1.The Mechanisms of Quercetin in Improving Alzheimer’s Disease
Yu-Meng ZHANG ; Yu-Shan TIAN ; Jie LI ; Wen-Jun MU ; Chang-Feng YIN ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):334-347
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. As the incidence of AD continues to rise annually, researchers have shown keen interest in the active components found in natural plants and their neuroprotective effects against AD. Quercetin, a flavonol widely present in fruits and vegetables, has multiple biological effects including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD, and the antioxidant properties of quercetin are essential for its neuroprotective function. Quercetin can modulate multiple signaling pathways related to AD, such as Nrf2-ARE, JNK, p38 MAPK, PON2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC, all of which are closely related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, quercetin is capable of inhibiting the aggregation of β‑amyloid protein (Aβ) and the phosphorylation of tau protein, as well as the activity of β‑secretase 1 and acetylcholinesterase, thus slowing down the progression of the disease.The review also provides insights into the pharmacokinetic properties of quercetin, including its absorption, metabolism, and excretion, as well as its bioavailability challenges and clinical applications. To improve the bioavailability and enhance the targeting of quercetin, the potential of quercetin nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of AD is also discussed. In summary, the multifaceted mechanisms of quercetin against AD provide a new perspective for drug development. However, translating these findings into clinical practice requires overcoming current limitations and ongoing research. In this way, its therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD can be fully utilized.
2.Immunotherapy for Lung Cancer
Pei-Yang LI ; Feng-Qi LI ; Xiao-Jun HOU ; Xue-Ren LI ; Xin MU ; Hui-Min LIU ; Shou-Chun PENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):1998-2017
Lung cancer is the most common malignant tumor worldwide, ranking first in both incidence and mortality rates. According to the latest statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), approximately 2.5 million new cases and around 1.8 million deaths from lung cancer occurred in 2022, placing a tremendous burden on global healthcare systems. The high mortality rate of lung cancer is closely linked to its subtle early symptoms, which often lead to diagnosis at advanced stages. This not only complicates treatment but also results in substantial economic losses. Current treatment options for lung cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy. Among these, immunotherapy has emerged as the most groundbreaking advancement in recent years, owing to its unique antitumor mechanisms and impressive clinical benefits. Unlike traditional therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, immunotherapy activates or enhances the patient’s immune system to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. It offers advantages such as more durable therapeutic effects and relatively fewer toxic side effects. The main approaches to lung cancer immunotherapy include immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor-specific antigen-targeted therapies, adoptive cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic virus therapies. Among these, immune checkpoint inhibitors and tumor-specific antigen-targeted therapies have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use in lung cancer, significantly improving outcomes for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Although other immunotherapy strategies are still in clinical trials, they show great potential in improving treatment precision and efficacy. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress in lung cancer immunotherapy, including the development of novel immune checkpoint molecules, optimization of treatment strategies, identification of predictive biomarkers, and findings from recent clinical trials. It also discusses the current challenges in the field and outlines future directions, such as the development of next-generation immunotherapeutic agents, exploration of more effective combination regimens, and the establishment of precise efficacy prediction systems. The aim is to provide a valuable reference for the continued advancement of lung cancer immunotherapy.
3.Diagnostic Techniques and Risk Prediction for Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
Song HOU ; Lin-Shan ZHANG ; Xiu-Qin HONG ; Chi ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Cai-Li ZHANG ; Yan ZHU ; Hai-Jun LIN ; Fu ZHANG ; Yu-Xiang YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2585-2601
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and metabolic disorders are the 3 major chronic diseases threatening human health, which are closely related and often coexist, significantly increasing the difficulty of disease management. In response, the American Heart Association (AHA) proposed a novel disease concept of “cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome” in October 2023, which has triggered widespread concern about the co-treatment of heart and kidney diseases and the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders around the world. This review posits that effectively managing CKM syndrome requires a new and multidimensional paradigm for diagnosis and risk prediction that integrates biological insights, advanced technology and social determinants of health (SDoH). We argue that the core pathological driver is a “metabolic toxic environment”, fueled by adipose tissue dysfunction and characterized by a vicious cycle of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which forms a common pathway to multi-organ injury. The at-risk population is defined not only by biological characteristics but also significantly impacted by adverse SDoH, which can elevate the risk of advanced CKM by a factor of 1.18 to 3.50, underscoring the critical need for equity in screening and care strategies. This review systematically charts the progression of diagnostic technologies. In diagnostics, we highlight a crucial shift from single-marker assessments to comprehensive multi-marker panels. The synergistic application of traditional biomarkers like NT-proBNP (reflecting cardiac stress) and UACR (indicating kidney damage) with emerging indicators such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Klotho protein facilitates a holistic evaluation of multi-organ health. Furthermore, this paper explores the pivotal role of non-invasive monitoring technologies in detecting subclinical disease. Techniques like multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) and impedance cardiography (ICG) provide a real-time window into microcirculatory and hemodynamic status, enabling the identification of early, often asymptomatic, functional abnormalities that precede overt organ failure. In imaging, progress is marked by a move towards precise, quantitative evaluation, exemplified by artificial intelligence-powered quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT). By integrating AI-QCT with clinical risk factors, the predictive accuracy for cardiovascular events within 6 months significantly improves, with the area under the curve (AUC) increasing from 0.637 to 0.688, demonstrating its potential for reclassifying risk in CKM stage 3. In the domain of risk prediction, we trace the evolution from traditional statistical tools to next-generation models. The new PREVENT equation represents a major advancement by incorporating key kidney function markers (eGFR, UACR), which can enhance the detection rate of CKD in primary care by 20%-30%. However, we contend that the future lies in dynamic, machine learning-based models. Algorithms such as XGBoost have achieved an AUC of 0.82 for predicting 365-day cardiovascular events, while deep learning models like KFDeep have demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting kidney failure risk with an AUC of 0.946. Unlike static calculators, these AI-driven tools can process complex, multimodal data and continuously update risk profiles, paving the way for truly personalized and proactive medicine. In conclusion, this review advocates for a paradigm shift toward a holistic and technologically advanced framework for CKM management. Future efforts must focus on the deep integration of multimodal data, the development of novel AI-driven biomarkers, the implementation of refined SDoH-informed interventions, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration to construct an efficient, equitable, and effective system for CKM screening and intervention.
4.Imaging findings of 14 cases of intestinal schwannoma
Yong YU ; Shen-Chu GONG ; Rui-Ting WANG ; Kai HOU ; Xiu-Liang LU ; Li-Heng LIU ; Jian-Jun ZHOU ; Yu-Qin DING
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(1):62-68
Objective To investigate the imaging features of intestinal schwannoma(IS)in order to improve the diagnostic ability of the disease.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 14 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed IS were retrospectively analyzed,including the location,size,morphology,nature,growth pattern,CT density,MRI signal,PET/CT metabolism and other characteristics of the tumors.Results Of the 14 IS cases,the lesions of 3 cases were located in the duodenum,2 cases in the cecum,8 cases in the colon and 1 case in the rectum.The lesions were all round or oval,with an average maximum diameter of(2.4±1.1)cm.The lesions were solid in 13 cases,extraluminal growth in 10 cases,cystic degeneration in 1 case and myxoid degeneration in 1 case.Chronic inflammatory lymph nodes were seen around the diseased intestines in 9 cases,and the short diameter of lymph nodes was greater than 5 mm in 6 cases.All 14 cases of IS showed low attenuation on plain CT scan,and progressive enhancement after contrast injection,including 1 case of mild enhancement,2 cases of moderate enhancement,and 11 cases of obvious enhancement.Two cases of IS showed low signal intensity on T1WI,slightly high signal intensity on T2WI,significantly high signal intensity on DWI,and obvious progressive enhancement after contrast injection on MRI.Two cases of IS showed high metabolism on 18F-FDG-PET/CT,and the SUVmax was 9.4 and 8.8,respectively.Conclusion The imaging findings of IS were characteristic to a certain extent.They mainly manifested as solid nodules or masses derived from the intestinal submucosa,with uniform attenuation or signal intensity,obvious progressive enhancement after contrast injection,obvious hypermetabolism on 18F-FDG-PET/CT,and slightly larger homogeneous lymph nodes were common around the lesions.
5.Characteristics and significance of age-related changes in cervical uncinate process-related angle
Dezhou ZHANG ; Chaoqun WANG ; Jun SHI ; Kun LI ; Shaojie ZHANG ; Yuan MA ; Erfei HOU ; Danyang ZHAO ; Yunteng HAO ; Simin WANG ; Xiaohe LI ; Haiyan WANG ; Zhijun LI ; Xing WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(36):5766-5772
BACKGROUND:As a unique structure of the cervical spine,the occurrence,development and progression of the uncovertebral joint directly affect the stability and range of motion of the cervical spine,and are also closely related to the pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis.A thorough understanding of the developmental characteristics of the uncovertebral joint is of great significance for the pathogenesis,diagnosis,and treatment of cervical spondylosis. OBJECTIVE:By using imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction technology to measure and observe the cervical uncinate process-related angle in a large sample of different age groups,the aim is to reveal the characteristics of its changes with age and vertebral growth,as well as its relationship with cervical spine stability. METHODS:Using a retrospective research design,we collected 1 447 cases of raw CT imaging data that meet the study requirements for complete cervical spine segments.The raw data were imported into Mimics 21.0 software in DICOM format for post-processing and measurement of angle of uncinate process and sagittal angle of uncinate process.The data were grouped based on gender,age,and side. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the increase of vertebral sequence,the angle of uncinate process increased in a V-shaped shape,and the lowest peak was at C5.The overall population showed a sharp peak with the increase of age,and the peak value mostly occurred in the age range of 30-39 years.(2)The sagittal angle of the uncinate process increased like a fishhook with the increase of the vertebral sequence,and the overall angle of the uncinate process increased with age,and the peak value mostly occurred in the age range of 20-29 years.The uncinate process angle and sagittal angle showed only partial significant differences between sides and genders(P<0.05).(3)It is concluded that the angle of the uncinate process increased with the increase of vertebral sequence in a V-shaped manner.The sagittal angle of the uncinate process increases like a fish hook with increasing vertebral order,while the two angles generally peak with increasing age.The angle of the uncinate process is about 131°,which may be closely related to the stability of the cervical spine,while the sagittal angle of the uncinate process is about 14°,and its function may play a certain role in limiting the excessive rotation of the cervical spine.
6. Finite element analysis of cervical intervertebral discs after removing different ranges of uncinate processes
Yang YANG ; Jun SHI ; Kun LI ; Shao-Jie ZHANG ; Er-Fei HOU ; Jie CHEN ; Xing WANG ; Zhi-Jun LI ; Kun LI ; Yuan MA ; Shao-Jie ZHANG ; Zhi-Jun LI ; Chao-Qun WANG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2024;55(1):88-97
Objective To study the stress change characteristics of the cervical disc after removing different ranges of the uncinate process by establishing a three⁃dimensional finite element model of the C
7.Analysis of the effect of ApoE gene polymorphism on the lipid-regulating effect of aliciumab
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(13):1851-1854
Objective To investigate the impact of apolipoprotein E(ApoE)gene polymorphism on the lipid-modifying efficacy of alirocumab.Methods A total of 187 patients with dyslipidemia were retrospectively selected for this study.All patients received alirocumab therapy for 6 months.The patients'ApoE gene polymorphism was determined by genotyping using the Sequenom Mass Array system,and they were divided into risk type genotype E4 group(42 cases),common type genotype E3 group(123 cases),and protective type genotype E2 group(22 cases)based on different genotypes.The lipid levels and occurrence of adverse events before and after treatment were compared among the three groups.Results Among the 187 patients,the allele frequencies of ε2,ε3 and ε4 were 7.49%,78.88%and 13.64%,respectively,and the genotype distribution was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.After treatment,the triglycerides(TG)levels in the E2,E3 and E4 groups were(1.42±0.22),(1.56±0.29)and(1.78±0.37)mmol·L-1,respectively;low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels were(1.85±0.19),(2.02±0.25)and(2.23±0.41)mmol·L-1,respectively;apolipoprotein A1(ApoA1)levels were(0.85±0.11),(0.92±0.16)and(1.78±0.37)g·L-1,respectively;total cholesterol(TC)levels were(3.03±0.32),(3.42±0.39)and(3.68±0.45)mmol·L-1,respectively;high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)levels were(1.41±0.32),(1.33±0.26)and(1.19±0.20)mmol·L-1,respectively,with statistically significant differences(all P<0.05).The overall incidence of adverse events in the E2,E3 and E4 groups were 9.09%,11.38%and 19.05%,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(all P>0.05).Conclusion Compared to the E3 and E4 subtypes,the E2 subtype has superior lipid-modifying effects,but different subtypes do not affect the safety of drug use in patients.
8.A retrospective study on the prognosis of endoscopic surgery for 385 early glottic cancer patients
Jun JU ; Jiasen WANG ; Siyuan HOU ; Shizhen ZOU ; Jing ZHAO ; Lili PENG ; Jinrang LI
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2024;59(10):1020-1028
Objective:To investigate the prognosis and influencing factors of endoscopic surgery for early glottic carcinoma.Methods:In this retrospective study, we applied the Cox proportional hazards regression model and the random survival forest model to analyze the clinical characteristics of 385 patients [362 males, 23 females, age ranging from 33 to 91 years (62.0±9.6)] who visited the Sixth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army from January 2009, to December 2022 and diagnosed with early glottic carcinoma, encompassing variables such as age, gender, T stage, surgical approach, pathological typing, etc. The primary evaluation indicators were overall survival(OS) and disease-free survival rates (DFS). The follow-up duration ranged from 30 to 5,557 days (with a median follow-up time of 1,596 days).Results:After a three-year follow-up, the OS rate for the 385 patients was 95.83%, while the DSF rate was 82.98%. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed age ( HR=2.35, 95% CI: 1.75 to 3.15, P<0.001) and T staging ( HR=1.59, 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.23, P=0.019) as predominant factors affecting the OS and DFS. The random survival forest model identified poor tumor differentiation, and high expression of P53 and Ki-67 as predictors of inferior prognosis. Conclusion:Endoscopic surgery for early glottic carcinoma yields favorable short-term OS and reduces short-term recurrence rates, with T-stage emerging as a pivotal factor influencing recurrence. Tumors with poor differentiation and elevated expression of P53 may be indicative of an increased risk of recurrence.
9.Level of coagulation factor Xin patients with venous thrombosis of lower limbs and its correlation with recurrence risk
Haijun JIANG ; Ronghua LI ; Guoping CHEN ; Li WANG ; Jun HOU ; Xiaokang CHENG ; Liming YU
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2024;26(2):151-154
Objective To investigate the level of coagulation factor Ⅺ(FⅪ)in patients with venous thrombosis of lower limbs and its correlation with recurrence risk.Methods A total of 220 pa-tients with deep vein thrombosis(DVT)admitted in our hospital from February 2018 to February 2019 were enrolled as the study group,and another 50 healthy individuals taking physical exami-nation during same period served as the control group.After a 3 years followed,the study group ultimately included 197 cases,according to the results of restricted cubic spline(RCS),the study group was divided into low(FⅪ<10.3 U/L,94 cases),medium-(10.3-12.1 U/L,52 cases)and high-level groups(>12.1 U/L,51 cases).The plasma level of FⅪ was detected in the study group 1 month after the end of anticoagulant therapy,and the results were compared with those of the control group during physical examination.Cox model was used to analyze the influence of FⅪ on the recurrence of DVT,and RCS was employed to analyze the relationship between DVT recur-rence and FⅪ level.Kaplan-Meier curve was plotted to analyze the recurrence risk of DVT with different FⅪ levels.The patients from the study group were followed up for 3 years.Results The FⅪ level was significantly higher in the study group than the control group(P<0.05).During fol-low-up period,33 patients(16.75%)had DVT recurrence.The Cox model analysis after adjust-ment of sex and age showed that FⅪ level was a risk factor for DVT recurrence(P<0.05).When the FⅪ level was set into tertile and the risk ratio was calculated after adjustment,FⅪ<10.3 U/L,and the average FⅪ level at this stage was 9.2 U/L,the risk ratio was 0.82(95%CI:0.673-0.984);Patients with FⅪ between 10.3 and 12.1 U/L,and the average FⅪ at this stage was 11.4 U/L,the risk ratio of 1.04(95%CI:0.813-1.432).The those with FⅪ>12.1 U/L,and the average FⅪ at this stage was 13.8 U/L,hazard ratio of 1.38(95%CI:0.921-1.563).Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the recurrence risk was 28.62%(95%CI:25.633-31.609),30.10%(95%CI:27.594-32.606)and 38.06%(95%CI:34.306-41.371),respectively for the low-,medium-,and high-level groups,with significant correlation among the three groups(x2=6.631,P=0.036).Conclusion Compared with healthy individuals,plasma FⅪ level is at a high level in the DVT patients.With the increment of FⅪ level,the risk of DVT recurrence increases.Two FⅪ levels,10.3 U/L and 12.1 U/L,can be used as reference points for the obvious increase of DVT recur-rence rate.
10.Analyses of the risk factors for the progression of primary antiphospholipid syndrome to systemic lupus erythematosus
Siyun CHEN ; Minmin ZHENG ; Chuhan WANG ; Hui JIANG ; Jun LI ; Jiuliang ZHAO ; Yan ZHAO ; Ruihong HOU ; Xiaofeng ZENG
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2024;63(2):170-175
Objectives:Analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) progressing to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Explore the risk factors for the progression from PAPS to SLE.Methods:The clinical data of 262 patients with PAPS enrolled in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from February 2005 to September 2021 were evaluated. Assessments included demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests (serum levels of complement, anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies), treatment, and outcomes. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate the prevalence of SLE in patients with PAPS. Univariate Cox regression analysis was employed to identify the risk factors for PAPS progressing to SLE.Results:Among 262 patients with PAPS, 249 had PAPS (PAPS group) and 13 progressed to SLE (5.0%) (PAPS-SLE group). Univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that cardiac valve disease ( HR=6.360), positive anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies ( HR=7.203), low level of complement C3 ( HR=25.715), and low level of complement C4 ( HR=10.466) were risk factors for the progression of PAPS to SLE, whereas arterial thrombotic events ( HR=0.109) were protective factors ( P<0.05 for all). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the prevalence of SLE in patients suffering from PAPS with a disease course>10 years was 9%-15%. Hydroxychloroquine treatment had no effect on the occurrence of SLE in patients with PAPS ( HR=0.753, 95% CI 0.231-2.450, P=0.638). Patients with≥2 risk factors had a significantly higher prevalence of SLE compared with those with no or one risk factor (13-year cumulative prevalence of SLE 48.7% vs. 0 vs. 6.2%, P<0.001 for both). Conclusions:PAPS may progress to SLE in some patients. Early onset, cardiac-valve disease, positive anti-dsDNA antibody, and low levels of complement are risk factors for the progression of PAPS to SLE (especially in patients with≥2 risk factors). Whether application of hydroxychloroquine can delay this transition has yet to be demonstrated.

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