1.Yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy on liver cancer: the past, the present, and the future
Jingqin MA ; Linhong ZHANG ; Minjie YANG ; Jiabin CAI ; Ying FANG ; Rong LIU ; Xudong QU ; Lingxiao LIU ; Zhiping YAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):3-8
Yttrium-90 selective internal radiation therapy (90Y-SIRT) is a treatment technique that delivers radioactive microspheres precisely to the arterial vascular bed of neoplasms, utilizing beta radiation to administer a high local dose of radiation to the neoplasm tissues. This technology has demonstrated significant efficacy in patients with unresectable pirmary liver cancers and liver metastases. This article systematically reviews the development history and clinical application status of 90Y-SIRT in the treatment of liver cancer, and looks forward to future development directions.
2.Ameliorating effects of tetrahydrocurcumin and its nano-preparations on lipopolysaccharide-induced depression in mice
Hui Tan ; Yuanping Li ; Jingyuan Meng ; Tengteng Ma ; Yan Yang ; Zhengmao Yang ; Jiaqing Ma ; Jianping Xie ; Ying Guo
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(1):79-86
Objective :
To investigate the antidepressant effects and the underlying mechanisms of tetrahydrocurcumin(THC) and its nanoparticle formulation(THCN).
Methods :
Forty-six male ICR mice were randomly divided into Con group, LPS group, THC group, THCN group and SER group. A mouse depression model was established by intraperitoneal administration of LPS. The anxiety and depression-like behaviors of mice were evaluated by open field test(OFT) and forced swimming test(FST). Myelin staining was applied to assess the extent of demyelination in the prefrontal cortex of the mice. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were further examined for the expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) through quantitative immunofluorescence assays.
Results :
Compared with the Con group, the LPS group showed increased anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors in both the long-term and short-term experiments(P<0.05); the degree of demyelination increased in the LPS group of the long-term experiment(P<0.01); the expression of GFAP was reduced in the LPS group of the short-term experiment(P<0.01), while the expression of TLR4 increased(P<0.05); the expression of TLR4 decreased in the THC group(P<0.01); the expression of GFAP in the prefrontal cortex of the THCN group was reduced(P<0.01), while the expression of TLR4 increased(P<0.05). Compared with the LPS group, the THC group showed reduced depressive-like behaviors in the long-term experiment(P<0.05), while the anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors of the THCN group and the SER group were reduced(P<0.05), and the anxiety-like and depressive-like behaviors of the THC group and the THCN group were reduced in the short-term experiment(P<0.05); the degree of demyelination was reduced in the THC group, THCN group and SER group in the long-term experiment(P<0.05); the expression of GFAP increased in the THC group of the short-term experiment(P<0.05), while the expression of TLR4 was reduced(P<0.05), and the expression of GFAP increased in the THCN group(P<0.05). Compared with the THC group, the THCN group and the SER group showed reduced anxiety-like behaviors in the long-term experiment(P<0.05); the expression of GFAP in the prefrontal cortex of the THCN group was reduced in the short-term experiment(P<0.05), while the expression of TLR4 in the hippocampal DG area increased in the short-term experiment(P<0.01).
Conclusion
Tetrahydrocurcumin and its nanoparticle formulation both exert significant ameliorative effects on depression-like behaviors and demyelination in mice induced by lipopolysaccharide. The antidepressant mechanism of THC appears to be mediated through the down-regulation of TLR4 and the up-regulation of GFAP. The mechanism underlying the antidepressant action of THCN seems predominantly focused on the enhancement of GFAP expression.
3.Mechanisms of reproductive toxicity and ferroptosis induced by polystyrene microplastics in male mice
Jiabo WANG ; Rong LI ; Setiniaz NAZIRA ; Chengqing LIU ; Nan YANG ; Qi YAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):224-231
Background Polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) attract widespread public attention due to their adverse effects on mammalian reproductive systems. However, it is currently unclear whether ferroptosis is related to testicular damage and decreased sperm quality in mice exposed to PS-MPs. Objective To clarify the reproductive damage in male mice exposed to PS-MPs and investigate the mechanism of ferroptotic effects. Methods Five-week-old male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four experimental groups, including one control group and three PS-MPs groups at low dose (0.5 mg·kg−1), medium dose (5 mg·kg−1), and high dose (50 mg·kg−1), respectively, with 6 mice in each group. The treatment was delivered by gavage for 35 consecutive days (one time per day). After the mice were neutralized, the wet weights of testis and epididymis were measured, and organ coefficients were then calculated. Sperm was counted by hematimetry, and sperm motility and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level were evaluated using CCK-8 and CellTiter Glo ® Kit 2.0 Assay respectively. In addition, serum testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone were determined using ELISA kit, total testicular iron content was measured using tissue iron kit, and pathological changes in testicular tissue were observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. We also used glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assays to examine their changes to better understand the physiological status of testicular tissue. Finally, the expression levels of ferroptosis-associated proteins glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the control group, the testicular index in the high dose group decreased, and the epididymal index decreased in all dose groups (P<0.05). The results of sperm quality analysis showed that the sperm count in each dose group was lower than that of the control group; the sperm motility decreased, sperm malformation rate increased, and ATP level in sperm decreased in the medium and high dose groups. The results of HE staining showed that the spermatogenic epithelium was disordered and the arrangement of spermatogenic cells were loose in the low dose group, the spermatogenic gap was enlarged in the middle dose group, and the cells in the high dose group were vacuolated and even azoospermic. The results of serum sex hormone levels showed that the serum testosterone levels decreased in each dose group, the serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased in the medium and high dose groups, and the serum luteinizing hormone levels decreased in the high dose group (P<0.05). The iron content in the testicular tissue homogenate of the high dose group increased (P<0.05). The levels of GSH and SOD in the homogenate of testicular tissue decreased in the medium and high dose groups, while the levels of MDA increased (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that the protein expression level of GPX4 in the testis in the high dose group was lower than that in the control group. The protein expression levels of SLC7A11 in the medium and high dose groups were lower than that in the control group. The results of correlation analysis showed that the expression level of GPX4 was positively correlated with sperm count, and negatively correlated with MDA level (P<0.05). SLC7A11 expression level was positively correlated with sperm count, and negatively correlated with sperm malformation rate and MDA level (P<0.05). Conclusion PS-MPs exposure leads to decreased sperm quality, testicular damage, and decreased serum sex hormone levels in male mice, and its mechanism of action may involve ferroptosis.
4.Quantitative analysis on microvasculature in the optic disc area of patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion
Jia SUN ; Jian LIU ; Peng YAN ; Nan LU ; Zhiming SHAN ; Dongni YANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(1):152-156
AIM: To observe the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness and radial peripheral capillary(RPC)density in patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO), and further analyze the correlation between RPC density and RNFL thickness.METHODS: Observational study. Totally 37 patients with unilateral BRVO diagnosed at the ophthalmology department of First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from October 2020 to January 2022 were selected, the 37 affected eyes were the unilateral BRVO group, and 37 fellow healthy eyes were the contralateral unaffected group, and 35 healthy individuals(35 right eyes were selected)without ocular diseases during the same period were selected as the normal control group. The best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, anterior segment, fundus and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)were examined in both eyes of all BRVO patients and healthy individuals. The central macular thickness(CMT), the RNFL thickness, and the optic disc-AV crossing distance(DAVD)were measured by built-in software of the OCTA equipment. The optimized U-net algorithm was used to eliminate the large blood vessels, and then the RPC density was calculated. The CMT, RNFL thickness and RPC density were compared among the three groups. And the correlations of the RPC density with the CMT, RNFL thickness, and the DAVD were investigated.RESULTS: Compared with the contralateral unaffected group and the normal control group, the CMT and the RNFL thickness were significantly thickened in the unilateral BRVO group(all P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the CMT and the RNFL thickness between the contralateral unaffected group and the normal control group(all P>0.05). The RPC density in the unilateral BRVO group increased compared with the contralateral unaffected group and decreased compared with the normal control group, but there was no statistically difference(all P>0.05). However, the RPC density in the contralateral unaffected group decreased compared with the normal control group(P<0.05). The RPC density in the unilateral BRVO group was not correlated with the CMT(P=0.960), but positively correlated with the RNFL thickness(r=0.401, P=0.014)and negatively correlated with the DAVD(r=-0.339, P=0.040).CONCLUSION: The RNFL thickened significantly and the RPC density did not change significantly in the optic disc area of BRVO patients. The RPC density is positively correlated with the RNFL thickness, indicating that the RNFL thickness can be used as a monitoring indicator to analyze and study the damage degree of the RPC density.
5.Mechanism of Ferroptosis in Regulating Chronic Heart Failure and Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Based on Qi Deficiency and Stagnation: A Review
Ziyang YUAN ; Yan ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Yaqin WANG ; Wenjun MAO ; Guo YANG ; Xuewei WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):248-255
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the final stage of cardiovascular diseases. It is a complex syndrome, with dyspnea and edema as the main clinical manifestations, and it is characterized by complex disease conditions, difficult cure, and high mortality. Ferroptosis, a new type of programmed cell death, is different from other types of programmed cell death. Ferroptosis is iron-dependent, accompanied by lipid peroxide accumulation and mitochondrial shrinkage, becoming a hot research topic. Studies have confirmed that ferroptosis plays a key role in the occurrence and development of CHF. The regulation of ferroptosis may become a potential target for the treatment of CHF in the future. The theory of Qi deficiency and stagnation refers to the pathological state of original Qi deficiency and abnormal transportation and distribution of Qi, blood, and body fluid, which has guiding significance for revealing the pathogenesis evolution of some chronic diseases. We believe that Qi deficiency and stagnation is a summary of the pathogenesis of ferroptosis in CHF. Deficiency of Qi (heart Qi) is the root cause of CHF, and stagnation (phlegm turbidity and blood stasis) is the branch of this disease. The two influence each other in a vicious circle to promote the development of this disease. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays an important role in the treatment of CHF, improving the prognosis and quality of life of CHF patients. This paper explores the correlation between the theory of Qi deficiency and stagnation and the mechanism of ferroptosis in CHF. Furthermore, this paper reviews the mechanism of Chinese medicines and compound prescriptions in preventing and treating CHF by regulating ferroptosis according to the principles of replenishing Qi and dredging to remove stagnation, aiming to provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of CHF with TCM.
6.Cyclocarya paliurus Polysaccharide Inhibits Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Reducing 5α-Reductase 2
Qinhui DAI ; Mengxia YAN ; Chen WANG ; Chenjun SHEN ; Chenying JIANG ; Bo YANG ; Huajun ZHAO ; Zhihui ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):107-114
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of polysaccharide in water extract of Cyclocarya paliurus (CPWP) in inhibiting benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MethodsCPWP was obtained by heating reflux, aqueous extraction, alcohol precipitation, and freeze drying. The chemical composition and structural properties of CPWP were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with 1-pheny-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone pre-column derivatization and infrared spectroscopy. Male SD rats were randomly assigned into control, model, finasteride (ig 5 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (ig 50, 75, 100 mg·kg-1) CPWP groups, with 8 rats in each group. The BPH model was established by subcutaneously injecting propionate testosterone in castrated rats. The rats in the drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs, and those in the control group were administrated with an equal volume of normal saline each day. After 30 consecutive days, the rats were sacrificed, and the prostate tissue was separated and weighed. The effects of drug interventions on the body weight, prostate wet weight, and prostate index of rats were examined. The prostate tissue was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) for observation of pathological changes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 (SRD5A2) and Ki67 in the prostate tissue. ResultsCPWP was identified as a saccharide, with characteristic absorption peaks of saccharides. CPWP showed the total sugar content of 44.15% and molecular weight within the range of 5.5-78.8 kDa, being composed of mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid, glucose, galactose, xylose, and arabinose. Compared with the control group, the model group had significantly increased prostate wet weight and prostate index (P<0.01), thick and tall prostate epithelial cells, increased internal wrinkles, papillary expansion into the cavity, an elevation in DHT level in the serum, and up-regulated expression of SRD5A2 and Ki67 in the prostate tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, both the finasteride and CPWP groups showed decreases in prostate wet weight and prostate index (P<0.05, P<0.01), thinned prostate epithelial cells, with only a small portion of internal wrinkles and papillary expansion into the cavity, shortened papillary protrusions, lowered DHT level in the serum, and down-regulated expression of SRD5A2 and Ki67 in the prostate tissue (P<0.01). Moreover, CPWP exerted effects in a dose-dependent manner. ConclusionCPWP inhibits BPH by regulating the expression of SRD5A2.
7.Practical exploration of ethical review in decentralized drug clinical trials
Xu ZUO ; Yingshuo HUANG ; Yue LI ; Lihan XING ; Chunxiu YANG ; Yan CUI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(1):40-45
ObjectiveTo explore the process and guidelines for ethical review in decentralized drug clinical trials, promote clinical trial progress, and ensure drug development progress. MethodsThe key points of the ethical review were summarized by studying the relevant laws and regulations on decentralized drug clinical trials, analyzing the advantages and challenges of decentralized drug clinical trials, and combining the experience of the ethics committee of the institution in reviewing decentralized drug clinical trials. ResultsRelevant laws and regulations were the basis for the ethical review, and the ethics committee should adopt appropriate review methods based on regulations and hospital ethical standard operating procedures. The ethics committee should focus on the feasibility, applicability, and rationality, the adequacy of informed consent, the protection of rights and interests and privacy of subjects, as well as the qualification and standard operating procedures of electronic platforms for conducting decentralized drug clinical trials. ConclusionDecentralized drug clinical trials are in their early stages and urgently require guidance from relevant laws and regulations. Ethical review is also constantly being refined through exploration. It is necessary to supervise the implementation of responsibilities by all parties, pay attention to the rights and interests of subjects, and gradually promote the implementation of decentralized drug clinical trials.
8.Influencing factors for delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis, identification in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Minhang District
MA Qiongjin ; YAN Huiqin ; WU Yunhua ; GUO Xu ; YANG Lijia ; TANG Lihong ; YANG Shengyuan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):59-64
Objective:
To investigate the influencing factors for delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Minhang District, Shanghai Municipality, so as to provide the basis for effectively reducing delay in PTB patients.
Methods:
Data of PTB patients in Minhang District from 2017 to 2022 were collected from the Infectious Disease Reporting Information System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The prevalence rates of delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification were analyzed, and factors affecting delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification were identified using multivariable logistic regression models.
Results:
A total of 4 214 PTB patients were reported in Minhang District from 2017 to 2022, including 2 802 males and 1 412 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.98∶1. The majority of patients were aged 25 to <45 years (1 664 cases, 39.49%). The prevalence rates of delay in healthcare-seeking, definitive diagnosis and identification were 36.81%, 30.21% and 38.09%, respectively. Delay in healthcare-seeking was associated with the year (2018, OR=0.708; 2019, OR=0.549; 2020, OR=0.670; 2021, OR=0.682), gender (female, OR=1.199), occupation (worker, OR=1.379; housekeeping service/housework/unemployed, OR=1.481), case identification route (symptom-based consultation, OR=11.159), and level of the first-diagnosed hospital (city-level, OR=1.528). Delay in definitive diagnosis was associated with age (45 to <65 years, OR=1.476), occupation (commercial service, OR=0.687; housekeeping service/housework/unemployed, OR=0.672), household registration (non-local, OR=0.820), case identification route (symptom-based consultation, OR=0.616), pathogen test result (negative/not tested, OR=1.903), and the level of the first-diagnosed hospital (city-level, OR=0.311). Delay in identification was associated with the year (2018, OR=0.785; 2019, OR=0.647; 2020, OR=0.790; 2021, OR=0.710), occupation (commercial service, OR=0.687), household registration (non-local, OR=0.848) and level of the first-diagnosed hospital (city-level, OR=0.560)
Conclusions
Year, gender, occupation, case identification route and level of the first-diagnosed hospital are influencing factors for delay in healthcare-seeking in PTB patients. Age, occupation, household registration, case identification route, pathogen test result and level of the first-diagnosed hospital are influencing factors for delay in definitive diagnosis. Year, occupation, household registration and level of the first-diagnosed hospital are influencing factors for delay in identification.
9.Determination of 17 types of phthalates in drinking water by solid-phase extraction coupled with multiple reaction monitoring of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
SHI Mengxing ; YANG Yan ; DU Limin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):102-108
Objective:
To determine 17 types of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in drinking water using solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.
Methods:
One litre of commercially available bottled water was purified using an HLB solid-phase extraction column, and was eluted with ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and average methanol. Seventeen types of PAEs were detected using a triple quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometer in MRM mode. By optimizing the temperature programming and adjusting the mass spectrometry collision energy, collection efficiency was improved and matrix interference was reduced. The precision and accuracy of this method were assessed by determining the standard curves, detection limits, quantification limits, relative standard deviations (RSD) and average spiked recovery rates for the 17 types of PAEs.
Results:
The 17 types of PAEs showed good linear relationships between mass concentration and chromatographic peak areas in the range of 0.02 to 1.0 mg/L, with correlation coefficients all greater than 0.999 1. The detection limits ranged from 0.002 9 to 0.009 7 mg/kg, the quantification limits ranged from 0.008 7 to 0.029 1 mg/kg, the RSD ranged from 0.8% to 3.0%, and the average spiked recovery rates ranged from 88.8% to 111.8%.
Conclusion
Solid-phase extraction coupled with MRM of GC-MS can better determine low concentrations of PAEs in drinking water.
10.GAO Shuzhong's Experience in Treating Idiopathic Tinnitus with Combination of Acupuncture and Chinese Materia Medica
Pengfei WANG ; Yiyang SUN ; Xiaoyan LI ; Wenli YAN ; Ningning MENG ; Guirong YANG ; Yuxia MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(3):233-237
To summarize Professor GAO Shuzhong's clinical experience in treating idiopathic tinnitus with a combination of acupuncture and Chinese meteria medica. It is believed that idiopathic tinnitus is mostly caused by weak lungs and spleen, kidney essence deficiency, liver constraint transforming into fire, and binding constraint of heart qi. Treatment advocates the combination of acupuncture and Chinese meteria medica in clinical practice. Acupuncture treatment mainly focus on the method of opening the orifices by syndrome identification in combination with Ermen (TE 21), Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2), Shenmai (BL 62) to regulate qi and blood, and supporting with Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (EX-HN 3), Taichong (LR 3), and Yanglingquan (GB 34) to soothe the liver, resolve constraint, and calm the mind. Oral administration of Chinese medicinal prescription usually includes modified Yiqi Congming Decoction (益气聪明汤) and Tongqi Powder (通气散), and the external administration of Chinese medicinal prescription can apply self-prescribed Wenqing Powder (温清散) to navel moxibustion.


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