1.POEMS syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly as the initial manifestation: A report of two cases
Ye ZHANG ; Wenqing WANG ; Jing LI ; Qianrong BAI ; Jiayu LI ; Yan CHENG ; Miaomiao FANG ; Nana GAO ; Changxing HUANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):127-132
POEMS syndrome is a rare condition associated with plasma cell disorders, and it often involves multiple systems and has diverse clinical manifestations. This article reports two cases of POEMS syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly as the initial manifestation. During the course of the disease, the patients presented with lower limb weakness, hepatosplenomegaly, lymph node enlargement, ascites, hypothyroidism, positive M protein, and skin hyperpigmentation, and 18F-FDG PET-CT imaging revealed bone lesions mainly characterized by osteolytic changes and plasma cell tumors. There was an increase in the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor. The patients were finally diagnosed with POEMS syndrome, and the symptoms were relieved after immunomodulatory treatment.
2.Dynamic Sequential Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Nephrotic Syndrome Based on the "Sweat Pore-Qi and Liquid-Kidney Collaterals"
Zhenhua YUAN ; Mingyang CAI ; Yingying JIANG ; Jingjing WU ; Wenqing PAN ; Zichao DING ; Shuzi ZHANG ; Xianqing REN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(10):1007-1010
Based on the viewpoint of "sweat pore-qi and liquid-kidney collaterals", it is believed that children's nephrotic syndrome is caused by the core mechanism of sweat pore constraint and closure, qi and liquid imbalance, and kidney collaterals impairment, and it is proposed that the treatment principle is to nourish the sweat pore, regulate qi and fluid, and supplement the kidney and unblock the collaterals. In clinic, guided by sequential therapy and according to the different disease mechanism characteristics of the four stages, including early stage of the disease, hormone induction stage, hormone reduction stage, hormone maintenance stage, the staged dynamic identification and treatment was applied. For early stage of the disease with edema due to yang deficiency, modified Zhenwu Decoction (真武汤) was applied to warm yang and drain water; for hormone induction stage with yin deficiency resulting in effulgent fire, modified Zhibai Dihuang Pill (知柏地黄丸) plus Erzhi Pill (二至丸) was used to enrich yin and reduce fire; for hormone reduction stage with qi and yin deficiency, modified Shenqi Dihuang Decoction (参芪地黄汤) was used to boost qi and nourish yin; for hormone maintenance stage, modified Shenqi Pill (肾气丸) was used to supplement yin and yang. Meanwhile, the treatment also attaches importance to the combination of vine-based or worm medicinals to dredge collaterals, so as to providing ideas for clinical treatment.
3.Exo70 Enhances Exosome Secretion by Modulating Multivesicular Body Trafficking to Promote Pancreatic Cancer Metastasis
Wenqing ZHANG ; Jingzhou XIANG ; Tianhui HU
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(7):585-591
Objective To investigate the role and molecular mechanisms of Exo70 in the metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. Methods Stable cell lines with Exo70 knockdown or overexpression were established using lentiviral infection. The migration ability of pancreatic cancer cells was assessed by Transwell assay. The morphology, particle size, and secretion levels of exosomes were observed using transmission electron microscopy. Changes in the expression of Exo70 and exosomal marker proteins were detected by Western blot. The localization of multivesicular bodies (MVBs) was examined by immunofluorescence. Results Exo70 knockdown inhibited the migration ability of pancreatic cancer cells and substantially reduced the total amount of exosome secretion. By contrast, Exo70 overexpression enhanced the migration ability of pancreatic cancer cells. Immunofluorescence results showed that Exo70 knockdown induced the perinuclear accumulation of CD63 and LAMP2, leading to an increase in MVB accumulation and lysosomal degradation in pancreatic cancer cells. Conclusion Exo70 promotes the normal transport of MVBs and maintains exosome secretion. Its knockdown enhances the lysosomal degradation of MVBs, resulting in impaired exosome biogenesis and secretion and thereby inhibiting the migration of pancreatic cancer cells.
4.Randomized Controlled Trial of Traditional Chinese Medicine Sequential Syndrome Differentiation Protocol for Reducing Relapse Rate of Frequently Relapsing/Steroid-dependent Nephrotic Syndrome in Children
Zhuiyue WANG ; Xianqing REN ; Wenqing PAN ; Tingting XU ; Xia ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):126-134
ObjectiveTo assess the relapse rate, clinical efficacy, and safety of a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) sequential syndrome differentiation protocol for frequently relapsing/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS) in children. MethodsA total of 151 children with FRNS/SDNS treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine from December 2020 to June 2024 were randomized into an observation group (77 cases) and a control group (74 cases). Both groups received Western medicine (prednisone tablets and tacrolimus capsules). In addition, the observation group additionally underwent TCM sequential syndrome differentiation and the control group received 1/10 of the TCM dose. The 6-month intervention was followed by a 12-month follow-up, totaling 18 months of observation across seven time points (before treatment and after 1, 2, 4, 24, 52, 76 weeks of treatment). The evaluation was carried out based on the following indicators. ① The relapse rates were mainly recorded after 24, 52, 76 weeks of treatment. ② The efficacy was evaluated based on the clinical remission rates after 1, 2, 4 weeks of treatment, the time to proteinuria clearance, the levels of 24-hour urine total protein (24-h UTP), serum total protein (TP), serum albumin (ALB), cholesterol (CHO), and triglycerides (TG) and the TCM symptom scores before treatment and after 24 weeks of treatment. ③ The treatment safety was evaluated based on blood routine and levels of liver enzymes, renal function indicators and blood glucose (Glu) before treatment and after 24 weeks of treatment. Results① Relapse rate: After 24 weeks of treatment, no significant difference in relapse rate was found between the two groups. The observation group showed lower relapse rates than the control group after 52 weeks of treatment [24.2% (16/66) vs. 52.5% (31/59), χ2=10.634, P<0.01] and 76 weeks of treatment [42.4% (28/66) vs. 74.6% (44/59), χ2=13.186, P<0.01] than the control group. ② Efficacy indicators: The two groups showed no significant difference in remission rate after 1 week of treatment. The observation group demonstrated higher remission rates after 2 weeks of treatment [88.2% (67/76) vs. 74.0% (54/73), Z=-1.999, P<0.05] and 4 weeks of treatment [94.7% (72/76) vs. 82.2% (60/73), Z=-2.3589, P<0.05). In addition, the observation group had shorter time to proteinuria clearance (P<0.01). After treatment, both groups showed declined 24 h-UTP, CHO, TG, and TCM symptom scores and elevated TP and ALB levels (P<0.01), and the observation group had lower CHO, TG, and TCM symptom scores and higher TP and ALB than the control group (P<0.05). ③ Safety indicators: After treatment, both groups showed declined white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HB), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P<0.05, P<0.01) and elevated Glu (P<0.01) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P<0.05). After 24 weeks of treatment, none of WBC, RBC, HB, PLT, ALT, AST, BUN, Cr or Glu had significant differences between groups. Moreover, the incidence of adverse reactions showed no significant difference between the two groups. ConclusionThe TCM sequential syndrome differentiation protocol effectively reduces the relapse rate, improves the remission rate, shortens the time to proteinuria clearance, raised serum protein levels, lowers blood lipid levels, and alleviates symptoms, demonstrating good clinical safety in children with FRNS/SDNS.
5.Effects and mechanisms of calycosin on endothelial differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells
Shengnan CUI ; Chuanguo LIU ; Wenqing YANG ; Zhijuan ZHENG ; Dan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(19):3031-3036
BACKGROUND:Endothelial injury is one of the causes of cardiovascular diseases.Human induced pluripotent stem cells are easy to obtain,have strong differentiation ability,and have less exclusiveness,and their endothelial differentiated cells can be used as ideal cells for cardiovascular disease research. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of calycosin on endothelial differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells and to provide technical support for microvascular regeneration. METHODS:Human induced pluripotent stem cells were divided into control group and calycosin group(1.25,2.5 μg/mL),and growth factors were added to induce single-layer endothelial differentiation.After the induction of differentiation for 8 days,the positive rate of endothelial cell marker CD144 was detected by flow cytometry.Fluorescent expressions of CD144 and CD31 were detected by the immunofluorescence method.Lentivirus RNAi GFP puromycin was used to silence human-induced pluripotent stem cell Piezo1 mRNA followed by endothelial directed differentiation.After 8 days of differentiation,the positive rate of CD144 in differentiated cells was detected by flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of CD144,Piezo1 and MEK were detected by qPCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the control group,the positive rate of CD144 was significantly increased in the 1.25 and 2.5 μg/mL calycosin groups(P<0.05).The expressions of CD144,Piezo1,and MEK mRNA were increased in the 2.5 μg/mL calycosin group(P<0.05).The fluorescence expressions of CD144(P<0.01)and CD31(P<0.001)were significantly increased in the 2.5 μg/mL calycosin group.(2)Compared with the shNT group,CD144 positive rate and CD144,Piezo1,MEK mRNA expressions were significantly increased in the shNT + calycosin 1.25,2.5 μg/mL groups(P<0.05).Compared with the shPiezo1 group,the positive rate of CD144 and mRNA expressions of CD144,Piezo1 and MEK had no significant changes in the shPiezo1+calycosin 1.25,2.5 μg/mL groups(P>0.05).(3)It is concluded that 2.5 μg/mL calycosin promotes the differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells into endothelial lineages.Calycosin promotes the downstream MEK expression,thereby promoting the endothelial differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells by targeting the expression level of Piezo1.
6.Review and risk information management of neuropathy induced by emerging anti-tumor drugs
Feng LYU ; Wei SONG ; Mengru XIN ; Di XIE ; Wenqing ZHANG ; Wen HE ; Hankun HU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2024;33(1):9-18
As an increasing number of emerging anti-tumor drugs are approved and marketed,the imperative for clinical safety monitoring and risk information management has grown significantly.Drug-induced neuropathy associated with these drugs exhibit characteristics such as insidious onset,rapid progression,and challenging treatment,ultimately leading to treatment failures.Therefore,a comprehensive understanding of the risk of neuropathy induced by emerging anti-tumor drugs,coupled with risk surveillance and early warning,as well as management and reporting,can significantly reduce the incidence and severity of drug-related diseases.This paper provides a review of the neuropathy caused by emerging anti-tumor drugs,introduces the pharmacovigilance system and risk information management measures in clinical usage,aiming to provide a reference for guiding the rational clinical use and minimizing the incidence of drug-induced diseases.
7.Progress in epigenetic mechanism of hyperandrogen-induced polycystic ovary syndrome
Mengmeng LIANG ; Yan ZHAO ; Yanxin ZHANG ; Xinxin SHAO ; Cong CHEN ; Wenqing HAO
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(1):164-171
Polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)is characterized by high heterogeneity and heredity,and its exact pathogenesis is still not clear.Some studies have shown that epigenetic disorders,such as hyperandrogen-induced methyla-tion or acetylation of lysine at different sites(K4,K9,and K27)in histone H3,methylation and demethylation modifica-tion of genes related to steroids,hormone receptors and follicular development,and transcriptional control of microRNA or long noncoding RNA,play a central role in the occurrence and development of PCOS.This article reviews the research ad-vances in epigenetic mechanisms(histone modifications,DNA methylation,and noncoding RNA)of PCOS,in order to provide a reference for the prediction and early prevention of PCOS.
8.Application of optimized hippocampus-avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation in limited-stage small cell lung cancer
Tianyou ZHAN ; Lei DENG ; Wenqing WANG ; Tao ZHANG ; Nan BI ; Jianyang WANG ; Xin WANG ; Wenyang LIU ; Yirui ZHAI ; Zefen XIAO ; Jima LYU ; Qinfu FENG ; Dongfu CHEN ; Ye-Xiong LI ; Zongmei ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(3):205-211
Objective:To analyze the treatment efficacy, safety and dose parameters of optimized hippocampus-avoidance prophylactic cranial irradiation (HA-PCI) in limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) and explore the corresponding dosimetric parameters under the condition of narrowing the hippocampus avoidance region as hippocampus region plus 2 mm in three dimensions.Methods:Clinical data of patients with LS-SCLC receiving HA-PCI (hippocampus avoidance region defined as hippocampus region plus 2 mm in three dimensions) in Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from August 2014 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Dose parameters of HA-PCI and adverse events were analyzed using descriptive statistics analysis. Changes of neurocognitive function, such as mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Hopkins verbal learning test-revised (HVLT-R) scores, were evaluated by analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and intracranial PFS (iPFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. The cumulative incidence of local-regional recurrence (LRR), extracranial distant metastases (EDM), and locoregional recurrence (LR) were investigated under competing risk analysis. Results:A total of 112 patients were included, the median follow-up time was 50 months (95% CI: 45.61-54.38). The median volume of hippocampus was 4.85 ml (range: 2.65-8.34 ml), with the average dose ≤9 Gy in 106 patients (94.6%), ≤8 Gy in 92 patients (82.1%). The median volume of hippocampus avoidance area was 15.00 ml (range: 8.61-28.06 ml), with the average dose ≤12 Gy in 109 patients (97.3%), ≤10 Gy in 101 patients (90.2%). The 2-year cumulative LRR, EDM, LR rates were 16.9%, 23.2% and 28.5%, respectively. The 5-year cumulative LRR, EDM, LR rates were 23.2%, 26.9% and 33.3%, respectively. The 2-year iPFS, PFS and OS rates were 66.1% (95% CI: 57.9%-75.4%), 53.6% (95% CI: 45.1%-63.7%) and 80.4% (95% CI: 73.3%-88.1%), respectively. The most common grade I-Ⅱ adverse events were nausea (33.9%) and dizziness (31.3%), and only 1 patient developed grade Ⅲ nausea and dizziness. MMSE ( n=57) and HVLT-R tests ( n=56) showed no significant decline. Conclusions:Optimized HA-PCI can achieve similar dose limitation with favorable efficacy and light toxicity. No significant decline is observed in short-term neurocognitive function in evaluable patients.
9.Characteristics of anterior segment structure in first-degree relatives of patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma
Wenqing LI ; Guizhen PAN ; Ping SUN ; Xu ZHANG ; Lu YANG
International Eye Science 2024;24(1):111-116
AIM: To investigate the characteristics of anterior segment structure in first-degree relatives of patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG).METHODS: A total of 48 first-degree relatives of PACG patients aged 40-60 who were treated in the Affiliated Eye Hospital of Nanchang University from September 2020 to October 2022 were selected as the observation group. Additionally, 40 cases(40 eyes)of healthy individuals without glaucoma and family history of glaucoma at the same age group were collected as the control group. They were divided into younger group(40-49 years old)and elder group(50-60 years old). All subjects were examined with ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM)and were measured using camera measure software. The parameters mainly included anterior chamber depth(ACD), anterior chamber area(ACA), anterior chamber width(ACW), anterior segment depth(ASD), angle open distance(AOD500), trabecular iris angle(TIA), trabecular iris area(TISA500), lens vault(LV), iris curve(IC), iris thickness(IT500), scleral ciliary process angle(SCPA), and iris ciliary process distance(ICPD).RESULTS: ACD, ACA, AOD500, TISA500 and TIA in the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and LV and IC were higher than those of the control group(all P<0.05). ACD, ACA, AOD500, TISA500, and TIA of the elder group were lower than those in the age-matched control group, while LV and IC were larger than those of the age-matched control group(all P<0.05). ACD, AOD500, TISA500, and TIA of the younger observation group were smaller than those of the age-matched control group, but LV and IC were significantly larger than those of the age-matched control group(all P<0.05). ACD, ACA, AOD500, TISA500 and TIA of the elder observation group were significantly lower than those of the younger observation group, and LV and IC were significantly larger than those of the younger observation group(all P<0.05). There was a difference in the distribution of ACD between the observation group and the control group(P<0.05), and the proportion of moderate to severe shallow anterior chambers was 10 times that of the control group. Correlation analysis showed that TISA500 was positively correlated with ACD and ACA, and negatively correlated with LV and IC, and TISA500 was mainly influenced by LV. IC had a positive correlation with LV and a negative correlation with ACD and ACA.CONCLUSION: First-degree relatives of PACG with normal axial length have a high risk of angle closure. The anterior segment structures of first-degree relatives of PACG are more crowded than normal individuals, and the lens forward shift may be the initial influencing factor for narrow angle.
10.Mechanism of Action of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in the Treatment of Primary Myelofibrosis based on Bioinformatics and Molecular Dynamics
Jiayuan GUO ; Jile XIN ; Man ZHANG ; Mingxin LIU ; Jingwen LIU ; Yajing SU ; Huihui SHI ; Jue GUO ; Wenqing LIU ; Kailu WEI ; Yalin SONG ; Qiuling MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(21):2250-2258
ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism implicated in the treatment of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) using Chinese medicinal herbs (CMH) by bioinformatics and molecular dynamics. MethodsData mining was performed to find the high-frequency CMH in treating PMF between the year of 1985 and 2024 by searching CNKI, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (CCD), and China Academic Journal Database (CSPD). TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction and related reports were used to collect the main active ingredients of high-frequency CMH and their targets. The PMF datasets GSE44426 and GSE124281 were downloaded from GEO database, and R software was used for data normalization and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) screening. Key module hub genes were obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) analysis. The common intersection genes of active ingredient targets, DEGs and key module hub genes of CMH were selected, and the target network was generated using Cytoscape 3.9.2 software. The core target network was generated by topological analysis, while key pathways were selected by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and protein interaction relationships were obtained from the String database, so as to construct drug-ingredient-target network and protein interaction network (PPI) relationship diagrams. Discovery Studio 2020 software was used to perform molecular docking, and the GROMACS program was used to perform molecular dynamics simulation. ResultsA total of 21 prescriptions were collected involving 121 herbs. There were 9 herbs with a frequency ≥10 times, which were Danshen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis), Gancao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Fuling (Poria) and Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata) from high- to low-frequency. A total of 98 active ingredients and 1125 potential targets were obtained from 9 high-frequency CMH. GSE44426 and GSE124281 data sets screened out 24 gene samples, including 14 of the healthy control group and 10 of the PMF group, and identified 319 DEGs between the two groups, including 122 up-regulated genes and 197 down-regulated genes. WGCNA screened out 24 co-expression module genes and found that the five modules closely related to the onset of PMF were MEpink, MEdarkred, MEblack, MEgrey, and MEturquoise, involving 7112 key module hub genes. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that lipids and the atherosclerosis pathways were mainly involved in the mechanism of above high-frequency CMH in treating PMF, which included six hub protein targets: HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, SRC, MAPK1, IL1B and IL10. From the drug-ingredient-target network, seven active ingredients of CMH targeting at these six hub targets were found, including verbascoside, verbascos isoflavone, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin and pachymic acid. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics analyses showed that the key CMH were Shudihuang, Huangqi, Baishao, Danshen, Gancao and Fuling, and among the seven active ingredients, calycosin had the highest binding affinity with HSP90AB1. ConclusionThe main CMH for the treatment of PMF may be Shudihuang, Huangqi, Baishao, Danshen, Gancao and Fuling, and the active ingredients include verbascoside, verbascos isoflavones, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin and pachymic acid. The relevant targets are HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, SRC, MAPK1, IL-10, and IL-1β, and the most critical pathways are lipid and atherosclerosis pathways.

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