelet donors and returning blood donors (P<0.05). The overall ALT level (51.0 U/L), individual ALT level (56.0 U/L) and individual ALT unqualified rate (66.7%) of repeat blood donors with multiple ALT disqualifications were higher than those of repeat blood donors with single-item ALT disqualifications (26.0 U/L, 38.5 U/L, and 33.3%, respectively) (P<0.05). Moreover, as the number of ALT disqualifications increased, the overall level of ALT in repeat blood donors also increased (P<0.05), and the average level of individual ALT and individual ALT unqualified ratio tended to increase. Repeat blood donors with frequent ALT disqualifications had higher ALT levels (69.0 U/L). [Conclusion] The ALT unqualified rates of repeat blood donors were mostly non-specific elevation without TTD. Repeat blood donors with multiple ALT disqualifications tend to have continuous high ALT. Moreover, and with the increase of ALT disqualifications times, the overall ALT levels the average individual ALT levels and individual ALT unqualified rates showed an increasing trend.
4.The Application Status and Trends of Data-Intelligence Technology in the Diagnosis of Lysosomal Storage Diseases
Xinyu DU ; Shengfeng WANG ; Jing XIE ; Jian GUO ; Shuyang ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(1):112-121
To summarize the applications of data-intelligence technology in diagnosing lysosomal storage disease(LSD), analyze their opportunities and challenges in clinical practice as well as their development trends, and provide insights and recommendations for advancing digitally driven auxiliary diagnostic technologies. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Database, and VIP. The studies focusing on the application of digital-intelligence technologies in LSD diagnosis were included. A qualitative analysis was performed, categorizing and summarizing research based on the types of digital-intelligence technologies employed, and exploring future development trends. The analysis revealed that digital-intelligence technologies, particularly in areas such as big data storage and management, data mining and analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision, held significant potential for early screening and diagnosis of LSD. These technologies facilitated the identification of potential patients, discovery of new biomarkers, quantitative analysis of symptoms, and elucidation of gene-disease relationships, ultimately enhancing diagnostic efficiency and accuracy. Digital-intelli-gence technologies present promising prospects for advancing LSD diagnostic research and improving diagnostic precision. Future efforts should focus on developing a comprehensive, multidimensional diagnosis system and diagnostic technologies under the guidance of the DI-HEALTH theoretical framework, in the hope of paving the way for further development of digitally assisted diagnostic solutions.
5.Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in Wnt signal pathway-related genes with high myopia genetic susceptibility in Chinese Han population
Peipei XIE ; Jie PENG ; Guangqi AN ; Liping DU
International Eye Science 2025;25(6):986-992
AIM: To evaluate whether Wnt pathway-related genes previously implicated in high myopia(HM)could serve as candidate genes for HM in the Chinese Han population, and to identify risk loci associated with HM susceptibility.METHODS: A case-control association analysis was conducted, involving 530 HM patients(HM group)and 1 087 healthy controls. The test efficacy was estimated using Quanto software. Peripheral blood DNA was extracted using the magnetic bead method, and seven candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY system, including HIVEP3 rs17365632, rs35134694, rs11210537, CTNNB1 rs13072632, CAMK2N1 rs10753502, TCF4 rs41396445 and Wnt7B rs73175083. Differences in allele and genotype frequencies between the HM and healthy control groups were compared under different inheritance models. Haplotype analysis was performed using SHEsis plus.RESULTS: All 7 SNPs had a genotyping detection rate exceeding 90%, and were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(P>0.05). The test efficacy of the sample size was above 90.13%, indicating that the samples were representative of the population. In the HM group, the A allele frequency of HIVEP3 rs11210537 was significantly reduced(Pc=0.003, OR=0.889). Conversely, the G allele frequency was significantly elevated(Pc=0.003, OR=1.176). In an additive genetic model(AA vs GG), the AA genotype frequency was significantly lower than the GG genotype frequency(Pc=0.003, OR=0.583). Additionally, the frequency of the CCA haplotype of rs17365632, rs35134694, and rs11210537 in HIVEP3 was decreased in the HM group compared to the control group(Pc=0.008, OR=0.791).CONCLUSION: The SNP locus rs11210537 in the HIVEP3 gene is associated with genetic susceptibility to HM in the Chinese Han population, with the G allele identified as risk genetic markers. The CCA haplotype of rs17365632, rs35134694, and rs11210537 in the HIVEP3 gene represents a protection haplotype for HM.
6.Synergistic Activation of LEPR and ADRB2 Induced by Leptin Enhances Reactive Oxygen Specie Generation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Chang LIU ; Jing YU ; Yongjun DU ; Yu XIE ; Xiaofei SONG ; Chang LIU ; Yan YAN ; Yue WANG ; Junfang QIN
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):457-477
Purpose:
Leptin interacts not only with leptin receptor (LEPR) but also engages with other receptors. While the pro-oncogenic effects of the adrenergic receptor β2 (ADRB2) are well-established, the role of leptin in activating ADRB2 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear.
Materials and Methods:
The pro-carcinogenic effects of LEPR were investigated using murine TNBC cell lines, 4T1 and EMT6, and a tumor-bearing mouse model. Expression levels of LEPR, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), and ADRB2 in TNBC cells and tumor tissues were analyzed via western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed using flow cytometry and MitoSox staining, while immunofluorescence double-staining confirmed the co-localization of LEPR and ADRB2.
Results:
LEPR activation promoted NOX4-derived ROS and mitochondrial ROS production, facilitating TNBC cell proliferation and migration, effects which were mitigated by the LEPR inhibitor Allo-aca. Co-expression of LEPR and ADRB2 was observed on cell membranes, and bioinformatics data revealed a positive correlation between the two receptors. Leptin activated both LEPR and ADRB2, enhancing intracellular ROS generation and promoting tumor progression, which was effectively countered by a specific ADRB2 inhibitor ICI118551. In vivo, leptin injection accelerated tumor growth and lung metastases without affecting appetite, while treatments with Allo-aca or ICI118551 mitigated these effects.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that leptin stimulates the growth and metastasis of TNBC through the activation of both LEPR and ADRB2, resulting in increased ROS production. These findings highlight LEPR and ADRB2 as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in TNBC.
7.Synergistic Activation of LEPR and ADRB2 Induced by Leptin Enhances Reactive Oxygen Specie Generation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Chang LIU ; Jing YU ; Yongjun DU ; Yu XIE ; Xiaofei SONG ; Chang LIU ; Yan YAN ; Yue WANG ; Junfang QIN
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):457-477
Purpose:
Leptin interacts not only with leptin receptor (LEPR) but also engages with other receptors. While the pro-oncogenic effects of the adrenergic receptor β2 (ADRB2) are well-established, the role of leptin in activating ADRB2 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear.
Materials and Methods:
The pro-carcinogenic effects of LEPR were investigated using murine TNBC cell lines, 4T1 and EMT6, and a tumor-bearing mouse model. Expression levels of LEPR, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), and ADRB2 in TNBC cells and tumor tissues were analyzed via western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed using flow cytometry and MitoSox staining, while immunofluorescence double-staining confirmed the co-localization of LEPR and ADRB2.
Results:
LEPR activation promoted NOX4-derived ROS and mitochondrial ROS production, facilitating TNBC cell proliferation and migration, effects which were mitigated by the LEPR inhibitor Allo-aca. Co-expression of LEPR and ADRB2 was observed on cell membranes, and bioinformatics data revealed a positive correlation between the two receptors. Leptin activated both LEPR and ADRB2, enhancing intracellular ROS generation and promoting tumor progression, which was effectively countered by a specific ADRB2 inhibitor ICI118551. In vivo, leptin injection accelerated tumor growth and lung metastases without affecting appetite, while treatments with Allo-aca or ICI118551 mitigated these effects.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that leptin stimulates the growth and metastasis of TNBC through the activation of both LEPR and ADRB2, resulting in increased ROS production. These findings highlight LEPR and ADRB2 as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in TNBC.
8.Synergistic Activation of LEPR and ADRB2 Induced by Leptin Enhances Reactive Oxygen Specie Generation in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Chang LIU ; Jing YU ; Yongjun DU ; Yu XIE ; Xiaofei SONG ; Chang LIU ; Yan YAN ; Yue WANG ; Junfang QIN
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(2):457-477
Purpose:
Leptin interacts not only with leptin receptor (LEPR) but also engages with other receptors. While the pro-oncogenic effects of the adrenergic receptor β2 (ADRB2) are well-established, the role of leptin in activating ADRB2 in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear.
Materials and Methods:
The pro-carcinogenic effects of LEPR were investigated using murine TNBC cell lines, 4T1 and EMT6, and a tumor-bearing mouse model. Expression levels of LEPR, NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), and ADRB2 in TNBC cells and tumor tissues were analyzed via western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed using flow cytometry and MitoSox staining, while immunofluorescence double-staining confirmed the co-localization of LEPR and ADRB2.
Results:
LEPR activation promoted NOX4-derived ROS and mitochondrial ROS production, facilitating TNBC cell proliferation and migration, effects which were mitigated by the LEPR inhibitor Allo-aca. Co-expression of LEPR and ADRB2 was observed on cell membranes, and bioinformatics data revealed a positive correlation between the two receptors. Leptin activated both LEPR and ADRB2, enhancing intracellular ROS generation and promoting tumor progression, which was effectively countered by a specific ADRB2 inhibitor ICI118551. In vivo, leptin injection accelerated tumor growth and lung metastases without affecting appetite, while treatments with Allo-aca or ICI118551 mitigated these effects.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that leptin stimulates the growth and metastasis of TNBC through the activation of both LEPR and ADRB2, resulting in increased ROS production. These findings highlight LEPR and ADRB2 as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in TNBC.
9.Combination of AAV-delivered tumor suppressor PTEN with anti-PD-1 loaded depot gel for enhanced antitumor immunity.
Yongshun ZHANG ; Lan YANG ; Yangsen OU ; Rui HU ; Guangsheng DU ; Shuang LUO ; Fuhua WU ; Hairui WANG ; Zhiqiang XIE ; Yu ZHANG ; Chunting HE ; Cheng MA ; Tao GONG ; Ling ZHANG ; Zhirong ZHANG ; Xun SUN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(1):350-364
Recent clinical studies have shown that mutation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) gene in cancer cells may be associated with immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and poor response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Therefore, efficiently restoring PTEN gene expression in cancer cells is critical to improving the responding rate to ICB therapy. Here, we screened an adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid for efficient PTEN gene delivery into B16F10 tumor cells. We demonstrated that intratumorally injected AAV6-PTEN successfully restored the tumor cell PTEN gene expression and effectively inhibited tumor progression by inducing tumor cell immunogenic cell death (ICD) and increasing immune cell infiltration. Moreover, we developed an anti-PD-1 loaded phospholipid-based phase separation gel (PPSG), which formed an in situ depot and sustainably release anti-PD-1 drugs within 42 days in vivo. In order to effectively inhibit the recurrence of melanoma, we further applied a triple therapy based on AAV6-PTEN, PPSG@anti-PD-1 and CpG, and showed that this triple therapy strategy enhanced the synergistic antitumor immune effect and also induced robust immune memory, which completely rejected tumor recurrence. We anticipate that this triple therapy could be used as a new tumor combination therapy with stronger immune activation capacity and tumor inhibition efficacy.
10.Role of apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter in hepatobiliary diseases
Xiaoxuan XIE ; Lina DU ; Ziyun GUO ; Yan YANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(1):199-203
Apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) is a key transporter responsible for intestinal reabsorption of bile acid and plays an important role in maintaining bile acid and cholesterol homeostasis, and its expression is regulated by various factors including transcription factors, nuclear receptors, and intestinal microflora. The abnormal expression and function of ASBT can lead to disorders in the metabolism of bile acid and cholesterol, causing a variety of hepatobiliary diseases. At present, ASBT has attracted wide attention as a therapeutic target. This article elaborates on the biological characteristics and expression regulation mechanism of ASBT and reviews the role of ASBT in hepatobiliary diseases, in order to provide a new direction for the treatment of related diseases.

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