1.Selective Extraction of Low Molecular Weight Proteins by Mesoporous Silica Particles with Phenyl-Modified Internal and Alkyl-diol-Modified External Surfaces
Yanxia QI ; Qiancheng ZHAO ; Zhibo LI ; Wei LI ; Qiukuan WANG ; Yafeng GUAN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2014;(8):1083-1087
Selective extraction of low molecular weight ( LMW) proteins and peptides from complex biological samples plays an important role in the discovery of useful biomarkers and signaling molecules. It is demonstrated that the unique pore structure of mesoporous material makes it efficient to enrich LMW proteins and peptides from complex matrixes. In this study, a mesoporous material, alkyl-diol@ phenyl-SiO2 , with modified exterior ( alkyl-diol group) and interior ( phenyl group) surfaces, was synthesized by co-condensation and post-grafting, and its characteristic was evaluated by FTIR and MS. The LMW proteins and peptides enriched by the alkyl-diol@phenyl-SiO2 mesoporous material could be easily eluted by organic solvents, which was compatible with the following detection by mass spectrometry ( MS ) . This new mesoporous material exhibited good selectivity for the extraction of LMW proteins and peptides ( less than 10 kDa) from complex biological samples.
2.Predictive value of CT imaging features in preoperative high-risk group of childhood hepatoblastoma
Gongwei ZHANG ; Cailei ZHAO ; Na LUO ; Diangang FANG ; Longwei SUN ; Huan ZHANG ; Meng YI ; Yungen GAN ; Qiancheng LI
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2021;55(9):981-986
Objective:To investigate the value of CT findings of childhood hepatoblastoma (HB) in predicting preoperative tumor risk stratification.Methods:Totally 46 children with HB confirmed by surgery and pathology were retrospectively enrolled from October 2010 to October 2019 in Shenzhen Children′s Hospital and Xuzhou Children′s Hospital. The preoperative abdominal plain CT and three-phasic contrast-enhanced CT with complete clinical files were evaluated. According to the clinical risk stratification established by the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment consensus for children with HB, the HB children were divided into high-risk group and non-high-risk group with 16 and 30 cases respectively. The maximum diameter of tumor, relative tumor volume index, cystic change or necrosis, bleeding, calcification, fibrous septations, tumor rupture, liver capsule retraction and subcapsular effusion were evaluated. Enhancement percentage and enhancement index on arterial, venous and delayed phases of each tumor were measured and calculated. Pearson′s χ 2 test or Fisher′s exact test were used to compare the differences in gender and lesion morphological characteristics between the high-risk group and the non-high-risk group. Two independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences in age, gestational age, birth weight, α-fetoprotein, platelets, maximum diameter of tumor, relative tumor volume index and CT parameters of the lesion between the two groups. Statistically significant features were included in the binary logistic regression analysis and independent predictors related to high-risk group were obtained. The ROC curve was used to determine the critical value of the high-risk group. Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, maximum diameter of tumor, relative tumor volume index and tumor rupture between the high-risk group and the non-high-risk group (all P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum diameter of tumor (OR=1.906, P=0.004) and tumor rupture (OR=16.558, P=0.005) were risk factors of the high-risk group. Based on ROC curve, the optimum cut-off point of maximum diameter of tumor to predict high-risk group was 10.5 cm. Tumor rupture, maximum diameter of tumor and maximum diameter of tumor combined with tumor rupture for predicting the incidence of high-risk group resulted in the area under the curve of 0.744, 0.807 and 0.879, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of maximum diameter of tumor combined with tumor rupture were 75.0% and 96.7%, respectively. Conclusion:The age of onset in high-risk group is relatively older. The maximum diameter of tumor greater than 10.5 cm accompanied by tumor rupture can be regarded as a high-risk sign.
3.Inhibition of Oxidative Stress by Wuzi Yanzongwan to Ameliorate Idiopathic Oligoasthenospermia: A Review
Jiacheng ZHANG ; Hangqi HU ; Yuxin JIN ; Qiancheng ZHAO ; Qiuning LIU ; Xiyan XIN ; Yang YE ; Dong LI ; Yutian ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):238-244
Idiopathic oligoasthenospermia (IO) has been increasingly emphasized in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. Oxidative stress damage directly affects sperm quality and spermatogenesis, constituting a major causative factor of IO. Firstly, due to its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the sperm plasma membrane is highly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to lipid peroxidation accumulation and even inducing ferroptosis. Secondly, deficient downstream key proteins in the base excision repair pathway render sperm unable to repair extensive DNA oxidative damage under oxidative stress. Simultaneously, under oxidative stress, the apoptotic pathway of sperm is cascade-activated, causing rapid loss of motility. ROS further disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, inhibiting testosterone production and ultimately affecting spermatogenesis. Wuzi Yanzongwan,in line with traditional Chinese medicine theory of treating IO through "nourishing kidney essence and harmonizing Yin and Yang", clinically demonstrates its ability to improve sperm morphology, count, and motility, thereby enhancing male fertility. The research on the pharmacological constituents of Wuzi Yanzongwan primarily involves establishing a characteristic spectrum of Chinese medicine to achieve quality control and exploring the pharmacology of effective components. Studies have found that its main active ingredients consist of flavonoids and phenylpropanoids. Specifically, compounds such as hyperin, acteoside, kaempferol, and schisandrin A are identified as the primary active substances and quality control components. These compounds exhibit strong antioxidant activity and have been partly applied in research related to reproductive endocrine disorders. Tripterygium glycoside is primarily used for modeling of oxidative stress-induced IO. It leads to the accumulation of various lipid peroxides in testicular tissues and concurrently compromises the body's antioxidant capacity. Mechanistic studies have found that Wuzi Yanzongwan can inhibit elevated ROS levels in IO models and enhance the body's antioxidant capacity, thereby ameliorating inflammation, suppressing cell apoptosis, promoting testosterone production, and ultimately alleviating the decline in sperm quality and spermatogenesis caused by oxidative stress.