1.Effect of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on Improving Autism by Promoting Myelination Through The METTL14/m⁶A/PTEN Axis Based on “Xuanfu-Suiqiao” Theory
Wei-Li DANG ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yu-Xin LI ; Zhi-Yao LI ; Sai-Dan LIU ; Jia-Lei CAO ; Rong-Ze MA ; Yun-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qing YANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Bing-Xiang MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1165-1177
ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m6A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m6A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m6A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.
2.Effect of Acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) on Improving Autism by Promoting Myelination Through The METTL14/m⁶A/PTEN Axis Based on “Xuanfu-Suiqiao” Theory
Wei-Li DANG ; Lü-Yuan LIANG ; Yu-Xin LI ; Zhi-Yao LI ; Sai-Dan LIU ; Jia-Lei CAO ; Rong-Ze MA ; Yun-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qing YANG ; Bing-Qi WEI ; Bing-Xiang MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1165-1177
ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m6A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m6A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m6A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.
3.Mediating effects of coping styles and activities of daily living on social support and depressive symptoms among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
LI Dan ; JIE Jinhu ; LI Hong ; LIN Qi ; ZHUANG Hailin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(3):279-283,290
Objective:
To analyze the mediating effects of coping styles and activities of daily living on social support and depressive symptoms among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide evidence for promoting mental health in elderly T2DM patients.
Methods:
From March 2019 to June 2020, elderly T2DM patients aged ≥60 years were selected from 11 community health service centers in Taijiang and Gulou Districts, Fuzhou City using a multi-stage sampling method. Basic information such as gender and age was collected through self-designed questionnaires. Social support, depressive symptoms, coping styles (positive coping style and negative coping style), and activities of daily living (physical self-care ability and instrumental activities of daily living) were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale, the Geriatric Depression Scale (Chinese version), the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and the Activities of Daily Living Scale, respectively. The mediating effects of coping styles and activities of daily living on social support and depressive symptoms were analyzed using Process macro 4.1, and the significance of mediating effects was tested using the Bootstrap method.
Results:
A total of 2 013 elderly T2DM patients were surveyed, including 910 males (45.21%) and 1 103 females (54.79%). The scores of social support, positive coping style, negative coping style, physical self-care ability, and instrumental activities of daily living were (38.56±7.17), (30.93±6.81), (16.52±4.74), (6.20±1.10), and (8.71±2.50), respectively. The score of depressive symptoms was (8.14±4.97), and 622 cases were detected with depressive symptoms, with a detection rate of 30.90%. Mediating effect analysis showed that social support could directly affect depressive symptoms (β=-0.048, 95%CI: -0.063-0.033), and could also indirectly affect depressive symptoms through positive coping style (β=-0.014, 95%CI: -0.020-0.009), negative coping style (β=0.005, 95%CI: 0.002-0.009), and instrumental activities of daily living (β=0.002, 95%CI: 0.000-0.004), respectively. The mediating effects of positive coping style, negative coping style, and instrumental activities of daily living accounted for 25.45%, -9.09%, and -3.63% of the total effect, respectively.
Conclusions
Higher level of social support can directly reduce the risk of depressive symptoms among elderly T2DM patients, and also exert effects through indirect pathways of increasing positive coping, reducing negative coping, and delaying the decline of instrumental activities of daily living.
4.Analysis of current cardiac critical care development in Henan Province
Qi CUI ; Wenhua WANG ; Dan YU ; Jing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(11):1096-1101
Objective:To investigate the establishment, staffing, equipment allocation, and technological capabilities of cardiac intensive care units in public secondary and tertiary hospitals in Henan Province, and to provide a reference for promoting the development of nationwide cardiac critical care.Methods:In September 2023, supported by the Henan Provincial Health Commission, Cardiac Critical Care Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association conducted the first comprehensive survey on the construction of cardiac intensive care units in Henan Province. A Chi-square test was used to compare the findings between secondary and tertiary hospitals.Results:A total of 171 hospitals reported 1 602 cardiac intensive care unit beds, 1 091 physicians (physician-to-bed ratio: 0.68), and 2 298 nurses (nurse-to-bed ratio: 1.43). Tertiary hospitals had a significantly higher proportion of full-time physicians and physicians with a master′s degree or above compared to secondary hospitals. Furthermore, tertiary hospitals had more nurses and a higher proportion of nurses with a bachelor′s degree (all P<0.05). Regarding equipment, tertiary hospitals demonstrated higher availability of activated clotting time (ACT) analyzers, temporary pacemakers, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines, intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), and pulse index continuous cardiac output (Picco) monitors (all P<0.05). Among the hospitals surveyed, 123 could independently perform coronary interventional procedures, 93 could independently use an IABP, 26 could independently perform ECMO, and 53 offered continuous renal replacement therapy at the bedside. Conclusions:This study provides a preliminary understanding of the current state of cardiac critical care in Henan Province. Tertiary hospitals demonstrated advantages over secondary hospitals regarding medical staffing, the proportion of highly educated personnel, the availability of advanced equipment, such as ACT analyzers, temporary pacemakers, IABP, and Picco monitors, as well as in the performance of advanced procedures, including IABP and ECMO.
5.Surveillance report of viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Wuxi from 2018 to 2023
Dan SHA ; Qianqian QI ; Hong NI ; Wenting CAO
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(15):2320-2324
OBJECTIVE To monitor the common pathogens for viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Wuxi area,and to analyze their epidemiological characteristics and trends.METHODS Diarrhea specimens were collected from inpatient and outpatient children with diarrhea in sentinel hospitals in Wuxi from 2018 to 2023.The norovir-us,rotavirus,sapovirus,enteradenovirus and astrovirus were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative pol-ymerase chain reaction(PCR),and the monitoring results were statistically analyzed.RESULTS A total of 654 vi-rus-positive cases were detected from 1898 diarrhea specimens with an overall detection rate of 34.46%.Among them,norovirus and rotavirus had the highest detection rates 12.54%and 11.70%,respectively.The detection rate of viruses was the highest in children aged 12 to<24 months,reaching 59.03%.In inpatient children with di-arrhea,rotavirus had the highest detection rate at 14.03%,while in outpatient children with diarrhea,norovirus had the highest detection rate at 11.93%.There was a significant difference in the detection rate of rotavirus be-tween inpatient and outpatient children(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Viral diarrheal diseases exhibit a notably high detection rate among children aged 12 to<24 months in Wuxi,suggesting the need to further optimize prevention and control measures for this age group.
6.Study on the correlation between oxygenation index and monitored parameters of ventilator lung injury view
Yuanjuan TAO ; Yang LI ; Zhipeng LIU ; Zhifeng JI ; Zhigang CUI ; Chunhua YANG ; Dan QI
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(8):7-10
Objective:To explore the correlation between the oxygenation index and the monitored parameters of lung injury view in ventilator,so as to provide a basis for monitoring the change of oxygenation index by the parameters of lung injury view.Methods:A total of 28 patients who received mechanical ventilation treatment and admitted to respiratory department of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University from May 14 to September 30,2024 were selected.The monitored parameters of lung injury views of them during mechanical ventilation treatment with invasive ventilators were collected,including platform pressure(Pplat),driving pressure(ΔP),mechanical energy(Emech),ratio of tidal volume to ideal body weight(TVe/IBW),etc..Then,the data of oxygenation index were obtained.Finally,135 valid data were screened out.The 84 pieces of data with oxygenation index≤300mmHg were included in low oxygen group,and 51 data with oxygenation index>300mmHg were included in normal group.The correlations between oxygenation index and Pplat,ΔP,Emech,TVe/IBW were conducted by pairwise analysis.Results:In the low oxygen group,the oxygenation index was[(196.302±74.522)mmHg]significantly negative correlation with Emech[(12.686±5.401)J/min](ρ=-0.425,P<0.05),but not was significant correlation with Pplat,ΔP,and TVe/IBW(P>0.05).In the normal group,there were not significant correlations between the oxygenation index and Pplat,ΔP,Emech and TVe/IBW(P>0.05).There was a significant negative correlation between Emech and rank of oxygenation index(β=-0.389,P<0.05)in the low oxygen group.Conclusion:The visualization function of the Emech of the monitored parameters in lung injury view of ventilator can provide help for monitoring the changes of oxygenation index of patients in the low oxygen group,and can improve the oxygenation of patients by optimizing mechanical energy.However,it is necessary to balance the contradiction between ventilation intensity and protection for lung.
7.Ion Filtering and Reactivity Investigation Based on Tandem Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Yi-Qian XU ; Qi-Mu YANG ; Man-Man PAN ; Dan-Dan JIANG ; Chuang CHEN ; Hai-Yang LI
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(5):740-748
In analytical techniques such as ion mobility spectrometry(IMS)and mass spectrometry(MS),the ionization efficiency of target analytes is primarily constrained by the type of ionization source and factors such as the species and number density of the reactant ions.Systematic investigation into the reactivity differences of various reactant ions under varying conditions can not only significantly enhance the detection sensitivity of target compound product ions but also provide a theoretical foundation for establishing efficient detection methods based on ion-molecule reaction mechanisms.In this study,the pressure of a pressure-tunable photoionization tandem ion mobility spectrometry(PI-tandem-IMS)was reduced from ambient pressure(100 kPa)to low pressure(20 kPa)to systematically examine the reactivity differences between two negative reactant ions,CO3-and CO4-,and methyl salicylate(MeSA)under varying pressures.When the pressure decreased,the increased relative signal intensity of CO4-significantly influenced the detection sensitivity of the characteristic product ion[MeSA·O2]-.Based on differences in ion mobility(k0),the delay time for the opening of TPG2 was adjusted to selectively inject CO-3 and CO-4 in the drift region 2.Independent characterization of the reactivity of these reactant ions with MeSA in the reaction region confirmed that CO4-exhibited superior reactivity toward MeSA.The theoretical model revealed an Arrhenius plot for the ion-molecule reaction between CO4-and MeSA,showing a positive correlation between the reaction rate coefficient(k)and temperature,the activation energy Ea was 62.45 kJ/mol.Furthermore,controlling parameters such as pressure or temperature significantly influenced the progression of this ion-molecule reaction,demonstrating the technical advantages of PI-tandem-IMS in mechanistic studies and regulation of ion-molecule reactions.
8.Improvement of Performance of Ion Mobility Spectrometry Using A Low Discrimination Bradbury-Nielsen Gate Controlling Method
Qi-Mu YANG ; Yi-Qian XU ; Man-Man PAN ; Dan-Dan JIANG ; Chuang CHEN ; Hai-Yang LI
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(6):875-884
The resolving power and sensitivity are critical for on-site detection of hazardous chemicals using stand-alone ion mobility spectrometry(IMS).However,improving the sensitivity and resolving power of IMS has long been a prominent research hot spot.In the commonly used IMS based on the Bradbury-Nielsen gate(BNG),the gating voltage difference(GVD)applied between the two sets of grid wires affects the electric field distribution in the ionization region and the drift region.This,in turn,influences the spatial distribution and temporal width of the injected ion swarm,and has an impact on the ion mobility discrimination,sensitivity,and resolving power of the instrument.This study showed that increasing the GVD could induce an ion converging effect,boosting the ion number density in front of the BNG by nearly 300%.To simultaneously utilize temporal compression and ion converging effects,a novel BNG controlling mode was proposed by adding a chopping state to the conventional controlling mode.This chopping state reduced the mobility discrimination effects between ions with mobility differences up to about 0.90 cm2/(V·s)to 1/22 of their original value.When analyzing hazardous chemical mixtures using the novel BNG controlling mode,compared with conventional mode,the signal intensity of low-mobility methyl salicylate ions(MS·O2)-increased by 18-fold while the resolving power maintained around 100,and the detection limit for MS was improved from 3.75 μg/L to 97 ng/L.This novel BNG controlling mode only added a potential wave to the low voltage wires,with no requirement of changing the structure of the drift tube,and was easy to apply to existing commercial instruments.
9.Exploring the Pathogenesis Connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue Transmission in Acute Pancreatitis from a Metabolic Perspec-tive
Qi QIU ; Chenxia HAN ; Tao JIN ; Qing XIA ; Dan DU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(3):300-305
There is a dynamic and progressive relationship in acute pancreatitis(AP),following the principle of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).The metabolic disorders prevalent in AP can be attributed to the"turbid tox-in"category in TCM,which runs throughout the disease as causative factors and pathologic products.The abnormal metabolism of sub-tle substances is the initiating factor of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission.Disorders of energy metabolism lay the pathologic basis of tur-bid evil and stagnant heat in the Qi stage of AP.Changes in the metabolic environment further exacerbate the inflammatory response re-sulting in the exuberance of pathogenic heat and the accumulation of blood stasis and toxins,promoting AP from the Qi division into the Ying-Xue stage.Therefore,we propose that"holding the Qi-fen juncture"and restoring metabolic homeostasis may be the keys to ear-ly truncation of AP disease progression.This paper explores the pathogenesis connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue transmission in AP from a metabolic perspective combined with the turbid toxin theory,which not only enriches the scientific connotation of Wei-Qi-Ying-Xue syndrome differentiation but also provides new ideas for the prevention and treatment of severe AP with TCM.
10.Consistency of claudin 18.2 expression with antibodies of different clones in gastric adenocarcinoma
Chaoshan WANG ; Dan ZHANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Fangcen LIU ; Qianyun SHI ; Hongyan WU ; Hongping XIA ; Qi SUN ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(11):1144-1149
Objective:To explore the consistency of claudin 18.2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) using 4 different clone antibodies in gastric adenocarcinoma.Methods:A total of 226 gastric adenocarcinomas diagnosed and treated at the Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical College between January 2022 to March 2023 were included in this study. The cohort consisted of 165 males and 61 females, with a mean age of (61.3±12.1) years. Tumor tissues from radical resection specimens were collected for tissue microarrays. IHC detection of claudin 18.2 was performed using the EnVision method, utilizing 4 clones of antibody: OTIR157B5, 43-14A, EPR19202 and D313D22. The results were interpreted based on both the intensity of staining on tumor cell membranes and the percentage of positive tumor cells relative to the total tumor cells.Results:The positive cutoff value was set as moderately to strongly linear membrane staining in ≥75% of all viable invasive tumor cells, and clone OTIR157B5 demonstrated the highest positive expression rate at 52.2% (118/226). Additionally, the clones OTIR157B5, 43-14A, and EPR19202 were consistently and strongly positive, with all agreement rates of Cohen κ exceeding 0.8. In gastric adenocarcinoma and its three Lauren subtypes, OTIR157B5 exhibited clear membranous localization.Conclusions:Clone OTIR157B5 of claudin 18.2 antibody shows the highest rate of moderately to strongly linear membrane-positive staining, accounting for ≥75% of all viable invasive tumor cells, and clones 43-14A and EPR19202 show strong consistency and high sensitivity.


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