1.Mechanism of immunosuppression in rats by herb-partitioned moxibustion based on transcriptome sequencing technology
Yuefeng TIAN ; Luojie XIONG ; Huifang WANG ; Chuntao ZHAI ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(5):978-988
BACKGROUND:Immunosuppression leads to impaired body immune function and aggravates the disease.Herb-partitioned moxibustion can effectively regulate immune function and improve immunity in the body,but its regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To sequence immunosuppressed model rats treated with herb-partitioned moxibustion using bioinformatics techniques based on transcriptomics and to explore the mechanisms by which it regulates immunity. METHODS:Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups:control,model,and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups,with eight rats in each group.The model and herb-partitioned moxibustion groups were subjected to establishment of an immune suppression model by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 35 mg/kg for 3 consecutive days.No interventions were administered to the control and model groups after modeling.In contrast,the herb-partitioned moxibustion group received moxibustion treatment at Zhongwan,Shenque,Guanyuan,and Zusanli acupoints using a combination of moxa and herbal cakes,once a day,for 10 consecutive days,with samples being collected the day after the end of the intervention.Peripheral blood was collected from all groups of rats to measure their white blood cell count.RNA-seq was performed on the Illumina sequencing platform,and differentially expressed genes were selected for bioinformatics analysis using the GO and KEGG databases. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited a significant decrease in white blood cell count(P<0.001).RNA-seq analysis identified 3 026 differentially expressed genes between the model and control groups,with 1 565 upregulated and 1 461 downregulated.There were 535 differentially expressed genes identified between the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the model group,with 280 upregulated and 255 downregulated.The Venn diagram analysis revealed that 159 genes were downregulated in the model group compared with the control group.However,after moxibustion with herbal cakes,these genes were upregulated.Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified 10 core targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,Mx1,Syk,Hspa1a,and Ret.According to GO and KEGG analyses,moxibustion with herbal cakes regulated the body through pathways related to immune response,viruses,angiogenesis,and the autoimmune system.To conclude,there is a significant association between herbal cake-separated moxibustion intervention and immune suppression targets,including Oasl,Oas2,Isg15,Herc6,Mx2,Helz2,and Mx1.The intervention exhibits regulatory effects in the pathways related to immune responses,viral activities,and angiogenesis.
2.Role of mitochondrial biogenesis in rat model of coal workers' pneumoconiosis based on PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM signaling pathway
Mei ZHANG ; Xiaoqiang HAN ; Lulu LIU ; Yan WANG ; Xin MA ; Yu XIONG ; Huifang YANG ; Na ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(12):1429-1437
Background Mitochondrial biogenesis is pivotal in coal workers' pneumoconiosis fibrosis, yet the role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)-nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1)-mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) pathway inmitochondrial biogenesis remains elusive, warranting further investigation. Objective To elucidate the role of the PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM pathway in mitochondrial biogenesis in a rat coal workers' pneumoconiosis model through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods (1)n vivo: twelve SPF male SD rats (200-220 g) were randomized into a control group and a coal dust group (n=6 per group). After acclimatization, the coal dust group received 1 mL 50 mg·mL−1 coal dust suspension via intratracheal instillation; the controls received saline. Lung tissues were harvested after two months for histopathology [HE, Masson, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) ], protein and mRNA analysis, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) quantification by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). (2) In vitro: rat lung type II epithelial cells (RLE-6TN) cells were exposed to coal dust (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg·L−1, 24 h). CCK-8 assay determined optimal doses. Ultrastructural changes were analyzed by TEM. Cells were transfected with OE-PGC-1α (PGC-1α overexpression) or shRNA-PGC-1α plasmids (PGC-1α knockdown), and the transfection efficiency was determined by reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of alpah-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), citrate synthase (CS), PGC-1α, NRF1, TFAM, and fibronectin (Fn) proteins and their corresponding mRNA were detected using Western blot and RT-qPCR, respectively. The relative content of mtDNA was determined by qPCR. Results In vivo: the control group lung samples exhibited soft, pink parenchyma, while the coal dust-exposed lungs showed blackened surfaces with soft texture. The histopathological evaluation revealed intact alveolar walls in the controls versus structural destruction, micro-nodules, and fibrotic areas in the coal dust group. After Masson staining, coal dust deposits were found surrounded by blue collagen fibers in the exposed lungs, but absent in the controls. The coal dust group displayed significant upregulation of fibrotic marker α-SMA and downregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis markers (CS, PGC-1α, NRF1, TFAM) and mtDNA compared to the controls (P<0.05). In vitro: coal dust exposure reduced cell density and induced morphological alterations. TEM revealed evenly distributed normal mitochondria in controls versus mitochondrial swelling, disrupted cristae, and reduced numbers in exposed cells. The mitochondrial biogenesis markers were elevated in the coal dust + OE-PGC-1α group compared to the coal dust + OE-NC group (P<0.05); in contrast, they were decreased in the coal dust + shRNA-PGC-1α group compared to the coal dust + shRNA-NC group (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the expression levels of the fibrosis marker α-SMA mRNA and protein were increased in the coal dust group (P<0.05). Overexpression of PGC-1α reduced α-SMA expression, while downregulation of PGC-1α increased its expression (P<0.05). Conclusion Coal dust exposure induces mitochondrial dysfunction and pulmonary fibrosis in vivo and in vitro via the PGC-1α-NRF1-TFAM pathway dysregulation. Targeting this pathway may mitigate coal dust-induced fibrosis by restoring mitochondrial biogenesis.
3.Research Status and Hot Spots of Acupuncture Treatment for Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Jian XIONG ; Xiaogang HUANG ; Huifang ZHAO ; Fayang LING ; Qianhua ZHENG ; Ziwen WANG ; Wenchuan QI ; Fanrong LIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):179-194
Objective Bibliometric analysis software VOSviewer and CiteSpace were applied to analyze literatures related to acupuncture for myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion(I/R)injury published in Chinese and English,to explore the status quo,dynamic trend and hot spots in the field,in order to provide reference for future research.Methods Based on the literature on acupuncture and moxibustion for myocardial I/R injury published in CNKI and Web of Science Core Collection database,VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to analyze literature publication trends,authors,institutions,countries,journals,keywords and citations,and draw graphs and tables to show the development status of the field and analyze the future development direction.Results Both Chinese and English literatures on the treatment of myocardial I/R injury by acupuncture and moxibustion show an increasing trend,which is one of the academic hotspots with great potential at present.In terms of Chinese literature,Yan Jie is the scholar who has published the most papers,and Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the representative of the high production institution.The journal of Acupuncture Research has published the most papers.In terms of English literature,lu sheng-feng is the representative scholar with a high number of publications,Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine is the institution with the largest number of publications,and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine is the journal with the largest number of publications.The authors in the field have weak interinstitutional cooperation and exchange,and their research is mainly from China,with little international collaboration and exchange.At present,acupuncture treatment of myocardial I/R injury covers three aspects:specific acupoints,molecular biological mechanisms and clinical studies,which mainly focus on seven hot spots.Conclusion The bibliometric visual analysis visually demonstrated the current status,hot spots and frontier trends of acupuncture in the treatment of myocardial I/R injury.In the future,it is necessary to strengthen international collaboration,promote exchanges and cooperation between scholars and institutions,and promote the publication of multi-center,large-sample and high-level clinical randomized controlled studies;At the same time,the effect mechanism was further discussed from the perspectives of new molecular biological mechanisms,new intervention measures and point selection,and clinical translational research was carried out.
4.Construction of debriefing and reflection training program for undergraduate nursing interns based on competency theory
Zhaoyu XIONG ; Ting CHEN ; Huimin ZHOU ; Huifang ZENG ; Xiaoyan HU ; Guangyao YANG ; Caihong LU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):551-558
Objective:To construct a debriefing and reflection training program for nursing undergraduate interns, and to provide a basis for implementing such a program and improve the practical clinical skills of the interns.Methods:Based on competency theory, the draft of the debriefing and reflection training program for undergraduate nursing interns was constructed through literature review and expert conference discussion. Delphi expert consultation was conducted from August to October 2024, and the final version of the program was established based on the experts' opinions. The weight of each indicator was determined using the analytic hierarchy process. Excel 2019 was used for data entry, and SPSS 19.0 was used for data analysis.Results:Two rounds of expert consultation were conducted, with a questionnaire recovery rate of 100.00% for both. The experts consulted in the second round had an authority coefficient of 0.861, a coefficient of variation for each index of 0.048 to 0.237, and a Kendall's concordance coefficient of 0.137 ( P<0.05). The final program included 5 primary indicators, 16 secondary indicators, and 73 tertiary indicators. Conclusions:The debriefing and reflection training program for undergraduate nursing interns proposed in this study has high scientifical validity and reliability. It can provide a reference for debriefing and reflection training of nursing undergraduate interns in China, thereby cultivating qualified clinical nursing talents.
5.Application Value and Influencing Factors of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Staging Early Upper Gastro-intestinal Tumors
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2025;30(1):52-55
In recent years,the incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal tumors have been continuously increasing worldwide.The treatment and prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors are closely related to the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.Therefore,early and accurate tumor staging is of critical importance.However,the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in assessing the depth of tumor invasion remains controversial.This article reviewed the application value and influencing factors of EUS in staging early upper gastrointestinal tumors,aiming to provide useful references for clinical practice.
6.Construction of debriefing and reflection training program for undergraduate nursing interns based on competency theory
Zhaoyu XIONG ; Ting CHEN ; Huimin ZHOU ; Huifang ZENG ; Xiaoyan HU ; Guangyao YANG ; Caihong LU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(4):551-558
Objective:To construct a debriefing and reflection training program for nursing undergraduate interns, and to provide a basis for implementing such a program and improve the practical clinical skills of the interns.Methods:Based on competency theory, the draft of the debriefing and reflection training program for undergraduate nursing interns was constructed through literature review and expert conference discussion. Delphi expert consultation was conducted from August to October 2024, and the final version of the program was established based on the experts' opinions. The weight of each indicator was determined using the analytic hierarchy process. Excel 2019 was used for data entry, and SPSS 19.0 was used for data analysis.Results:Two rounds of expert consultation were conducted, with a questionnaire recovery rate of 100.00% for both. The experts consulted in the second round had an authority coefficient of 0.861, a coefficient of variation for each index of 0.048 to 0.237, and a Kendall's concordance coefficient of 0.137 ( P<0.05). The final program included 5 primary indicators, 16 secondary indicators, and 73 tertiary indicators. Conclusions:The debriefing and reflection training program for undergraduate nursing interns proposed in this study has high scientifical validity and reliability. It can provide a reference for debriefing and reflection training of nursing undergraduate interns in China, thereby cultivating qualified clinical nursing talents.
7.Application Value and Influencing Factors of Endoscopic Ultrasonography in Staging Early Upper Gastro-intestinal Tumors
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2025;30(1):52-55
In recent years,the incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal tumors have been continuously increasing worldwide.The treatment and prognosis of gastrointestinal tumors are closely related to the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.Therefore,early and accurate tumor staging is of critical importance.However,the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)in assessing the depth of tumor invasion remains controversial.This article reviewed the application value and influencing factors of EUS in staging early upper gastrointestinal tumors,aiming to provide useful references for clinical practice.
8.Research Status and Hot Spots of Acupuncture Treatment for Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Jian XIONG ; Xiaogang HUANG ; Huifang ZHAO ; Fayang LING ; Qianhua ZHENG ; Ziwen WANG ; Wenchuan QI ; Fanrong LIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):179-194
Objective Bibliometric analysis software VOSviewer and CiteSpace were applied to analyze literatures related to acupuncture for myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion(I/R)injury published in Chinese and English,to explore the status quo,dynamic trend and hot spots in the field,in order to provide reference for future research.Methods Based on the literature on acupuncture and moxibustion for myocardial I/R injury published in CNKI and Web of Science Core Collection database,VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to analyze literature publication trends,authors,institutions,countries,journals,keywords and citations,and draw graphs and tables to show the development status of the field and analyze the future development direction.Results Both Chinese and English literatures on the treatment of myocardial I/R injury by acupuncture and moxibustion show an increasing trend,which is one of the academic hotspots with great potential at present.In terms of Chinese literature,Yan Jie is the scholar who has published the most papers,and Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the representative of the high production institution.The journal of Acupuncture Research has published the most papers.In terms of English literature,lu sheng-feng is the representative scholar with a high number of publications,Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine is the institution with the largest number of publications,and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine is the journal with the largest number of publications.The authors in the field have weak interinstitutional cooperation and exchange,and their research is mainly from China,with little international collaboration and exchange.At present,acupuncture treatment of myocardial I/R injury covers three aspects:specific acupoints,molecular biological mechanisms and clinical studies,which mainly focus on seven hot spots.Conclusion The bibliometric visual analysis visually demonstrated the current status,hot spots and frontier trends of acupuncture in the treatment of myocardial I/R injury.In the future,it is necessary to strengthen international collaboration,promote exchanges and cooperation between scholars and institutions,and promote the publication of multi-center,large-sample and high-level clinical randomized controlled studies;At the same time,the effect mechanism was further discussed from the perspectives of new molecular biological mechanisms,new intervention measures and point selection,and clinical translational research was carried out.
9. Influence Factors and Progress in Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis Complicated With Gastro - intestinal Fistula
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2023;28(5):312-315
Gastrointestinal fistula (GIF) is one of the serious complications in the middle to late stage of acute pancreatitis (AP). The co-existence of AP and GIF can significantly prolong the course of the disease and increase the risks of infection and bleeding. Understanding the relevant mechanisms and influencing factors of GIF and taking effective measures to prevent its occurrence is crucial. The diagnosis of AP with GIF is relatively difficult. Therefore, it is essential to understand the related influencing factors and diagnostic methods of AP complicated with GIF, and to implement individualized comprehensive treatment measures, which is the key to improve the prognosis of the patient to the greatest extent. This article reviewed the influence factors and progress in diagnosis and treatment of AP complicated with GIF.
10.miRNA-4686 effects the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cells via targeting PDIA4
Yanjuan XIONG ; Qin ZHANG ; Hai ZHANG ; Huifang ZHANG ; Tao LIU ; Yinxia LIU
Cancer Research and Clinic 2023;35(10):739-744
Objective:To investigate the expressions of miRNA-4686 (miR-4686) and protein disulfide isomerase A4 (PDIA4) in esophageal cancer tissues, and the effect of miR-4686 on the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cells in vitro and possible mechanisms.Methods:The complementary integration of miR-4686 and PDIA4 mRNA were predicted using the miRWalk version 3 online website. The expression profiles of miR-4686 and PDIA4 mRNA were obtained from the University of California, Santa Cruz Genome (UCSC) database, and the relative expression of miR-4686 and PDIA4 mRNA in esophageal cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues were analyzed. The UCSC database was used to obtain the localization of miR-4686 in human cells. The relative expressions of miR-4686 and PDIA4 mRNA in esophageal cancer Eca109, TE-13, EC9706 and KYSE-510 cells and normal esophageal epithelial HET-1A cells were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Eca109 cells with the lowest relative expression of miR-4686 were selected for subsequent research, and the Eca109 cells were divided into miR-4686 group (transfected with miR-4686 mimic) and miR-NC group (transfected with miR-4686 negative control sequence mimic). The proliferation ability of Eca109 cells in the two groups was detected by colony formation assay, the migration ability of Eca109 cells was detected by scratch healing assay, and the targeting relationship between miR-4686 and PDIA4 mRNA was verified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay; the expressions of PDIA4 protein and PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blotting.Results:Compared with the paracancerous tissues, miR-4686 expression was low and PDIA4 mRNA expression was high in esophageal cancer tissues (both P < 0.01). Compared with normal esophageal epithelial HET-1A cells (0.98±0.15), the relative expression of miR-4686 in esophageal cancer Eca109 (0.11±0.04), TE-13 (0.58±0.10), EC9706 (0.34±0.05) and KYSE-510 cells (0.69±0.06) were all decreased (all P < 0.05). Compared with the miR-NC group, the relative expression of miR-4686 in Eca109 cells of the miR-4686 group increased (9.4±2.1 vs. 1.0±0.4, t = 3.88, P = 0.008), the number of colony formation decreased (38±9 vs. 114±18, t = 3.78, P = 0.009), the scratch healing rate decreased [(27.13±0.91)% vs. (45.05±3.89)%, t = 4.48, P = 0.004], and the relative expression of PDIA4 mRNA decreased [1.0±0.5 vs. 6.3±0.9, t = 5.04, P = 0.002]. Compared with wild type (WT)-PDIA4+miR-NC group, the relative luciferase activity of Eca109 cells in WT-PDIA4+ miR-4686 group decreased (0.31±0.08 vs. 0.99±0.08, t = 5.96, P < 0.001). Compared with miR-NC group, the expressions of PDIA4, p-PI3K, p-AKT and p-m-TOR proteins in Eca109 cells of the miR-4686 group were all decreased. Conclusions:In esophageal cancer tissues, miR-4686 is lowly expressed and PDIA4 mRNA is highly expressed. miR-4686 may inhibit the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer Eca109 cells by targeting regulation of PDIA4 expression.

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