1.Macrophage efferocytosis:a new target for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases
Fengying YANG ; Yuqing ZHAO ; Huijuan YOU ; Pengyi ZHANG ; Yan CHEN ; Qinglu WANG ; Yingying LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(2):430-440
BACKGROUND:Dysfunction of macrophage efferocytosis can induce local and systemic inflammatory damage and is associated with a variety of obesity-related metabolic diseases.Moreover,compounds targeting efferocytosis have shown good therapeutic effects. OBJECTIVE:By reviewing the effects of obesity on macrophage efferocytosis,to analyze the key mechanism by which obesity inhibits efferocytosis,to summarize the research progress in compounds targeting efferocytosis to treat obesity-related metabolic diseases,so as to provide new ideas for fully understanding efferocytosis and its relationship with metabolic diseases,aiming to provide new strategies for disease prevention and treatment. METHODS:The English search terms were"efferocytosis,metabolism,obesity,obese,atherosclerosis,non-alcoholic steatohepatitis,neurodegeneration,tumor,osteoarthritis,diabetes,compound,medicine,treatment,"which were used for literature retrieval in PubMed and Web of Science.The Chinese search term was"efferocytosis,"which was used for literature retrieval in CNKI,VIP and WanFang datebases.Ninety-nine papers were finally included in the review analysis after a rigorous screening process. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the process of efferocytosis,the"Find me"and"Eat me"processes involving a large number of apoptotic cell derived factors are mainly regulated by apoptotic cells.The efferocytosis factor involved in cytoskeletal remodeling and digestion are mainly derived from macrophages,which are crucial for efferocytosis activity.These results suggest that the"Find me"and"Eat me"factors mainly reflect the condition of apoptosis,and it is more scientific to select the expression of factors involved in cytoskeletal remodeling and digestion when evaluating the efferocytosis activity of macrophages.Obesity inhibits efferocytosis,and shows an inhibitory effect on most digestive factors,but has a stress-induced activation effect on most"Find me,""Eat me"and cytoskeletal recombination factors,which further indicates the decisive effect of digestive stage on efferocytosis and suggests that it is not reliable for some studies to evaluate the efferocytosis based on the increased expression of"Find me"and"Eat me"factors.Targeting cytokines in the digestive phase may be more effective when discussing future intervention strategies targeting macrophages efferocytosis.The efferocytosis activators of macrophages are effective in the treatment of various metabolic diseases,but the efferocytosis inhibitors in tumor tissue show good anticancer effects,suggesting that the role of efferocytosis should be rationally evaluated according to the characteristics of tissue inflammation.Efferocytosis is a relatively new concept proposed in 2003,with a short research history and complex efferocytosis factors.Current studies on obesity and efferocytosis only involve a tip of the iceberg and most of them are at a superficial level and a large number of scientific experiments are needed to further validate the mechanisms.
2.Difficulties in the Differentiation and Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease and Its Clinical Treatment Model
Weiwei SUN ; Huixi CHEN ; Yuxin HU ; Huijuan ZHENG ; Yaoxian WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(6):569-574
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease. Both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine have their own advantages in the prevention and treatment of DKD, but there are also many difficulties. By analysis of the difficulties faced by TCM and western medicine in the differentiation and treatment of DKD, based on the theory of "miniature masses in the renal collaterals", combined with long-term clinical practice, "internal heat leading to mass" is proposed as the core pathogenesis of DKD. Therefore, a trinity model of "disease-syndrome-symptom" for differentiation and treatment of DKD based on the core pathogenesis has been proposed. This model highlights the status of the core pathogenesis of "internal heat leading to mass" in DKD, and conducts a three-dimensional identification from the perspectives of disease, syndrome and symptom, so as to inspire clinical practice.
3.Preliminary Efficacy of Growth Hormone Therapy in Children With Congenital HeartDisease and Short Stature: A Six-case Report and Literature Review
Xi YANG ; Siyu LIANG ; Qianqian LI ; Hanze DU ; Shuaihua SONG ; Yue JIANG ; Huijuan MA ; Shi CHEN ; Hui PAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(3):641-646
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a congenital malformation resulting from abnormal embryonic development of the heart and great vessels, accounting for approximately 25% of all congenital malformations. Children with CHD are often complicated by short stature. Although surgical treatment can improve their growth and development to a certain extent, some children still experience growth retardation after surgery. Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) is the main drug for treating short stature, but its efficacy and safety in the treatment of patients with concomitant CHD warrant further investigation. This article reports six cases of children with CHD and short stature who were treated with rhGH. Through a literature review, we summarize and discuss the therapeutic efficacy, follow-up experiences, and adverse reactions of rhGH treatment, aiming to provide references for clinicians in applying rhGH to treat patients with CHD and short stature.
4.Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of finerenone combined with standard regimen in the treatment of heart failure with preserved or mildly reduced ejection fraction
Runan XIA ; Xu WANG ; Huijuan CHEN ; Mengyu JIANG ; Panpan DI ; Mengmeng ZHAO ; Li LIU ; Hai LIANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(14):1770-1774
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of finerenone combined with standard of care (SoC) in the treatment of heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). METHODS Based on a phase Ⅲ clinical trial, a Markov model was constructed from the perspective of China’s healthcare system to compare the treatment outcomes of finerenone combined with SoC regimen versus SoC regimen alone in the treatment of different cardiac functional statuses of HFmrEF/HFpEF. Using quality-adjusted life year (QALY) as the health output index, 3 times China’s per capita GDP in 2023 as the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold, a simulation was conducted with a 3-month cycle length and a 10- year time horizon, incorporating an annual discount rate of 5%. The dynamic changes across various stages of HFmrEF/HFpEF treated with finerenone combined with SoC versus SoC alone were simulated to evaluate the long-term effectiveness and costs of the two treatment strategies. Additionally, one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed, to test the robustness of the results. RESULTS The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of the finerenone combined with SoC regimen versus SoC regimen alone was 179 504.75 yuan/QALY, which was below the WTP threshold set in this study, indicating that the finerenone combined with SoC regimen possessed certain economic advantages. The results of one-way sensitivity analysis showed that the utility value of NYHA Ⅱ status, the drug price of finerenone, the discount rate, and the probability of hospital transfer for both groups had a great influence on ICER, but did not affect the robustness of the model. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis also confirmed the robustness of the model. CONCLUSIONS Under the WTP threshold set in this study, finerenone combined with SoC is cost-effective in the treatment of HFmrEF/HFpEF, compared with the SoC regimen.
5.Analysis of health risk behaviors among middle school students in Beijing City from 2018 to 2022
LUO Huijuan, GAO Ruoyi, ZHAO Hai,CHEN Dongni,SUN Bingjie,GUO Xin
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(3):346-352
Objective:
To analyze the status of health risk behaviors among middle school students in Beijing City from 2018 to 2022, in order to provide reference for scientific and effective intervention.
Methods:
Using multi stage stratified cluster random sampling method,data of student health and associated factors monitoring among 84 712 middle school students from 16 districts of Beijing during 2018 to 2022 were compared regarding the differences of health risk behaviors among students in different groups by Chi quare test. And their change trends were evaluated by annual percentage change (APC).
Results:
In the five surveys during 2018 to 2022,reporting rates of unhealthy diet, unintentional injury, intentional injury, substance abuse and Internet addiction (only in 2018 and 2020) behaviors were higher in boys than in girls ( χ 2=4.91-297.52, P <0.05).Reporting rate of physical inactivity behavior in girls was higher than that in boys ( χ 2=56.49-160.88, P <0.05). Reporting rates of unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, unintentional injury (except 2021), substance abuse and Internet addiction (only in 2018 and 2019) behaviors were the highest in vocational high school, followed by general high school, and the lowest in junior middle school ( χ 2=23.30-1 285.98, P <0.01). Intentional injury behavior was highest in junior high school, followed by vocational high school, and lowest in general high school ( χ 2=96.18-378.32, P <0.01).Reporting rate of Internet addiction (2020-2022) behavior was highest in general high school, followed by vocational high school, and lowest in junior high school ( χ 2=16.93-60.11, P<0.01). Reporting rates of unhealthy diet, intentional injury (2020 and 2022) and substance abuse (except 2018) behaviors were higher in suburban areas than in urban areas (χ 2=6.70-117.56, P<0.05). Reporting rates of physical inactivity, unintentional injury, intentional injury (2018 and 2019) and Internet addiction behaviors were higher in urban areas than in suburban areas (χ2=3.90-130.80, P<0.05). Standardized rates of unintentional injury, intentional injury, substance abuse and Internet addiction behaviors showed a statistically significant downward trend from 2018 to 2022 (APC=-14.16, -13.43, -16.03, -8.48, t =-6.94, -4.46, -11.98, -4.36, P <0.05).
Conclusions
During 2018-2022, unintentional injury, intentional injury, substance abuse and Internet addiction behaviors of middle school students in Beijing City have improved, and the reporting rates of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity behaviors are high and don t show a downward trend. Efforts should be made to strengthen intervention in unhealthy diet and physical inactivity behaviors among middle school students, in order to reduce the occurrence of health risk behaviors.
6.The mediating role of family support between type D personality and intolerance of uncertainty in first-stroke patients
Xiaoping YANG ; Huijuan WANG ; Xiaohui LIU ; Haihua GAO ; Jialin YUAN ; Miaomiao CHEN ; Lijun WANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(7):548-555
Objective:To analyze the status quo of type D personality, intolerance of uncertainty and family support in first-episode stroke patients, and to explore the mediating role of family support between type D personality and intolerance of uncertainty in first-episode stroke patients, in order to provide reference for formulating relevant clinical intervention measures to promote the physical and mental health of first-episode stroke patients.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional investigation. A total of 300 patients with acute first-episode stroke who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the Department of Neurology of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University and the First People′s Hospital of Yinchuan from May 2023 to September 2023 were selected as the study objects by convenience sampling method. The general data questionnaire, Type D personality Scale-14, Family Caring Index Scale and the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale were used to investigate them. Pearson correlation analysis was used to test the correlation between variables, and SPSS plug-in PROCESS 3.5 was used to test the mediation effect.Results:Finally, 300 questionnaires were effectively collected, including 228 males and 72 females. Patients aged ≥ 60 years old were the majority, accounting for 49.3% (148/300). The detection rate of type D personality in the first stroke patients was 37.3% (112/300), and the total score of Type D personality inventory, family support and intolerance of uncertainty of type D personality in the first stroke patients were (22.16 ± 9.95), (6.40 ± 2.23), (27.82 ± 7.93) points. The correlation analysis results showed that the intolerance of uncertainty of type D personality in the first stroke patients was positively correlated with type D personality scores ( r=0.675, P<0.001). There was a negative correlation with family support score ( r=-0.644, P<0.001). The results of mediating effect analysis showed that family support played a partial mediating role in the relationship between type D personality and intolerability of uncertainty in first-stroke patients, and the mediating effect accounted for 34.94% of the total effect. Conclusions:The mediating role of family support between type D personality and intolerability of uncertainty in first-stroke patients is established. In the future, the level of family support of patients can be continuously improved to reduce their intolerability of uncertainty, so as to promote the physical and mental health of patients and improve their quality of life.
7.Association between Yang Deficiency Syndrome and the End-point Events of Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Jiale ZHANG ; Zhezhe XUE ; Chenhui XIA ; Qiaoru WU ; Shuwu WEI ; Weimin JIANG ; Huixi CHEN ; Huijuan ZHENG ; Yaoxian WANG ; Weiwei SUN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(11):1146-1153
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the progression to end-point events of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). MethodsA retrospective study among patients with stage Ⅳ DKD admitted to Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from September 1st, 2016 to September 30th, 2021 was conducted. Data on the patients' general information, clinical indicators including duration of diabetes, duration of proteinuria, history of smoking and drinking, hemoglobin (HGB), fasting blood glucose (FBG), albumin (ALB), serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), cholesterol (TC) , triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), 24-hour urine protein quantification (24h-UTP) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and TCM syndromes including symptoms, tongue and pulse, and syndrome scores were collected. The patients were divided into exposure group (yang-deficiency group) and non-exposure group (non-yang-deficiency group). The general information, clinical indicators and incidence rates of end-point events were compared, and the impact of yang deficiency syndrome on the end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD was analyzed. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate Cox proportional risk models were used to identify independent predictors of end-point events. ResultsA total of 160 patients with stage Ⅳ DKD were included in the study, including 43 cases of yang deficiency syndrome and 117 cases of non-yang deficiency syndrome. Compared to those in the non-yang deficiency group, the waist circumference, BUN and the incidence of end-point events in the yang deficiency group were significantly higher (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was positively correlated with incidence of end-point events of stage Ⅳ DKD (r = 0.167, P = 0.035). Furthermore, 24h-UTP and BUN levels were also positively correlated with end-point events in stage Ⅳ DKD patients (P<0.01), while ALB and HGB levels were negatively correlated (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that yang deficiency syndrome was associated with an increased risk of end-point events (Log Rank P = 0.011). Moreover, 24h-UTP levels ≥3500 mg, BUN level ≥8 mmol/L, ALB level <30 g and HGB level <11 g were all associated with the increase of the risk of end-point events (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that yang deficiency syndrome was an independent risk factor for patients with stage Ⅳ DKD to progress into end-point events (HR = 2.36, 1.32 to 4.21; P = 0.004), as well as 24h-UTP ≥ 3500 mg, BUN ≥ 8 mmol/L, HGB<11 g and ALB<30 g (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionsFor stage Ⅳ DKD, patients with yang deficiency syndrome are more likely to have end-point events, which is an independent risk factor for the progression into end-point events.
8.The correlation between dietary nutrition and skeletal muscle mass in the elderly with advanced age
Xiaoxiao LIANG ; Shiyuan CAI ; Huijuan RUAN ; Jiaoyan HUANG ; Youyang HUANG ; Hanping SHI ; Dawei CHEN ; Xue LI
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(6):589-595
ObjectiveThis research focused on examining the distinctive characteristics of nutrient intake and dietary patterns among long-lived elderly individuals. Additionally, the study was aimed to explore the specific dietary components that may impact the skeletal muscle mass in this particular group. MethodsThis study was conducted in the Chongming area of Shanghai, China. A total of 206 long-lived elderly individuals aged 90 or above were recruited. The 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method was used to collect dietary information and general demographic data through face-to-face interviews with professional nutritionists. The skeletal muscle mass index(SMI) was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis(BIA), and low skeletal muscle mass was diagnosed based on the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria. T-test analysis, chi-square test, and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between dietary nutrient intake and skeletal muscle mass. ResultsIn terms of food intake categories, compared with the long-lived elderly people with normal muscle mass, the intake of cereals containing miscellaneous beans and vegetables in the long-lived elderly people with low muscle mass was significantly lower(P<0.05). In terms of the nutrient intake, compared with the long-lived elderly people with normal muscle mass, the intake of total energy, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, vitamin D, folic acid, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, and manganese in the long-lived elderly people with low muscle mass was significantly lower(P<0.05). After continuous adjustment for the covariates, multivariate logistic regression analysis found that the intake levels of folic acid and dietary fiber were important factors influencing skeletal muscle mass, Individuals with lower intake levels of folic acid and dietary fiber are at a higher risk of low muscle mass in long-lived elderly individuals [ORfolic acid T1, dietary fiber T1 (95%CI): 2.90 (1.11‒7.61); 4.09 (1.53‒10.91)]. ConclusionThe consumption of cereals that include a variety of beans and vegetables was noticeably lower in the long-lived elderly individuals with lower muscle mass when compared to those with normal muscle mass. Furthermore, low levels of folic acid and dietary fiber intake are associated with an increased risk of low skeletal muscle mass.
9.Effect of dihydroartemisinin on anti-tumor immune response of CD8+T cells induced by non-small cell lung cancer cells
Nannan WANG ; Yu LIU ; Huijuan LING ; Ke NIU ; Yayu ZHU ; Liwen CHEN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(3):424-429
Objective To investigate the regulatory effect of artemisinin derivative dihydroartemisinin(DHA)on anti-tumor immune function of CD8+T cells induced by non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)cells.Methods NSCLC A549 cells were divided into DMSO control group and DHA treatment group.A549 cells were treated with DMSO and DHA at different concentrations(25,50 and 100 μmol/L),and the optimal concentration of DHA was selected to treat A549 cells for 0,24,48 and 72 h according to half maximal inhibitory concentrate(IC50).CCK-8 method and colony formation test were used to detect the effect of DHA on the proliferation and colony formation ability of A549 cells.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)of healthy individuals were isolated by density gradient centrifugation.After monocytes were removed by adhesion method,A549 cells pretreated with mitomycin C were co-cultured with PBMCs at 10:1 ratio.After 2 weeks,flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of CD8+T cells and the expression levels of perforin and granzyme B.Results Compared with the control group,the proliferation inhibition rates of A549 cells increased after treatment with 25,50 and 100 μmol/L DHA for 24 h(P<0.01).The IC50 of DHA on A549 cells was46.26 μmol/L.According to IC50 concentration analysis,the inhibi-tion rates of A549 cells treated with 50 μmol/L DHA for 0,24,48 and 72h were 1.53%,53.50%,63.84%and 69.91%,and the cells inhibition rates of A548 cells increased compared with the previous observation time point,namely 0,24 and 48 h(P<0.01).The colony formation assay showed that the colony formation number of A549 cells in DHA treated group decreased compared with the control group(P<0.01).Flow cytometry results showed that compared with the control group,the proportion of CD8+T cells induced by A549 cells in the co-culture system and the proportion of CD8+T cells expressing perforin and granzyme B were higher in DHA pretreatment group(P<0.01).Conclusion DHA inhibits the growth of NSCLC cells and promotes anti-tumor immune response of CD8+T cells induced by NSCLC cells.
10.Association of time in range with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes
Danyu WANG ; Kaikun LIU ; Xinru DENG ; Xiaoyang SHI ; Junpeng YANG ; Na XU ; Yaonan CHEN ; Huijuan YUAN
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2024;40(3):198-203
Objective:To investigate the association of time in range with metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD) and advanced liver fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:This study was a retrospective study. A total of 494 type 2 diabetic patients were recruited in the Department of Endocrinololgy of Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from November 2019 to April 2022. Time in range(TIR) was calculated with continuous glucose monitoring data. Abdominal ultrasound scan was used to diagnose fatty liver. Liver stiffness measurement(LSM) by transient elastography was used to evaluate liver fibrosis. Pearson and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between TIR and LSM. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the association of TIR with risk of MAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis.Results:Pearson correlation analysis showed that LSM was negatively correlated with TIR( r=-0.86, P<0.001) and was positively correlated with homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR; r=0.48, P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate linear regression analysis showed that TIR significantly negatively predicted LSM( β=-0.75, P<0.001), and HOMA-IR significantly positively predicted LSM( β=0.21, P=0.025). After adjusting for confounding factors, logistic regression analysis showed that compared with TIR Q4 patients, TIR Q1 patients had an increased risk of MAFLD( OR=1.96, 95% CI 1.07-3.62, P=0.027), advanced liver fibrosis( OR=3.82, 95% CI 1.17-12.50, P=0.027), and HOMA-IR was an independent risk factor for MAFLD( OR=1.22, 95% CI 1.04-1.43, P=0.005) and advanced liver fibrosis( OR=1.26, 95% CI 1.03-1.54, P=0.025). Conclusions:TIR and insulin resistance are independent risk factors for MAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis in patients with type 2 diabetes. TIR has a significant predictive value for MAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis.


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