1.Transfer learning enhanced graph neural network for aldehyde oxidase metabolism prediction and its experimental application.
Jiacheng XIONG ; Rongrong CUI ; Zhaojun LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Runze ZHANG ; Zunyun FU ; Xiaohong LIU ; Zhenghao LI ; Kaixian CHEN ; Mingyue ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):623-634
Aldehyde oxidase (AOX) is a molybdoenzyme that is primarily expressed in the liver and is involved in the metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics. AOX-mediated metabolism can result in unexpected outcomes, such as the production of toxic metabolites and high metabolic clearance, which can lead to the clinical failure of novel therapeutic agents. Computational models can assist medicinal chemists in rapidly evaluating the AOX metabolic risk of compounds during the early phases of drug discovery and provide valuable clues for manipulating AOX-mediated metabolism liability. In this study, we developed a novel graph neural network called AOMP for predicting AOX-mediated metabolism. AOMP integrated the tasks of metabolic substrate/non-substrate classification and metabolic site prediction, while utilizing transfer learning from 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data to enhance its performance on both tasks. AOMP significantly outperformed the benchmark methods in both cross-validation and external testing. Using AOMP, we systematically assessed the AOX-mediated metabolism of common fragments in kinase inhibitors and successfully identified four new scaffolds with AOX metabolism liability, which were validated through in vitro experiments. Furthermore, for the convenience of the community, we established the first online service for AOX metabolism prediction based on AOMP, which is freely available at https://aomp.alphama.com.cn.
2.Somatic CDKN2A copy number variations are associated with the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell dysplasia
Zhiyuan FAN ; Jing ZHOU ; Yuan TIAN ; Yu QIN ; Zhaojun LIU ; Liankun GU ; M. Sanford DAWSEY ; Wenqiang WEI ; Dajun DENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(8):980-989
Background::Somatic copy number variations (SCNVs) in the CDKN2A gene are among the most frequent events in the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, whether CDKN2A SCNVs are useful biomarkers for the risk stratification and management of patients with esophageal squamous cell dysplasia (ESCdys) is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognostic value of CDKN2A SCNVs in patients with mild or moderate (m/M) ESCdys. Methods::This study conducted a prospective multicenter study of 205 patients with a baseline diagnosis of m/M ESCdys in five high-risk regions of China (Ci County, Hebei Province; Yanting, Sichuan Province; Linzhou, Henan Province; Yangzhong, Jiangsu Province; and Feicheng, Shandong Province) from 2005 to 2019. Genomic DNA was extracted from paraffin biopsy samples and paired peripheral white blood cells from patients, and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, P16-Light, was used to detect CDKN2A copy number. The cumulative regression and progression rates of ESCdys were evaluated using competing risk models. Results::A total of 205 patients with baseline m/M ESCdys were enrolled. The proportion of ESCdys regression was significantly lower in the CDKN2A deletion cohort than in the diploid and amplification cohorts (18.8% [13/69] vs. 35.0% [28/80] vs. 51.8% [29/56], P <0.001). In the univariable competing risk analysis, the cumulative regression rate was statistically significantly lower ( P = 0.008), while the cumulative progression rate was higher ( P = 0.017) in ESCdys patients with CDKN2A deletion than in those without CDKN2A deletion. CDKN2A deletion was also an independent predictor of prognosis in ESCdys ( P = 0.004) in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion::The results indicated that CDKN2A SCNVs are associated with the prognosis of ESCdys and may serve as potential biomarkers for risk stratification.
3.Relationship between TFA-irAE after anti-PD-1 therapy and survival in advanced cancer patients
Wei GUO ; Donghui WANG ; Zhenhua WANG ; Zhaojun XUE
Journal of International Oncology 2024;51(8):481-486
Objective:To investigate the relationship between thyroid function abnormality-immune related adverse event (TFA-irAE) and treatment efficacy and survival in advanced cancer patients treated with programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors.Methods:The clinical data of 90 patients with advanced cancer who received 6 cycles of PD-1 inhibitor treatment from January 2021 to June 2022 in Department of Oncology of Yuncheng Central Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University were collected. Serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT 4), thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), and thyroglobulin antibody (TGAb) were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay in patients after PD-1 inhibitor treatment, and the incidence of TFA-irAE was observed in the patients after 6 cycles of therapy. According to the occurrence of TFA-irAE, the patients were divided into TFA-irAE occurrence group ( n=40) and TFA-irAE non-occurrence group ( n=50), the therapeutic efficacy and survival of the two groups were calculated and compared. The thyroid function indexes of patients with different efficacy (33 cases in effective group and 57 cases in ineffective group) and patients with different prognosis (30 cases in survival group, 60 cases in death group) were compared, and the influencing factors of efficacy and survival were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression and Cox analysis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn, and the survival of TFA-irAE occurrence group and TFA-irAE non-occurrence group were compared by log-rank test. Results:One year after treatment, the treatment effective rate of TFA-irAE occurrence group and TFA-irAE non-occurrence group were 42.5% (17/40), 32.0% (16/50), respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.06, P=0.304). After 6 cycles of PD-1 inhibitor treatment, serum levels of TSH [ (2.56±0.41) mU/ml vs. (3.11±0.53) mU/ml], TPOAb [ (56.78±5.72) U/ml vs. (62.67±6.31) U/ml] and TGAb [ (81.57±8.23) U/ml vs. (92.34±9.31) U/ml] in the effective group were significantly lower than those in the ineffective group, with statistically significant differences ( t=4.45, P<0.001; t=3.89, P<0.001; t=5.29, P<0.001). The serum levels of TSH [ (2.69±0.46) mU/ml vs. (3.06±0.65) mU/ml], FT 4 [ (10.45±1.13) pmol/L vs. (11.50±1.36) pmol/L], TPOAb [ (56.27±5.61) U/ml vs. (62.47±6.34) U/ml] and TGAb [ (81.62±8.31) U/ml vs. (91.73±9.35) U/ml] in the survival group were significantly lower than those in the death group, with statistically significant differences ( t=2.27, P=0.025; t=3.02, P=0.003; t=3.79, P<0.001; t=4.19, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that TSH ( OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.13-2.05, P=0.006), TPOAb ( OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.13-1.78, P=0.002) and TGAb ( OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.05-1.73, P=0.018) were all independent factors affecting the efficacy of patients with advanced cancer treated with PD-1 inhibitors. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that TSH ( HR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.06-1.92, P=0.030), TPOAb ( HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.05-1.64, P=0.018), TGAb ( HR=1.41, 95% CI: 1.09-1.83, P=0.008) and FT 4 ( HR=1.36, 95% CI: 1.02-1.81, P=0.038) were all independent factors affecting the survival of patients with advanced cancer treated with PD-1 inhibitors. Survival analysis showed that the median overall survival in the TFA-irAE occurrence group and the TFA-irAE non-occurrence group were 10.8 and 8.0 months, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( χ2=9.53, P=0.002) . Conclusion:Although the occurrence of TFA-irAE may have less effect on the efficacy of advanced tumor patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors, it may affect the survival of patients. TSH, TPOAb and TGAb are all independent influencing factors for the efficacy of patients with advanced tumors treated with PD-1 inhibitors, while TSH, TPOAb, TGAb and FT 4 are independent influencing factors for the survival of patients with advanced tumors treated with PD-1 inhibitors.
4.Clinical prognosis of acute posterior circulation large artery occlusive stroke via endovascular therapy
Wei CHEN ; Lu DING ; Zhou ZHOU ; Kan CAO ; Zhaojun MEI ; Bo CHEN ; Xinyu LU
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2024;28(19):100-104
Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with acute posterior circulation large artery occlusive stroke within 6 hours via endovascular therapy and analyze the risk factors for poor prognosis. Methods Clinical data of 43 patients with acute posterior circulation large artery occlusive stroke within 6 hours from January 2017 to June 2023 in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University were collected. The baseline data, the vascular recanalization rate, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage rate, 90 d good prognosis [modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score≤2] rate, and mortality were analyzed retrospectively. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were applied to analyze the risk factors associated with poor prognosis (mRS score>2). Results After endovascular treatment, successful revascularization was achieved in 34 cases, and 4 cases developed symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. At the 90-day follow-up, 20 patients had good outcomes, 12 had poor outcomes, and 11 died. Univariate analysis suggested that there was a statistically significant difference in preoperative NIHSS scores between the two groups (
5.Genomic evolutionary analysis of norovirus GII.6P7 recombinant strain in China
Xingyan WEI ; Xi ZHU ; Qing ZHANG ; Xiangyu KONG ; Mengxuan WANG ; Yanhui YANG ; Miao JIN ; Zhaojun DUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2022;36(5):501-507
Objective:To clarify the evolutionary characteristics and key site variations of the GII.6[P7] genome of norovirus disease outbreak in China.Methods:Genome amplification and sequencing of 46 GII.6[P7] positive samples monitored from CaliciNet China from 2018 to 2021. Simultaneous integration of all ORF1 (GII. P7) and ORF2 (GII.6) sequences for Bayesian evolutionary analysis. And the use of Simplot for restructuring analysis.Results:According to Bayesian evolution analysis, GII. P7 polymerase has temporal evolutionary characteristics, with an average base replacement rate of 2.067× 10 -3 nucleotide substitution/site/year, and recombination with 4 different VP1 genotypes (GII.6, GII.7, GII.14, GII.20). In the capsid region, GII.6 noroviruses can be further divided into GII.6a, GII.6b and GII.6c subtypes. The 46 strains in this study belong to the GII.6a subtype, which are divided into the same cluster as the virus strain NHBGR59 circulating in China in 2015. Simplot analysis determined that the recombination site of the GII.6[P7] strain in this study was at the ORF1-2 junction. The amino acid site variation of VP1 mainly occurred at the end of P1.1 and the P2 region. Compared with the reference strain of GII.6a subtype, there was no variation in the receptor binding site. Conclusions:The GII.6[P7] recombinant strains of the norovirus outbreak from 2018 to 2021 in China all belong to the GII.6a[P7] subtype.
6.Ginsenoside Rg1 ameliorates blood-brain barrier disruption and traumatic brain injury
Kefeng ZHAI ; Hong DUAN ; Wei WANG ; Siyu ZHAO ; Ghulam Jilany KHAN ; Mengting WANG ; Yuhan ZHANG ; Kiran THAKUR ; Xuemei FANG ; Chao WU ; Jianbo XIAO ; Zhaojun WEI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021;11(11):3493-3507
During the traumatic brain injury (TBI), improved expression of circulatory miR-21 serves as a diagnostic feature. Low levels of exosome-miR-21 in the brain can effectively improve neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, reduce nerve apoptosis, restore neural function and ameliorate TBI. We evaluated the role of macrophage derived exosomes-miR-21 (M-Exos-miR-21) in disrupting BBB, deteriorating TBI, and Rg1 interventions. IL-1
7. Correlation between soluble ST2 and coronary artery complex lesions and their severity
Qiujue FANG ; Zhaojun WANG ; Wei YUAN ; Shu DING ; Zhongqun WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2021;26(3):278-284
AIM: To investigate the relationship between serum soluble growth stimulation expressed gene 2 protein(sST2) level and coronary artery complex lesions and their severity. METHODS: A total of 430 patients, who were sequentially admitted to hospital for selective coronary artery angiography, were divided into control group (non-coronary heart disease group, 136 patients), simple lesions group of coronary heart disease (86 patients), complex lesions group (208 patients). To quantitative evaluate the complexity of coronary artery lesions, Syntax scores were further performed on patients in complex lesions groups, including 139 patients in the low-risk group, 36 patients in the medium-risk group, and 33 patients in the high-risk group. The serum soluble ST2 level of each group of patients was tested by means of ELISA. Spearman correlation analysis was used for the correlation between the level of soluble ST2 and the severity of coronary complex lesions. RESULTS: In 430 subjects, the soluble ST2 level of all patients with coronary heart disease (including simple lesions and complex lesions) was significantly higher than that of the control group [(3 449±1 250) vs. (2 743±961) pg/mL, P<0.001]; the sST2 levels of patients in the coronary artery simple lesions group, complex lesions low-risk group, medium-risk group and high-risk group were (3 200±1 406), (3 338±1 064), (3 728±1 228) and (4 261±1 235) pg/mL respectively, and the differences of sST2 levels among above four groups were statistically significant (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that sST2 was independently associated with coronary heart disease (OR=1.001, P<0.001) and sST2 was independently associated with the severity of coronary artery complex lesions (OR=1.001, P<0.001). Spearman-related analysis shows that the expression levels of sST2 are positively related to the severity of coronary artery lesions (rs: 0.543, P<0.001). The ROC curve showed that the area under the curve of sST2 for complex coronary lesions was AUC=0.726. CONCLUSION: Serum soluble ST2 level may be an important predictor of complicated coronary artery disease.
8.Relation of thrombus composition with stroke etiology and influence of thrombus composition in prognoses of stroke
ZhaoJun MEI ; Wei CHEN ; Yu QIAN ; Enxi XU ; Kan CAO ; Peisong LU ; Qiaoyu LI ; Xinyu LU
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2021;20(1):35-39
Objective:The composition of thrombi obtained during mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke is analyzed to investigate its relation with stroke etiology and its influence in surgical parameters and clinical prognoses.Methods:The thrombi and clinical data of 41 patients with acute ischemic stroke directly treated by mechanical thrombectomy in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 were collected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to quantitatively analyze the composition of thrombi, and the components of thrombi in patients with different causes of stroke (large artery atherosclerosis [LAA], cardiogenic embolism [CE], and unexplained type) were compared. These patients were divided into erythrocyte-rich group (erythrocyte content>fibrin content) and fibrin-rich group (erythrocyte content
9.Mapping Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Erythroid Differentiation by Single-cell Transcriptome Analysis
Xin ZIJUAN ; Zhang WEI ; Gong SHANGJIN ; Zhu JUNWEI ; Li YANMING ; Zhang ZHAOJUN ; Fang XIANGDONG
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics 2021;19(3):358-376
There is an imbalance between the supply and demand of functional red blood cells (RBCs) in clinical appli-cations. This imbalance can be addressed by regenerating RBCs using several in vitro methods. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can handle the low supply of cord blood and the ethical issues in embryonic stem cell research, and provide a promising strategy to eliminate immune rejection. However, no complete single-cell level differentiation pathway exists for the iPSC-derived erythroid differentiation system. In this study, we used iPSC line BC1 to establish a RBC regeneration system. The 10X Genomics single-cell transcriptome platform was used to map the cell lineage and differentiation trajectory on day 14 of the regeneration system. We observed that iPSC differentiation was not synchronized during embryoid body (EB) culture. The cells (on day 14) mainly consisted of mesodermal and various blood cells, similar to the yolk sac hematopoiesis. We identified six cell classifications and characterized the regulatory transcription factor (TF) networks and cell–cell contacts underlying the system. iPSCs undergo two transformations during the differentiation trajectory, accompanied by the dynamic expression of cell adhesion molecules and estrogen-responsive genes. We iden-tified erythroid cells at different stages, such as burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E) and orthochromatic erythroblast (ortho-E) cells, and found that the regulation of TFs (e.g., TFDP1 and FOXO3) is erythroid-stage specific. Immune erythroid cells were identified in our system. This study provides systematic theoretical guidance for optimizing the iPSC-derived erythroid differentiation system, and this system is a useful model for simulating in vivo hematopoietic develo-pment and differentiation.
10.Epidemiological investigation on the first family cluster of COVID-19 in Lanzhou
WANG Yuhong ; ZHANG Wei ; ZHANG Xiaoyu ; MA Hanping ; WANG Zhaojun ; ZHANG Yan ; SU Yanjun ; LI Hongrong
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2020;32(9):891-894
Objective:
To investigate the first family cluster of COVID-19 in Lanzhou, so as to provide basis for improving the COVID-19 outbreak prevention capacity.
Methods :
On January 23, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University reported two suspected cases of COVID-19.According to the COVID-19 Epidemiological Investigation Plan ( second edition ) , general information, disease diagnosis and treatment, clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, household environment, exposure history and close contacts were collected to figure out the source of infection and routes of transmission.
Results:
This family cluster lasted 29 days, from January 23 to February 21, reporting nine confirmed cases ( one death ) and one asymptomatic case. There were three imported cases from Wuhan, who were the source of the cluster; and seven secondary cases, who all had close contact with the imported cases during daily life or through having dinners. The secondary attack rate was 41.18% ( 7/17 ) . Among 9 confirmed cases, the incubation period ranged from four to ten days, with a median of nine days. Except for seven secondary cases, 24 close contacts were found and detected negative in the nucleic acid tests.
Conclusions
The first family cluster of COVID-19 in Lanzhou is caused by the imported cases from Wuhan. All the secondary cases have had dinners and/or had contact with the imported cases, thus they are infected through respiratory droplets and close contact.


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