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.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.
3.Establishment of a Gastrointestinal-Brain Inter-Organ Multimodal Characterization System Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Theory and Its Application in Refractory Diseases
Guanghui HAN ; Yan GUO ; Peijing RONG ; Bin CONG ; Shuangjiang LIU ; Shaoyuan LI ; Wei WEI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(6):561-568
The concept of holism is the core idea of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Various organs and tissues coordinate with each other to maintain the body's life activities, with a close and mutual influence between the spleen, stomach, and the central nervous system (brain). The gut-brain axis plays an important bridging role between the digestive system and the central nervous system, achieving bidirectional information exchange between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract through complex neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms. The theory of cross-organ interaction involves the mutual influence, coordination, and integration between different organs and systems; multimodality, on the other hand, utilizes multiple sensory modalities, such as vision, hearing, and touch, to convey information. By combining TCM theory with the gut-brain axis theory, a cross-organ multimodal characterization system is established to explore its mechanism and application value in refractory diseases such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, precancerous gastrointestinal diseases, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and depression.
4.Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway by Traditional Chinese Medicine to Improve Cognitive Impairment: A Review
Feifei LIU ; Yan ZHONG ; Liping CHEN ; Xiwen CHANG ; Wenbing LI ; Rong WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):281-289
Cognitive impairment refers to the abnormality of the hippocampus, cortex and other parts of the brain, which is manifested by the decline of cognitive abilities such as learning, memory and attention. With the increase in people's work pressure and bad living habits, the incidence of cognitive impairment is getting higher and higher, which seriously affects people's normal life. However, there are adverse reactions such as gastrointestinal reactions and extrapyramidal reactions in Western drug treatment for cognitive impairment. Therefore, the development of a drug with relatively minimal adverse reactions is of great significance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of "multi-component, multi-pathway and multi-target", and the incidence of adverse reactions is relatively low. Studies have shown that the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment is closely related to oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy and other processes of neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signal pathway plays an important role in the transmission of intracellular and intracellular signals, and in the regulation of cellular inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy, etc. TCM monomers, TCM extracts, and TCM compounds exert anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and autophagy regulation effects by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to improve cognitive impairment. This review first summarized the composition and regulatory process of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and then discussed the research progress on the improvement of cognitive impairment through the improvement of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and autophagy of neurons. Finally, the recent research status of the regulation of this signaling pathway by TCM extracts, TCM monomers and TCM compounds to improve cognitive impairment was summarized. This study provides a theoretical basis for the future study of new TCM related to cognitive impairment.
5.Screening of anti-COPD quality biomarkers of Gnaphalium affine
Wanting LIU ; Rong XIE ; Dahuai LIN ; Xiangli YE ; Guohong YAN ; Huang LI
China Pharmacy 2024;35(6):683-688
OBJECTIVE To screen the quality biomarkers of Gnaphalium affine with anti-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) effect and determine their contents. METHODS The effective components and targets of “G. affine” with anti- COPD effect were predicted by using network pharmacology as a search criterion. HPLC fingerprints for 10 batches of G. affine were established by using Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint (2012 edition); common peak identification and similarity evaluation were conducted; cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed to screen differential components as quality maker that affected the quality of G. affine using variable importance projection (VIP)>1 as the standard. The same HPLC method was adopted to determine the contents of the differential components in 10 batches of samples. RESULTS A total of 10 flavonoids (such as quercetin, luteolin, and chlorogenic acid) and organic acid components, were identified through network pharmacology search, with 91 targets closely related to anti-COPD. A total of 9 common peaks were identified in 10 batches of samples, with similarity greater than 0.90. Among them, the differential components included chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 1,3-O- dicaffeoylquinic acid and apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside; S3, S4, S6, S7 and S10 were clustered into one category, S2, S5, S8 and S9 clustered into one category, and S1 clustered into one category. The contents of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 1,3-O- dicaffeoylquinic acid, and apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside in 10 batches of G. affine ranged 0.070-7.653, 0.010-0.097, 0.001- 0.036, 0.508-6.627 mg/g, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, apigenin 7- O-β-D-glucopyranoside can serve as the potential quality marker for the anti-COPD effect of G. affine, with the highest content of chlorogenic acid in G. affine produced in Ji’an, Jiangxi province, and the highest content of caffeic acid in G. affine produced in Ji’an, Jiangxi province and Sanming, Fujian province. The contents of the last two components are highest in G. affine produced in Chaoshan, Guangdong province.
6. A new strategy for evaluating antitumor activity in vitro with time-dimensional characteristics of RTCA technology
Fang-Tong LIU ; Shu-Yan XING ; Jia YANG ; Guo-Ying ZHANG ; Rong RONG ; Xiao-Yun LIU ; Dong-Xue YE ; Yong YANG ; Xiao-Yun LIU ; Dong-Xue YE ; Rong RONG ; Yong YANG ; Xiao-Yun LIU ; Dong-Xue YE ; Yong YANG ; Xiao-Yun LIU ; Dong-Xue YE ; Yong YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(3):592-598
Aim To analyze the anti-A549 and HI299 lung ade-nocarcinoma activities via using examples of baicalin, astragalo-side, hesperidin and cisplatin based on real time cellular analysis (RTCA) technology, and to build a new strategy for EC50 e-valuation reflecting the time-dimensional characteristic. Methods Using RTCA Software Pro for data analysis and GraphPad Prism and Origin Pro plotting, the in vitro anti-A549 and H1299 lung adenocarcinoma activities of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin, and cisplatin were characterized using the endpoint method and time dimension, respectively. Results (X) There were significant differences in EC50 values of A549 and H1299 cells at 24 h and 48 h endpoint methods. (2) The correlation coefficient of the curve fitted with the four-parameter equation was > 0. 9, and the dynamic change of EC50 remained relatively stable (the linear fitting of EC50 at adjacent 4 points I slope 1^1) used to calculate the EC50 value within this time dimension. The EC50 of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin and cisplatin on A549 cells was 52. 97 ±1.75 плпо! • L~1(16~48 h) , 62.88 ± 2.91 ijunol • L"1 (32.25 -48 h) , 78.84 ±0.33 плпо1 • L"1 (21.5 -29.75 h), 13.57 ±1.54 плпо1 • L_1(27.5 -48 h), respectively; the EC50 of baicalin, astragaloside, hesperidin and cisplatin on H1299 cells was 43. 71 ± 1. 26 |лто1 • L_1 ( 19. 5 -48 h), 47.23 ±1. 19 |лто1 • L_1(14 -48 h) , 39.45 ±0.24 плпо1 • L"1 (12.75 -46.25 h), 25.97 ±4.76 плпо1 • L"1 (10. 25 -48 h) , respectively. The results showed that the time window for the anti-tumor effect of the test solution/drug was different. Conclusions Based on RTCA technology, it is more accurate and reasonable to select EC50 data that exhibit better fitting, stable changes, and time-dimensional characteristics for the evaluation of anti-tumor activity. In addition, this method of distinguishing different effective time of antitumor drugs can provide a reference for the timing of clinical combination drugs, and this approach will also provide a reference for further related studies.
7.Clinical observation of splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy during cytoreductive surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer
Yi-Xuan LIU ; Qian-Qian YAN ; Yu-Lian CHEN ; Ying ZHOU ; Rong JIANG
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(1):50-55
Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy during cytoreductive surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer(EOC).Methods A total of 17 patients from Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University and the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China(Anhui Provincial Hospital)received splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy during cytoreductive surgery in EOC were recruited.Their clinicopathological characteristics,postoperative complications and survival situation were retrospective analyzed.Results Of the 17 patients,there were 13 primary cases and 4 recurrent cases.Eleven cases(64.7%)had preoperative imaging finding with metastatic lesions in the splenic hilum,among whom 6 cases had distal pancreas metastasis during the operation.The drainage was placed in the splenic fossa for the measurement of amylase levels in drain fluid and was removed after 8(3-12)days.There were 4 patients had postoperative pancreatic fistula(POPF)of grade A,3 patients had POPF of grade B and no POPF of grade C occurred.The 2 patients with POPF of grade B improved after percutaneous drainage,and the rest recovered with somatostatin,antibiotic drugs and medicines without perioperative mortality.The interval between surgery to chemotherapy was 17.5(13-37)days.The median follow-up time was 14(4-64)months and the median progression-free survival was 10(5-32)months.Conclusion Splenectomy with distal pancreatectomy as part of cytoreduction surgery in EOC is needed for optimal resection,and the complication of pancreatic fistula could be managed conservatively.
8.Clinical Analysis of 311 Cases with Giant Ovarian Mass
Hua LIU ; Jingxian LING ; Xianghong ZHU ; Rong LI ; Xiaoqiu TANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Huaijun ZHOU
Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024;40(1):73-77
Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features of giant ovarian masses(mean diameter≥10 cm)and analyze the clinical characteristics of patients in different age groups.Methods:The clinicopathological characteristics of 311 patients diagnosed with giant ovarian masses by surgery at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital,Affiliated Hospital of Medical School,Nanjing University from January 2014 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were further stratified by age and mass size to compare the differences of clinical and patho-logical features among different age groups and different mass diameter groups.Results:①The median age of thepatients were 44(24,60)years old.The first symptoms were as follows:ovarian mass discovered during physi-cal examination,abdominal pain,bloating,conscious abdominal distension,and symptoms of compression.②The surgical methods were as follows:unilateral oophorectomy(30.5%,95/311),ovarian cystectomy(28.9%,90/311),tumor staging or cytoreductive surgery(28.0%,87/311),total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy(12.5%,39/311).③The pathological types were benign(49.5%,154/311),malignant(31.8%,99/311)and borderline(18.7%,58/311).④ Patients complained abdominal distension in<20 years old group were signifi-cantly higher than the other two groups(P<0.05).The ovarian resection rate in the>50-year-old group was higher than that of the other two groups(P<0.05),and the rate of unilateral ovarian resection in the<20-year-old group was still as high as 30.1%(15/49).⑤ The size of the mass correlated with the duration of the disease.When the disease course was between 1 to 6 months,the mass diameter line>30 cm was the most common(P<0.05).The incidence of borderline tumors in the>30 cm group was significantly higher than that in the other two groups,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusions:Ovarian mucinous and mucinous borderline tumors are the most common types of giant adnexal masses.The size of the mass tends to increase with the prolongation of the disease course.The incidence of borderline tumors increases with the in-crease of mass.Health education for young people should be strengthened.When abdominal pain,abdominal bloating,especially lower abdominal distension occurs,they should seek medical treatment in time to avoid adnex-ectomy due to borderline tumors.
9.Mechanism of Flavonoids in Patriniae Herba in Affecting Occurrence and Development of Colorectal Cancer
Pingping ZHNAG ; Ru JIA ; Rong CEN ; Hongjie LIU ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):240-247
Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in the digestive system, ranking third in incidence and second in the cause of death worldwide. In recent years, the incidence of colorectal cancer is on the rise, and the age of patients with colorectal cancer tends to be younger, with a heavy cancer burden. It is of great significance to prevent the occurrence, development, recurrence, and metastasis of colorectal cancer to reduce the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer. Patriniae Herba has the effects of clearing heat, removing toxins, eliminating carbuncle, and discharging pus and shows good therapeutic efficacy on inflammatory bowel disease, digestive tract tumors, pelvic inflammation, gynecological tumor, and so on. Patriniae Herba is often used in the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer, but its mechanism of action is not clear. Modern studies have found that Patriniae Herba contains triterpenoids, saponins, iridoids, flavonoids, and other chemical components, with antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and other pharmacological effects. The main anti-tumor components of Patriniae Herba are flavonoids. The analysis of network pharmacology and the spectrum-effect relationship has suggested that quercetin, luteolin, apigenin, isoorientin, and isovitexin play a major role in inhibiting the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that flavonoids in Patriniae Herba can play an anti-tumor role in various ways, such as preventing precancerous lesions of colorectal cancer, inhibiting the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, blocking cancer cell cycle, promoting cancer cell apoptosis, and reversing drug resistance of colorectal cancer. The oral availability of flavonoids is low. The gut is the main metabolic site of flavonoids in the body, its metabolic pathway is closely related to gut microbiota. This paper reviewed the anti-tumor mechanism of flavonoids and their influence on gut microbiota to provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of Patriniae Herba against colorectal cancer and its clinical application.
10.Allergy Associated With N-glycans on Glycoprotein Allergens
Yu-Xin ZHANG ; Rui-Jie LIU ; Shao-Xing ZHANG ; Shu-Ying YUAN ; Yan-Wen CHEN ; Yi-Lin YE ; Qian-Ge LIN ; Xin-Rong LU ; Yong-Liang TONG ; Li CHEN ; Gui-Qin SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):1023-1033
Protein as the allergens could lead to allergy. In addition, a widespread class of allergens were known as glycans of N-glycoprotein. N-glycoprotein contained oligosaccharide linked by covalent bonds with protein. Recently,studies implicated that allergy was associated with glycans of heterologous N-glycoprotein found in food, inhalants, insect toxins, etc. The N-glycan structure of N-glycoprotein allergen has exerted an influence on the binding between allergens and IgE, while the recognition and presentation of allergens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were also affected. Some researches showed thatN-glycan structure of allergen was remodeled by N-glycosidase, such as cFase I, gpcXylase, as binding of allergen and IgE partly decreased. Thus, allergic problems caused by N-glycoproteins could potentially be solved by modifying or altering the structure ofN-glycoprotein allergens, addressing the root of the issue. Mechanism of N-glycans associated allergy could also be elaborated through glycosylation enzymes, alterations of host glycosylation. This article hopes to provide a separate insight for glycoimmunology perspective, and an alternative strategy for clinical prevention or therapy of allergic diseases.

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