1.Autophagy Abnormalities in PCOS and Targeted Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Xinxin YANG ; Zhicheng JIA ; Mengyu SHI ; Yongqian LI ; Peixuan WANG ; Ying GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):313-322
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common gynecological endocrine and reproductive disorder,with the main clinical manifestations including ovulation failure,insulin resistance,hyperandrogenism,and obesity. Its occurrence and development are closely related to cellular regulatory mechanisms such as apoptosis,autophagy,oxidative stress,and inflammatory response. Autophagy,as a clearance mechanism that maintains cellular homeostasis,plays a crucial role in maintaining the growth,development,and maturation of oocytes. Exploring the mechanism of autophagy during the occurrence and development of diseases can help develop treatment methods for PCOS by regulating autophagy. Studies have shown that autophagy plays an important role in the pathogenesis of PCOS,and it can affect the occurrence and development of PCOS through multiple pathways,levels,and targets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) regulates autophagy in ovarian granulosa cells or endometrium of patients with PCOS by targeting the expression of autophagy signaling pathways,regulatory factors,and non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules,thereby alleviating inflammation,regulating metabolism disorders,and balancing hormone levels in PCOS. Accordingly,TCM can ameliorate pathological conditions such as insulin resistance,hyperandrogenism,and ovulation failure in PCOS. This article summarizes the TCM formulas and extracts for the treatment of PCOS,as well as the main autophagy pathways and regulatory factors involved,aiming to provide reference and suggestions for the future treatment of PCOS with TCM by regulating autophagy.
2.Alpha-synuclein Fibrils Inhibit Activation of the BDNF/ERK Signaling Loop in the mPFC to Induce Parkinson's Disease-like Alterations with Depression.
Zhuoran MA ; Yan XU ; Piaopiao LIAN ; Yi WU ; Ke LIU ; Zhaoyuan ZHANG ; Zhicheng TANG ; Xiaoman YANG ; Xuebing CAO
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(6):951-969
Depression (Dep) is one of the most common concomitant symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), but there is a lack of detailed pathologic evidence for the occurrence of PD-Dep. Currently, the management of symptoms from both conditions using conventional pharmacological interventions remains a formidable task. In this study, we found impaired activation of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), reduced levels of transcription and translation, and decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of PD-Dep rats. We demonstrated that the abnormal phosphorylation of α-synuclein (pS129) induced tropomyosin-related kinase receptor type B (TrkB) retention at the neuronal cell membrane, leading to BDNF/TrkB signaling dysfunction. We chose SEW2871 as an ameliorator to upregulate ERK phosphorylation. The results showed that PD-Dep rats exhibited improvement in behavioral manifestations of PD and depression. In addition, a reduction in pS129 was accompanied by a restoration of the function of the BDNF/ERK signaling loop in the mPFC of PD-Dep rats.
Animals
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism*
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alpha-Synuclein/metabolism*
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Male
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Prefrontal Cortex/drug effects*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Depression/metabolism*
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MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects*
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Rats
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Parkinson Disease/metabolism*
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Receptor, trkB/metabolism*
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Phosphorylation
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Disease Models, Animal
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Signal Transduction
3.Human Cortical Organoids with a Novel SCN2A Variant Exhibit Hyperexcitability and Differential Responses to Anti-Seizure Compounds.
Yuling YANG ; Yang CAI ; Shuyang WANG ; Xiaoling WU ; Zhicheng SHAO ; Xin WANG ; Jing DING
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(11):2010-2024
Mutations in ion channel genes have long been implicated in a spectrum of epilepsy syndromes. However, therapeutic decision-making is relatively complex for epilepsies associated with channelopathy. Therefore, in the present study, we used a patient-derived organoid model with a novel SCN2A mutation (p.E512K) to investigate the potential of utilizing such a model as a platform for preclinical testing of anti-seizure compounds. The electrophysiological properties of the variant Nav1.2 exhibited gain-of-function effects with increased current amplitude and premature activation. Immunofluorescence staining of patient-derived cortical organoids (COs) displayed normal neurodevelopment. Multielectrode array (MEA) recordings of patient-derived COs showed hyperexcitability with increased spiking and remarkable network bursts. Moreover, the application of patient-derived COs for preclinical drug testing using the MEA showed that they exhibit differential responses to various anti-seizure drugs and respond well to carbamazepine. Our results demonstrate that the individualized organoids have the potential to serve as a platform for preclinical pharmacological assessment.
Organoids/physiology*
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NAV1.2 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel/genetics*
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Humans
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Anticonvulsants/pharmacology*
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Epilepsy/drug therapy*
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Mutation
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Cerebral Cortex/drug effects*
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Action Potentials/drug effects*
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Carbamazepine/pharmacology*
4.The effect of reducing platelet reactive oxygen species on decreasing of the refrigerated platelets being phagocyted
Rufeng Xie ; Zhicheng Wang ; Jie Sun ; Yiming Yang ; Jie Yang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(1):123-129
Objective :
To explore the effect of the addition of N-acetylcysteine ( NAC) on the abnormal increase of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) during platelet cold storage,and to clarify its function of preventing the platelets from being recognized and cleared by macrophages and hepatocytes.
Methods :
Platelets Concentrates were divided into room temperature group ( 22C) ,cold storage group ( 4C) and NAC addition group.In NAC addition group, the platelets were supplemented with 5 mmol / L ( N5) and 25 mmol / L ( N25) NAC.After 5-day storage,the levels of ROS,activation markers and other index of platelets in each group were detected by flow cytometry. Platelet phagocytosis was detected by PMA-activated THP-1 cells or by primary cultured HepG2 cells.
Results :
After 5 days of storage,ROS increased significantly in 4C group than those in 22C group ( P<0. 05) ,and after NAC addi- tion,ROS level reduced significantly ( P<0. 05) .The expression of CD62P and PS and the exposure of β-GlcNAc on platelets in N5 group significantly decreased compared with those in 4C group ( P<0. 05) .The platelet phago- cytosis by THP-1 and HepG2 cells were also significantly lower in N5 group than those in 4C group ( P<0. 05) . However,the addition of 5 mmol / L NAC did not significantly affect the count,pH,CD42b expression,β-Gal ex- posure and coagulation function of cold-stored platelet after 5-day storage.
Conclusion
The addition of NAC to re- frigerated platelets can significantly decrease the level of platelet ROS and effectively reduce their phagocytosis by cells,suggesting that NAC addition may protect refrigerated platelets from being cleared by phagocytosis after trans- fusion.
5.Impact of inhibiting aquaporin 4 expression on autophagy and apoptosis in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion
Shenglong MO ; Haiyan ZHU ; Zhicheng LU ; Jiaqi MO ; Xiaojing PENG ; Lina TANG ; Chengmin YANG ; Chongdong JIAN ; Jingwei SHANG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(8):1446-1454
AIM:To investigate the impact of aquaporin 4(AQP4)expression inhibition on autophagy and apoptosis in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury,and to elucidate its underlying mechanism.METHODS:Cerebral I/R injury was induced in mice via transient middle cerebral artery occlusion(tMCAO).Totally 60 mice were randomly divided into sham group,I/R group,AQP4 inhibition group,and 3-methyladenine(3-MA)group,with 15 mice in each group.Among them,the mice in sham and I/R groups received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline,while those in AQP4 inhibition group and 3-MA group received intraperitoneal injections of AER-271(2 mg·kg-1·d-1)and AER-271+3-MA(2 mg·kg-1·d-1)for 3 d,respectively,once per day.Longa score was adopted to assess the neu-rological function,and to record changes in body weight.Cerebral infarction volume and histopathological alterations were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin staining.Western blot analysis was performed to determine the levels of AQP4,LC3-Ⅱ,P62 and cleaved caspase-3,while the LC3-Ⅱ,P62,cleaved caspase-3 and NeuN(neuronal marker)colocalization and expression assessment were conducted with immunofluorescence.RESULTS:The mice in I/R and AQP4 inhibition groups exhibited extensive cerebral infarction,cerebral edema,and elevated Longa scores.However,in comparision to I/R group,the mice in AQP4 inhibition group showed significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume,cerebral edema vol-ume,and Longa score(P<0.05).Additionally,in contrast to sham group,the mice in I/R group displayed increased ex-pression of AQP4,LC3-Ⅱ and cleaved caspase-3(P<0.01),accompanied by decreased body weight and P62 expression(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Furthermore,compared with I/R group,the mice in both AQP4 inhibition group and 3-MA group demonstrated a decrease in the expression levels of AQP4,LC3-Ⅱ and cleaved caspase-3(P<0.05 or P<0.01),along with increased body weight and P62 expression(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Nonetheless,no significant differences were ob-served between AQP4 inhibition group and 3-MA group regarding Longa score,cerebral infarct volume,body weight,and the expression of AQP4,LC3-Ⅱ,cleaved caspase-3 and P62.CONCLUSION:Inhibition of AQP4 expression signifi-cantly reduces cerebral infarction area and nerve injury severity in tMCAO mice.Moreover,AQP4 expression inhibition decelerates autophagy and apoptosis after cerebral infarction,with the additional autophagy inhibitor showing no notable impact on the protective effect of AQP4 inhibition.
6.Application and future development of artificial intelligence in hernia and abdominal wall surgery
Xiaoyu PENG ; Hekai SHI ; Zhicheng SONG ; Jianjun YANG ; Yan GU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;33(10):1580-1587
In recent years,the emergence of technologies such as machine learning,natural language processing,artificial neural networks,and computer vision has provided essential means for the rapid development of artificial intelligence(AI).Compared to the extensive application of AI in fields like urology and cardiothoracic surgery,the use of AI in hernia and abdominal wall surgery remains very limited.Currently,AI in hernia and abdominal wall surgery is mainly applied in preoperative risk factor analysis,disease-assisted diagnosis,surgical complexity prediction,imaging analysis,robotic/non-robotic intraoperative assistance,postoperative complication and recurrence prediction,as well as education,training,and management.These applications hold great importance for improving the diagnosis and treatment of hernia and abdominal wall diseases.This paper summarizes the current application scenarios of AI in hernia and abdominal wall surgery,reviews the status of Al applications in this field at home and abroad,and discusses future development directions,aiming to provide a reference for advancing hernia and abdominal wall surgery.
7.Analysis of the causal relationship between human immune cells and hypertrophic scar using two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization method
Honglin WU ; Yongfei CHEN ; Shuting LI ; Hao YANG ; Xiaohui LI ; Bing TANG ; Jiayuan ZHU ; Zhicheng HU
Chinese Journal of Burns 2024;40(6):572-578
Objective:To explore the causal relationship between human immune cells and hypertrophic scar (HS) using two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:This study was based on two-sample MR method, and the datasets of 731 immune cells and HS were obtained from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) catalog database and Finngen database, respectively. A significance threshold was established to discern single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) significantly correlated with immune cells or HS, thereby eliminating the impact of weak instrumental variable bias. The inverse variance weighted (IVW) method (meanwhile, the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) procedure of false discovery rate (FDR) to adjust P values) was used for preliminary detection of the causal relationship between immune cells and HS and screen the immune cells that had a significant causal relationship with HS. Further, the causal relationship between the selected immune cells and HS was detected through five two-sample MR methods: IVW method, weighted median method, simple mode method, weighted mode method, and MR-Egger method, and the scatter plot was drawn. SNPs conformed to the hypothesis were subjected to Cochran Q test for heterogeneity assessment, MR-Egger regression coupled with MR-PRESSO to eliminate horizontal pleiotropic effects, and a leave-one-out analysis was also conducted to determine if significant results were driven by individual SNP. Finally, the IVW method contained in the two-sample MR analysis was utilized to inversely examine the causal relationship between HS and immune cells. Results:The number of SNPs in 731 immune cells reaching the significance threshold varied from 7 to 1 786, while in HS, 119 SNPs met the significance threshold, with the F values of all SNPs being greater than 10, suggesting a low likelihood of bias from weak instrumental variables. The IVW method revealed that 60 types of immune cells potentially had a causal relationship with HS (with all P values <0.05), and after adjustment using the BH method, only CD45RA and CD39 positive regulatory T cell (Treg) maintained a potentially strong causal relationship with HS ( PFDR<0.05). The IVW method (with odds ratio of 1.16 and 95% confidence interval of 1.08-1.24, P<0.05, PFDR<0.05), weighted median method (with odds ratio of 1.16 and 95% confidence interval of 1.05-1.28, P<0.05), weighted mode method (with odds ratio of 1.14 and 95% confidence interval of 1.02-1.27, P<0.05), and MR-Egger method (with odds ratio of 1.18 and 95% confidence interval of 1.07-1.30, P<0.05) of scatter plot all suggested a causal relationship between the 14 SNPs of CD45RA and CD39 positive Treg and risk of HS, only simple mode method of scatter plot suggested a not obvious relationship between the 14 SNPs of CD45RA and CD39 positive Treg and risk of HS ( P>0.05). Cochran Q test indicated no heterogeneity in the causal relationship between CD45RA on CD39 positive Treg and HS ( P>0.05). MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO analyses showed that there was no horizontal pleiotropy in the significant causal relationship between CD45RA and CD39 positive Treg and HS ( P>0.05). Leave-one-out analysis confirmed that the significant causal relationship between CD45RA and CD39 positive Treg and HS remained stable after sequentially removing individual SNP. Reverse two-sample MR analysis showed that HS had no potential causal relationship with any of the 731 types of immune cells ( P>0.05). Conclusions:From the perspective of genetics, it is revealed that immune cells CD45RA and CD39 positive Treg may increase the risk of HS.
8.Recent advance in neurological complications following wasp stings
Shuman ZHANG ; Zhicheng FANG ; Xianyi YANG
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2024;42(5):395-400
Wasp sting refers to a series of clinical syndromes caused by the venom in the tail poison sac of the poisonous bee when attacking the attacked body, mainly manifested as local skin damage, systemic allergic reaction and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) . Wasp venom can also act on the nervous system, and cause rare complications such as cerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, epilepsy, encephalitis, and Parkinson's disease, which can seriously affect the prognosis. This review will elaborate the above complications for clinical reference.
9.A case of massive intrathecal hematoma of the rectus abdominis secondary to acute severe carbon monoxide poisoning
Huanchao ZENG ; Zhenglin QUAN ; Zhicheng FANG ; Xianyi YANG
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2024;42(7):537-540
Acute carbon monoxide poisoning can cause hypoxic injury to multiple organs. Neurological impairment and cardiac dysfunction are common manifestations of severe poisoning patients, but hemorrhagic complications are rare in clinic. The clinical diagnosis and treatment of a case of massive intrathecal hematoma of the rectus abdominis secondary to acute severe carbon monoxide poisoning was reported. The pathophysiological mechanism and treatment strategy of rectus sheath hematoma secondary to acute severe carbon monoxide poisoning was analyzed, in order to improve the understanding of hemorrhagic complications of carbon monoxide poisoning. This case suggests that for patients with a history of cardiovascular disease and taking anticoagulants, clinicians should be alert for the risk of bleeding when making medical decisions.
10.Enhancing survival outcomes in stage Ⅲ gastric/esophagogastric junction cancer: a retrospective study of immune checkpoint inhibitors and adjuvant chemotherapy based on real-world data
Xianqi YANG ; Zhen RAO ; Hongkun WEI ; Zhicheng XUE ; Haiyang LIU ; Qifeng DUAN ; Xiaowei SUN ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2024;27(4):395-402
Objective:To explore the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with phase III gastric cancer and esophagogastric junction cancer.Methods:This study used a retrospective cohort study method based on real-world data. Clinical data of 403 patients with stage III gastric/esophagogastric junction cancer who underwent gastrectomy followed by adjuvant therapy in the Department of Gastric Surgery at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively collected. The study cohort comprised 147 (36.5%) patients with stage IIIA, 130 (32.3%) with stage IIIB, and 126 (31.3%) with stage IIIC gastric/esophagogastric junction cancer. Of them, 15 (3.7%) were HER-2 positive, 25 (6.2%) dMMR, and 22 (5.5%) patients Epstein-Barr virus encoding RNA (EBER) positive. Based on treatment plans, the patients were divided into immune checkpoint inhibitor combined with chemotherapy group (immune therapy group, n=110, 71 males and 39 females, median age 59 years old) and chemotherapy alone group (chemotherapy group, n=293, 186 males and 107 females, median age 60 years old). All patients in the immunotherapy group received immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1). Of them, 85 received pembrolizumab, 10 received sintilimab, 8 received tislelizumab, 4 received camrelizumab, 2 received toripalimab, and 1 received pabocizumab. The adjuvant chemotherapy regimens used among the chemotherapy alone group includes SOX regimen (132 cases), XELOX (102 cases), S-1 monotherapy (44 cases), and other regimens (15 cases). The 3-year DFS rate of the two groups was compared, and subgroup analysis was conducted based on different ages, molecular phenotypes, pTNM staging, extranodal infiltration, and tumor length. Results:The median follow-up was 20.5 months (range 3.1~46.3), with a 3-year overall DFS rate of 61.4% for the entire 403 patients. The 3-year DFS rate for the immunotherapy group was 82.7%, higher than the chemotherapy alone group (58.8%), with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.021). Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative immunotherapy was a protective factor for DFS (HR=0.352, 95%CI: 0.180~0.685). Subgroup analysis showed that stage IIIC (HR=0.416, 95%CI: 0.184~0.940), aged ≥60 years (HR=0.336, 95%CI: 0.121~0.934) and extranodal invasion (HR=0.378, 95%CI: 0.170~0.839) were associated with benefit from the combined immune adjuvant chemotherapy, while no association was observed for MMR, HER-2 or EBER status. Conclusion:Stage III gastric/esophagogastric junction cancer patients may benefite from postoperative immune checkpoint inhibitor combined with adjuvant chemotherapy in real-world settings.


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