1.Epigenetic changes and exercise regulation:mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle aging and improvement
Rao FAN ; Jianda KONG ; Lin LI ; Teng ZHAI ; Zirou YANG ; Lei ZHU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(2):419-429
BACKGROUND:Muscle aging is closely related to various epigenetic changes,and exercise has a certain regulatory effect on these epigenetic changes.However,the specific mechanism is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To review the epigenetic mechanisms of skeletal muscle and how exercise can improve skeletal muscle aging and promote adaptive changes in muscle through these epigenetic mechanisms,aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of skeletal muscle aging and disease mechanisms. METHODS:During the period from June 1st to August 1st,2023,literature searches were conducted for relevant literature published from database inception to August 2023 in databases including Web of Science,PubMed,CNKI,WanFang,and VIP.The search terms used included"skeletal muscle,""muscle,""aging,""older adult,""aging,""exercise,""physical exercise,""epigenetic,"and"epigenetics"in Chinese as well as"skeletal muscle,muscle,aging,older adult,senescence,age,exercise,sports,physical activity,epigenetic,epigenetics"in English.Boolean logic operators were used to connect the search terms for retrieval,and corresponding strategies were developed.According to the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria,70 eligible articles were selected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Epigenetics refers to the phenomenon where gene expression and function are regulated without changes in gene sequence,and epigenetic changes in skeletal muscle are an important field.The epigenetic mechanisms of skeletal muscle play an important role in muscle aging,mainly involving DNA methylation,histone modification,regulation of non-coding RNAs,chromatin remodeling,changes in mitochondrial function and expression changes of aging-related genes.Exercise significantly regulates the epigenetics of skeletal muscle,including promoting DNA methylation,muscle histone modification,regulating miRNA expression,and regulating lncRNA expression,regulating muscle factors(such as interleukin-6),regulating mitochondrial function(such as peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors γ co-activator 1α).Future studies are recommended for long-term,cross-diverse population-based exercise interventions;the application of multi-omics techniques such as proteomics and metabolomics;strengthening the understanding of epigenetic changes at the single-cell level;cross-species comparative studies as well as human clinical trials for the translation of animal model findings to humans;strategies for combining exercise and pharmacological interventions to assess their synergistic effects;and epigenetic studies of crosstalk interactions between skeletal muscle and different organs.
2.Effects of cumulative family risk on internalizing problems in university students
LU Fan, ZHAI Hongkun, HUO Qingqing, HUANG Bijuan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(8):1142-1146
Objective:
To explore effects of cumulative family risk in university students on individuals internalizing problems, to elucidate the mediating roles of perceived social support and self esteem in the relationship, so as to provide a basis for promoting university student s mental health.
Methods:
Using longitudinal design, 1 207 freshmen from a university in Tianjin were randomly selected and surveyed in November 2023 (T1) and November 2024 (T2). The instruments included the Cumulative Family Risk Scale, the Perceived Social Support Scale, the Self esteem Scale, and the College Student Mental Health Screening Scale. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was constructed, with Bootstrap method used to test mediating effects and to examine gender differences.
Results:
The results showed that cumulative family risk at T1 with internalizing problems at T1( r =0.30) and internalizing problems at T2 ( r =0.32) were significantly positively correlated (both P <0.01). Mediation analysis indicated that the independent mediating effect of perceived social support at T1,cumulative family risk at T1 and internalizing problems at T2 was 0.03 (95% CI =0.02-0.05), and the independent mediating effect of self esteem at T1 was 0.08 (95% CI = 0.06 -0.10) (both P <0.05). The chain mediating effect of perceived social support and self esteem at T1 was 0.02 (95% CI =0.02-0.03) ( P <0.05). Significant gender differences were observed in the path from cumulative family risk to self esteem ( β male =-0.24, β female =-0.35) and in the path from perceived social support to self esteem ( β male =0.41, β female =0.25) (all P <0.05).
Conclusion
Cumulative family risk reduces internalizing behaviors in university students via internal and external development resources, with gender specific mechanisms.
3.Efficacy and Safety of Diagnostic-Driven Therapy for Invasive Fungal Disease in Patients with Myeloid Hematologic Malignancies.
Hui XIAO ; Fan WU ; Ying PAN ; Fu-Run AN ; Zhi-Min ZHAI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1524-1528
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the efficacy and safety of diagnostic-driven therapy for invasive fungal disease(IFD) in patients with myeloid hematologic malignancies.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 91 patients with myeloid hematologic malignancies who received diagnostic-driven therapy for IFD at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. The patients were divided into two groups based on medication: 44 patients in the caspofungin group and 47 patients in the voriconazole group. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups were compared and analyzed.
RESULTS:
The overall response rates in the caspofungin and voriconazole groups were 67.4% and 60.0%, respectively. Among patients who transitioned to diagnostic-driven therapy following prophylactic or empirical treatment with triazole antifungal agents, the response rate of the caspofungin group was significantly higher than that of the voriconazole group (76.9% vs 35.3%, P <0.05). A total of 9 patients in both groups experienced adverse reactions, and no grade III or higher adverse reactions occurred. The incidence of grade I-II adverse reactions in the caspofungin group was lower than in the voriconazole group (2.3% vs 17.0%, P <0.05).
CONCLUSION
In patients with myeloid hematologic malignancies, caspofungin and voriconazole demonstrate comparable clinical efficacy in diagnostic-driven therapy for IFD, but caspofungin is associated with a lower incidence of adverse reactions. Caspofungin exhibits significant effectiveness when initiating diagnostic-driven therapy after prophylactic or empirical treatment with broad-spectrum triazole antifungal agents.
Humans
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Hematologic Neoplasms/complications*
;
Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Voriconazole/therapeutic use*
;
Caspofungin/therapeutic use*
;
Invasive Fungal Infections/diagnosis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Mycoses/drug therapy*
;
Middle Aged
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Aged
;
Adult
4.Identification of a nanobody able to catalyze the destruction of the spike-trimer of SARS-CoV-2.
Kai WANG ; Duanfang CAO ; Lanlan LIU ; Xiaoyi FAN ; Yihuan LIN ; Wenting HE ; Yunze ZHAI ; Pingyong XU ; Xiyun YAN ; Haikun WANG ; Xinzheng ZHANG ; Pengyuan YANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(3):493-506
Neutralizing antibodies have been designed to specifically target and bind to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein to block severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus from attaching to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This study reports a distinctive nanobody, designated as VHH21, that directly catalyzes the S-trimer into an irreversible transition state through postfusion conformational changes. Derived from camels immunized with multiple antigens, a set of nanobodies with high affinity for the S1 protein displays abilities to neutralize pseudovirion infections with a broad resistance to variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2, including SARS-CoV and BatRaTG13. Importantly, a super-resolution screening and analysis platform based on visual fluorescence probes was designed and applied to monitor single proteins and protein subunits. A spontaneously occurring dimeric form of VHH21 was obtained to rapidly destroy the S-trimer. Structural analysis via cryogenic electron microscopy revealed that VHH21 targets specific conserved epitopes on the S protein, distinct from the ACE2 binding site on the RBD, which destabilizes the fusion process. This research highlights the potential of VHH21 as an abzyme-like nanobody (nanoabzyme) possessing broad-spectrum binding capabilities and highly effective anti-viral properties and offers a promising strategy for combating coronavirus outbreaks.
Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology*
;
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism*
;
SARS-CoV-2/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Humans
;
Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology*
;
Camelus
;
COVID-19/immunology*
;
Antibodies, Viral/immunology*
;
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
5.Establishment of UPLC characteristic chromatogram and component analysis of the volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction
Zhiying FAN ; Qianqian ZHU ; Xiehe WANG ; Yanjuan ZHAI ; Huimin WANG ; Yangxin GU ; Haiqin ZHOU ; Tulin LU ; Kewei ZHANG ; Song LI
China Pharmacy 2024;35(9):1082-1086
OBJECTIVE To establish the characteristic chromatogram of the volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction, and preliminarily infer the main active components of volatile oil that affect the clinical therapeutic effect. METHODS The volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction was extracted by steam distillation. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) characteristic chromatograms of 15 batches of samples were established by the Similarity Evaluation System of TCM Chromatographic Fingerprint (2012 edition), and the similarity evaluation was carried out. The volatile oil of standard decoction was identified by UPLC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). Then the volatile oil components were analyzed by GC-MS. RESULTS The similarities of UPLC characteristic chromatograms for volatile oil of 15 batches of Qingshang juantong decoction were between 0.949 and 0.997. A total of 12 common peaks were obtained. According to the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS, the main components were methyl eugenol, E-ligustilide, E-butylidenephthalide and so on. A total of 23 components were identified by GC-MS, which were mainly 3,4,5-trimethoxy- methylbenzene, patchouli alcohol, Z-ligustilide and so on. CONCLUSIONS The characteristic chromatograms of the volatile oil in the standard decoction of Qingshang juantong decoction is established, and it is inferred that methyl eugenol, ligustilide, E- butylidenephthalide, patchouli alcohol, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-methylbenzene might be the main active components affecting the clinical therapeutic effect of the volatile oil of Qingshang juantong decoction.
6.The role of CB2 in accelerating orthodontic tooth movement
Dengying FAN ; Haoyan ZHAI ; Huijuan LIU ; Yuan ZHAO ; Dongna LI ; Xing QIAO ; Wenjing KANG ; Dechao ZHU ; Chunyan LIU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(2):212-218
Objective To explore the effect of cannabinoid receptor 2(CB2)on orthodontic tooth movement(OTM)rate and periodontal tissue reconstruction of pressure area in mice.Methods Thirty CB2-/-male mice and thirty littermate control WT male mice were individually accepted the orthodontic appliance at their age of 6 weeks.The mice were respectively scarified at 3 days,7 days,14 days and 21 days after the operation.Then the tooth movement distance was examined through the stereomicroscope.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to explore the biological responses of periodontium at the distal mesial root pressure area.Anti-tartrate acid phospha-tase staining was performed to calculate the number and distribution of osteoclasts at the distal mesial root pressure area,and MMP-9 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry to examine the number of MMP-9(+)monocytes and multinucleated cells in the same district as the TRAP staining.Results Compared with those WT mice at 3,7,14 and 21 days,OTM distance showed a gradual increased tendency according with experimental time over 21 days.The widths of periodontal ligament on the pressure side were markedly greater in CB2-/-mice than WT mice at 7,14 and 21 days(P<0.000 1).The numbers of TRAP positive osteoclasts were significantly greater in CB2-/-mice than those in WT mice at 14 days of OTM(P<0.001).MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining showed that the number of MMP-9(+)monocytes and multinucleated cells was more in CB2-/-mice than that in WT mice at 14 days of OTM(P<0.05).Conclusion The absence of CB2 accelerates orthodontic tooth movement under or-thodontic force.The absence of CB2 reinforces bone resorption in orthodontic tooth movement compressive area dur-ing orthodontic tooth movement.
7.Feasibility study of low tube voltage and low contrast medium combined with IMR technology in 3DCTA of vertebral artery V3 segment
Junlin YANG ; Duchang ZHAI ; Xiuzhi ZHOU ; Rong LIU ; Guohua FAN ; Wu CAI
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(1):5-10
Objective To investigate the feasibility of low-voltage,automatic tube current adjustment(ATCM)and low contrast agent concentration,dose and injection rate combined with full-model iterative re-construction(IMR)in vertebral artery V3-segment three-dimensional CT angiography(3DCTA).Methods A total of 60 patients with suspected upper cervical spine,craniocervical junction lesions undergoing cervical vertebral artery V3 segment 3DCTA in this hospital from November 2019 to May 2020 were selected and divided into the group A and B by adopting the random number table method,30 cases in each group.The group A adopted the ATCM technology of 80 kV,average tube current of 50 mAs,25 mL of contrast agent io-hexol(iodine content 300 mg/mL)combined IMR technology with an injection rate of 3 mL/s,while the group B adopted 120 kV,150 mAs fixed tube current,50 mL injection rate of 5 mL/s contrast agent iopamidol(iodine content 370 mg/mL)combined filter back projection(FBP)reconstruction technology.CT value,noise,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR),contrast noise ratio(CNR)and image sensitivity(FOM)were measured and compared between the two groups and the quality of the resulting images was evaluated.The CT volumet-ric dose index(CTDIvol)and dose-length product(DLP)were recorded,and the effective dose(ED)was cal-culated.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the vertebral arterial CT value between the two groups(P>0.05),but the noise of the group A was lower than that of the group B(P<0.05),SNR,CNR and FOM of the group A were greater than those of the group B(P<0.05).The image quality of the two groups met the requirements of clinical diagnosis[(4.78±0.41)points vs.(4.85±0.35)points],and there was no statistically significant difference in the subjective evaluation of image quality(P>0.05).The CTDIvol,DLP and ED levels in the group A were lower than those in the group B(P<0.05).The iodine in-takes of contrast medium in the group A and group B were 7.5 g and 18.5 g,respectively,and the iodine flow rates of contrast agent were 0.9 and 1.85 mg/s,respectively,and compared with group B,the iodine intake and iodine flow rate of the group A were decreased by 59.5%and 51.4%,respectively.Conclusion Low tube voltage ATCM and low contrast concentration,dose and injection rate combined with IMR technology can not only ensure the 3DCTA image quality of vertebral artery V3 segment,but also reduce the radiation dose re-ceived by the patients,and reduce the iodine intake and iodine flow rate of contrast agent.
8.Clinical study of electroacupuncture plus stuck-needle lifting method for intractable facial paralysis
Li FAN ; Qianyun YANG ; Wei ZHAI ; Jue HONG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2024;22(2):134-139
Objective:To observe the efficacy of using electroacupuncture(EA)plus stuck-needle lifting method to treat intractable facial paralysis based on the myofascial theory. Methods:Ninety patients with intractable facial paralysis were divided into a control group and an observation group using the random number table method,with 45 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional EA treatment,and the observation group received EA plus the stuck-needle lifting method based on the myofascial theory for 4 consecutive weeks,6 sessions each week.The electromyographic results,modified Portmann scale(MPS)score,facial nerve function index(FNFI),and total effective rate were compared. Results:There were no significant differences in the MPS and FNFI scores between the two groups before treatment(P>0.05).After treatment,the total effective rate and FNFI and MPS scores were notably higher in the observation group than in the control group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the electromyographic readings between the two groups before the intervention(P>0.05).After the intervention,the observation group had a shorter blink reflex R1 latency and a higher facial nerve compound muscle action potential compared with the control group,and the between-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion:EA plus stuck-needle lifting method based on the myofascial theory can enhance treatment efficacy for intractable facial paralysis.
9.Quality Evaluation Status of Traditional Chinese Medicine Knowledge Bases and the Construction of Evaluation Indexes
Saisai ZHAO ; Yaqi FAN ; Yun ZHANG ; Weiguang WANG ; Zijie CHEN ; Xiaofeng LIU ; Shuangqing ZHAI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(11):1115-1119
From the perspectives of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) information knowledge base and assisted decision-making knowledge base, the construction status, quality evaluation status and existing problems of current TCM knowledge bases have been sorted out. And based on the quality evaluation strategies and dimensions of know-ledge bases in other disciplines, the evaluation indexes for TCM knowledge base is discussed, and the evaluation framework is initially formed, providing ideas for the improvement of the TCM knowledge base evaluation system. In terms of the evaluation indexes, there are basic evaluation dimensions which include data sources, data collection, and data application. The specific evaluation dimension of the information-based knowledge base is data quality, while that of the assisted decision-making knowledge base is data matching. Except for the data application dimension which counts the valid data items in the database for calculation, other indexes are scored based on the qualitative evaluation of "yes", "no" or "unknown". The basic evaluation score and the specific evaluation score are added to obtain the total score. The knowledge base is graded according to the score, and the results are presented in the form of grade plus number.
10.Research on the association between the DYS570 microvariant and Y-SNP haplogroup in Kunming
Lei HUANG ; Guangsen YANG ; Yujie FAN ; Xueyun CHEN ; Zhu YANG ; Wei WANG ; Wei HE ; Dian ZHAI ; Jun DENG ; Yiyan ZHANG ; Baowen CHENG
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;39(1):82-87
Objective To investigate the association between microvariants at locus DYS570 and Y-SNPs haplogroup.Methods 89 Y-SNPs and 34 Y-STRs in AIYSNP42,AIYSNP47 and YfilerTM Platinum kits were used to detect the genotype of 116 microvariants at locus DYS570 in Kunming,and the Set-B kit was used to detect the core repeat sequences of the DYS570 locus.The data were statistically analyzed by direct counting method.Then,a network map was drawn by Network 10.2,in order to visualize the genetic information of the sample.Results The results demonstrated that 111 DYS570/18.3-21.3 samples had a core repeat sequence of TTT[TITC]18-21,belonging to subgroup O2a2b1a1a1a4-F14494.A DYS570/20.3 sample had a core repeat sequence of[TTTC]15TTC[TTTC]5,belonging to O2a1b1a1a1a1e-F1365 subgroup.A DYS570/17.1 sample had a core repeat sequence of[TTTC]17 T,belonging to the O2a1b1a1a1a-F11 subgroup.Three DYS570(19.2)samples had[TTTC]3 TT[TTTC]16,belonging to the D1a1a-M15 haplogroup.Conclusion The results indicated that the microvariant with the same core repeat structure at locus DYS570 was associated with haplogroups,and the ancestry origin of samples can be inferenced from microvariant characteristics during the practice of forensic medicine.


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