1.Consistent Detection of Aquaporin-4 Antibodies:A Comparative Analysis Between Fixed and Live Cell-Based Assays
Jing WANG ; Linge WANG ; Xiaolin YANG ; Zhizhong LI ; Jinyu JIANG ; Qiao XU ; Siyuan HUANG ; Qing FU ; Yang YANG ; Rongrong ZHANG ; Lin YANG ; Ai CHEN ; Xiaopeng ZENG ; Ke XU ; Peng ZHENG ; Xinyue QIN ; Jinzhou FENG
Journal of Clinical Neurology 2026;22(2):212-220
Background:
and Purpose Live cell-based assays (LCBA) are increasingly used for serological antibody detection due to their ability to preserve antigen conformation, offering moderately higher sensitivity than fixed cell-based assays. However, the clinical necessity of prioritizing LCBA for the detection of aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains unclear, especially when compared to its established role in diagnosing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease.
Methods:
We compared the performance of live cell-based assays using immunofluorescence (LCBA-IF) and fixed cell-based assays using immunofluorescence (FCBA-IF) in detecting AQP4-IgG in 90 cases of NMOSD meeting 2015 International Panel for Neuromyelitis Optica Diagnosis criteria, alongside 40 controls. Additionally, we further investigated the relationship between AQP4-IgG titers as measured by LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF and clinical parameters in NMOSD patients.
Results:
Results showed 96.9% agreement between LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF (Cohen’s κ=0.935), with a strong Spearman correlation (0.977, p<0.001). Both methods demonstrated 100% specificity, with LCBA-IF showing slightly higher sensitivity compared to FCBA-IF. Within LCBAIF-tested groups, statistically significant differences in annualized relapse rates were observed across all pairwise comparisons (low-titer vs. moderate-titer, low-titer vs. high-titer, and moderate-titer vs. high-titer; all p<0.050). However, this association reached statistical significance in some FCBA-IF-tested groups.
Conclusions
Overall, there is a strong concordance between LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF in detecting AQP4-IgG, where LCBA-IF shows slightly higher sensitivity. Furthermore, there is a potential link between elevated AQP4-IgG titers and an increased risk of relapse, and this correlation may appear more pronounced when using LCBA-IF.
2.Efficacy of the dynamic changes of noninvasive indicators in evaluating clinical outcomes of metabolic associated fatty liver disease
Xiaowei AI ; Mengyang ZHANG ; Yameng SUN ; Hong YOU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(1):167-171
Histopathological examination is currently the gold standard for the diagnosis of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD); however, due to its invasiveness, high risks, and low feasibility, application of noninvasive indicators in the staging and classification of MAFLD has become a research hotspot. This article systematically reviews the efficacy of dynamic changes in various noninvasive markers in reflecting histological changes and clinical outcome events in MAFLD patients, in order to provide theoretical support for dynamic monitoring and individualized management of the disease.
3.MRI findings of spinal cord atrophy after spinal cord injury in children and their injury level
Yingxin ZHANG ; Genlin LIU ; Di CHEN ; Hongxia ZHANG ; Yifan TIAN ; Yiji WANG ; Yang JING ; Ruidong CHENG ; Shaomin ZHANG ; Jiafeng YAO ; Bo SUN ; Xiaomeng SUN
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(4):387-392
ObjectiveTo delineate imaging findings using an imaging platform and investigate the correlation between MRI characteristics of spinal cord atrophy and clinical diagnosis in children with spinal cord injury (SCI). MethodsImaging data of 150 children with SCI admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, from January, 2002 to March, 2024 were collected and imported into the imaging platform. The anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the middle part of the spinal cord at the cross-section with the most severe atrophy were measured, and the relevant indicators of the previous normal spinal cord segment were measured as controls; the radiomic features were extracted. Clinical data of the children including gender, age, cause of injury, sensory level, motor level, spinal cord injury level, injury severity and disease course were collected. ResultsSpinal cord atrophy was identified in 81 cases (54%), among which 78 cases (96%) were American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade A and 3 cases (4%) were AIS grade C. The upper boundary of the spinal cord atrophy site strongly correlated with the injury level, motor level and sensory level (r > 0.8, P < 0.001). ConclusionMore than half of children with SCI may develop secondary spinal cord atrophy, the vast majority of whom suffer from complete spinal cord injury; the upper boundary of spinal cord atrophy is correlated with the injury level.
4.Research advances on the role of gingival fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of periodontitis
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(4):395-404
Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease triggered by periodontal pathogens and mediated by immune responses. Traditionally, gingival fibroblasts (GFs) were considered to be primarily responsible for maintaining periodontal matrix homeostasis. However, recent studies reveal that GFs play a significant immunoregulatory role in periodontitis. Through signaling pathways, such as the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, GFs recognize virulence factors from pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, and secrete various inflammatory mediators, thus driving extracellular matrix degradation and osteoclast differentiation. Simultaneously, GFs modulate immune cells, including neutrophils and macrophages, amplifying inflammatory responses and fostering a chronic inflammatory microenvironment. Risk factors, such as hyperglycemia and smoking, exacerbate GFs dysfunction via oxidative stress-mediated activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and other mechanisms, while inflammation and cellular senescence form a vicious cycle. Senescent GFs further aggravate alveolar bone destruction by activating the mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Therapeutic strategies targeting GFs, such as suppressing NF-κB signaling or modulating mTOR-mediated senescence, may disrupt the link between inflammation and tissue destruction, showing promising therapeutic potential. Future studies should employ advanced technologies such as spatial multi-omics and single-cell proteomics to elucidate the spatial distribution, functional interactomes, and heterogeneity of GFs subsets, in order to deepen our understanding of their roles in periodontitis progression. This review summarizes the multifaceted mechanisms of GFs in periodontitis and explores potential therapeutic strategies targeting GFs, offering novel insights for periodontitis prevention and treatment.
5.Research on the High-Quality Development Path of Laboratory Animal Management in Jiangsu Province Empowered by Digital Transformation
Lin CHEN ; Housen ZHANG ; Man AI ; Chongyang QI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(3):426-436
Digital government refers to the wide application of digital technology in government management and services, promoting the optimization of government governance processes, model innovation, and performance enhancement, and building a new form of digital and intelligent government operation. Laboratory animal management is an important national foundational and strategic support work. It is closely related to digital government construction, and is not only an important part of digital government construction but also a typical application of government digital transformation in the field of science and technology. Digital transformation empowering laboratory animal management is a new proposition of government governance in the digital age, and research on its systematic and holistic reform is crucial. Through digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing, the government can optimize approval process, strengthen in-process and post-event supervision, and promote regional coordination, thereby improving laboratory animal management capacity and service levels. In addition, laboratory animal data sharing contributes to government scientific decision-making and industry supervision. This article summarizes the experience and practices of domestic leading regions in recent years, reviews the background and development process of digital transformation of laboratory animal management in Jiangsu Province, describes the current status of such digital transformation in Jiangsu Province across areas including digital infrastructure, data sharing, and government services, analyzes existing challenges in top-level design, data governance, and data sharing, and, focusing on institutional mechanisms, government functions, data governance, and support systems, puts forward corresponding transformation ideas, frameworks, and pathways and provides an outlook. Thereby it provides a reference for the high-quality development of laboratory animal management in Jiangsu Province and other regions.
6.Analysis of Differences in the Intestinal Flora of Rats and Mice after Drinking Chlorinated Water Based on 16S rRNA Sequencing
Xiufeng AI ; Lizong ZHANG ; Mingsun FANG ; Dongying LÜ ; Chu CHEN ; Zhaowei CAI ; Dejun WANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(3):437-445
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of drinking chlorinated water on the intestinal flora of rats and mice and to explore differences in the intestinal microecological responses of model animals to chlorine stimulation in chlorinated drinking water systems. MethodsSix 8-week-old male SD rats and six 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were acclimated for 5 days. Subsequently, the drinking water for both rats and mice was changed from pure water to water containing free chlorine at a concentration of 25.4–32.4 nmol/L. The intervention lasted for 8 weeks, during which all animals were fed the same diet. Fecal samples were collected before the intervention (week 0, as the control group) and on the last day of week 3 and week 8 (as the chlorinated water group), and microbial composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, including α diversity (Chao1 and Shannon indices), β diversity [principal component analysis (PCA)], and linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis. ResultsAfter 3 weeks of intervention, α diversity of the intestinal flora in both rats and mice in the chlorinated water group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). After 8 weeks of intervention, no significant difference in α diversity was observed between rats in the chlorinated water group and those in the control group, whereas α diversity in mice remained significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). β diversity analysis showed significant alterations in microbial structure in the chlorinated water group. LEfSe analysis indicated that, compared with the control group, the abundances of Bacteroides and Ruminococcus were significantly reduced in the chlorinated water group, and microbial disturbance was more pronounced in mice [linear discriminant analysis (LDA) > 4.0], with a greater decrease in microbial diversity and a larger number of differentially abundant genera. ConclusionConsumption of chlorinated water can alter the diversity and structure of the intestinal flora in both rats and mice, with mice being more sensitive to this exposure. These findings suggest that the potential effects of chlorine on gut microecology should be considered in drinking water management and model selection for animal experiments.
7.Effect of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 on oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced microglia injury through regulating the miR-145-5p/ROCK1 axis
Lin LI ; Xiang-nan LI ; Song-tao YANG ; Yun-he ZHANG ; Tong CHEN ; Ai-jun FU
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(6):478-483
Objective To investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 overlapping transcript 1(KCNQ1OT1)on oxidative glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced microglia injury through regulating the miR-145-5p/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase 1(ROCK1)axis.Methods Microglia N9 were divided into the control group(normal culture),the OGD/R group(OGD/R-induced injury),the sh-NC group(transfected with sh-NC after OGD/R-induced injury),the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group(transfected with sh-KCNQ1OT1 after OGD/R-induced injury),the sh-KCNQ1OT1+inhibitor NC group(co-transfected with sh-KCNQ1OT1 and inhibitor NC after OGD/R-induced injury),and the sh-KCNQ1OT1+miR-145-5p inhibitor group(co-transfected with sh-KCNQ1OT1 and miR-145-5p inhibitor after OGD/R-induced injury).RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expression of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1,miR-145-5p,and ROCK1 mRNA in cells.The expression of ROCK1 protein was detected by Western blot.CCK-8 was applied to detect the cell proliferation.Flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis.ELISA was applied to detect the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and interleukin-6(IL-6)in cells.The action sites of miR-145-5p with lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and ROCK1 were predicted by bioinformatics website,and their targeting relationships were verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay.Results Compared with the control group,the expression of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1,the expression of ROCK1 mRNA and protein,the apoptosis rate,and the levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β in cells were all increased,and the level of miR-145-5p and cell survival rate were all decreased in the OGD/R group(P<0.05).Compared with the OGD/R group and the sh-NC group,the expression of lncRNA KCNQ1OT1,the expression of ROCK1 mRNA and protein,the apoptosis rate,and the levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β in cells were all decreased,and the level of miR-145-5p and cell survival rate were all increased in the sh-KCNQ1OT1 group,with significant differences(P<0.05).Compared with the sh-KCNQ1OT1+inhibitor NC group,the expression of ROCK1 mRNA and protein,the apoptosis rate,and the levels of IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β in cells were all increased,and the expression of miR-145-5p and cell survival rate were all decreased in the sh-KCNQ1OT1+miR-145-5p inhibitor group,with significant differences(P<0.05).Bioinformatics website showed that miR-145-5p had targeted action sites with lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and ROCK1,and dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-145-5p had targeting relationships with lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 and ROCK1(P<0.05).Conclusion Silencing lncRNA KCNQ1OT1 can alleviate OGD/R-induced microglia injury via upregulating the expression of miR-145-5p and targeting the down-regulation of ROCK1 expression.
8.Preliminary study on the value of high-order functional magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of bone and soft tissue tumors
Zhengjia ZHANG ; Xiaomin LI ; Xin ZHOU ; Hairong MA ; Songtao AI
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(5):585-596
Objective·To preliminarily investigate the value of high-order functional magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of benign and malignant bone and soft tissue tumors and the changes after chemotherapy.Methods·Patients clinically diagnosed with bone and soft tissue tumors at the Department of Orthopaedics,Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,from October 2014 to December 2024 were enrolled.The patients were divided into a control group and an amide proton transfer-weighted imaging(APTw)group according to the imaging method.All patients underwent conventional magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging(DCE)before surgery.Patients in the APTw group received additional APTw imaging.Both groups were divided into non-malignant and malignant lesion subgroups according to pathological results.According to whether the patients received chemotherapy before enrollment,the patients with malignant lesions in the APTw group were further divided into malignant group without chemotherapy and malignant group with chemotherapy.Clinical and imaging data,including APT values,apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC),and time-intensity curves(TICs)from the largest tumor section,were collected and analyzed to assess the diagnostic performance of APTw,DWI,and DCE,and to evaluate changes after chemotherapy.Results·Eighty-five patients were enrolled,including 51 males and 34 females,with ages ranging from 10 to 84 years,and a mean age of(43.05±17.62)years.There were 51 patients in the control group(16 with non-malignant lesions and 35 with malignant lesions)and 34 patients in the APTw group(5 with non-malignant lesions and 29 with malignant lesions;23 malignant lesions without chemotherapy and 6 malignant lesions with chemotherapy).The clinical and imaging data showed that only the tumor margin of the control group and the maximum tumor diameter of the APTw group had statistically significant differences in their malignant and non-malignant lesion groups(P<0.05).In the APTw group,there was a statistically significant difference in APT values between the malignant lesion group and the non-malignant lesion group(P<0.001).Further analysis showed that the APT values in the malignant group without chemotherapy were significantly lower than that in the malignant group with chemotherapy(P<0.001).However,there were no statistically significant differences in APT values between the malignant group with chemotherapy and the non-malignant lesion group(P>0.05).There were no significant differences in ADC values and TIC types between malignant and non-malignant lesion groups in the control group and the APTw group(P>0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of the diagnostic model in the APTw group(MRI+DWI+DCE+APTw)for distinguishing malignant from benign tumors was significantly higher than that of the control group(MRI+DWI+DCE)(P<0.05).The Youden index and specificity of the diagnostic model in the APTw group were higher than those in the control group.Conclusion·As a high-order functional MRI technique,APTw imaging is capable of evaluating the nature(benign or malignant)of bone and soft tissue tumors and detecting changes after chemotherapy.It serves as a valuable supplement to conventional MRI,DWI,and DCE imaging,providing a novel noninvasive tool for the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of bone and soft tissue tumors.
9.Construction and Analysis of a Machine Learning Model for Risk Prediction of Essential Hypertension with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Based on Pulse Chart Parameters
Siman WANG ; Mengchu ZHANG ; Wen LI ; Ai XU ; Minghui YAO ; Jin XU ; Rui GUO ; Yiqin WANG ; Haixia YAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(7):134-141
Objective To construct a model for predicting the risk of essential hypertension accompanied by left ventricular hypertrophy using machine learning algorithms based on pulse diagram parameters;To explore its clinical application value.Methods A total of 295 patients with essential hypertension who were hospitalized in Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Shanghai Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine were selected from July 2020 to May 2021 and July 2023 to July 2024.According to the echocardiographic results,the selected research subjects were divided into the essential hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy group(referred to as the"LVH group")and the essential hypertension without left ventricular hypertrophy group(referred to as the"non-LVH group").The general data and clinical biochemical indicators were collected,and the pulse diagram parameters of the patients were detected using the SMART-I type TCM digital pulse analyzer.A clinical prediction model was constructed based on decision tree,support vector machine and extreme gradient boosting model algorithms.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated in terms of discrimination,calibration and clinical prediction ability by using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve and decision curve analysis respectively.The influence of each predictive factor on the risk of LVH in essential hypertension was explained based on the SHAP algorithm.Results Compared with the non-LVH group,the BMI,the proportion of males,drinkers and smokers was lower in the LVH group,with statistical significance(P<0.05);the thickened ventricular wall,left ventricular internal dimension enlargement,left common carotid artery intima-media thickness and high density lipoprotein cholesterol were higher in the LVH group than in the non-LVH group(P<0.05);the left common carotid peak systolic velocity,left common carotid resistance index,serum uric acid and serum creatinine were lower in the LVH group than in the non-LVH group(P<0.05).The pulse diagram parameters T4,T,W1,W2,H3/H1 and H4/H1 were higher in the LVH group than in the non-LVH group(P<0.05).The areas of the ROC curves of the models constructed by the three types of machine learning algorithms were 0.887,0.962 and 0.873 respectively,indicating that the model had good discrimination and certain diagnostic efficacy.The calibration curve suggested that the prediction accuracy of the model was average;the clinical decision curve showed that XGBoost model has a higher net benefit.Conclusion The interpretable model constructed based on pulse diagram parameters and machine learning algorithms can be used as a reliable tool for predicting the risk of essential hypertension with LVH.
10.The Influence of Modified Position on Correction of Breech Presentation and the Maternal and Infant Outcomes in Primiparas at 30-34 Weeks of Gestation
Hong QIAO ; Guan ZHANG ; Li ZHANG ; Hong YANG ; Mo AI
Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2025;41(11):945-949
Objective:Explore the effect of modified position on correction of breech presentation and the ma-ternal and infant outcomes in primiparas at 30-34 weeks of gestation in the midwifery clinic.Methods:From Jan-uary to December2024,274 primiparas at30-34 weeks of gestation who visited the midwifery clinic of The Gener-al Hospital of Northern Theater Command were selected.They were randomly divided into two groups according to the coin-tossing method.Through the inclusion exclusion,and elimination criteria,the selected pregnant women were finally categorized into the knee-chest position group(control group,n=126)and the modified position group(observation group,n=140).The success rate of breech presentation correction,delivery mode,duration of labor,1-minute and 5-minute Apgar scores of vaginally delivered infants,umbilical artery blood gas,postpartum re-covery,and postpartum depression incidence were compared between the two groups.Results:The success rate of breech presentation correction in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group(77.9%vs 58.7%,P<0.05).After breech presentation correction,the vaginal delivery rate was higher in the ob-servation group than in the control group(80.7%vs 66.2%,P<0.05).Among women who achieved vaginal de-livery,the intrapartum complication rate was significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group(22.7%vs.46.9%,P<0.05).The duration of the first stage of labor(557.7±195.5 min vs.629.6±208.2 min)and the second stage of labor(67.7±11.4 min vs.79.6±10.3 min)was significantly shorter in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).The pH of umbilical artery blood gas of newborns in the observation group delivered vaginally was significantly higher than that in the control group(7.367±0.028 vs.7.322±0.027,P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the1-minute and5-minute Apgar scores of vaginally delivered infants,base excess,and lactate between the two groups(P>0.05).The initial time of lactation(21.7±4.4 h vs.23.5±4.1 h),time to ambulation(8.2±1.2 d vs.9.2±1.4 d),time for lochia to subside(29.6±4.8 d vs.34.1±4.8 d),and postpartum hemorrhage(298.1±56.1 ml vs.362.9±42.6 ml)in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differ-ences in the depression scores(EPDS)at 1 week and 6 weeks postpartum between the two groups of women with vaginal delivery(P>0.05).Conclusions:The modified position in the midwifery clinic significantly improves the success rate of breech presentation correction for primiparas at 30-34 weeks of gestation,good maternal and infant outcomes,and could be widely applied in clinical practice.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail