1.Seroprevalence of antibody against Toxoplasma gondii among patients with hematological malignancies
Yujuan YANG ; Qian WANG ; Lili XIANG ; Yanna MENG ; Cixian ZHANG ; Jie FU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(1):93-97
Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of antibody against Toxoplasma gondii among patients with hematological malignancies, and compare it with that among health individuals, so as to provide insights into unraveling the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies. Methods A total of 225 patients with hematological malignancies in Department of Hematology, Xuzhou Central Hospital and 300 healthy individuals in the same hospital were enrolled from 2017 to 2024. Blood samples were collected from all subjects, and the serum IgG and IgM antibodies against T. gondii were detected using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Demographic and clinical features were collected from patients with hematological malignancies, including gender, age, contact with cats, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, type of malignancy, clinical symptoms, blood transfusion and treatment, and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibody was compared among patients with different characteristics. Results The age (t = 0.72, P > 0.05) and gender (χ2 = 0.93, P > 0.05) were compared between patients with hematological malignancies and healthy individuals. The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 20.89% among patients with hematological malignancies and 4.33% among healthy individuals (χ2 = 34.81, P < 0.01), and the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibody was 20.89% among patients with hematological malignancies and 4.33% among healthy individuals (χ2 = 34.81, P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in the seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii IgM antibody between patients with hematological malignancies and healthy individuals (1.33% vs. 0; corrected χ2 = 2.02, P > 0.05). The seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 23.08% among patients with leukemia, 16.67% among patients with lymphoma, 19.23% among patients with multiple myeloma, 24.00% among patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm, and 26.09% among patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (χ2 = 1.44, P > 0.05), and was all higher than among healthy individuals (corrected χ2 = 23.92, 10.74, 13.76, 12.84 and 14.54; all P values < 0.01). In addition, there were no significant differences in the detection of anti-T. gondii antibody among patients with hematological malignancies in terms of gender, age, contact with cats, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, chemotherapy or blood transfusion (χ2 = 0.76, 1.97, 0, 2.81, 2.38 and 0.66; all P values > 0.05). Conclusions There is a high risk of T. gondii infection among patients with hematological malignancies, and intensified surveillance of T. gondii infection is recommended among patients with hematological malignancies.
2.Discovery of novel butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors for treating Alzheimer's disease.
Zhipei SANG ; Shuheng HUANG ; Wanying TAN ; Yujuan BAN ; Keren WANG ; Yufan FAN ; Hongsong CHEN ; Qiyao ZHANG ; Chanchan LIANG ; Jing MI ; Yunqi GAO ; Ya ZHANG ; Wenmin LIU ; Jianta WANG ; Wu DONG ; Zhenghuai TAN ; Lei TANG ; Haibin LUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):2134-2155
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder among the elderly, and BuChE has emerged as a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we reported the development of compound 8e, a selective reversible BuChE inhibitor (eqBuChE IC50 = 0.049 μmol/L, huBuChE IC50 = 0.066 μmol/L), identified through extensive virtual screening and lead optimization. Compound 8e demonstrated favorable blood-brain barrier permeability, good drug-likeness property and pronounced neuroprotective efficacy. Additionally, 8e exhibited significant therapeutic effects in zebrafish AD models and scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments in mice. Further, 8e significantly improved cognitive function in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Proteomics analysis demonstrated that 8e markedly elevated the expression levels of very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), offering valuable insights into its potential modulation of the Reelin-mediated signaling pathway. Thus, compound 8e emerges as a novel and potent BuChE inhibitor for the treatment of AD, with significant implications for further exploration into its mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications.
3.Quercetin mediates the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis by regulating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit the IL-23/IL-17A axis.
Qing LIU ; Jing LIU ; Yihang ZHENG ; Jin LEI ; Jianhua HUANG ; Siyu LIU ; Fang LIU ; Qunlong PENG ; Yuanfang ZHANG ; Junjie WANG ; Yujuan LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(1):90-99
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the active components that mediate the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis and their therapeutic mechanisms.
METHODS:
TCMSP, TCMIP, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases were searched for the compounds in Centella asiatica and their targets and the disease targets of psoriasis. A drug-active component-target network and the protein-protein interaction network were constructed, and DAVID database was used for pathway enrichment analysis. In a RAW264.7 macrophage model of LPS-induced inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 μmol/L quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid, which were identified as the main active components in Centella asiatica, were tested by measuring cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 using Griess method and ELISA and by detecting mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727) with RT-qPCR and Western blotting.
RESULTS:
A total of 139 targets of Centella asiatica and 4604 targets of psoriasis were obtained, and among them CASP3, EGFR, PTGS2, and ESR1 were identified as the core targets. KEGG analysis suggested that quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid in Centella asiatica were involved in cancer and IL-17 and MAPK signaling pathways. In the RAW264.7 macrophage model of inflammation, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6, and lowered mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF‑α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727).
CONCLUSIONS
Quercetin, asiaticoside and asiatic acid are the main active components in Centella asiatica to mediate the therapeutic effect against psoriasis, and quercetin in particular is capable of suppressing cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 and regulating the IL-23/IL-17A inflammatory axis by mediating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit inflammatory response.
Quercetin/pharmacology*
;
Psoriasis/metabolism*
;
STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Animals
;
Centella/chemistry*
;
Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Phosphorylation
;
Interleukin-17/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-23/metabolism*
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
;
Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Macrophages/drug effects*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Plant Extracts
4.Effects of low - dose cone - beam computed tomography scanning protocols on image quality and radiation dose in patients with cervical cancer
ZHOU Xinyue ; ZHANG Yujuan ; HAO Yue
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(06):783-787
Objective:
To investigate the effects of low-dose-cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanning
protocols on image quality and radiation dose in patients with cervical cancer.
Methods:
A total of 96 patients with cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy at a hospital between January 2022 and December 2024 were enrolled in this study. Patient were divided into three groups based on CBCT scanning parameters: an ultra-low-dose group (30 cases), a low-dose group(30 cases), and a routine-dose group (36 cases). The tube voltage was set at 120 kV for all groups, while the tube currents were 132, 215, and 675.8 mAs, respectively. The effects of different scanning parameters on image quality, as indicated by spatial resolution, noise, uniformity, low-contrast resolution, and geometric accuracy, were analyzed. The radiation dose inpatients under different scanning parameters was measured. An analysis of variance was performed.
Results:
Under the three different scanning parameters, 4-6 clear line pairs were visible in each group. There were no significant differences in spatial resolution or geometric accuracy in different directions among groups (all P > 0.05). However, as the tube current increased, noise, uniformity, and low contrast resolution decreased. When the tube current increased from 132 mAs to 215 mAs, noise decreased by approximately 33.57%, uniformity by approximately 26.30%, and low-contrast resolution by approxim-
ately 30.55%. When the tube current increased from 215 mAs to 675.8 mAs, noise decreased by approximately 35.61%, uniformity by approximately 12.68%, and low-contrast resolution by approximately 19.91%. These differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The radiation doses in patients under different CBCT scanning parameters followed the order of ultra-low-dose group < low-dose group < routine-dose group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conciusion
Reducing the tube current during CBCT scanning does not affect the image spatial resolution or geometric accuracy in cervical cancer patients, has a minimal impact on overall image quality, and effectively reduces the additional radiation dose received by patients
5.The Replication Method and Evaluation of Experimental Animal Models with Insomnia of Liver Depression and Qi Stagnation Syndrome
Renzhen ZHANG ; Yujuan YE ; Yuting WEI ; Cui MA ; Xingke YAN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(14):1496-1503
In recent years, the research data on the combination model of insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were sorted out and summarized in terms of the selection of experimental animals, modelling methods, and model evaluation, with a view to providing references for the standardized preparation of the experimental model of insomnia of liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome and the study of the intervention mechanism. As for the selection of experimental animals, rats and mice are commonly used for the study of sleep patterns in the insomnia model of liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome because their sleep patterns are similar to those of human beings; zebrafish is suitable for the study of sleep patterns in early development because of its high genetic homology; and rhesus macaques, common marmosets, and crab-eating monkeys are used for the study of highly complex sleep disorders because their physiological and behavioural characteristics are closer to those of human beings. In terms of modelling methods, electrical stimulation, chronic restraint, chronic emotional stress and impact psychological stress each have their own characteristics and application scenarios, while chronic tail-clamping stimulation combined with intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) combines physical and chemical stimuli, in order to simulate the complex mechanism of insomnia in human beings, and to more comprehensively simulate the pathology of insomnia with liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome. In terms of evaluation indexes, electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) monitoring and barbiturate synergistic sleep test are the most commonly used and scientific methods for evaluating insomnia animal models with liver depression and qi stagnation syndrome, which can provide intuitive and continuous sleep state monitoring; barbiturate synergistic sleep test can reflect the sensitivity and responsiveness of the model animals to the sleep-regulating medications; and the introduction of the method of using formulas to measure syndromes for the evaluating the model can combine the treatment and diagnostic principles of TCM with modern scientific research.
6.Puerarin inhibits the differentiation of Raw264.7 cells into osteoclasts through the Notch signaling pathway
Chunli LIU ; Yujuan YAN ; Liwen MO ; Zhijie WU ; Li ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(35):5636-5641
BACKGROUND:Previous studies have shown that puerarin can inhibit the differentiation of osteoclasts,and the expression of Notch signaling pathway-related proteins such as Notch1,HES1,and Jagged1 is decreased.However,the specific mechanism of the Notch1 signaling pathway for the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation by puerarin is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of Notch signaling pathway on puerarin inhibiting the differentiation of mouse macrophage Raw264.7 into osteoclasts. METHODS:Raw264.7 cells were divided into seven groups for intervention culture.Blank control group was cultured in high-sugar DMEM medium;the osteoclast induction group was cultured in osteoclast induction medium;the puerarin intervention group was cultured with 50 μmol/L puerarin at the same time of osteoclast induction;Notch1 siRNA control group,Notch1 siRNA group,Notch1 overexpression control group and Notch1 overexpression group were transfected with Notch1 siRNA control sequence,Notch1 siRNA,Notch1 overexpression control plasmid and Notch1 overexpression plasmid,respectively,and then cultured with osteoclast induction medium and puerarin.The number and size of osteoclasts were observed by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining,the skeleton formation of osteoclasts was observed by F-actin staining,and the gene expression level of osteoclast formation markers was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining results showed that puerarin intervention could inhibit the generation of osteoclasts,Notch1 silencing could further reduce the number of osteoclasts,while the number of osteoclasts in the osteoclast-induced group increased significantly after Notch1 overexpression.The results of F-actin showed that Raw264.7 cells could form a well-defined F-actin ring after osteoclast induction.Puerarin intervention would inhibit the formation of cytoskeleton,and Notch1 silencing could aggravate the inhibitory effect of cytoskeleton formation,while Notch1 overexpression could alleviate this inhibitory effect of puerarin.RT-PCR results showed that puerarin could inhibit the mRNA expression levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase,Cathepsin K and c-Fos,the expression of the above-mentioned three factors decreased significantly after Notch1 gene silencing,and Notch1 overexpression could upregulate the expression of these factors.These finding indicate that puerarin inhibits the differentiation of Raw264.7 cells into osteoclasts through the Notch signaling pathway.
7.A phase Ⅱ clinical study of the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate combined with yiqibuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in adults
Lai WEI ; Hongxin PIAO ; Jinglan JIN ; Shufen YUAN ; Xuan AN ; Jia SHANG ; Wenhua ZHANG ; Jiabao CHANG ; Tong SUN ; Yujuan GUAN ; Bo NING ; Jing ZHU ; Wentao GUO ; Qingwei HE ; Lin LUO ; Yulei ZHUANG ; Hongming XIE ; Yingjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(7):637-642
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg or 200 mg combined with yiqibuvir for 12 weeks in patients with various genotypes of chronic hepatitis C, without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis.Methods:Patients with chronic hepatitis C (without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis) were randomly assigned to the antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (100 mg group) or the antaitasvir phosphate 200 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (200 mg group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The drugs were continuously administered once a day for 12 weeks and observed for 24 weeks after drug withdrawal. The drug safety profile was assessed concurrently with the observation of the sustained virological response (SVR12) in the two patient groups 12 weeks following the drug cessation. The intention-to-treat concept was used to define as closely as possible a full analysis set, including all randomized cases who received the experimental drug at least once. The safety set was collected from all subjects who received the experimental drug at least once (regardless of whether they participated in the randomization group) in this study. All efficacy endpoints and safety profile data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. The primary analysis was performed on a full analysis set. The frequency and proportion of cases were calculated in the experimental drug group (antaitasvir phosphate capsules combined with yiqibuvir tablets) that achieved "HCV RNA
8.The predictive value of pulse oxygen perfusion index and blood lactic acid concentration for early retinopathy of prematurity
Bing ZHANG ; Xiaoxiao ZHAO ; Yujuan HE ; Weixing ZHANG ; Ximin FENG
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2024;44(5):387-390
Objective To investigate the value of pulse oxygen perfusion index(PI)and blood lactic acid(BLA)concentration in early prediction of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP).Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 128 preterm infants who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of our hospital from September 2018 to December 2022.Among them,46 patients with ROP were in the ROP group,and 82 pa-tients without ROP were in the non-ROP group.Basic data of these preterm infants were recorded after admission.PI val-ues were continuously monitored with the Masimo Radical-7(USA)SpO2 blood oxygen saturation detector,and BLA con-centrations were detected with the ABL90FLEX blood gas analyzer.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and area under curve(AUC)were used to evaluate the value of PI and BLA concentration in early prediction of ROP.Results There were no significant differences in gestational age,birth weight,sex,and delivery mode between the two groups(all P>0.05).The PI values after birth were significantly different between the two groups(Fgroup=15.393,Pgroup<0.001).The PI values of preterm infants in the ROP group decreased significantly at 1 h,12 h and 24 h after birth and slightly at 48 h to 96 h after birth compared with the non-ROP group.The PI values of preterm infants in the two groups sta-bilized at 96 h after birth.The PI values of preterm infants in the ROP group were lower than those in the non-ROP group at all time points within 96 h after birth(all P<0.05).The PI values showed interaction effects between the two groups at different time points(Finteraction=5.061,Pinteraction<0.001).There was a significant difference in BLA concentration between the two groups after birth(Fgroup=91.158,Pgroup<0.001).In the ROP group,the BLA concentration increased significantly at 1 h after birth and slightly at 12 h and 24 h after birth compared with the non-ROP group.The BLA concentration in the ROP group was higher than that in the non-ROP group at all time points after birth(all P<0.05).The BLA concentration showed no interaction effects between the two groups at different time points(Finteraction=0.567,Pinteraction>0.05).The AUC of PI values at 1 h,12 h and 24 h after birth and BLA concentration at 1 h after birth for predicting ROP was 0.77,0.82,0.83,and 0.82,respectively.The AUC of combined PI values at 1 h,12 h and 24 h after birth and BLA concentration at 1 h after birth for predicting ROP was 0.94,higher than the predictive value of a single indicator.Conclusion PI and BLA concentration have good clinical value for early prediction of ROP.
9.Changes in periretinal defocus and visual quality after femtosecond laser-as-sisted in situ keratomileusis
Yu LI ; Yujuan GUO ; Siyao WANG ; Meimei ZHANG ; Yuehua ZHOU
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2024;44(7):558-563
Objective To explore the changes in periretinal defocus and visual quality after femtosecond laser-assis-ted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).Methods Fifty-one myopic patients(102 eyes)who underwent FS-LASIK at the Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March to May 2023 were selected for the study,including 27 females(54 eyes)and 24 males(48 eyes).The defocus around the retina was measured using a multispectral refraction topography,and the total refraction difference value(TRDV)was recorded.The refraction difference value(RDV)in four quadrants:superior RDV(RDV-S),inferior RDV(RDV-I),nasal RDV(RDV-N),and temporal RDV(RDV-T),as well as the RDV in the concentric ring areas corresponding to 10°,20°,30°,40°,and 53° from the fovea of the mac-ula(represented as RDV 0°-10°,RDV 10°-20°,RDV 20°-30°,RDV 30°-40°,and RDV 40°-53°,respectively)were also re-corded.The objective scattering index(OSI),Strehls ratio(SR),modulation transfer function(MTF)values(represen-ted as 10 c·d-1 MTF,20 c·d-1 MTF,and 30 c·d-1MTF,respectively)and cutoff frequencies(MTF cutoff)at the spa-tial frequencies of 10 c·d-1,20 c·d-1 and 30 c·d-1 were measured and recorded using a visual quality analysis system.The data of corneal vertical trefoil(Z3-3),vertical coma(Z3-1),horizontal coma(Z31),horizontal trefoil(Z33),vertical tetrafoil(Z4-4),vertical secondary astigmatism(Z4-2),spherical aberration(Z40),horizontal secondary astigmatism(Z42),horizontal tetrafoil(Z44),and total higher-order aberration(HOA)were measured and recorded using the iTrace aberration meter.The measurement data of patients before surgery,one month after surgery,and three months after sur-gery were compared,and their correlations were analyzed.Results TRDV,RDV-S,RDV-N,RDV 20°-30°,RDV 30°-40°,and RDV 40°-53° around the retina of patients decreased one month and three months after surgery compared with those be-fore surgery,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.001).There were statistically significant differences in OSI,MTF cutoff,and 10 c·d-1 MTF among patients before surgery,one month after surgery,and three months after surgery(all P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in corneal Z3-3,Z3-1,Z31,Z33,Z4-4,Z4-2,Z40,Z42,Z44,and HOA among patients before surgery,one month after surgery,and three months after surgery(all P<0.001).The Pearson correlation analysis results showed that,ΔRDV 0°-10° was positively correlated with ΔZ3-3,ΔZ31,ΔZ4-2,ΔZ40,and ΔZ42(all P<0.05);ΔRDV 10°-20° was positively correlated with ΔZ4-4 and ΔZ4-2(both P<0.05);ΔRDV 20°-30° was positively correlated with ΔZ4-4 and ΔZ44(both P<0.05);ΔTRDV and ΔRDV 40°-53° were negatively correla-ted with ΔHOA(both P<0.05).ΔRDV-S and ΔZ3-1 were negatively correlated with ΔHOA(both P<0.05)and positively correlated with ΔZ44(P<0.05);ΔRDV-N was positively correlated with ΔZ4-4(P<0.05).Conclusion FS-LASIK can reduce periretinal hyperopic defocus in myopic patients,but it introduces corneal HOA,and there is a certain correlation between the two.
10.Treatment of Endometriosis from the Perspective of "Retention due to Deficiency Qi"
Yujuan ZHANG ; Youhua ZHU ; Jiajing ZHAO ; Yanan YANG ; Mengya BU ; Mengxin FANG ; Yuxiao HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(9):954-957
It is believed that retention due to deficient qi is an important pathogenesis of endometriosis (EMs). Deficient qi is the root of the disease, mainly manifested as spleen deficiency, while retention is the branch pathogenesis of the disease, mainly with blood stasis, complicated with constraint, phlegm, heat, toxin and other pathological factors. Therefore, it is proposed to follow the treatment principle of supplementing deficiency and unblocking stagnation, and take the methods of replenishing qi and fortifying the spleen, removing stasis and eliminating concretions. Self-made Fuzheng Huayu Formula (扶正化瘀方) is taken as the basic formula, and can be modified with the symptoms in menstrual and non-menstrual periods. Additionally, the methods of moving qi, dispelling phlegm, clearing heat, relieving toxin and others can be combined, and it is recommended to treat the root and the branch simultaneously.

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