1.Progress on antisense oligonucleotide in the field of antibacterial therapy
Jia LI ; Xiao-lu HAN ; Shi-yu SONG ; Jin-tao LIN ; Zhi-qiang TANG ; Zeng-ming WANG ; Liang XU ; Ai-ping ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):337-347
With the widespread use of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacterial infections have become a significant threat to human health. Finding new antibacterial strategies that can effectively control drug-resistant bacterial infections has become an urgent task. Unlike small molecule drugs that target bacterial proteins, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) can target genes related to bacterial resistance, pathogenesis, growth, reproduction and biofilm formation. By regulating the expression of these genes, ASO can inhibit or kill bacteria, providing a novel approach for the development of antibacterial drugs. To overcome the challenge of delivering antisense oligonucleotide into bacterial cells, various drug delivery systems have been applied in this field, including cell-penetrating peptides, lipid nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles, which have injected new momentum into the development of antisense oligonucleotide in the antibacterial realm. This review summarizes the current development of small nucleic acid drugs, the antibacterial mechanisms, targets, sequences and delivery vectors of antisense oligonucleotide, providing a reference for the research and development of antisense oligonucleotide in the treatment of bacterial infections.
2.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
3.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
4.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
5. Advances on cardiovascular effects of GLP-lRAs
Zhi-Qiang KE ; Chao LIU ; Zhi-Qiang KE ; Qian-Qian MA ; Zheng-Ding SU ; Dan LI ; Xin-Yuan ZHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(3):426-430
Glucagon-like peptide-1 ( GLP-1 ) is secreted by gut enteroendocrine cells. GLP-1 receptor agonists ( GLP-1 RAs) control glucose-related augmentation of insulin and suppress glu-cagon secretion. GLP-lRAs also inhibit gastric emptying, food intake and limit weight gain. In the past decade, significant progresses have been made in the investigation on the effects of GLP-1 RAs on cardiovascular system. The potential advantages of oral small-molecule GLP-1 RAs could improve the application of this class of drugs. This review highlights the multiple cardiovascular profiles of GLP-1 RAs in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases to provide new insights into cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 RAs.
6.Toxicokinetics of MDMA and Its Metabolite MDA in Rats
Wei-Guang YU ; Qiang HE ; Zheng-Di WANG ; Cheng-Jun TIAN ; Jin-Kai WANG ; Qian ZHENG ; Fei REN ; Chao ZHANG ; You-Mei WANG ; Peng XU ; Zhi-Wen WEI ; Ke-Ming YUN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;40(1):37-42
Objective To investigate the toxicokinetic differences of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine(MDMA)and its metabolite 4,5-methylene dioxy amphetamine(MDA)in rats af-ter single and continuous administration of MDMA,providing reference data for the forensic identifica-tion of MDMA.Methods A total of 24 rats in the single administration group were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg experimental groups and the control group,with 6 rats in each group.The ex-perimental group was given intraperitoneal injection of MDMA,and the control group was given intraperi-toneal injection of the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.The amount of 0.5 mL blood was collected from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.In the continuous administration group,24 rats were randomly divided into the experi-mental group(18 rats)and the control group(6 rats).The experimental group was given MDMA 7 d by continuous intraperitoneal injection in increments of 5,7,9,11,13,15,17 mg/kg per day,respectively,while the control group was given the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group by in-traperitoneal injection.On the eighth day,the experimental rats were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg dose groups,with 6 rats in each group.MDMA was injected intraperitoneally,and the con-trol group was injected intraperitoneally with the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.On the eighth day,0.5 mL of blood was taken from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.Liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect MDMA and MDA levels,and statistical software was employed for data analysis.Results In the single-administration group,peak concentrations of MDMA and MDA were reached at 5 min and 1 h after administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 12 h.In the continuous administration group,peak concentrations were reached at 30 min and 1.5 h af-ter administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 10 h.Nonlinear fitting equations for the concentration ratio of MDMA and MDA in plasma and administration time in the single-administration group and continuous administration group were as follows:T=10.362C-1.183,R2=0.974 6;T=7.397 3C-0.694,R2=0.961 5(T:injection time;C:concentration ratio of MDMA to MDA in plasma).Conclusions The toxicokinetic data of MDMA and its metabolite MDA in rats,obtained through single and continuous administration,including peak concentration,peak time,detection time limit,and the relationship between concentration ratio and administration time,provide a theoretical and data foundation for relevant forensic identification.
7.Preparation and in vivo pharmacokinetics of nanosuspensions of naringenin phospholipids complex
Xiao-Meng LI ; Wu-Mei ZHENG ; Zhi-Qiang ZHANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(1):41-48
AIM To prepare the nanosuspensions of naringenin phospholipids complex,and to investigate their in vivo pharmacokinetics.METHODS High-pressure homogenization method was applied to preparing the nanosuspensions of phospholipids complex.With stabilizer type,stabilizer-phospholipids complex consumption ratio,homogeneous pressure and homogeneous frequency as influencing factors,particle size,PDI and Zeta potential as evaluation indices,the formulation was optimized by single factor test.The morphology was observed under transmission electron microscope,after which X-ray powder diffraction analysis was performed,solubility,oil-water partition coefficient,dissociation rate of phospholipids complex and accumulative release rate were determined.Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned into four groups and given intragastric administration of the 0.5%CMC-Na suspensions of naringenin and its phospholipids complex,nanosuspensions and nanosuspensions of phospholipids complex(30 mg/kg),respectively,after which blood collection was made at 0,0.25,0.5,1,1.5,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,12 h,HPLC was adopted in the plasma concentration determination of naringenin,and main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated.RESULTS The optimal formulation was determined to be 50 mg for naringenin consumption,PVP K30+TPGS(1 ∶ 1)as stabilizer,3 ∶ 1 for stabilizer-phospholipids complex consumption ratio,100 MPa for homogeneous pressure,and 10 times for homogeneous frequency,respectively.The obtained spherical-like or oval nanosuspensions of phospholipids complex demonstrated the average particle size,PDI and Zeta potential of(260.53±25.86)nm,0.160±0.024 and(-31.08±1.37)mV,respectively.Naringenin existed in the nanosuspensions of phospholipids complex in an anamorphous state,along with increased solubility,oil-water partition coefficient and dissociation rate of phospholipids complex,and the accumulative release rate reached more than 90%within 4 h.Compared with raw medicine and nanosuspensions,the nanosuspensions of phospholipids complex displayed shortened tmax(P<0.05)and increased Cmax,AUC0-t,AUC0-∞(P<0.05,P<0.01),the relative bioavailability was enhanced to 4.38 times.CONCLUSION The nanosuspensions of phospholipids can enhance naringenin's solubility and dissolution rate,and promote its in vivo absorption.
8.Effects of verbascoside on adenine-induced infertility in rats
Zhi WANG ; Qiang HOU ; Zheng RAN ; Jian-Hua YANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(3):771-779
AIM To explore the effects and mechanism of verbascoside on adenine-induced infertility in rats.METHODS Rats randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the positive control group(100 mg/kg Compound Xuanju Capsule)and low and high dose groups of verbascoside(50 and 100 mg/kg)were given 150 mg/kg adenine daily for 14 days to establish the rat model of infertility,except those of the blank group,followed by the 28 days corresponding gavage of the drugs.The rats had their general activities observed;their indexes levels of liver,kidney,testis and epididymis calculated;their sperms checked under the microscope;their pathological morphology of the liver,the kidney and the testis observed by HE staining;their spermatogenesis evaluated using the Johnsen scoring method;their serum levels of T,LH,FSH and GnRH detected by ELISA;and their testicular mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR,LC3B and ULK1 detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the model group displayed increased index level of the kidney(P<0.05),decreased sperm count,sperm activity rate and sperm index level(P<0.05),decreased serum levels of T and GnRH(P<0.05),increased levels of LH and FSH(P<0.05),obviously pathological damage of the kidney and testis,increased testicular expressions of mTOR mRNA and protein(P<0.05),decreased expressions of LC3B and ULK1 mRNA and protein(P<0.05),and decreased expression of p-mTOR protein(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the high-dose verbascoside group demonstrated decreased renal index level(P<0.05),increased sperm count and sperm activity rate(P<0.05),increased serum T level(P<0.05),decreased LH and FSH levels(P<0.05),improved pathological damage of the kidney and the testis at different levels,decreased testicular expressions of mTOR mRNA and protein(P<0.05),increased expressions of LC3B,ULK1 mRNA and protein(P<0.05),and increased expression of p-mTOR protein(P<0.05).The high-dose verbascoside group displayed the same effects as those of the positive control Compound Xuanju Capsule.CONCLUSION Verbascoside can effectively improve the sperm quality,sex hormone disorder,reproductive function and pathological damage of kidney and testis in infertile rats,and its mechanism may be related to the enhanced positive regulation of autophagy and regulated hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis disorder.
9.Study on the effect of percutaneous angular vertebroplasty on functional recovery in elderly patients with osteoporosis vertebral compression fractures
Yiming MIAO ; Bin LUO ; Wei LU ; Zhi ZHENG ; Qiang WANG
Journal of Clinical Surgery 2024;32(7):736-739
Objective Exploring the effect of Percutaneous angular vertebroplasty(PCVP)on functional recovery in elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures(OVCF).Methods Retrospective selection of clinical data from 108 OVCF patients admitted to our hospital from August 2020 to December 2022.According to the different surgical methods,52 cases were divided into a control group(percutaneous vertebroplasty)and an observation group(percutaneous vertebroplasty)with 56 cases;Compare the recovery of vertebral body function,imaging related parameters,functional impairment and lumbar function,surgical related conditions,gait,and complications between the two groups.Results The intraoperative blood loss in the observation group was less than that in the control group[(10.65±3.52)ml vs.(13.11±3.66)ml,P<0.05],the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy was less than that of control group[(14.21±4.27)vs.(17.04±4.25),P<0.05],there was no statistically significant difference in the total clinical effective rate between the observation group of 89.28%and the control group of 86.53%(P>0.05).After 2 months of surgery,the imaging related parameters,functional impairment,lumbar function,surgical and gait related conditions in the control group were better than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of incision infection,nerve root injury,and recurrent fractures between the two groups(P>0.05),but the leakage rate of bone cement in the observation group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Both surgeries can effectively improve the level of lumbar vertebral function in OVCF patients.PVCP has advantages in increasing the height of the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body,reducing the Cobb angle,and relatively fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy times and bleeding.The incidence of bone cement leakage is lower,making it more safe.
10.Correlation between posterior longitudinal ligament injury and vertebral body injury parameters in thoracolumbar burst fractures
Qiang HE ; Xuejun YANG ; Feng LI ; Baolong YU ; Shengxiang LIU ; Xu GAO ; Zhi HUANG ; Wenkai ZHENG ; Yifeng DA ; Zhi WANG ; Wenhua XING
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2024;44(22):1474-1481
Objective:To evaluate the correlation between the degree of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) injury and various parameters of vertebral body injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods:A total of 48 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were admitted to the Spine Surgery Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between December 2022 and January 2024. The cohort consisted of 31 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 44.1±11.8 years (range, 18-65 years). Based on the PLL injury grading method proposed by Sun Zhaoyun, patients were classified into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe. However, due to an insufficient number of patients in the severe group ( n=3), the moderate and severe groups were combined for statistical analysis, resulting in two groups: mild, and moderate-to-severe. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Local kyphosis (LK), inversion angle (IA), horizontal rotation angle (HRA), increased interspinous distance (IISD), anterior vertebral body compression ratio (AVBCR), posterior vertebral body compression ratio (PVBCR), middle vertebral body compression ratio (MVBCR), the ratio of height of bone fragment (RHBF), the ratio of width of bone fragment (RWBF), and mid-sagittal canal diameter compression ratio (MSDCR) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage) and analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Continuous variables were tested for normality, with non-normally distributed data analyzed using the rank-sum test and expressed as median (interquartile range). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate predictive performance. Results:Among the 48 patients, only 3 were found to have severe PLL injury, necessitating the combination of the moderate and severe groups for statistical purposes. Patients in the moderate-to-severe group demonstrated significantly higher AVBCR, PVBCR, RHBF, MVBCR, MSDCR, and IA compared to the mild group ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, and IA as independent risk factors for moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( OR>1, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index could effectively predict moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( P<0.05). Notably, the combined index showed superior predictive performance (AUC=0.970) compared to individual parameters. Threshold values were determined as follows: AVBCR>45.30%, PVBCR>12.17%, MSDCR>27.13%, IA>5.90°, and the combined index >0.61, indicating PLL damage. Conclusion:AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index are significantly associated with moderate-to-severe PLL injury in thoracolumbar burst fractures. The combined index demonstrates superior predictive ability compared to single parameters, providing a reliable tool for assessing PLL integrity.

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