1.Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, Weakness in Limbs, Edema, and Dyspnea: A Rare Inflammatory Myopathy with Positive Aniti-mitochondrial Antibodies and Cardiac Involvement
Chunsu LIANG ; Xuchang ZHANG ; Ning ZHANG ; Lin KANG ; Xiaohong LIU ; Jiaqi YU ; Yingxian LIU ; Lin QIAO ; Yanli YANG ; Xiaoyi ZHAO ; Ruijie ZHAO ; Na NIU ; Xuelian YAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):248-255
This article presents a case study of a patient who visited the Geriatric Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to "palpitations, shortness of breath for more than 2 years, limb weakness for 6 months, edema, and nocturnal dyspnea for 2 months". The patient exhibited decreased muscle strength in the limbs and involvement of swallowing and respiratory muscles, alongside complications of heart failure and various arrhythmias which were predominantly atrial. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of multiple autoantibodies and notably anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with anti-mitochondrial antibody-associated inflammatory myopathy. Treatment involved a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, along with resistance exercises for muscle strength and rehabilitation training for lung function, resulting in significant improvement of clinical symptoms. The case underscores the importance of collaborative multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosing and treating rare diseases in elderly patients, where careful consideration of clinical manifestations and subtle abnormal clinical data can lead to effective interventions.
2.The Functional Role of SUMOylation in The Tumor Microenvironment
Pan-Pan ZHAO ; Jun-Xu YU ; Ya-Ning CHE ; Hui-Yi LIANG ; Chao HUANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(6):1256-1268
Tumors continue to be a major challenge in human survival that we have yet to overcome. Despite the variety of treatment options available, we have not yet found an effective method. As more and more research is conducted, attention has been turned to a new field for tumor treatment—the tumor microenvironment (TME). This is a dynamic and complex environment consisting of various matrix cells surrounding cancer cells, including surrounding immune cells, blood vessels, extracellular matrix, fibroblasts, bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells, signaling molecules, and some specific cell types. Firstly, endothelial cells play a key role in tumor development and the immune system’s protection of tumor cells. Secondly, immune cells, such as macrophages, Treg cells, Th17 cells, are widely involved in various immune responses and activities in the human body, such as inflammation responses promoting survival carefully orchestrated by the tumor. Even though many studies have extensively researched the TME and found many research schemes, so far, no key effective method has been found to treat tumors by affecting the TME. The TME is a key interaction area between the host immune system and the tumor. Cells within the TME influence each other and interact with cancer cells to affect cancer cell invasion, tumor growth, and metastasis. This is a new direction for cancer treatment. In the complex environment of the TME, post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins have been proven to play an important role in the TME. PTMs are dynamic, strictly regulated changes to proteins that control their function by regulating their structure, spatial location, and interaction. Among PTMs, a reversible post-translational modification called SUMOylation is a common regulatory mechanism in cellular processes. It is a post-translational modification that targets lysine residues with a small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) in a reversible post-translational modification manner. SUMOylation is widely involved in carcinogenesis, DNA damage response, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis, playing a pivotal role in the TME, such as DNA damage repair, tumor metastasis, and also participates in immune cell differentiation, activation, and inhibition of immune cells. On the other hand, SUMO or sentrin-specific protease (SENP) inhibitors can interfere with the SUMOylation process, thereby affecting many biological processes, including immune response, carcinogenesis, cell cycle progression, and cell apoptosis, etc. In summary, this review aims to introduce the dynamic modification of protein SUMOylation on various immune cells and the application of various inhibitors, thereby exploring its role in the TME. This is a challenging but hopeful field, and we look forward to future research that can bring more breakthroughs. In conclusion, the TME is a complex and dynamic environment that plays a crucial role in the development and progression of tumors. Understanding the intricate interactions within the TME and the role of PTMs, particularly SUMOylation, could provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of tumor development and potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies. The study of SUMOylation and its effects on various immune cells in the TME is an exciting and promising area of research that could significantly advance our understanding of tumor biology and potentially lead to the development of more effective treatments for cancer. This is a challenging but hopeful field, and we look forward to future research that can bring more breakthroughs.
3.Discussion on the Scientific Connotation of Fortifying Spleen, Resolving Phlegm and Dispelling Stasis in the Treatment of Coronary Heart Disease under the Guidance of Dysfunctional High-Density Lipoprotein
Lianqun JIA ; Qige WANG ; Guoyuan SUI ; Nan SONG ; Huimin CAO ; Liang KONG ; Meijun LV ; Yuan CAO ; Ning YU ; Siyuan DING ; Guanlin YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(2):128-133
The key pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD) is spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis, and dysfunctional high-density lipoprotein (dys-HDL) may be the biological basis for the occurrence of CHD due to spleen deficiency and phlegm stasis. Considering the biological properties and effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), it is believed that the structure and components of HDL are abnormal in the state of spleen deficiency which led to dys-HDL; and dys-HDL contributes to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques through two major pathways, namely, mediating the dysfunction of endothelial cells and mediating the foaminess of macrophages and smooth muscle cells, thus triggering the development of CHD. It is also believed that dys-HDL is a microcosmic manifestation and a pathological product of spleen deficiency, and spleen deficiency makes foundation for the production of dys-HDL; dys-HDL is also an important biological basis for the phlegm-stasis interactions in CHD. The method of fortifying spleen, resolving phlegm, and dispelling stasis, is proposed as an important principle in the treatment of CHD by traditional Chinese medicine, which can achieve the therapeutic purpose by affecting the changes in the structure and components of dys-HDL, thus revealing the scientific connotation of this method, and providing ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of CHD by traditional Chinese medicine.
4.Protective Effects of Danmu Extract Syrup on Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice through Endothelial Barrier Repair.
Han XU ; Si-Cong XU ; Li-Yan LI ; Yu-Huang WU ; Yin-Feng TAN ; Long CHEN ; Pei LIU ; Chang-Fu LIANG ; Xiao-Ning HE ; Yong-Hui LI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2024;30(3):243-250
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of Danmu Extract Syrup (DMS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and explore the mechanism.
METHODS:
Seventy-two male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table (n=12), including control (normal saline), LPS (5 mg/kg), LPS+DMS 2.5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 10 mL/kg, and LPS+Dexamethasone (DXM, 5 mg/kg) groups. After pretreatment with DMS and DXM, the ALI mice model was induced by LPS, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to determine protein concentration, cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The lung tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was calculated. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β in BALF of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of Claudin-5, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt) and Akt were detected by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS:
DMS pre-treatment significantly ameliorated lung histopathological changes. Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF were obviously reduced after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of cells in BALF and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DMS pre-treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 β (P<0.01). Meanwhile, DMS activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and reversed the expressions of Claudin-5, VE-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
DMS attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice through repairing endothelial barrier. It might be a potential therapeutic drug for LPS-induced lung injury.
Mice
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Male
;
Animals
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
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Lipopolysaccharides
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Claudin-5/metabolism*
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Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced*
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Lung/pathology*
;
Interleukin-6/metabolism*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
5.Methodology for Developing Patient Guideline(1):The Concept of Patient Guideline
Lijiao YAN ; Ning LIANG ; Ziyu TIAN ; Nannan SHI ; Sihong YANG ; Yufang HAO ; Wei CHEN ; Xiaojia NI ; Yingfeng ZHOU ; Ruixiang WANG ; Zeyu YU ; Shuyu YANG ; Yujing ZHANG ; Ziteng HU ; Jianping LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(20):2086-2091
Since the concept of patient versions of guidelines (PVGs) was introduced into China, several PVGs have been published in China, but we found that there is a big difference between the concept of PVG at home and abroad, and the reason for this difference has not been reasonably explained, which has led to ambiguity and even misapplication of the PVG concept by guideline developers. By analyzing the background and purpose of PVGs, and the understanding of the PVG concept by domestic scholars, we proposed the term patient guidelines (PGs). This refers to guidelines developed under the principles of evidence-based medicine, centered on health issues that concern patients, and based on the best available evidence, intended for patient use. Except for the general attribute of providing information or education, which is typical of common health education materials, PGs also provide recommendations and assist in decision-making, so PGs include both the patient versions of guidelines (PVG) as defined by the Guidelines International Network (GIN) and "patient-directed guidelines", i.e. clinical practice guidelines resulting from the adaptation or reformulation of recommendations through clinical practice guidelines.
6.The Chinese guideline for management of snakebites
Lai RONGDE ; Yan SHIJIAO ; Wang SHIJUN ; Yang SHUQING ; Yan ZHANGREN ; Lan PIN ; Wang YONGGAO ; Li QI ; Wang JINLONG ; Wang WEI ; Ma YUEFENG ; Liang ZIJING ; Zhang JIANFENG ; Zhou NING ; Han XIAOTONG ; Zhang XINCHAO ; Zhang MAO ; Zhao XIAODONG ; Zhang GUOQIANG ; Zhu HUADONG ; Yu XUEZHONG ; Lyu CHUANZHU
World Journal of Emergency Medicine 2024;15(5):333-355
In 2009,the World Health Organization included snakebite on the list of neglected tropical diseases,acknowledging it as a common occupational hazard for farmers,plantation workers,and others,causing tens of thousands of deaths and chronic physical disabilities every year.This guideline aims to provide practical information to help clinical professionals evaluate and treat snakebite victims.These recommendations are based on clinical experience and clinical research evidence.This guideline focuses on the following topics:snake venom,clinical manifestations,auxiliary examination,diagnosis,treatments,and prevention.
7.Identification of overlay differentially expressed genes in both rats and goats with blast lung injury through comparative transcriptomics
Hong WANG ; Jun-Hong GAO ; Xiao-Lin FAN ; Qing LU ; Liang LI ; Ning MA ; Qi WANG ; Yu-Hao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2024;27(1):34-41
Purpose::To identify the potential target genes of blast lung injury (BLI) for the diagnosis and treatment.Methods::This is an experimental study. The BLI models in rats and goats were established by conducting a fuel-air explosive power test in an unobstructed environment, which was subsequently validated through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on lung tissues from both goats and rats. Differentially expressed genes were identified using the criteria of q ≤ 0.05 and |log 2 fold change| ≥ 1. Following that, enrichment analyses were conducted for gene ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. The potential target genes were further confirmed through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results::Observations through microscopy unveiled the presence of reddish edema fluid, erythrocytes, and instances of focal or patchy bleeding within the alveolar cavity. Transcriptome sequencing analysis identified a total of 83 differentially expressed genes in both rats and goats. Notably, 49 genes exhibited a consistent expression pattern, with 38 genes displaying up-regulation and 11 genes demonstrating down-regulation. Enrichment analysis highlighted the potential involvement of the interleukin-17 signaling pathway and vascular smooth muscle contraction pathway in the underlying mechanism of BLI. Furthermore, the experimental findings in both goats and rats demonstrated a strong association between BLI and several key genes, including anterior gradient 2, ankyrin repeat domain 65, bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold containing family A member 1, bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold containing family B member 1, and keratin 4, which exhibited up-regulation.Conclusions::Anterior gradient 2, ankyrin repeat domain 65, bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold containing family A member 1, bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold containing family B member 1, and keratin 4 hold potential as target genes for the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of BLI.
8.Bioequivalence study of ezetimibe tablets in Chinese healthy subjects
Pei-Yue ZHAO ; Tian-Cai ZHANG ; Yu-Ning ZHANG ; Ya-Fei LI ; Shou-Ren ZHAO ; Jian-Chang HE ; Li-Chun DONG ; Min SUN ; Yan-Jun HU ; Jing LAN ; Wen-Zhong LIANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(16):2378-2382
Objective To evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of ezetimibe tablets in healthy Chinese subjects.Methods The study was designed as a single-center,randomized,open-label,two-period,two-way crossover,single-dose trail.Subjects who met the enrollment criteria were randomized into fasting administration group and postprandial administration group and received a single oral dose of 10 mg of the subject presparation of ezetimibe tablets or the reference presparation per cycle.The blood concentrations of ezetimibe and ezetimibe-glucuronide conjugate were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS),and the bioequivalence of the 2 preparations was evaluated using the WinNonlin 7.0 software.Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated to evaluate the bioequivalence of the 2 preparations.The occurrence of all adverse events was also recorded to evaluate the safety.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of total ezetimibe in the plasma of the test and the reference after a single fasted administration:Cmax were(118.79±35.30)and(180.79±51.78)nmol·mL-1;tmax were 1.40 and 1.04 h;t1/2 were(15.33±5.57)and(17.38±7.24)h;AUC0-t were(1 523.90±371.21)and(1 690.99±553.40)nmol·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(1 608.70±441.28),(1 807.15±630.00)nmol·mL-1·h.The main pharmacokinetic parameters of total ezetimibe in plasma of test and reference after a single meal:Cmax were(269.18±82.94)and(273.93±87.78)nmol·mL-1;Tmax were 1.15 and 1.08 h;t1/2 were(22.53±16.33)and(16.02±5.84)h;AUC0_twere(1 463.37±366.03),(1 263.96±271.01)nmol·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(1 639.01±466.53),(1 349.97±281.39)nmol·mL-1·h.The main pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax,AUC0-tand AUC0-∞ of the two preparations were analyzed by variance analysis after logarithmic transformation.In the fasting administration group,the 90%CI of the log-transformed geometric mean ratios were within the bioequivalent range for the remaining parameters in the fasting dosing group,except for the Cmax of ezetimibe and total ezetimibe,which were below the lower bioequivalent range.The Cmax of ezetimibe,ezetimibe-glucuronide,and total ezetimibe in the postprandial dosing group was within the equivalence range,and the 90%CI of the remaining parameters were not within the equivalence range for bioequivalence.Conclusion This test can not determine whether the test preparation and the reference preparation of ezetimibe tablets have bioequivalence,and further clinical trials are needed to verify it.
9.Clinical trial of naratinib combined with capecitabine in the treatment of advanced breast cancer patients with HER2 positive
Tuan-Jie ZHANG ; Fu-Yu GONG ; Yu-Ning LU ; Liang DING ; Xiang LI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(17):2474-2478
Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of naratinib maleate tablets combined with capecitabine tablets in the treatment of advanced breast cancer patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)positive.Methods The advanced breast cancer patients with HER2 positive were randomly divided into control group and treatment group.The control group was given 1 250 mg·m-2 capecitabine tablets,bid,orally administered,and stopped for 1 week after 2 weeks of treatment.On the basis of treatment in the control group,the treatment group was treated with a combination of naratinib maleate tablets 240 mg,qd,orally.Both groups of patients continued to take medication until the disease progressed or the patient could not tolerate it,with one course of treatment every three weeks.The clinical efficacy,tumor marker levels,survival status,and the safety was evaluated.Results Treatment group were enrolled 55 cases,1 case dropped out,and 54 cases were finally included in the statistical analysis.Control group were enrolled 55 cases,2 cases dropped out,and 53 cases were finally included in the statistical analysis.After treatment,the disease control rates of treatment and control groups were 64.81%(35 cases/54 cases)and 35.85%(19 cases/53 cases);the objective response rates were 37.04%(20 cases/54 cases)and 18.87%(10 cases/53 cases);the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of carcinoembryonic antigen in the treatment and control groups were(14.88±1.96)and(17.25±2.01)ng·mL-1;the levels of carbohydrate antigen 15-3 were(28.42±4.27)and(32.56±4.85)U·mL-1;the levels of tissue peptide specific antigen were(101.76±10.64)and(106.23±11.16)U·L-1;the overall one-year survival rates were 31.48%and 15.09%;the progression free survival time was 7.00 and 6.00 months;the total survival time was 9.00 and 8.00 months,respectively.The differences of above indexes were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The adverse drug reactions of two groups were mainly diarrhea,leukopenia,hand foot syndrome,nausea and abdominal pain.The incidences of diarrhea in the treatment and control groups were 79.63%and 60.38%with significant difference(P<0.05);and there were no significant differences in the incidence of other adverse drug reactions between two groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion The clinical efficacy of naratinib maleate tablets combined with capecitabine tablets in the treatment of the advanced breast cancer is better than that of capecitabine alone;the former can better reduce the levels of tumor markers,prolong the survival time,and improve the short-term survival rate.
10.Melatonin alleviates autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage via the PI3K/AKT pathway
Chen-Meng LIU ; Xiao-Tian GAO ; Hai-Mo ZHANG ; Hui-Ning BI ; Chen LIANG ; Jing-Ying JIANG ; Pei-Lun XIAO ; Xiao-He YU ; Xiao-Li WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(6):631-638
Objective To observe the effects of melatonin on autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)and to explore its mechanisms via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,aiming to provide a basis for the clinical application of melatonin.Methods Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group,an HIBD group,and a melatonin group(n=9 each).The neonatal rat HIBD model was established using the classic Rice-Vannucci method.Neuronal morphology in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex was observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining.Autophagy-related protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)and Beclin-1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis.Phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase(p-PI3K)and phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT)protein expression levels were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The correlation between autophagy and the PI3K pathway in the melatonin group and the HIBD group was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results Twenty-four hours post-modeling,neurons in the sham operation group displayed normal size and orderly arrangement.In contrast,neurons in the HIBD group showed swelling and disorderly arrangement,while those in the melatonin group had relatively normal morphology and more orderly arrangement.Nissl bodies were normal in the sham operation group but distorted in the HIBD group;however,they remained relatively intact in the melatonin group.The average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Beclin-1 was higher in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group,but was reduced in the melatonin group compared to the HIBD group(P<0.05).The number of p-PI3K+and p-AKT+cells decreased in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group but increased in the melatonin group compared to the HIBD group(P<0.05).LC3 and Beclin-1 protein expression levels were higher,and p-PI3K and p-AKT levels were lower in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group(P<0.05);however,in the melatonin group,LC3 and Beclin-1 levels decreased,and p-PI3K and p-AKT increased compared to the HIBD group(P<0.05).The correlation analysis results showed that the difference of the mean fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Beclin-1 protein in the injured cerebral cortex between the melatonin and HIBD groups was negatively correlated with the difference of the number of p-PI3K+and p-AKT+cells between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusions Melatonin can inhibit excessive autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with HIBD,thereby alleviating HIBD.This mechanism is associated with the PI3K/AKT pathway.

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