1.Neuroplasticity Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Brain Protection
Li-Juan HOU ; Lan-Qun MAO ; Wei CHEN ; Ke LI ; Xu-Dong ZHAO ; Yin-Hao WANG ; Zi-Zheng YANG ; Tian-He WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1435-1452
Neuroscience is a significant frontier discipline within the natural sciences and has become an important interdisciplinary frontier scientific field. Brain is one of the most complex organs in the human body, and its structural and functional analysis is considered the “ultimate frontier” of human self-awareness and exploration of nature. Driven by the strategic layout of “China Brain Project”, Chinese scientists have conducted systematic research focusing on “understanding the brain, simulating the brain, and protecting the brain”. They have made breakthrough progress in areas such as the principles of brain cognition, mechanisms and interventions for brain diseases, brain-like computation, and applications of brain-machine intelligence technology, aiming to enhance brain health through biomedical technology and improve the quality of human life. Due to limited understanding and comprehension of neuroscience, there are still many important unresolved issues in the field of neuroscience, resulting in a lack of effective measures to prevent and protect brain health. Therefore, in addition to actively developing new generation drugs, exploring non pharmacological treatment strategies with better health benefits and higher safety is particularly important. Epidemiological data shows that, exercise is not only an indispensable part of daily life but also an important non-pharmacological approach for protecting brain health and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, forming an emerging research field known as motor neuroscience. Basic research in motor neuroscience primarily focuses on analyzing the dynamic coding mechanisms of neural circuits involved in motor control, breakthroughs in motor neuroscience research depend on the construction of dynamic monitoring systems across temporal and spatial scales. Therefore, high spatiotemporal resolution detection of movement processes and movement-induced changes in brain structure and neural activity signals is an important technical foundation for conducting motor neuroscience research and has developed a set of tools based on traditional neuroscience methods combined with novel motor behavior decoding technologies, providing an innovative technical platform for motor neuroscience research. The protective effect of exercise in neurodegenerative diseases provides broad application prospects for its clinical translation. Applied research in motor neuroscience centers on deciphering the regulatory networks of neuroprotective molecules mediated by exercise. From the perspectives of exercise promoting neurogenesis and regeneration, enhancing synaptic plasticity, modulating neuronal functional activity, and remodeling the molecular homeostasis of the neuronal microenvironment, it aims to improve cognitive function and reduce the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. This has also advanced research into the molecular regulatory networks mediating exercise-induced neuroprotection and facilitated the clinical application and promotion of exercise rehabilitation strategies. Multidimensional analysis of exercise-regulated neural plasticity is the theoretical basis for elucidating the brain-protective mechanisms mediated by exercise and developing intervention strategies for neurological diseases. Thus,real-time analysis of different neural signals during active exercise is needed to study the health effects of exercise throughout the entire life cycle and enhance lifelong sports awareness. Therefore, this article will systematically summarize the innovative technological developments in motor neuroscience research, review the mechanisms of neural plasticity that exercise utilizes to protect the brain, and explore the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of major neurodegenerative diseases. This aims to provide new ideas for future theoretical innovations and clinical applications in the field of exercise-induced brain protection.
2.Preparation of HA-modified emodin-contained multi-walled carbon nanotubes drug delivery system and its inhi-bitory effect on breast cancer cells
Yuduo LI ; Juan DU ; Yunlong LIU ; Feng GENG ; Xiaobing CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(12):1463-1469
OBJECTIVE To prepare hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified emodin (EMD)-contained multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) drug delivery system (HA-MWCNTs-EMD) and explore its in vitro inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells. METHODS EMD was loaded onto MWCNTs to prepare a drug delivery system MWCNTs-EMD; subsequently, the system was further modified with HA to obtain the drug delivery system HA-MWCNTs-EMD. The two drug delivery systems mentioned above were characterized. With free EMD as the reference, the drug release in vitro of the above two drug delivery systems was investigated; the uptake of EMD by two breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 cells) was detected. The impacts of the above two drug delivery systems on the expression of surface glycoprotein differentiation group 44 (CD44), activity, apoptosis and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release of two breast cancer cells were detected. RESULTS The encapsulation efficiencies of MWCNTs-EMD and HA-MWCNTs-EMD were both (63.52±2.74)%, with drug loading rates of (25.01±1.83)% and (12.13± 1.96)%, particle sizes of (865.95±2.16) and (351.86±1.68) nm, polydispersity indexes of 0.54±0.02 and 0.23±0.01, and Zeta potentials of (23.87±0.14) and (-42.79±0.39) mV, respectively. The 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 24-hour cumulative release rates of EMD in MWCNTs-EMD and HA-MWCNTs-EMD were significantly lower than those in free EMD, while the cumulative release rate of HA-MWCNTs-EMD was significantly higher than that of MWCNTs-EMD (P<0.05); the EMD uptakes of MWCNTs-EMD and HA-MWCNTs-EMD by the two types of breast cancer cells were significantly higher than their uptake of free EMD (P<0.05). Compared with the free EMD group, the MWCNTs-EMD and MWCNTs-EMD groups showed significantly higher apoptosis rate and LDH release, significantly lower surface CD44 expression (except for the MWCNTs-EMD group) and cell viability in both cell types, and the effect of HA-MWCNTs-EMD was more pronounced (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS A novel drug delivery system HA-MWCNTs- EMD loaded with EMD is developed successfully; the drug delivery system has a certain slow-release effect, which can significantly reduce the activity of breast cancer cells, promote their apoptosis and increase the release of LDH, and the above anti- breast cancer effect is significantly stronger than that of free EMD and MWCNTs-EMD.
3.A novel homozygous mutation of CFAP300 identified in a Chinese patient with primary ciliary dyskinesia and infertility.
Zheng ZHOU ; Qi QI ; Wen-Hua WANG ; Jie DONG ; Juan-Juan XU ; Yu-Ming FENG ; Zhi-Chuan ZOU ; Li CHEN ; Jin-Zhao MA ; Bing YAO
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(1):113-119
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a clinically rare, genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous condition characterized by chronic respiratory tract infections, male infertility, tympanitis, and laterality abnormalities. PCD is typically resulted from variants in genes encoding assembly or structural proteins that are indispensable for the movement of motile cilia. Here, we identified a novel nonsense mutation, c.466G>T, in cilia- and flagella-associated protein 300 ( CFAP300 ) resulting in a stop codon (p.Glu156*) through whole-exome sequencing (WES). The proband had a PCD phenotype with laterality defects and immotile sperm flagella displaying a combined loss of the inner dynein arm (IDA) and outer dynein arm (ODA). Bioinformatic programs predicted that the mutation is deleterious. Successful pregnancy was achieved through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Our results expand the spectrum of CFAP300 variants in PCD and provide reproductive guidance for infertile couples suffering from PCD caused by them.
Adult
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Pregnancy
;
China
;
Ciliary Motility Disorders/genetics*
;
Codon, Nonsense
;
East Asian People/genetics*
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Homozygote
;
Infertility, Male/genetics*
;
Kartagener Syndrome/genetics*
;
Pedigree
;
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
;
Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics*
4.Associations of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection with male infertility and intrauterine insemination outcomes.
Yang-Yang WAN ; Xiao-Yun SHI ; Wen-Jing LIU ; Shun BAI ; Xin CHEN ; Si-Yao LI ; Xiao-Hua JIANG ; Li-Min WU ; Xian-Sheng ZHANG ; Juan HUA
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(2):219-224
Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) is one of the most commonly occurring pathogens associated with genital tract infections in infertile males, but the impact of seminal UU infection in semen on intrauterine insemination (IUI) outcomes is poorly understood. We collected data from 245 infertile couples who underwent IUI at The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (Hefei, China) between January 2021 and January 2023. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their UU infection status: the UU-positive group and the UU-negative group. We compared semen parameters, pregnancy outcomes, and neonatal birth outcomes to investigate the impact of UU infection on IUI outcomes. There were no significantly statistical differences in various semen parameters, including semen volume, sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, sperm morphology, leukocyte count, the presence of anti-sperm antibody, and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups of male infertile patients (all P > 0.05). However, the high DNA stainability (HDS) status of sperm differed between the UU-positive and UU-negative groups, suggesting that seminal UU infection may affect sperm nuclear maturation ( P = 0.04). Additionally, there were no significant differences in pregnancy or neonatal birth outcomes between the two groups (all P > 0.05). These results suggest that IUI remains a viable and cost-effective option for infertile couples with UU infection who are facing infertility issues.
Humans
;
Male
;
Ureaplasma Infections/complications*
;
Female
;
Infertility, Male/therapy*
;
Ureaplasma urealyticum/isolation & purification*
;
Pregnancy
;
Adult
;
Pregnancy Outcome
;
Semen Analysis
;
Insemination, Artificial
;
Semen/microbiology*
;
China
5.Interpretation of "Expert recommendations for the prevention of common respiratory viral infections in neonates": problems faced by respiratory syncytial virus infection in neonates.
Chen CHENG ; Ya-Juan WANG ; Yuan SHI
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(1):26-32
Neonates are susceptible to respiratory viral infections, with outbreaks reported in areas with a high population of neonates, such as postpartum care centers and neonatal wards. While specific antiviral drugs are currently available for influenza, symptomatic supportive treatment remains the primary approach for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), making prevention particularly important. The article closely follows the "Expert recommendations for the prevention of common respiratory viral infections in neonates" and provides an in-depth interpretation of recent breakthroughs in RSV prevention. It discusses the physiological and immunological characteristics of neonates, the disease burden and transmission routes of RSV infection, the main clinical manifestations and long-term effects of RSV infection in neonates, as well as specific preventive measures against RSV and practical recommendations and prevention experiences for RSV from abroad to lay a foundation for RSV prevention and control in neonates in China.
Humans
;
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/transmission*
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Respiratory Tract Infections/prevention & control*
6.Research progress on the diagnosis of pediatric heart failure.
Shi-Yi LEI ; Chen-Yang LI ; Ling-Juan LIU ; Yu-Xing YUAN ; Jie TIAN
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(1):127-132
Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome and pediatric heart failure (PHF) has a high mortality rate. Early diagnosis is crucial for treatment and management of PHF. In clinical practice, various tests and examinations play a key role in the diagnosis of PHF, including continuously updated biomarkers, echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This article focuses on summarizing relevant research on biomarkers, examinations, combined testing, clinical models, and the grading and staging of PHF diagnosis, aiming to provide insights and directions for the diagnosis of PHF.
Humans
;
Heart Failure/diagnosis*
;
Child
;
Biomarkers/blood*
;
Echocardiography
;
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
7.Genetic and clinical characteristics of children with RAS-mutated juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
Yun-Long CHEN ; Xing-Chen WANG ; Chen-Meng LIU ; Tian-Yuan HU ; Jing-Liao ZHANG ; Fang LIU ; Li ZHANG ; Xiao-Juan CHEN ; Ye GUO ; Yao ZOU ; Yu-Mei CHEN ; Ying-Chi ZHANG ; Xiao-Fan ZHU ; Wen-Yu YANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(5):548-554
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the genomic characteristics and prognostic factors of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) with RAS mutations.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of JMML children with RAS mutations treated at the Hematology Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2008 to November 2022.
RESULTS:
A total of 34 children were included, with 17 cases (50%) having isolated NRAS mutations, 9 cases (27%) having isolated KRAS mutations, and 8 cases (24%) having compound mutations. Compared to children with isolated NRAS mutations, those with NRAS compound mutations showed statistically significant differences in age at onset, platelet count, and fetal hemoglobin proportion (P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and hepatomegaly (≥2 cm below the costal margin) were factors affecting the survival rate of JMML children with RAS mutations (P<0.05); hepatomegaly was a factor affecting survival in the non-HSCT group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Children with NRAS compound mutations have a later onset age compared to those with isolated NRAS mutations. At initial diagnosis, children with NRAS compound mutations have poorer peripheral platelet and fetal hemoglobin levels than those with isolated NRAS mutations. Liver size at initial diagnosis is related to the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations. HSCT can improve the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/therapy*
;
Mutation
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child
;
Infant
;
GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics*
;
Membrane Proteins/genetics*
;
Adolescent
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics*
;
Prognosis
8.GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia: a case report and literature review.
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):723-730
OBJECTIVES:
To study the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of one child with GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia, along with a review of cases reported in the literature, focusing on clinical phenotypes and treatment characteristics.
RESULTS:
Among 31 patients, the onset was primarily in the neonatal period or early childhood, characterized by mucocutaneous bleeding. Twenty-six cases presented with macrothrombocytes, and 4 cases progressed to GNE myopathy in adulthood. Overall treatment efficacy was suboptimal, although 5 cases responded well to thrombopoietic agents.
CONCLUSIONS
GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia is characterized by moderate to severe thrombocytopenia, macrothrombocytes, and a bleeding tendency. Some children may develop secondary GNE myopathy, highlighting the need for early identification and exploration of effective therapies.
Child
;
Humans
;
Multienzyme Complexes/genetics*
;
Thrombocytopenia/drug therapy*
9.Clinical application of single-balloon and double-balloon enteroscopy in pediatric small bowel diseases: a retrospective study of 576 cases.
Can-Lin LI ; Jie-Yu YOU ; Yan-Hong LUO ; Hong-Juan OU-YANG ; Li LIU ; Wen-Ting ZHANG ; Jia-Qi DUAN ; Na JIANG ; Mei-Zheng ZHAN ; Chen-Xi LIU ; Juan ZHOU ; Ling-Zhi YUAN ; Hong-Mei ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(7):822-828
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the effectiveness of single-balloon and double-balloon enteroscopy in diagnosing pediatric small bowel diseases and assess the diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography enterography (CTE) for small bowel diseases using enteroscopy as the reference standard.
METHODS:
Clinical data from 576 children who underwent enteroscopy at Hunan Children's Hospital between January 2017 and December 2023 were retrospectively collected. The children were categorized based on enteroscopy type into the single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) group (n=457) and double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) group (n=119), and the clinical data were compared between the two groups. The sensitivity and specificity of CTE for diagnosing small bowel diseases were evaluated using enteroscopy results as the standard.
RESULTS:
Among the 576 children, small bowel lesions were detected by enteroscopy in 274 children (47.6%).There was no significant difference in lesion detection rates or complication rates between the SBE and DBE groups (P>0.05), but the DBE group had deeper insertion, longer procedure time, and higher complete small bowel examination rate (P<0.05). The complication rate during enteroscopy was 4.3% (25/576), with 18 cases (3.1%) of mild complications and 7 cases (1.2%) of severe complications, which improved with symptomatic treatment, surgical, or endoscopic intervention. Among the 412 children who underwent CTE, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing small bowel diseases were 44.4% and 71.3%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
SBE and DBE have similar diagnostic efficacy for pediatric small bowel diseases, but DBE is preferred for suspected deep small bowel lesions and comprehensive small bowel examination. Enteroscopy in children demonstrates relatively good overall safety. CTE demonstrates relatively low sensitivity but comparatively high specificity for diagnosing small bowel diseases.
Retrospective Studies
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Double-Balloon Enteroscopy/statistics & numerical data*
;
Single-Balloon Enteroscopy/statistics & numerical data*
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child
;
Operative Time
;
Tomography, X-Ray Computed/statistics & numerical data*
;
Sensitivity and Specificity
;
Intestine, Small/surgery*
;
Intestinal Diseases/surgery*
10.Role and mechanism of copper overload-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in vascular endothelial injury in Kawasaki disease.
Shi-Fang WEN ; Zhi-Yuan TANG ; Xian-Juan SHEN ; Tao CHEN ; Jian-Mei ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(7):842-849
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the role and mechanism of copper overload-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in vascular endothelial injury in Kawasaki disease (KD).
METHODS:
Four-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, KD, KD plus copper chelator tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), and KD plus ERS inhibitor AMG PERK 44 (AMG) (n=20 per group). A KD mouse model was established using Candida albicans extract. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were divided into control (intervention with healthy children's serum), KD (intervention with KD patients' serum), and KD+TTM (intervention with KD patients' serum plus 20 µmol/L TTM). Copper deposition in mouse heart tissue was assessed using rubeanic acid staining. Vascular pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining and measurement of abdominal aortic diameter and area. ERS activation was detected by transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. HUVEC viability, apoptosis, and functional changes were evaluated using CCK8, flow cytometry, cell scratch assay, and angiogenesis experiments. ERS marker protein expression levels were measured by Western blot.
RESULTS:
Compared to the KD group, the KD+TTM and KD+AMG groups showed reduced copper deposition in the vascular wall, decreased swelling of coronary endothelial cells and endoplasmic reticulum, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and less abdominal aortic lesion expansion. The abdominal aortic diameter and area, and the fluorescence intensity of ERS marker proteins (GRP78 and CHOP) were significantly lower (P<0.05). Compared to the KD group, the KD+TTM group exhibited increased cell viability, tube number, and scratch healing rate, along with decreased apoptosis rate and expression of ERS marker proteins (GRP78, CHOP, ATF6, and p-PERK) (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Copper overload aggravates vascular endothelial injury in KD by activating the ERS pathway. TTM can exert protective effects on the endothelium by regulating copper metabolism and inhibiting the ERS pathway.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
;
Copper/toxicity*
;
Male
;
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Humans
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Mice
;
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
;
Apoptosis
;
Endothelium, Vascular/injuries*

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