1.The Ferroptosis-inducing Compounds in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Xin-Die WANG ; Da-Li FENG ; Xiang CUI ; Su ZHOU ; Peng-Fei ZHANG ; Zhi-Qiang GAO ; Li-Li ZOU ; Jun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):804-819
Ferroptosis, a programmed cell death modality discovered and defined in the last decade, is primarily induced by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. At present, it has been found that ferroptosis is involved in various physiological functions such as immune regulation, growth and development, aging, and tumor suppression. Especially its role in tumor biology has attracted extensive attention and research. Breast cancer is one of the most common female tumors, characterized by high heterogeneity and complex genetic background. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special type of breast cancer, which lacks conventional breast cancer treatment targets and is prone to drug resistance to existing chemotherapy drugs and has a low cure rate after progression and metastasis. There is an urgent need to find new targets or develop new drugs. With the increase of studies on promoting ferroptosis in breast cancer, it has gradually attracted attention as a treatment strategy for breast cancer. Some studies have found that certain compounds and natural products can act on TNBC, promote their ferroptosis, inhibit cancer cells proliferation, enhance sensitivity to radiotherapy, and improve resistance to chemotherapy drugs. To promote the study of ferroptosis in TNBC, this article summarized and reviewed the compounds and natural products that induce ferroptosis in TNBC and their mechanisms of action. We started with the exploration of the pathways of ferroptosis, with particular attention to the System Xc--cystine-GPX4 pathway and iron metabolism. Then, a series of compounds, including sulfasalazine (SAS), metformin, and statins, were described in terms of how they interact with cells to deplete glutathione (GSH), thereby inhibiting the activity of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and preventing the production of lipid peroxidases. The disruption of the cellular defense against oxidative stress ultimately results in the death of TNBC cells. We have also our focus to the realm of natural products, exploring the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine extracts for TNBC. These herbal extracts exhibit multi-target effects and good safety, and have shown promising capabilities in inducing ferroptosis in TNBC cells. We believe that further exploration and characterization of these natural compounds could lead to the development of a new generation of cancer therapeutics. In addition to traditional chemotherapy, we discussed the role of drug delivery systems in enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of ferroptosis inducers. Nanoparticles such as exosomes and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can improve the solubility and bioavailability of these compounds, thereby expanding their therapeutic potential while minimizing systemic side effects. Although preclinical data on ferroptosis inducers are relatively robust, their translation into clinical practice remains in its early stages. We also emphasize the urgent need for more in-depth and comprehensive research to understand the complex mechanisms of ferroptosis in TNBC. This is crucial for the rational design and development of clinical trials, as well as for leveraging ferroptosis to improve patient outcomes. Hoping the above summarize and review could provide references for the research and development of lead compounds for the treatment for TNBC.
2.Criteria and prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation
Meng SHA ; Jun WANG ; Jie CAO ; Zhi-Hui ZOU ; Xiao-ye QU ; Zhi-feng XI ; Chuan SHEN ; Ying TONG ; Jian-jun ZHANG ; Seogsong JEONG ; Qiang XIA
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(Suppl):S285-S300
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.
3.Criteria and prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation
Meng SHA ; Jun WANG ; Jie CAO ; Zhi-Hui ZOU ; Xiao-ye QU ; Zhi-feng XI ; Chuan SHEN ; Ying TONG ; Jian-jun ZHANG ; Seogsong JEONG ; Qiang XIA
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(Suppl):S285-S300
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.
4.Criteria and prognostic models for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing liver transplantation
Meng SHA ; Jun WANG ; Jie CAO ; Zhi-Hui ZOU ; Xiao-ye QU ; Zhi-feng XI ; Chuan SHEN ; Ying TONG ; Jian-jun ZHANG ; Seogsong JEONG ; Qiang XIA
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(Suppl):S285-S300
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-associated death globally. Liver transplantation (LT) has emerged as a key treatment for patients with HCC, and the Milan criteria have been adopted as the cornerstone of the selection policy. To allow more patients to benefit from LT, a number of expanded criteria have been proposed, many of which use radiologic morphological characteristics with larger and more tumors as surrogates to predict outcomes. Other groups developed indices incorporating biological variables and dynamic markers of response to locoregional treatment. These expanded selection criteria achieved satisfactory results with limited liver supplies. In addition, a number of prognostic models have been developed using clinicopathological characteristics, imaging radiomics features, genetic data, and advanced techniques such as artificial intelligence. These models could improve prognostic estimation, establish surveillance strategies, and bolster long-term outcomes in patients with HCC. In this study, we reviewed the latest findings and achievements regarding the selection criteria and post-transplant prognostic models for LT in patients with HCC.
5.Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction in Treating Hypertension Complicated with Sleep Disorders of Phlegm-Heat Harassing the Interior Type
Zu-Qiang WU ; Hui-Ping ZHOU ; Jun ZOU ; Tian CAI ; Shun-Zhi YANG ; Shen-Rong HUANG ; Ai-Lan LUO
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(9):2319-2325
Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal compound modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction in the treatment of hypertension complicated with sleep disorders of phlegm-heat harassing the interior type.Methods A total of 70 patients with hypertension complicated with sleep disorders of phlegm-heat harassing the interior type were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group,35 cases in each group.The patients in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine,and the patients in the observation group were treated with modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment covered four weeks.The Clinical Global Impression(CGI)score,traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome score,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)score,blood pressure,and serum levels of homocysteine(Hey),interleukin 6(IL-6),interleukin 10(IL-10)and interleukin 8(IL-8)levels in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.Moreover,the safety of medication was evaluated in the two groups.Results(1)After four weeks of treatment,the CGI score of the observation group was(1.63±0.60)points,which was significantly lower than that of the control group[(2.74±0.82)points],and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.01).(2)After treatment,the TCM syndrome score,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and PSQI score of the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.01),and the decrease of TCM syndrome score,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and PSQI score in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(3)After treatment,the levels of serum Hcy,IL-6 and IL-8 in the two groups were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.01),and the serum IL-10 level was significantly increased compared with that before treatment(P<0.01).The decrease of serum Hcy,IL-6 and IL-8 levels and the increase of serum IL-10 level in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P<0.01).(4)During the treatment,no treatment-related adverse reactions or complications occurred in the two groups.Conclusion Modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction has certain efficacy on patients with hypertension complicated with sleep disorders of phlegm-heat harassing the interior type.The decoction can not only reduce the blood pressure and serum Hcy level of the patients,but also regulate the level of inflammatory factors with high safety.
6.Comparison of CT Values between Thrombus and Postmortem Clot Based on Cadaveric Pulmonary Angiography.
Zhi-Ling TIAN ; Ruo-Lin WANG ; Jian-Hua ZHANG ; Ping HUANG ; Zhi-Qiang QIN ; Zheng-Dong LI ; He-Wen DONG ; Dong-Hua ZOU ; Mao-Wen WANG ; Zhuo LI ; Lei WAN ; Xiao-Tian YU ; Ning-Guo LIU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2023;39(1):7-12
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the difference in CT values between pulmonary thromboembolism and postmortem clot in postmortem CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) to further improve the application value of virtual autopsy.
METHODS:
Postmortem CTPA data with the definite cause of death from 2016 to 2019 were collected and divided into pulmonary thromboembolism group (n=4), postmortem clot group (n=5), and control group (n=5). CT values of pulmonary trunk and left and right pulmonary artery contents in each group were measured and analyzed statistically.
RESULTS:
The average CT value in the pulmonary thromboembolism group and postmortem clot group were (168.4±53.8) Hu and (282.7±78.0) Hu, respectively, which were lower than those of the control group (1 193.0±82.9) Hu (P<0.05). The average CT value of the postmortem clot group was higher than that of the pulmonary thromboembolism group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
CT value is reliable and feasible as a relatively objective quantitative index to distinguish pulmonary thromboembolism and postmortem clot in postmortem CTPA. At the same time, it can provide a scientific basis to a certain extent for ruling out pulmonary thromboembolism deaths.
Humans
;
Autopsy
;
Thrombosis
;
Pulmonary Embolism/diagnostic imaging*
;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
;
Angiography
;
Cadaver
7.Mechanism of Tibetan medicine Pterocephalus hookeri extract in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on serum metabonomics.
Ce TANG ; Zhi-Qiang GAN ; Shi-Ying LUO ; Juan YANG ; Meng YU ; Zhong-Mei ZOU ; Yi ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2022;47(4):1001-1008
Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was used to investigate the effect of Pterocephalus hookeri on serum metabolism of adjuvant arthritis(AA) model rats induced by complete Freund's adjuvant. After the AA model was properly induced, the serum of rats was collected 30 days after treatment. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS chromatograms were collected and analyzed by principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA). The results revealed that compared with the control group, the model group showed increased content of 12 biomarkers in the serum(P<0.05) and reduced content of the other nine biomarkers(P<0.05). P. hookeri extract could recover the above-mentioned 19 biomarkers to a certain range. Pathway enrichment showed that these markers mainly involved eight metabolic pathways, including valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation, arachidonic acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, glycerol phospholipid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile acid biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. The findings of this study demonstrate that P. hookeri extract can regulate metabolic disorders and promote the regression of metabolic phenotype to the normal level to exert the therapeutic effect on AA rats. This study is expected to provide a certain scientific basis for the biological research on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by P. hookeri.
Animals
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Medicine, Tibetan Traditional
;
Metabolomics
;
Rats
9.Population Pharmacokinetics of Teicoplanin in Septic Patients from Intensive Care Unit
Zhi-jie HE ; Yao-wei ZHI ; Yan-pin GUAN ; Fang-yi LI ; Zi-jun ZOU ; Qiang BAO ; Xiao-xia YU
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2022;43(6):1005-1011
ObjectiveTo establish a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) model of teicoplanin in septic patients from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and to explore its pharmacokinetic characteristics and related covariates. MethodsThe study included 66 septic patients hospitalized in the department of critical care medicine from November 2017 to February 2020. After intravenous dosing of teicoplanin in septic patients, the trough concentration of teicoplanin was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the concentration-time data was analyzed by non-linear mixed effect model. The pharmacokinetic parameters and residual errors were evaluated. The influence of covariates on model parameters was tested by forward addition and backward elimination. The predictive performance of the final model was assessed by internal validation. ResultsA two-compartment model best described the teicoplanin concentration-time data. The PPK parameter estimates were central clearance of 0.45 L/min, peripheral clearance of 0.72 L/min, central volume of distribution of 39.74 L and peripheral volume of distribution of 152.41 L. Creatinine, total protein, and lactate were found to significantly affect central clearance of teicoplanin (P<0.05). ConclusionThe two-compartment PPK model of teicoplanin established in this study could be used for individualized treatment in septic patients from ICU due to its good stability and high predictive accuracy.
10.Virtual Autopsy Morphological Features of Drowning.
Jun-Qi JIAN ; Dong-Hua ZOU ; Zheng-Dong LI ; Jian-Hua ZHANG ; Zhi-Qiang QIN ; Ning-Guo LIU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2022;38(1):53-58
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the application value of virtual autopsy to obtain key evidence information on drowned corpses and its application value of virtual autopsy in the diagnosis of drowning.
METHODS:
In this study, 7 corpses were selected as the research objects. The image data of corpses were collected by computed tomography (CT) before conventional autopsy. The characteristics of corpses were observed through image reading, combined with virtual measurement indexes, and compared with 15 non-drowned corpses.
RESULTS:
The postmortem CT of drowning showed the more fluid in respiratory tract than the non-drowning, and ground-glass opacities in the lung. The statistical volume of fluid in the sinus (maxillary sinus and sphenoid sinus) was (10.24±4.70) mL in drowning cases and (2.02±2.45) mL in non-drowning cases. The average CT value of fluid in the sinus, left atrial blood and gastric contents in drowning cases were (15.91±17.20), (52.57±9.24) and (10.33±12.81) HU, respectively, which were lower than those in non-drowning cases (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The comprehensive consideration of multiple characteristic image manifestations and the virtual measurement indexes are helpful to the forensic pathological diagnosis of drowning. Virtual autopsy can be used as an auxiliary method in the forensic diagnosis of drowning.
Autopsy/methods*
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Cadaver
;
Drowning/diagnostic imaging*
;
Forensic Pathology/methods*
;
Humans
;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*

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