1.Engineering cellular dephosphorylation boosts (+)-borneol production in yeast.
Haiyan ZHANG ; Peng CAI ; Juan GUO ; Jiaoqi GAO ; Linfeng XIE ; Ping SU ; Xiaoxin ZHAI ; Baolong JIN ; Guanghong CUI ; Yongjin J ZHOU ; Luqi HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):1171-1182
(+)-Borneol, the main component of "Natural Borneol" in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a high-end spice and precious medicine. Plant extraction cannot meet the increasing demand for (+)-borneol, while microbial biosynthesis offers a sustainable supply route. However, its production was extremely low compared with other monoterpenes, even with extensively optimizing the mevalonate pathway. We found that the key challenge is the complex and unusual dephosphorylation reaction of bornyl diphosphate (BPP), which suffers the side-reaction and the competition from the cellular dephosphorylation process, especially lipid metabolism, thus limiting (+)-borneol synthesis. Here, we systematically optimized the dephosphorylation process by identifying, characterizing phosphatases, and balancing cellular dephosphorylation metabolism. For the first time, we identified two endogenous phosphatases and seven heterologous phosphatases, which significantly increased (+)-borneol production by up to 152%. By engineering BPP dephosphorylation and optimizing the MVA pathway, the production of (+)-borneol was increased by 33.8-fold, which enabled the production of 753 mg/L under fed-batch fermentation in shake flasks, so far the highest reported in the literature. This study showed that rewiring dephosphorylation metabolism was essential for high-level production of (+)-borneol in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and balancing cellular dephosphorylation is also helpful for efficient biosynthesis of other terpenoids since all whose biosynthesis involves the dephosphorylation procedure.
2.Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among bus drivers in a first-tier city and associated influencing factors
Linfeng LUO ; Huining WANG ; Huijie ZHANG ; Baolong LIU ; Tenglong YAN ; Jue LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(11):1350-1357
Background During urbanization, the passenger load on urban public transport systems continues to increase, exposing bus drivers to a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This occupational health issue may also potentially compromise public transport safety. Objective To investigate the prevalence of MSDs among bus drivers in a first-tier city and to explore associated influencing factors. Methods A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted from December 2024 to March 2025 among
3.The predictive value of lipoprotein associated-phospholipase A2 and homocysteine combined with white matter hyperintensities on cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
Aiju JIAO ; Ruolan ZHU ; Chunhua ZHANG ; Wenrui LI ; Xia SUN ; Weijing ZHAO ; Baolong REN
Tianjin Medical Journal 2025;53(8):846-850
Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and homocysteine(Hcy)combined with white matter hyperintensities(WMH)for cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Methods A total of 240 patients with CSVD were selected.According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale,all subjects were divided into the non-cognitive impairment group(MoCA≥26 points,120 cases)and the cognitive impairment group(MoCA<26 points,120 cases).Paraventricular white matter high signal(PWMHs)and deep white matter high signal(DWMHs)were scored by Fazekas scale.The sum of the two parts was the total score,and the severity of DWMHs was graded by the score.The basic information,serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level and severity of WMH were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.The predictive value of serum level of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy and WMH for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the non-cognitive impairment group,patients of the cognitive impairment group were older,had higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and had more severe of WMH(P<0.05).Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy levels and severity of WMH were influencing factors for cognitive impairment of patients with CSVD(P<0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level combined with severity of WMH predicting cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD was 0.812,the sensitivity was 81.7%and the specificity was 71.7%(P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with cognitive impairment caused by CSVD have higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and more severe WMH.The combination of the three has a relatively high predictive value for cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD.
4.Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders among bus drivers in a first-tier city and associated influencing factors
Linfeng LUO ; Huining WANG ; Huijie ZHANG ; Baolong LIU ; Tenglong YAN ; Jue LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(11):1342-1349
Background During urbanization, the passenger load on urban public transport systems continues to increase, exposing bus drivers to a high risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This occupational health issue may also potentially compromise public transport safety. Objective To investigate the prevalence of MSDs among bus drivers in a first-tier city and to explore associated influencing factors. Methods A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted from December 2024 to March 2025 among
5.Echinacoside attenuates liver injury in a rat model of hepatitis B
Wei WANG ; Baolong MU ; Wenshuang ZHANG ; Qinglei WU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(10):1291-1297
Objective To investigate the effect of Echinacoside(Ech)on liver injury in hepatitis B rats.Methods SD rats were divided into control group,Hepatitis B(HBV,5 mL/kg HBV virus was injected into the tail vein twice a week for 3 consecutive weeks),low(Ech-L)and high(Ech-H)doses of Ech were injected into the stom-ach for HBV(8.33 and 33.32 mg/kg,respectively),HBV group was treated with positive drugs(lamivudine,10 mg/kg)and Ech-H+BKM120(40 mg/kg BKM120),with 12 animals in each group.The drug was administered once a day for 8 weeks.The activity of ALT and AST in serum of were detected.Serum level of gam-ma-interferon(IFN-γ)and interleukin(IL-4)was detected by ELISA;Flow cytometry was applied to detect Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood;Chromatin immunoprecipitation was applied to detect HBV DNA expression in liver tissue;HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes of liver tissue and score the damage;Western blot was ap-plied to detect phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(p-PI3K),phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT)proteins in liver tissue.Results Compared with the control group,hepatocytes in the hepatitis B group were swollen,nuclear staining was excessive,hepatic lobular structure was disorganized,pathological injury score,serum AST,ALT activity,IL-4 level,peripheral blood Th2,HBV DNA expression in liver tissue were all increased.Serum IFN-γ level,Th1,Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood,p-PI3K and p-AKT protein in liver tissue were all decreased(P<0.05);Treatment with Ech-L,Ech-H and lamivudine reduced the swelling of HBV rat hepatocytes,cleared the structure of some liver cords,reduced pathological injury score,the activity of AST,ALT and IL-4 levels in serum,Th2 in peripheral blood and HBV DNA in liver tissue;The level of serum IFN-γ,Th1,Th1/Th2 in peripheral blood,and protein expression p-PI3K and p-AKT protein in liver tissue were increased(P<0.05).BKM120 attenuated the ameliorative effect of high-dose Ech on hepatitis B-induced liver injury in rats.Conclusions Ech ameliorates liver in-jury in rats with hepatitis B,and the mechanism may be related to the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.
6.The value of the ratio between inferior turbinate and nasal cavity morphology in the diagnosis and treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy
Baolong GUAN ; Jinfeng LIU ; Yi ZHANG ; Lingjing HU ; Zhi'an YANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(6):924-927
Objective To explore the value of the ratio between inferior turbinate and nasal cavity morphology in the diagnosis and treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy.Methods The clinical and CT imaging data of patients with nasal septum deviation were retrospectively collected.Patients were divided into an inferior turbinate hypertrophy group(experimental group)and a control group without nasal congestion symptoms and related lesions.Based on CT imaging data,four ratios of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity morphology were calculated:inferior turbinate bone to nasal cavity width ratio,lateral mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,medial mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,and inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio.A t-test was used to compare the four ratios between the experimental and control groups.Results The mean values of inferior turbinate bone to nasal cavity width ratio,lateral mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,medial mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,and inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio at the uncinate process level in the experimental group were 0.344±0.046,0.101±0.031,0.108±0.031,and 0.244±0.043,respectively.In the control group,these ratios were 0.061±0.019,0.074±0.018,0.097±0.044,and 0.146±0.038,respectively.All four ratios were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing inferior turbinate hypertrophy using inferior turbinate bone to nasal cavity width ratio,lateral mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,medial mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,and inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio were 0.870,0.907,0.884,and 0.926,respectively.Conclusion The ratios of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity morphology can serve as quantitative indicators for inferior turbinate hypertrophy,providing clinical value for treatment planning.
7.Report and literature review of three cases of adrenal anastomotic hemangioma
Changsheng ZHANG ; Jing HU ; Jinsong ZHANG ; Qi LIU ; Huixing YUAN ; Hao XU ; Baolong QIN
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(8):695-700
Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical features,imaging manifestations,pathological characteristics,treatment approaches,and prognosis of adrenal anastomotic hemangioma(AH),so as to enhance the clinical understanding of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 3 adrenal AH patients treated in Tongji Hospital during Jan.2012 and Dec.2024.Relevant literature was reviewed.Results All patients were male,aged 34-56 years,with a maximum tumor diameter of 2.0-5.0 cm.All tumors were solitary.No patients presented with special clinical manifestations.Biochemical tests indicated tumors with no endocrine function.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed circular mixed density shadows with uneven edge enhancement.Two patients underwent laparoscopic partial adrenal resection,and one patient received robot-assisted laparoscopic partial adrenal resection.Postoperative pathological results of all three cases indicated AH.Immunohistochemistry showed CD31(+),CD34(+),and ERG(+).No recurrence was found in a postoperative follow-up of 1-45 months.A total of 22 cases of adrenal AH were reported in the literature and our center,with onset age ranging from 34 to 83 years.The patients included 17 males and 5 females,with a maximum tumor diameter of 0.6-8.8 cm.Among them,2 cases were multifocal and the tumors were located in the kidneys,beside kidneys,or in the inferior vena cava.Two cases showed clinical manifestations of lower back pain.During the follow-up of 156 months,no recurrence or metastasis was observed.Conclusion Adrenal AH is a rare benign tumor,which mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people with no clinical symptoms and endocrine function.Imaging can easily mistake it for pheochromocytoma or well differentiated vascular sarcoma,and the diagnosis mainly relies on pathological examination.It should be distinguished from pheochromocytoma and well differentiated vascular sarcoma.Surgery is the main treatment method and the prognosis is good.
8.The predictive value of lipoprotein associated-phospholipase A2 and homocysteine combined with white matter hyperintensities on cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
Aiju JIAO ; Ruolan ZHU ; Chunhua ZHANG ; Wenrui LI ; Xia SUN ; Weijing ZHAO ; Baolong REN
Tianjin Medical Journal 2025;53(8):846-850
Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and homocysteine(Hcy)combined with white matter hyperintensities(WMH)for cognitive impairment in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD).Methods A total of 240 patients with CSVD were selected.According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale,all subjects were divided into the non-cognitive impairment group(MoCA≥26 points,120 cases)and the cognitive impairment group(MoCA<26 points,120 cases).Paraventricular white matter high signal(PWMHs)and deep white matter high signal(DWMHs)were scored by Fazekas scale.The sum of the two parts was the total score,and the severity of DWMHs was graded by the score.The basic information,serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level and severity of WMH were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression was applied to analyze influencing factors of cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.The predictive value of serum level of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy and WMH for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the non-cognitive impairment group,patients of the cognitive impairment group were older,had higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and had more severe of WMH(P<0.05).Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy levels and severity of WMH were influencing factors for cognitive impairment of patients with CSVD(P<0.05).The results of ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Lp-PLA2,Hcy level combined with severity of WMH predicting cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD was 0.812,the sensitivity was 81.7%and the specificity was 71.7%(P<0.05).Conclusion Patients with cognitive impairment caused by CSVD have higher serum levels of Lp-PLA2 and Hcy,and more severe WMH.The combination of the three has a relatively high predictive value for cognitive impairment in patents with CSVD.
9.Report and literature review of three cases of adrenal anastomotic hemangioma
Changsheng ZHANG ; Jing HU ; Jinsong ZHANG ; Qi LIU ; Huixing YUAN ; Hao XU ; Baolong QIN
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(8):695-700
Objective To summarize and analyze the clinical features,imaging manifestations,pathological characteristics,treatment approaches,and prognosis of adrenal anastomotic hemangioma(AH),so as to enhance the clinical understanding of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 3 adrenal AH patients treated in Tongji Hospital during Jan.2012 and Dec.2024.Relevant literature was reviewed.Results All patients were male,aged 34-56 years,with a maximum tumor diameter of 2.0-5.0 cm.All tumors were solitary.No patients presented with special clinical manifestations.Biochemical tests indicated tumors with no endocrine function.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed circular mixed density shadows with uneven edge enhancement.Two patients underwent laparoscopic partial adrenal resection,and one patient received robot-assisted laparoscopic partial adrenal resection.Postoperative pathological results of all three cases indicated AH.Immunohistochemistry showed CD31(+),CD34(+),and ERG(+).No recurrence was found in a postoperative follow-up of 1-45 months.A total of 22 cases of adrenal AH were reported in the literature and our center,with onset age ranging from 34 to 83 years.The patients included 17 males and 5 females,with a maximum tumor diameter of 0.6-8.8 cm.Among them,2 cases were multifocal and the tumors were located in the kidneys,beside kidneys,or in the inferior vena cava.Two cases showed clinical manifestations of lower back pain.During the follow-up of 156 months,no recurrence or metastasis was observed.Conclusion Adrenal AH is a rare benign tumor,which mainly occurs in middle-aged and elderly people with no clinical symptoms and endocrine function.Imaging can easily mistake it for pheochromocytoma or well differentiated vascular sarcoma,and the diagnosis mainly relies on pathological examination.It should be distinguished from pheochromocytoma and well differentiated vascular sarcoma.Surgery is the main treatment method and the prognosis is good.
10.The value of the ratio between inferior turbinate and nasal cavity morphology in the diagnosis and treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy
Baolong GUAN ; Jinfeng LIU ; Yi ZHANG ; Lingjing HU ; Zhi'an YANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(6):924-927
Objective To explore the value of the ratio between inferior turbinate and nasal cavity morphology in the diagnosis and treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy.Methods The clinical and CT imaging data of patients with nasal septum deviation were retrospectively collected.Patients were divided into an inferior turbinate hypertrophy group(experimental group)and a control group without nasal congestion symptoms and related lesions.Based on CT imaging data,four ratios of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity morphology were calculated:inferior turbinate bone to nasal cavity width ratio,lateral mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,medial mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,and inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio.A t-test was used to compare the four ratios between the experimental and control groups.Results The mean values of inferior turbinate bone to nasal cavity width ratio,lateral mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,medial mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,and inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio at the uncinate process level in the experimental group were 0.344±0.046,0.101±0.031,0.108±0.031,and 0.244±0.043,respectively.In the control group,these ratios were 0.061±0.019,0.074±0.018,0.097±0.044,and 0.146±0.038,respectively.All four ratios were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing inferior turbinate hypertrophy using inferior turbinate bone to nasal cavity width ratio,lateral mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,medial mucosa of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio,and inferior turbinate to nasal cavity width ratio were 0.870,0.907,0.884,and 0.926,respectively.Conclusion The ratios of inferior turbinate to nasal cavity morphology can serve as quantitative indicators for inferior turbinate hypertrophy,providing clinical value for treatment planning.

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