1.Mechanism of Saikosaponin D Mediating Autophagy in ICCs by Regulating CaMKKβ/AMPK Signaling Pathway
Ying WAN ; Yi ZENG ; Wenliang LYU ; Siyi ZHANG ; Jing XU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(6):1393-1402
Objectives To explore the effect and mechanism of saikosaponin D on cellular autophagy of ICCs by regulating the CaMKKβ/AMPK signaling pathway.Methods Rat primary ICCs cells were isolated and stimulated with glutamate to construct an autophagy model.The Ca2+level was detected by immunofluorescence.Primary ICCs cells were divided into control group,model group,model+saikosaponin D group,model+CaMKKβ inhibitor group,and model+saikosaponin D+CaMKKβ inhibitor group.The ultrastructure of autophagosomes was observed by transmission electron microscopy.The levels of Ghrelin and SP were detected by ELISA.The expressions of Ca2+and LC-3Ⅱ were detected by immunofluorescence.The protein expression levels of LC-3Ⅱ/Ⅰ、CaMKKβ,p-AMPK,Drp1,MFN2,IP3R and RyR were detected by Western blot.Results The fluorescence expression of LC-3Ⅱ was enhanced.Saikosaponin D reduced the levels of CaMKKβ,AMPK and MFN2(P<0.01),and increased the levels of LC-3Ⅱ/Ⅰ、IP3R,RyR,Drp1,Ghrelin and SP(P<0.01).The effect of Saikosaponin D combined with CaMKKβ inhibitor STO-609 was more significant.Conclusion Saikosaponin D can mediate Ca2+outflow through the CaMKKβ/AMPK signaling pathway,and affect the expression of excessive autophagy and gastrointestinal motility-related factors in ICCs cells.
2.Detection of Spinal Muscular Atrophy Using a Duplexed Real-Time PCR Approach With Locked Nucleic Acid-Modified Primers
Jianyan PAN ; Chunhua ZHANG ; Yanling TENG ; Sijing ZENG ; Siyi CHEN ; Desheng LIANG ; Zhuo LI ; Lingqian WU
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2021;41(1):101-107
Background:
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder mainly caused by homozygous deletions that include exon 7 of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. A nearby paralog gene, SMN2, obstructs the specific detection of SMN1. We optimized a duplexed real-time PCR approach using locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified primers to specifically detect SMN1.
Methods:
An LNA-modified primer pair with 3´ ends targeting SMN1 specific sites c.835-44g and c.840C was designed, and its specificity was examined by real-time PCR and Sanger Sequencing. A duplexed real-time PCR approach for amplifying SMN1 and control gene albumin (ALB) was developed. A randomized double-blind trial with 97 fresh peripheral blood samples and 25 dried blood spots (DBS) was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of the duplexed approach. This new approach was then used to screen 753 newborn DBS.
Results:
The LNA-modified primers exhibited enhanced specificity and 6.8% increased efficiency for SMN1 amplification, compared with conventional primers. After stabilizing the SMN1 test by optimizing the duplexed real-time PCR approach, a clinical trial validated that the sensitivity and specificity of our new approach for detecting SMA patients and carriers was 100%. Using this new approach, 15 of the screened 753 newborns were identified as carriers via DBS, while the rest were identified as normal individuals. These data reveal a carrier rate of 1.99% in Hunan province, South Central China.
Conclusions
We have developed a novel, specific SMN1 detection approach utilizing real-time PCR with LNA-modified primers, which could be applied to both prenatal carrier and newborn screening.
3.Biomechanical effects of postural and cognitive loads on trunk of workers performing assembly tasks at hand functional height
Huishuan WU ; Yu JIN ; Yan LIU ; Siyi ZENG ; Cunwen QIAN ; Kezhi JIN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(4):392-399
Background The neck, shoulders, and lower back are the primary affected areas of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In manual tasks, combinations of hand functional height (defined as working height below the waist), awkward postures, and cognitive load are common risk factors. However, there is limited literature documenting how these factors specifically alter biomechanical load on the neck, shoulders, and lower back when working at hand functional height. Objective To explore quantitative differences in biomechanical load on the neck, shoulders, and lower back of workers performing manual tasks at hand functional height under different postures and cognitive load combinations. Methods A 3x2 within-subject design was implemented, with three postures (squat, kneeling, and stoop) and two levels of cognitive load (with cognitive load induced by a 2back task and without cognitive load). Ten male university students were recruited to perform a predetermined assembly task (a sequence of loosening and tightening screws) at hand functional height. Surface electromyography (sEMG) and 3D motion capture system were employed to assess the participants’ trunk biomechanical load in executing the tasks. Additionally, subjective perception, including fatigue, muscle pain, and cognitive load, were evaluated using scales. Results Significant variations in biomechanical load were observed across the three postures (P<0.05). The stoop posture exhibited the lowest muscle activation in most target muscles, except for the sternocleidomastoid, and showed the fastest decline in instantaneous median frequency (IMF) of the erector spinae, with a rate of (-0.050±0.008) Hz per unit time (0.128 s), and the greatest trunk flexion angle (35.14°±4.40°). Performing the task by squatting resulted in the highest muscle activation, especially in the upper trapezius, where maximum voluntary contraction percentage reached 20.07%±1.26%. In addition, the squatting posture also resulted in larger joint angles in the sagittal plane for the neck (−7.03°±2.70°), shoulders (60.20°±7.89°), and lower back (34.42°±4.20°). The kneeling posture showed intermediate muscle activation, the slowest IMF decline for the erector spinae in the lower back (−0.005±0.008) Hz per unit time (0.128s), and the joint angles were closest to neutral. The task performance results were also superior in the kneeling posture. Regarding cognitive load, no significant differences were found for most biomechanical indicators, except for subjective cognitive load scores, neck flexion, and shoulder external rotation angles. Conclusion In assembly tasks performed at hand functional height, kneeling results in moderate biomechanical load on the neck, shoulders, and lower back while also improves task performance compared to squatting and forward bending. Additionally, no significant effects of cognitive load under the 2back condition on biomechanical load are observed.
4.Clinical comprehensive evaluation of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein
Xiaofeng NI ; Sha DIAO ; Siyi HE ; Xuefeng JIAO ; Xiao CHENG ; Zhe CHEN ; Zheng LIU ; Linan ZENG ; Deying KANG ; Bin WU ; Chaomin WAN ; Binwu YING ; Hui ZHANG ; Rongsheng ZHAO ; Liyan MIAO ; Zhuo WANG ; Xiaoyu LI ; Maobai LIU ; Benzhi CAI ; Feng QIU ; Feng SUN ; Naihui CHU ; Minggui LIN ; Wei SHA ; Lingli ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2023;34(4):391-396
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, economy, innovation, suitability and accessibility of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein (EC), and to provide evidence for selecting skin detection methods for tuberculosis infection diagnosis and auxiliary diagnosis of tuberculosis. METHODS The effectiveness and safety of EC compared with purified protein derivative of tuberculin (TB-PPD) were analyzed by the method of systematic review. Cost minimization analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis and cost-utility analysis were used to evaluate the short-term economy of EC compared with TB-PPD, and cost-utility analysis was used to evaluate the long-term economy. The evaluation dimensions of innovation, suitability and accessibility were determined by systematic review and improved Delphi expert consultation, and the comprehensive score of EC and TB-PPD in each dimension were calculated by the weight of each indicator. RESULTS The scores of effectiveness, safety, economy, innovation and suitability of EC were all higher than those of TB-PPD. The affordability scores of the two drugs were consistent, while the availability score of EC was lower than those of TB-PPD. After considering dimensions and index weight, the scores of effectiveness, safety, economy, innovation, suitability, accessibility and the comprehensive score of EC were all higher than those of TB-PPD. CONCLUSIONS Compared with TB-PPD, EC performs better in all dimensions of effectiveness, safety, economy, innovation, suitability and accessibility. However, it is worth noting that EC should further improve its availability in the dimension of accessibility.