1.Research progress of antifungal drugs from natural sources
Shao-jie CHU ; Yan ZHENG ; Shuang-shuang SU ; Xue-song WU ; Hong YAN ; Shao-xin CHEN ; Hong-bo WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):48-57
As the number of patients with compromised immune function increases and fungal resistance develops, so does the risk of contracting deadly fungi in humans. Both fungi and humans are eukaryotes, so identifying unique targets for antifungal drug development is difficult. In addition, the existing antifungal drugs are limited by toxicity, drug interaction and drug resistance in practical application, which leads to the increasing incidence and fatal rate of fungal infections. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new antifungal drugs. The semi-synthetic technology using microbial fermentation products from natural sources as lead compounds has become the most used method in structural modification of antifungal drugs due to its advantages of few reaction steps and easy operation. This paper will introduce the current status of natural antifungal drugs in clinical use, as well as the latest progress in the research and development of new semi-synthetic antifungal drugs, and summarize their mechanism of action, structural modifications, advantages and disadvantages, so as to provide reference for the subsequent development of new antifungal drugs.
2.Promotion of Angiogenesis by Colorectal Cancer Cell LoVo Derived-exosomes Through Transferring pEGFR
Ya-Jie CHENG ; Xue-Tong ZHOU ; Rui WANG ; Jin FANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1229-1240
ObjectiveThis study sought to investigate the impact of exosomes derived from LoVo cells (LoVo-Exos) in colorectal cancer (CRC) on tumor angiogenesis, as well as to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms underlying their pro-angiogenic effects. MethodsLoVo-Exos were isolated via ultracentrifugation, and their internalization into recipient human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was visualized using confocal microscopy. The influence of LoVo-Exos on angiogenesis was assessed through an in vitro tube formation assay. Additionally, the pro-angiogenic effects of LoVo-Exos were evaluated in vivo using a matrix gluing assay in mice. To investigate the molecular mechanisms through which LoVo-Exos facilitate angiogenesis, Western blot analysis was employed to examine the transfer of pEGFR by LoVo-Exos into recipient cells. Both Western blot and ELISA were utilized to assess the expression levels of key signaling proteins within the EGFR-ERK pathway, as well as the expression of downstream angiogenic core molecules. Furthermore, the impact of EGFR knockdown and ERK inhibitor treatment on angiogenesis was evaluated, with subsequent analysis of the expression of downstream angiogenic core molecules following these interventions. ResultsConfocal microscopy demonstrated the internalization of LoVo-Exos into HUVECs. In vitro angiogenesis assays further indicated that LoVo-Exos significantly enhanced the formation of tubular structures in HUVECs. Additionally, macroscopic examination of subcutaneous matrix plug formation in mice revealed a substantial increase in vascular-like structures within the matrix plugs following the administration of LoVo-Exos, compared to the PBS control group. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining revealed the presence of erythrocyte-filled microvessels within the matrix plugs combined with LoVo-Exos. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the expression of the endothelial cell marker CD31 in these matrix plugs. The presence of CD31-positive cells in the LoVo-Exos-treated matrix plugs was associated with a significant enhancement in the formation of luminal structures. These findings suggest that LoVo-Exos facilitate the in vivo development of vascular-like structures. Subsequent investigations demonstrated that LoVo-Exos facilitated the delivery of pEGFR to HUVEC, thereby enhancing angiogenesis. Conversely, LoVo-Exos with EGFR knockdown exhibited a diminished capacity to promote angiogenesis, an effect that was further attenuated by the ERK phosphorylation inhibitor U0126. Western blot analysis assessing the activation of the EGFR-ERK signaling pathway in HUVEC indicated that LoVo-Exos augmented angiogenesis through the activation of this pathway. Furthermore, analysis of the impact of LoVo-Exos on the expression of downstream angiogenic core molecules revealed an increase in interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion in HUVEC. The enhancement observed was diminished in LoVo-Exos following EGFR knockdown, and this reduction was counteracted by the ERK phosphorylation inhibitor U0126. ConclusionThe underlying mechanism may involve the delivery of pEGFR in LoVo-Exos to HUVECs, leading to increased IL-8 secretion via the EGFR-ERK signaling pathway, thereby enhancing the angiogenic potential of HUVECs. This finding may offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis.
3.Protective value of radiation protection safety education for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma treated with iodine-131
Wen WANG ; Aomei ZHAO ; Hongmei LIANG ; Jie BAI ; Qi WANG ; Yiqian LIANG ; Jianjun XUE
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):313-317
Objective To evaluate the protective effect of radiation protection safety education (RPSE) on patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) undergoing iodine-131 (131I) treatment. Methods The DTC patients who undergo 131I treatment were divided into the control group and the RPSE group using the convenience sampling method, with 142 patients in each group. Patients in the control group received routine health education, while the RPSE group received routine health education combined with RPSE. Dose equivalent rate (DER) on pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste of patients were compared between the two groups upon discharge. Results The median (M) DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers and household waste were 3.86, 3.63, 3.91 and 56.59 times higher in the control group compared with the environmental background level, respectively. The M DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers were 2.23, 2.18, and 2.55 times higher in the RPSE group compared with the environmental background level, while the M DER of household waste was equivalent to the environmental background level. The DERs of patients' pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste in the RPSE group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The DERs of the above four items were lower in both male and female patients in RPSE group compared with same-gender patients in the control group (all P<0.001). The patients' DERs of the above indicators had no significant difference among different gender in both control group and RPSE group (all P>0.05), except for higher DER of household waste in female patients than that of male patients in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and household waste across subgroups, where patients received different treatment doses, of both the control group and the RPSE group (all P>0.05). Conclusion RPSE for DTC patients treated with 131I, reduces the DERs of pillows, bed sheets, quilt covers, and particularly household waste.
4.Predicting the Risk of Arterial Stiffness in Coal Miners Based on Different Machine Learning Models.
Qian Wei CHEN ; Xue Zan HUANG ; Yu DING ; Feng Ren ZHU ; Jia WANG ; Yuan Jie ZOU ; Yuan Zhen DU ; Ya Jun ZHANG ; Zi Wen HUI ; Feng Lin ZHU ; Min MU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(1):108-111
5.Effect of Qiwei Baizhusan on Cognitive Dysfunction in Rats with Diabetic Encephalopathy Based on PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway
Jiaxin GAO ; Jianbo WANG ; Yanan XUE ; Jie SUN ; Dan WANG ; Kun HAN ; Yunyu ZHANG ; Yiran YIN ; Xiaofan FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(3):10-17
ObjectiveTo observe the therapeutic effect of Qiwei Baizhusan(QWBZS) on diabetic encephalopathy(DE) rat model, and to explore the possible mechanism of QWBZS in the treatment of DE based on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β) signaling pathway. MethodForty-eight SPF male Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group(8 rats) and high-fat diet group(40 rats). After 12 weeks of feeding, rats in the high-fat diet group were intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg·kg-1 of 1% streptozotocin(STZ) for 2 consecutive days to construct a DE model, and rats in the blank group were injected with the same amount of sodium citrate buffer. After successful modeling, according to blood glucose and body weight, model rats were randomly divided into model group, low, medium and high dose groups of QWBZS(3.15, 6.3, 12.6 g·kg-1), combined western medicine group(metformin+rosiglitazone, 0.21 g·kg-1), with 6 rats in each group. The administration group was given the corresponding dose of drug by gavage, and the blank group and the model group were given an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by gavage, 1 time/day for 6 weeks. Morris water maze was used to detect the spatial memory ability of DE rats. Fasting insulin (FINS) level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the morphological changes of hippocampus in rats, ELISA was used to detect the indexes of oxidative stress in hippocampal tissues, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression levels of PI3K, Akt, nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in hippocampus, and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of PI3K, Akt, phosphorylated(p)-Akt, GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β in hippocampus of rats. ResultCompared with the blank group, FINS and HOMA-IR values of the model group were significantly increased(P<0.01), the path of finding the original position of the platform was significantly increased, and the escape latency was significantly prolonged(P<0.01), the morphology of neuronal cells in hippocampal tissues was disrupted, the levels of reactive oxygen species(ROS) and malondialdehyde(MDA) in hippocampus of rats were increased, and the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) was decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt were decreased(P<0.01), mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β were increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expression levels of PI3K, p-Akt and p-GSK-3β were significantly decreased, and the protein expression of GSK-3β was significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the FINS and HOMA-IR values of the medium dose group of QWBZS and the combined western medicine group were significantly decreased(P<0.01), the path of finding the original position of the platform and the escape latency were significantly shortened(P<0.01), the hippocampal tissue structure of rats was gradually recovered, and the morphological damage of nerve cells was significantly improved, the contents of ROS and MDA in hippocampus of rats decreased and the level of SOD increased(P<0.01), the mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt were increased(P<0.01), and the mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, TNF-α and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expression levels of PI3K, p-Akt and p-GSK-3β were significantly increased(P<0.01), and the expression of GSK-3β was significantly decreased(P<0.01). ConclusionQWBZS can alleviate insulin resistance in DE rats, it may repair hippocampal neuronal damage and improve learning and cognitive ability of DE rats by activating PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.
6.Signal mining and analysis of adverse drug events for gilteritinib
Yang LIU ; Minzhen HAN ; Jie XIA ; Hanshuai HU ; Lei YAO ; Xue LAN ; Qian LIU ; Jinxingyi WANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(15):1888-1892
OBJECTIVE To mine the adverse drug events (ADE) signals for gilteritinib, and provide a reference for safe drug use in clinic. METHODS ADE reports with gilteritinib as the primary suspected drug were extracted from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from February 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2023. Reporting odds ratio (ROR) and proportional reporting ratio (PRR) were applied to detect the risk signals from the data in the FAERS database. The classification and statistics of collected signal data were conducted by using the preferred term (PT) and systemic organ class (SOC) in ADE terminology set of the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (24.1 edition). RESULTS Totally, 2 755 gilteritinib-related ADE reports were collected from the database, involving 676 ADE signals (95 positive signals), 313 PTs and 25 SOCs. Among them, nine signals were not recorded in the package insert. The top 5 PTs consisted of abnormal liver function, decreased platelet count, febrile neutropenia, pneumonia and myelosuppression. The top 6 SOCs for positive signal counts were examinations, general disorders and administration site conditions, respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders, infections and infestations, heart organ disorders, and nervous system disorders. ADEs not recorded in the drug package insert included pneumonia, myelosuppression, decreased blood cell count, sepsis, hemorrhage, infection (not specifically referred to), septic shock, respiratory failure, and aspergillosis. CONCLUSIONS In addition to paying attention to common ADEs such as liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia, it is necessary to monitor ADEs with strong signals that are not mentioned in the drug instructions when using gefitinib, such as pneumonia, bone marrow suppression, cytopenia, sepsis, bleeding, infection (not specifically referred to), septic shock, respiratory failure, Aspergillus infection, elevated serum creatinine and interstitial lung disease.
7.Research on Checklist of Key Issues for the National Regional Medical Centers
Xuyang WANG ; Yi HAN ; Jingxue ZHAO ; Zhiwen XUE ; Jie LI
Chinese Hospital Management 2024;44(6):34-38
Objective Summarize the key difficult problems faced by national regional medical centers,create a checklist of crucial issues,and propose strategic recommendations to support future development.Methods It employed a combination of literature review,field research,and in-depth interviews to develop an initial draft of the checklist for key issues in national regional medical centers.Additionally,two rounds of Delphi method consultation were conducted with experts from local government,exporting and supporting hospitals.The data gathered from the questionnaires in both rounds were analyzed,and essential questions were identified.Results The questionnaires achieved response rates of 99%and 100%in the two rounds,and the expert authority coefficients were 0.83 and 0.90.The final checklist for key issues in national regional medical centers encompassed a total of 6 problems.These included 3 challenges related to establishing sound management systems and mechanisms,1 challenge concerning human resource management improvement,1 challenge focusing on elevating medical service levels,and 1 challenge pertaining to other aspects of progress.Conclusion Currently,the development of national regional medical centers encounters crucial challenges,including the enhancement of management mechanisms,overall human resource management,and medical capabilities.The government should reinforce leadership assurance,coordination,and supervisory responsibilities.Exporting hospitals should enhance management systems and operational mechanisms.Supporting hospitals should focus on effective party building guidance and cooperation while consistently promoting the uniform development of national regional medical centers.
8.Ku70 Functions as an RNA Helicase to Regulate miR-124 Maturation and Neuronal Cell Differentiation
Ai-Xue HUANG ; Rui-Ting LI ; Yue-Chao ZHAO ; Jie LI ; Hui LI ; Xue-Feng DING ; Lin WANG ; Can XIAO ; Xue-Mei LIU ; Cheng-Feng QIN ; Ning-Sheng SHAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(6):1418-1433
ObjectiveHuman Ku70 protein mainly involves the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) through its DNA-binding properties, and it is recently reported having an RNA-binding ability. This paper is to explore whether Ku70 has RNA helicase activity and affects miRNA maturation. MethodsRNAs bound to Ku protein were analyzed by RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (RIP-seq) and bioinfomatic anaylsis. The expression relationship between Ku protein and miRNAs was verified by Western blot (WB) and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays. Binding ability of Ku protein to the RNAs was tested by biolayer interferometry (BLI) assay. RNA helicase activity of Ku protein was identified with EMSA assay. The effect of Ku70 regulated miR-124 on neuronal differentiation was performed by morphology analysis, WB and immunofluorescence assays with or without Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. ResultsWe revealed that the Ku70 protein had RNA helicase activity and affected miRNA maturation. Deficiency of Ku70 led to the up-regulation of a large number of mature miRNAs, especially neuronal specific miRNAs like miR-124. The knockdown of Ku70 promoted neuronal differentiation in human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and SH-SY5Y cells by boosting miR-124 maturation. Importantly, ZIKV infection reduced the expression of Ku70 whereas increased expression of miR-124 in hNPCs, and led to morphologically neuronal differentiation. ConclusionOur study revealed a novel function of Ku70 as an RNA helicase and regulating miRNA maturation. The reduced expression of Ku70 with ZIKV infection increased the expression of miR-124 and led to the premature differentiation of embryonic neural progenitor cells, which might be one of the causes of microcephaly.
9.Discussion of the methodology and implementation steps for assessing the causality of adverse event
Hong FANG ; Shuo-Peng JIA ; Hai-Xue WANG ; Xiao-Jing PEI ; Min LIU ; An-Qi YU ; Ling-Yun ZHOU ; Fang-Fang SHI ; Shu-Jie LU ; Shu-Hang WANG ; Yue YU ; Dan-Dan CUI ; Yu TANG ; Ning LI ; Ze-Huai WEN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(2):299-304
The assessment of adverse drug events is an important basis for clinical safety evaluation and post-marketing risk control of drugs,and its causality assessment is gaining increasing attention.The existing methods for assessing the causal relationship between drugs and the occurrence of adverse reactions can be broadly classified into three categories:global introspective methods,standardized methods,and probabilistic methods.At present,there is no systematic introduction of the operational details of the various methods in the domestic literature.This paper compares representative causality assessment methods in terms of definition and concept,methodological steps,industry evaluation and advantages and disadvantages,clarifies the basic process of determining the causality of adverse drug reactions,and discusses how to further improve the adverse drug reaction monitoring and evaluation system,with a view to providing a reference for drug development and pharmacovigilance work in China.
10.Clinical trial of brexpiprazole in the treatment of adults with acute schizophrenia
Shu-Zhe ZHOU ; Liang LI ; Dong YANG ; Jin-Guo ZHAI ; Tao JIANG ; Yu-Zhong SHI ; Bin WU ; Xiang-Ping WU ; Ke-Qing LI ; Tie-Bang LIU ; Jie LI ; Shi-You TANG ; Li-Li WANG ; Xue-Yi WANG ; Yun-Long TAN ; Qi LIU ; Uki MOTOMICHI ; Ming-Ji XIAN ; Hong-Yan ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(5):654-658
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of brexpiprazole in treating acute schizophrenia.Methods Patients with schizophrenia were randomly divided into treatment group and control group.The treatment group was given brexpiprozole 2-4 mg·d-1 orally and the control group was given aripiprazole 10-20 mg·d-1orally,both were treated for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy of the two groups,the response rate at endpoint,the changes from baseline to endpoint of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale(PANSS),Clinical Global Impression-Improvement(CGI-S),Personal and Social Performance scale(PSP),PANSS Positive syndrome subscale,PANSS negative syndrome subscale were compared.The incidence of treatment-related adverse events in two groups were compared.Results There were 184 patients in treatment group and 186 patients in control group.After treatment,the response rates of treatment group and control group were 79.50%(140 cases/184 cases)and 82.40%(150 cases/186 cases),the scores of CGI-I of treatment group and control group were(2.00±1.20)and(1.90±1.01),with no significant difference(all P>0.05).From baseline to Week 6,the mean change of PANSS total score wese(-30.70±16.96)points in treatment group and(-32.20±17.00)points in control group,with no significant difference(P>0.05).The changes of CGI-S scores in treatment group and control group were(-2.00±1.27)and(-1.90±1.22)points,PSP scores were(18.80±14.77)and(19.20±14.55)points,PANSS positive syndrome scores were(-10.30±5.93)and(-10.80±5.81)points,PANSS negative syndrome scores were(-6.80±5.98)and(-7.30±5.15)points,with no significant difference(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of treatment-related adverse events between the two group(69.00%vs.64.50%,P>0.05).Conclusion The non-inferiority of Brexpiprazole to aripiprazole was established,with comparable efficacy and acceptability.

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