1.Effects of Tuina on serum creatine kinase and skeletal muscle mitochondria in delayed onset muscle soreness model rats
Qingbo WEI ; Qian ZHAO ; Jialing GU ; Jia LIN ; Yan ZHU ; Ziqi SONG ; Fenglei LI ; Yanping YANG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2022;20(6):446-452
Objective: To observe the effect of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) on creatine kinase (CK), mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, and ultrastructure of skeletal muscle in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) model rats.Methods: A total of 130 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, an exercise control group, a pre-exercise Tuina group, and a post-exercise Tuina group. According to the time points for sample collection, the exercise control group was divided into a 0 h exercise control group, a 24 h exercise control group, a 48 h exercise control group, and a 72 h exercise control group; the pre-exercise Tuina group was further divided into a 0 h pre-exercise Tuina group, a 24 h pre-exercise Tuina group, a 48 h pre-exercise Tuina group, and a 72 h pre-exercise Tuina group; and the post-exercise Tuina group was divided into a 0 h post-exercise Tuina group, a 24 h post-exercise Tuina group, a 48 h post-exercise Tuina group, and a 72 h post-exercise Tuina group. Rats in all groups except for the blank group received DOMS modeling. Professionals performed Nie-Pinching manipulation and finger Nian-Twisting manipulation on the lower limbs of the rats. The samples were collected at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h after exhaustive exercise for each pre-exercise Tuina group. The samples were collected at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h, or 72 h after Tuina for each post-exercise Tuina group. The changes in serum CK, skeletal muscle mitochondrial Ca2+ concentration, and Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) were determined. The ultrastructure changes of skeletal muscles in each group were observed by a transmission electron microscope. Results: The electron microscope showed that compared with the exercise control group, the skeletal muscle structures of the pre-exercise Tuina group and the post-exercise Tuina group were significantly improved, and the overall performance of skeletal muscle in the pre-exercise Tuina group was more similar to that of the blank group. The level of serum CK in the pre-exercise Tuina group and the post-exercise Tuina group was significantly lower than that in the exercise control group (P<0.01). The Ca2+ concentration of skeletal muscle in the 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h pre-exercise Tuina groups was lower than that in the post-exercise Tuina group at the same time point (P<0.01). The Ca2+-ATPase concentration of skeletal muscle in the 24 h and 72 h pre-exercise Tuina groups was lower than that in the post-exercise Tuina group at the same time point (P<0.05).Conclusion: Tuina effectively prevents muscle damage caused by heavy exercise and long-term exercise, which may be related to the increase of skeletal muscle Ca2+-ATPase activity and mitochondrial Ca2+ transport.
2.The effect of Pterostilbene on endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in HK-2 cells induced by oxalate
Qianlin SONG ; Ziqi HE ; Bin LI ; Junwei LIU ; Lang LIU ; Sixing YANG
Chinese Journal of Urology 2020;41(7):540-547
Objective:To study the effect of Pterostilbene on endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) induced by oxalate.Methods:From January 2019 to January 2020, HK-2 cells were divided into a control group (cultured with normal medium), an oxalate group (cultured with a medium containing 4 mmol/L of oxalate), and an intervention group of Pterostilbene (containing 4 mmol/L of oxalate + Pterostilbene 5, 10, and 20 μmol/L mixed medium were cultured at the same time), and the following tests were performed after 12 hours of treatment. Pterostilbene (5, 10, and 20 μmol/L) intervention group for cell viability test, lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity test, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide enzyme, total antioxidant capacity detection experiments to explore the degree of oxidative damage, and Western blotting experiments to explore the protein expression of ATF6, GRP78, DDIT3, caspase12, Clevead caspase 3/9; Pterostilbene (10 μmol/L) intervention group to detect mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase 3 enzyme activity, apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen detection to detect the apoptosis, reactive oxygen level, and qRT-PCR to detect ATF6, GRP78, DDIT3 of cells mRNA expression.Results:CCK-8 and lactate dehydrogenase toxicity test results showed that the cell activity of the oxalate group was significantly lower than that of the control group [(45.6±3.1)% vs. 100.0%, P<0.001]; the lactate dehydrogenase [(330.2±11.1)U/L vs. (2.6±6.7) U/L, P<0.001] of the oxalate group was higher than that of the control group increased obviously; the cell viability[ (57.2±1.7)%, (67.2±3.4)%, (78.9±1.8)%] of Pterostilbene intervention group (5, 10, 20 μmol/L) significantly increased compared with oxalate group ( P<0.05); lactate dehydrogenase [(288.1±4.3)U/L, (260.9±5.5)U, (202.7±10.2)U/L] in Pterostilbene intervention group (5, 10, 20 μmol/L ) was significantly lower than oxalate group ( P<0.05). The results of the five biochemical indexes of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity showed that the cell damage state was consistent with the experimental results of CCK-8 and lactate dehydrogenase. The active oxygen test results showed that the oxalate group had a significantly higher active oxygen level (76.3±4.9 vs. 6.2±1.7, P<0.01); the active oxygen level (39.5±5.4) of the Pterostilbene intervention group(10 μmol/L) was significantly lower than oxalate group ( P<0.01). The flow cytometry and caspase3 enzyme activity showed an increase in apoptosis rate and caspase3 activity in line with the trend of reactive oxygen levels. Mitochondrial membrane potential results showed that the oxalate group had a significantly lower mitochondrial membrane potential (0.76±0.15 vs. 7.84±0.26, P<0.01), and the mitochondrial membrane potential (2.26±0.27) of the Pterostilbene intervention group (10 μmol/L) was significantly higher than oxalate group( P<0.01). Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression of ATF6, DDIT3, GRP78, caspase12 and Cleaved caspase3/9 protein in the oxalate group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The relative expression of ATF6, DDIT3, GRP78, caspase12, Cleaved caspase3/9 protein in the Pterostilbene intervention group was significantly lower than that in the oxalate group ( P<0.05). qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression trends of ATF6, DDIT3 and GRP78 in the three groups were consistent with the results of Western blotting. Conclusion:Pterostilbene can effectively inhibit the endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis of HK-2 cells induced by oxalate.
3.Pregnancy complicated with primary hyperparathyroidism: a report of 3 cases
Ziqi GE ; Zili ZHANG ; Qiuhong YANG ; Yan LI ; Xiaoping LI ; Min SONG
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2023;22(2):194-196
Clinical data of 3 pregnant women with primary hyperparathyroidism admitted in Jinan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from 2013 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed during pregnancy in all 3 cases. The clinical manifestations were non-specific, such as nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and fatigue. Patients also had gallbladder stones (1 case), gallbladder polyps (1 case), and renal parenchyma changes (2 cases). The hypercalcemia crisis occurred in all 3 cases, the blood Ca 2+ levels were 4.11 mmol/L, 2.92-3.82 mmol/L and 3.49-4.10 mmol/L, respectively; and preeclampsia developed in 2 cases. Sudden death occurred in case 1 who did not receive effective treatment during pregnancy; blood calcium was well controlled during pregnancy in case 2, and her neonate had hypocalcemia with good prognosis; case 3 underwent surgical treatment in early pregnancy, and then had missed abortion. Pathological examination revealed parathyroid tumors in all 3 cases.
4.Therapeutic effect of artesunate on acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice
Qiuting ZHONG ; Ziqi ZHAO ; Jianping SONG ; Fangli LYU
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2022;41(5):345-350
Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of artesunate on mice with acute Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii) infection. Methods:Based on body weight (16 - 18 g), sixty-four C57BL/6 female mice aged 6 - 8 weeks were divided into 4 groups by random number table method: uninfected control group without treatment; T. gondii-infected group (Tg group), each mouse was intraperitoneally (i.p.) infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain; T. gondii-infected + artesunate treatment group (Tg + ART group), 3 hours after each mouse i.p. infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, artesunate solution was i.p. injected at a dose of 30 mg/kg, once a day for a total of 7 consecutive days; T. gondii-infected + sulfadiazine treatment group (Tg + SDZ group), 3 hours after each mouse i.p. infected with 100 tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, sulfadiazine solution was orally administrated at a dose of 100 mg/kg, once a day for a total of 7 consecutive days. There were 16 mice in each group, in which 10 mice were used to observe survival time and 6 mice were used to monitor body weight and collect tissue samples. Mice were weighed every day from day 1 post infection (p.i.); mice were sacrificed at day 7 p.i., the liver weights of mice were weighed and the liver indexes were calculated; liver tissues were paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE), and the pathological changes of liver tissues of mice in each group were observed under a light microscope. The expression levels of T. gondii major surface antigen 1 (SAG1) in the liver tissues of mice in each group were detected by real-time quantitative PCR for evaluating parasite load. Results:All mice in the uninfected control group were survived. The survival time was 7 - 9 days in Tg group, 8 - 11 days in Tg + ART group, and 9 - 13 days in Tg + SDZ group. Compared with Tg group, the survival times of mice in Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group were significantly longer ( P < 0.05). On day 7 p.i., compared with uninfected control group, Tg + ART group or Tg + SDZ group, the body weight of mice in Tg group was lower ( P < 0.05); however, there was no significant difference of body weight in Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group compared with uninfected control group ( P > 0.05). Compared with Tg group, Tg + ART group and Tg + SDZ group had lower liver indexes and SAG1 mRNA expression levels in the liver tissues ( P < 0.05 or < 0.001), and liver histopathological changes were milder. Compared with Tg + SDZ group, there was no significant difference in both liver index and SAG1 mRNA expression level in the liver tissue of Tg + ART group ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:Artesunate solution i.p. injection can prolong the survival time, reduce parasite load in the liver, and attenuate hepatic pathological damage, to a certain extent, of mice with acute T. gondii infection.
5.The progress of renal papillary calcium plaque lesions
Qianlin SONG ; Ziqi HE ; Sixing YANG
Chinese Journal of Urology 2021;42(10):788-791
The formation mechanism of kidney stones is complex. It is generally recognized that abnormal urine conditions or renal tubular epithelial cell damage, together with other factors cause the formation of renal papillary subepithelial calcium plaques (Randall’s plaques) or stone crystals that block the renal tubules (Randall’s plugs), and then oversaturated crystals gathering on Randall's plaque or plug and forming stones. However, there are many pathophysiological changes and manifestations, such as renal papillary anchoring stones, renal papillary crypts, renal papillary tip erosion, and exogenous renal papilla Renal papillary lesions, which may be an early manifestations before the formation of kidney stones. The study of renal papillary calcium plaque is very important for the pathogenesis of kidney stones, as well as the prevention and treatment of patients with stones. By focusing on the development process of Randall plaque theory, the formation and transformation mechanism of Randall plaque, as well as the manifestations and clinical treatment of the above mentioned different types of renal papillary calcium plaque lesions, this article reviewed three aspects of stone formation, including Randall’s plaque, renal papillary lesions with stones, and renal papillary lesions related to stone.
6.Characteristic analysis of skin keratinocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes based on the single-cell levels
Bingye LIAO ; Qiuyi OUYANG ; Hongqin SONG ; Ziqi WANG ; Jinhua OU ; Jinxin HUANG ; Liang LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2022;135(20):2461-2466
Background::Keratinocytes play an important role in wound healing; however, less is known about skin keratinocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aimed to search for the transcriptional characteristics of keratinocytes at the single-cell level from T2DM patients, and to provide experimental data for identifying the pathological mechanisms of keratinocytes under pathological conditions.Methods::We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on the skin tissue from two T2DM patients and one patient without diabetes-induced trauma using the BD Rhapsody TM Single-Cell Analysis System. With the help of bioinformatics R-based single-cell analysis software, we analyzed the results of single-cell sequencing to identify the single-cell subsets and transcriptional characteristics of keratinocytes at the single-cell level, including Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology analyzes. Results::In this study, we found specific highly expressed signature keratinocyte-related genes. We analyzed the transcriptome of keratinocytes from experimental and control groups and screened a total of 356 differential genes, which were subject to bioinformatics analysis. Enriched pathways included oxidative phosphorylation, antigen processing and presentation, prion and Huntingtons’ diseases, bacterial invasion of epithelial cells, thermogenesis, vasopressin-regulated water reabsorption, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum.Conclusions::This study revealed the characteristics of keratinocytes at the single-cell level and screened a group of differentially expressed genes related to T2DM-associated keratinocytes, oxidative phosphorylation, cytokine receptor interactions, prion diseases, and other signaling pathways.
7.Current status of regional school health work in Tianjin during 2019-2023
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(5):620-625
Objective:
To explore the current status and progress of regional school health work to provide policy reference for school health improvement.
Methods:
Survey data on school health work in Tianjin from 2019, 2021 and 2023 was used. School health staff allocation and expenditure of the health administrative department, CDC and education department, as well as the annual implementation of health education, prevention and control of common diseases and infectious diseases, sports activities and food nutrition in primary and secondary schools were analyzed. Statistical analysis was conducted using KruskalWallis test, Chisquare test, and Fishers exact test.
Results:
The number of school health staff in the health commissions and education departments from 2019, 2021 and 2023 was relatively stable. Parttime staffs were often employed by health commissions while fulltime staffs were mainly employed by education departments. The number of school health staff at CDCs increased gradually (H=12.65, P<0.01). School health expenditure of administrative departments and schools in 2021 and 2023 increased significantly compared with that in 2019 (H=22.28, 23.75, P<0.05). More than 95% of schools set up clinics or health care rooms, and about 97% of schools had school health technicians or health teachers. More than 90% of schools had health education courses over 4 hours per semester. The rate of mental health education increased by year (86.87%, 89.91%, 96.30%, Z=2.40,P<0.05). Lack of courses regarded safety emergency and risk avoidance, growth and development, and adolescent health education. The provision rate of psychological counseling services (89.00%, 97.25%, 100.00%) and psychological problem prevention and control (56.12%, 71.56%, 81.48%) also increased by year (Z=3.83, 3.96, P<0.01). The implementation rates of prevention and control of poor vision, dental caries, overweight and obesity were all higher than 80%, and the prevention and control rate of abnormal spinal curvature showed an increasing trend (38.78%, 77.06%, 72.22%, Z=4.87, P<0.01). More than 90% of schools met the standard for physical education class hours, and the proportion of schools conducting at least 30 minutes of recess physical activities every day increased year by year (65.00%, 80.73%, 85.98%, Z=3.59, P<0.01). All schools did not have shops.
Conclusions
School health work in Tianjin is effective and constantly developing. It is necessary to continue to increase the investment of human resources and expenditure in school health, explore the approaches of cooccurrence and prevention of common diseases, and improve the school sports and nutrition environment.
8.Oxalate regulates crystal-cell adhesion and macrophage metabolism via JPT2/PI3K/AKT signaling to promote the progression of kidney stones
Song QIANLIN ; Song CHAO ; Chen XIN ; Xiong YUNHE ; He ZIQI ; Su XIAOZHE ; Zhou JIAWEI ; Ke HU ; Dong CAITAO ; Liao WENBIAO ; Yang SIXING
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(6):851-862
Oxalate is an organic dicarboxylic acid that is a common component of plant foods.The kidneys are essential organs for oxalate excretion,but excessive oxalates may induce kidney stones.Jupiter micro-tubule associated homolog 2(JPT2)is a critical molecule in Ca2+mobilization,and its intrinsic mecha-nism in oxalate exposure and kidney stones remains unclear.This study aimed to reveal the mechanism of JPT2 in oxalate exposure and kidney stones.Genetic approaches were used to control JPT2 expression in cells and mice,and theJPT2 mechanism of action was analyzed using transcriptomics and untargeted metabolomics.The results showed that oxalate exposure triggered the upregulation of JPT2,which is involved in nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NAADP)-mediated Ca2+mobilization.Tran-scriptomic analysis revealed that cell adhesion and macrophage inflammatory polarization were inhibited by JPT2 knockdown,and these were dominated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT signaling,respectively.Untargeted metabolomics indicated that JPT2 knockdown inhibited the produc-tion of succinic acid semialdehyde(SSA)in macrophages.Furthermore,JPT2 deficiency in mice inhibited kidney stones mineralization.In conclusion,this study demonstrates that oxalate exposure facilitates kidney stones by promoting crystal-cell adhesion,and modulating macrophage metabolism and in-flammatory polarization via JPT2/PI3K/AKT signaling.
9.Research on the risk factors and cumulative risk of myopia in children and adolescents
Yang QIN ; Wen YUAN ; Tian YANG ; Xiuhong ZHANG ; Li CHEN ; Yi ZHANG ; Jianuo JIANG ; Qi MA ; Ziqi DONG ; Xinli SONG ; Jieyu LIU ; Ruolin WANG ; Yi SONG ; Jun MA ; Yanhui DONG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(8):1126-1133
Objective:To investigate the risk factors and cumulative risk of myopia in children and adolescents, providing a basis for identifying cumulative risk factors in preventing and controlling myopia.Methods:Baseline data from the mental and physical health cohort of children and adolescents established in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were used. A stratified random cluster sampling method was adopted to select 138 974 students from fourth to twelfth grade as participants. Distance visual exams, refractive assessments, and questionnaires were conducted on the included students. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate each risk factor's impact on myopia's prevalence. The number of risk factors was summed to form a cumulative risk score, and logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between the cumulative risk score and the prevalence of myopia. Additionally, the association between the cumulative risk score of myopic students and their degree of refractivity was analyzed using a generalized estimating equation.Results:The study found a high prevalence of myopia among children and adolescents at baseline (70.2%). Girls exhibited a higher prevalence (74.8%) than boys (65.6%), urban areas (74.3%) surpassed suburban ones (68.6%), and the incidence was greater in high schools (80.3%) compared to middle schools (75.3%), which, in turn, was higher than in elementary schools (57.7%) (all P<0.05). Analysis of risk factors revealed that children and adolescents experiencing improper reading and writing distances ( OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.13), excessive homework ( OR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.06-1.12), insufficient sleep ( OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.07-1.13), having myopic father ( OR=1.98, 95% CI: 1.91-2.05), having myopic mother ( OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.97-2.10), or using classroom chairs not matched to their height faced ( OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07) increased myopia risks. Additionally, the prevalence and significant odds ratio of myopia increased with the increase in cumulative risk score, with every additional unit of cumulative risk score increasing the right eye's refractive error by -0.10 D. Conclusion:The presence of multiple factors and their comprehensive score increases the prevalence of myopia in children and adolescents.
10.Anti-tumor effect of CTL on colon cancer xenograft in nude mice after blockingout CTLA-4 with CRSIPR/Cas9 technology
SHI Long ; GENG Songsong ; CAI Ziqi ; HAN Jinsheng ; ZHAO Zhilong ; ZHANG Wei ; SONG Hongtao ; MENG Tongyu ; CAI Jianhui
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2020;27(3):221-227
Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of CTL cells on colon cancer xenograft in nude mice after knocking out the immune check point CTLA-4 by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Methods: A specific small guide RNA (sgRNA) for CTLA-4 was designed to construct sgRNA/Cas9 plasmid, which was then transfected into CTL using a lentiviral vector to obtain CTL cells with CTLA-4 deletion (CTLA-4 KO CTL). The transfection efficiency of the plasmid and the deletion efficiency of CTLA-4 were verified. BALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into two groups to prophylactically inoculate CTLA-4 KO CTL (experimental group) or CTL (control group); 3 days later, the animals of two groups were inoculated with colon cancer cell line LS174-T to observe the tumor formation rate and tumor formation time. After constructing colon cancer xenograft model in nude mice, the animals were randomly divided into two groups, respectively treated with CTLA-4 KO CTL (experimental group) and CTL (control group) cells to observe the tumor growth volume and survival time of mice. The serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in nude mice were detected. Results: sgRNAwas designed and CRSIPR/Cas9 system with lentivirus as vector was successfully constructed. CTL cells were transfected with the established CRSIPR/ Cas9 system, and the highest transfection efficiency was up to (28.80±0.62)%. After transfection, the deletion efficiency of CTLA-4 was detected by Flow cytometry. The CTLA-4 expression of CTLA-4 KO CTL group was significantly lower than that of CTL group [(0.91±0.25)% vs (42.70±2.72)%, P<0.05]. In prophylactic assay, the formation rate of colon cancer xenografts in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(33.33%vs100%,P<0.05). In treatment assay, the tumor volume in the experimental group was significantly inhibited compared with the control group ([503±23.9] vs [911.2±51.4] mm3, P<0.05), and the survivaltimeoftheexperimentalgroupwassignificantlyprolonged (mediansurvivaltime:78dvs42d,P<0.05); Moreover, the secretion levels of serumTNF-α([268.93±17.04]pg/mlvs[148.26±20.07]pg/ml,P<0.05) and IFN-γ(315.38±18.67 pg/ml vs 202.92±29.32 pg/ml, P<0.05) in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Conclusions: The lentiviral vector CRSIPR/Cas9 system is an effective gene editing method; its successful deletion of CTLA-4 in CTL cells can significantly inhibit the tumor formation rate of colon cancer xenografts in nude mice and enhance the anti-tumor effect of CTLon colon cancer xenografts.