1.Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, Weakness in Limbs, Edema, and Dyspnea: A Rare Inflammatory Myopathy with Positive Aniti-mitochondrial Antibodies and Cardiac Involvement
Chunsu LIANG ; Xuchang ZHANG ; Ning ZHANG ; Lin KANG ; Xiaohong LIU ; Jiaqi YU ; Yingxian LIU ; Lin QIAO ; Yanli YANG ; Xiaoyi ZHAO ; Ruijie ZHAO ; Na NIU ; Xuelian YAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):248-255
This article presents a case study of a patient who visited the Geriatric Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to "palpitations, shortness of breath for more than 2 years, limb weakness for 6 months, edema, and nocturnal dyspnea for 2 months". The patient exhibited decreased muscle strength in the limbs and involvement of swallowing and respiratory muscles, alongside complications of heart failure and various arrhythmias which were predominantly atrial. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of multiple autoantibodies and notably anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with anti-mitochondrial antibody-associated inflammatory myopathy. Treatment involved a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, along with resistance exercises for muscle strength and rehabilitation training for lung function, resulting in significant improvement of clinical symptoms. The case underscores the importance of collaborative multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosing and treating rare diseases in elderly patients, where careful consideration of clinical manifestations and subtle abnormal clinical data can lead to effective interventions.
2.Textual Research on Lianggesan from Ancient Literature and Its Modern Clinical Application
Weilu NIU ; Chengqi LYU ; Mengjie YANG ; Shunxi WANG ; Jingkang QIAO ; Huangchao JIA ; Liyun WANG ; Xuewei LIU ; Mingsan MIAO ; Jianwei LI ; Gang WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(22):223-234
Lianggesan was first recorded in Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, which was composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Natrii Sulfas, Gardeniae Fructus, Forsythiae Fructus, Scutellariae Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(GRR), Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, Lophatheri Herba and Mel. It was clinically applied to treat fire-heat syndrome in the upper and middle Jiao, and the curative effect was positive. In this study, the bibliometric method was used to conduct a detailed textual research on the formula name, medicinal composition, dosage evolution, origin and processing, functional indications and other aspects of Lianggesan. Research revealed that Lianggesan has six other names, such as Lianqiao Yinzi, Lianqiao Jiedusan, Jufang Lianggesan, Jiegu Lianggesan, Hejian Lianggesan and Qingji Lianggesan. Based on the edition of Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang, an analysis of the evolution of its formula composition revealed that the missing Chinese medicines were predominantly bamboo leaves and honey, while the added Chinese medicines were primarily supplements introduced to address changes in disease manifestations. After textual research, the dosage for one dose of Lianggesan from Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang was as follows:826 g of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 826 g of Natrii Sulfas, 826 g of GRR, 413 g of Gardeniae Fructus, 413 g of Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, 413 g of Scutellariae Radix, and 1652 g of Forsythiae Fructus. Decocting method was as following:Grinding the Chinese medicines into coarse powder(2-4 mm), taking 8.16 g per dose, adding 300 mL of water, along with 2 g of Lophatheri Herba and 5 g of Mel, and decocting to 140 mL. The residue was removed and taken warmly 30 min after meals. It was recommended to take it three times daily until improvement was achieved. The origins of the 9 Chinese medicines were consistent with the 2020 edition of Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. Except for GRR, which required single frying(stir-frying), the remaining medicines were all raw products. The description of the function of this formula in ancient books was summarized as purging fire and promoting bowel movements, clearing heat from the upper body and purging the lower body, and the main syndromes included facial redness, tongue swelling, red eyes, etc. In modern applications, the formula is primarily used for respiratory and digestive system diseases, including acute lung injury, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, herpetic angina and aphthous stomatitis, covering 142 types of diseases. In summary, this paper can provide a basis for further research and development of Lianggesan through the literature review and key information combing.
3.Erratum: Author correction to "PRMT6 promotes tumorigenicity and cisplatin response of lung cancer through triggering 6PGD/ENO1 mediated cell metabolism" Acta Pharm Sin B 13 (2023) 157-173.
Mingming SUN ; Leilei LI ; Yujia NIU ; Yingzhi WANG ; Qi YAN ; Fei XIE ; Yaya QIAO ; Jiaqi SONG ; Huanran SUN ; Zhen LI ; Sizhen LAI ; Hongkai CHANG ; Han ZHANG ; Jiyan WANG ; Chenxin YANG ; Huifang ZHAO ; Junzhen TAN ; Yanping LI ; Shuangping LIU ; Bin LU ; Min LIU ; Guangyao KONG ; Yujun ZHAO ; Chunze ZHANG ; Shu-Hai LIN ; Cheng LUO ; Shuai ZHANG ; Changliang SHAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):2297-2299
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.05.019.].
4.Ecliptasaponin A ameliorates DSS-induced colitis in mice by suppressing M1 macrophage polarization via inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway.
Minzhu NIU ; Lixia YIN ; Tong QIAO ; Lin YIN ; Keni ZHANG ; Jianguo HU ; Chuanwang SONG ; Zhijun GENG ; Jing LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1297-1306
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the effect of ecliptasaponin A (ESA) for alleviating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice and the underlying mechanism.
METHODS:
Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice (8-10 weeks old) were equally randomized into control group, DSS-induced IBD model group, and DSS+ESA (50 mg/kg) treatment group. Disease activity index (DAI), colon length and spleen index of the mice were measured, and intestinal pathology was examined with HE staining. The expressions of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS) in the colon mucosa were detected using ELISA and RT-qPCR, and intestinal barrier integrity was assessed using AB-PAS staining and by detecting ZO-1 and claudin-1 expressions using immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. In cultured RAW264.7 macrophages, the effects of treatment with 50 μmol/L ESA, alone or in combination with 20 μmol/L RO8191 (a JAK2/STAT3 pathway activator), on M1 polarization of the cells induced by LPS and IFN-γ stimulation and expressions of JAK2/STAT3 pathway proteins were analyzed using flow cytometry and Western blotting.
RESULTS:
In the mouse models of DSS-induced IBD, ESA treatment significantly alleviated body weight loss and colon shortening, reduced DAI, spleen index and histological scores, and ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon tissue. ESA treatment also suppressed TNF‑α, IL-6 and iNOS expressions, protected the goblet cells and the integrity of the mucus and mechanical barriers, and upregulated the expressions of ZO-1 and claudin-1. ESA treatment obviously decreased CD86+ M1 polarization in the mesenteric lymph nodes of IBD mice and in LPS and IFN-γ-induced RAW264.7 cells, and significantly reduced p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expressions in both the mouse models and RAW264.7 cells. Treatment with RO8191 caused reactivation of JAK2/STAT3 and strongly attenuated the inhibitory effect of ESA on CD86+ polarization in RAW264.7 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
ESA alleviates DSS-induced colitis in mice by suppressing JAK2/STAT3-mediated M1 macrophage polarization and mitigating inflammation-driven intestinal barrier damage.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Janus Kinase 2/metabolism*
;
STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Male
;
Dextran Sulfate
;
Macrophages/cytology*
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Colitis/metabolism*
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Saponins/pharmacology*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
;
Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Interleukin-6/metabolism*
5.Era Implications,Development Trends,and Implementation Strategies of Ideological and Political Education in the Curriculum of Higher Institutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xuebin QIAO ; Zhipeng CHEN ; Hao NIU ; Wankun DING
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(23):2406-2410
Ideological and political education within the curriculum of higher institutions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) not only bears the important responsibility of promoting China's outstanding traditional culture but also serves as a vital domain for upholding integrity and innovation in medical education. These institutions must profoundly comprehend the contemporary significance of curriculum-based ideological and political education, clarify its core role in talent cultivation, leverage the distinctive advantages of TCM culture, and promote the organic integration of ideological education and professional training. By reviewing the current situation and development trends of ideological and political education in the curriculum of higher TCM institutions, this paper has analyzed the challenges in teaching design, teachers' ideological and political literacy and competence, and the integration of ideological content with specialized courses, and has proposed implementation strategies such as using TCM culture as a guiding force, strengthening teachers' teaching capacity in ideological and political education, developing distinctive educational resources, and improving evaluation and incentive mechanisms. These strategies aim to effectively enhance the impact of ideological and political education in the new era, fostering well-rounded TCM talents with both moral integrity and professional competence.
6.Successful Pulsed-field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Guided by Intracardiac Echocardiography and 3-Dimentional Mapping System:a Case Report
Guodong NIU ; Wenbin OUYANG ; Zhiling LUO ; Yu QIAO ; Mingpeng FU ; Yulong GUO ; Jinrui GUO ; Ke YANG ; Xiangbin PAN
Chinese Circulation Journal 2024;39(11):1133-1136
The present case report described a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who received pulsed-filed ablation guided by intracardiac echocardiography and 3-dimentional mapping system.All four pulmonary veins were isolated in the procedure,good clinical results and acute safety profile were achieved.The present case reveals the safety and feasibility of the technique for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
7.Effect of knockdown of ARHGAP30 on proliferation and apoptosis of Siha cells
Ya-Ting PENG ; Duan LIU ; Jie MENG ; Wen-Chao LI ; Hui-Qi LI ; Hua GUO ; Mei-Lan NIU ; Qiao-Hong QIN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(5):847-853
Aim To investigate the changes in the proliferation and apoptosis of Siha cells after knocking down Rho GTPase-activating protein 30(ARHGAP30).Methods After designing specific shARHGAP30 primers and connecting them to the pLKO.1 vector,we transformed them into Escherichia coli competent cells,then co-transfecting them with lentiviral helper plasmids into HEK-293T cells.We collected and filtered cell supernatant to obtain the vi-rus to infect Siha cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect knockdown efficiency,as well as changes in the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 after trans-fection.The CCK-8 method was employed to measure the proliferation level of cells after knockdown.Results After successful construction of a lentiviral plasmid with knockdown of the ARHGAP30 gene and establish-ment of stably transfected Siha cells,ARHGAP30 tran-scription and translation(P<0.01)in Siha cells de-creased,Bax/Bcl-2 significantly decreased(P<0.01),indicating decreased apoptosis and increased cell proliferation(P<0.01).Conclusions This study suggests the involvement of ARHGAP30 in the proliferation and apoptosis of Siha cells,and regulating the ARHGAP30 gene may interfere with the occurrence and development of cervical cancer.
8.Analysis of influencing factors on clinical pregnancy outcomes in patients with hydrosalpinx undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer after interventional embolization
Kai ZHANG ; Zhiwei CHENG ; Hongwu QIAO ; Yunxiao ZHI ; Xin ZHAO ; Yichun GUAN ; Lin LU ; Xiangting LIU ; Guangying NIU ; Yaping WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2024;58(9):929-934
Objective:To explore the influencing factors of clinical pregnancy outcomes in patients with hydrosalpinx undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET) after interventional embolization and whether residual hydrops has an adverse impact on pregnancy outcomes.Methods:Clinical data from 65 patients who underwent interventional embolization and IVF-ET for hydrosalpinx at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2021 to October 2022 were collected retrospectively. The hydrops index was quantified by the ratio of the widest diameter to the pelvic transverse diameter of the intraoperative hydrops, and the patient′s age, body mass index(BMI), follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), lutenizing hormine(LH), estradiol(E2), automated matetials hangling(AMH), endometrial thickness at the time of transplantation, the number of transplanted embryos, embryo type, and location of the hydrosalpinx were recorded. In addition, the clinical pregnancy outcomes of the first transplantation after embolization were followed. Two independent samples t-test, rank sum test and chi-square test were used to analyze the difference of the above indexes among different clinical pregnancy outcomes by SPSS 25.0. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Youden index were used to calculate the cut-off value of the water accumulation index. Results:Among 65 patients, the clinical pregnancy rate was 63.1%(41/65), among the 45 patients who underwent embryo transfer before embolization without success, the clinical pregnancy rate after embolization was 62.2%(28/45). Based on data analysis, it showed that IVF-ET clinical pregnancy outcomes were not associated with age, BMI, FSH, LH, E2, AMH, endometrial thickness at the time of transplantation, the number of transplanted embryos, embryo type, as well as location of hydrosalpinx( P>0.05), but associated with hydrosalpinx index( P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the hydrops index could be used as a predictor of pregnancy outcome, and the area under the curve was 0.825, and the optimal cut-off value of the hydrops index was 12.925% based on the Youden index analysis result. Conclusions:Interventional embolization of hydrosalpinx may improve clinical pregnancy rates. When the hydrosalpinx is large enough, it could adversely affected IVF-ET clinical pregnancy, and further aspiration of hydrosalpinx should be performed prior to transplantation.
9.Role of RNA m6A reader YTHDF2 in neurodegeneration of the aged mice
Qiao WU ; Chunhui MA ; Yao ZHANG ; Qing LI ; Weimin TONG ; Yamei NIU
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2024;53(12):1238-1243
Objective:To investigate the role of RNA m6A reader YTHDF2 in neurodegeneration of the aged mice.Methods:Eighteen 18-month-old control C57BL/6 mice and 22 Ythdf2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice of the same age (that exhibited significant aging characteristics) were used. Five pairs of mice were used for morphological analysis. Thirteen control mice and 17 cKO mice were used for behavioral experiments. Immunofluorescence analysis was performed to detect the expression of YTHDF2 in the brains of 18-month-old C57BL/6 mice. After establishing the neural progenitor cell-specific knockout mice of Ythdf2, their phenotypes were analyzed through comparison of body weight, brain weight and H&E staining. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence analyses were used to detect the expression of various neural cell-specific markers in the aged control mice and Ythdf2 cKO mice. Finally, behavioral tests, including the open field test, new object recognition, and water maze, were used to assess the levels of anxiety, depression, learning and memory abilities.Results:Immunofluorescence staining showed that YTHDF2 was mainly expressed in the neurons. Compared with the age-matched control mice, there was no significant change in the body weight of the Ythdf2 cKO mice, but the brain weight decreased significantly ( P<0.05). The immunostaining showed that Ythdf2 cKO mice had fewer neurons, fewer astrocytes with defective morphology, more microglia and activation of microglia ( P<0.05). Behavioral tests showed that the aged Ythdf2 cKO mice exhibited impaired movement, learning and memory abilities ( P<0.05). Conclusions:YTHDF2 is mainly expressed in the neurons of the aged brain. Conditional knockout of Ythdf2 causes quantitative and structural abnormalities in hippocampal neuronal cells, and impairs motor ability and learning and memory of the aged mice, suggesting that YTHDF2 plays an important role in neurodegeneration of the aged mice.
10.Effect of laser and coating surface treatment on the bond strength of zirconia ceramics
West China Journal of Stomatology 2024;42(3):359-364
Objective This study aims to investigate bond strength between zirconia and resin cement through sur-face treatments with Er:YAG laser,Nd:YAG laser,and Si-Zr coating.Methods Seventy-five round pre-sintered zirco-nia discs with a diameter of 18 mm and a thickness of 1.5 mm were prepared by a powder compactor.Fifty discs were randomly divided into five groups of 10 discs each and were subjected to five surface treatments:no treatment(control group),sandblasting with alumina particles(sandblasting group),Er:YAG laser treatment(Er:YAG laser group),Nd:YAG laser treatment(Nd:YAG laser group),and Si-Zr coating treatment(Si-Zr coating group).The discs were then bonded to composite resin columns with resin cement.The shear bond strength of each group was tested with a universal tester.Roughness tester,scanning electron mi-croscope(SEM),and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to analyze surface performance.Results The bond strength of the Si-Zr coating group was higher than that of the remaining groups(P<0.05).The difference in bond strength between the sandblasting group and the Er:YAG laser group was not statistically significant(P>0.05),but both of them had higher bond strength than the Nd:YAG laser group(P<0.05).The Si-Zr coating group had the highest sur-face roughness(P<0.05).The surface roughness of the sandblasting,Er:YAG laser,and Nd:YAG laser groups was high-er than that of the control group(P<0.05),but the difference among the three groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).SEM observations showed irregular scratches on the surface of the sandblasting group and large pits with holes on the surface of the Er:YAG and Nd:YAG laser groups.In the Er:YAG laser group,the crystal structure was replaced by a smooth surface with a large amount of microcracks due to partial melting.Complex porous structures that comprised"is-land-like"structures and mass pores among the grains were observed on the surface of the Si-Zr coating.Only Zr,O,and Y were detected on the surfaces of the control,Er:YAG laser,and Nd:YAG laser groups.Al was found on the surface of the sandblasted group,and a higher proportion of Si was detected on the surface of the Si-Zr coating group.Conclusion Er:YAG laser and Nd:YAG laser treatment on the zirconia ceramic surface could increase roughness and improve the bond strength to resin cement.Si-Zr coating treatment is an effective alternative for increasing the roughness and bond strength of zirconia surface and is superior to sandblasting and laser treatments.

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