1.Association of monocyte/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio with periodontitis: a cross-sectional study based on the NHANES database
HU Zhiqiang ; ZHANG Qi ; LI Xinpeng ; CUI Yuchen ; YUAN Jiamin ; ZHU Xianchun
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(3):212-220
Objective:
To investigate the association between monocyte to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and periodontitis and to provide new epidemiologic evidence on the factors affecting periodontitis.
Methods:
Data on MHR, periodontitis, and other covariates were selected from the NHANES(National Health and Nutrition Examination) database for 3 cycles of subjects in 2009-2010, 2011-2012, and 2013-2014, and a total of 8 456 study subjects were included. The study participants were grouped according to the prevalence of periodontitis (presence or absence), and three regression models (unadjusted covariates, partially adjusted covariates, and fully adjusted covariates) were constructed to analyze the relationship between MHR and periodontitis by using a weighted logistic regression method with stepwise adjustment for confounders. MHR was divided into four groups from Q1 to Q4 according to quartiles from small to large for weighted trend analysis, and the nonlinear relationship between MHR (continuous) and periodontitis was analyzed using a restricted cubic spline with subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis.
Results:
All three logistic regression models showed a positive association between MHR and periodontitis (OR = 2.92, 95%CI: 2.14-3.99, P<0.001 (not adjusted); OR = 1.97, 95%CI: 1.39-2.78, P<0.001 (partially adjusted); OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.10-2.39, P = 0.017 (fully adjusted)). Trend analysis showed a significantly higher risk of developing periodontitis in the Q4 group compared with the Q1 group in both single (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.58-2.33, P<0.001) and multifactorial analyses (OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.03-1.64, P = 0.029). Restricted cubic spline results did not support a nonlinear relationship between MHR and periodontitis (P for nonlinear>0.05), subgroup analysis showed no significant interaction between the covariates and MHR (P>0.05), and sensitivity analysis also showed a positive correlation between MHR and periodontitis (OR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.31-2.14, P<0.001).
Conclusion
MHR is positively associated with the risk of developing periodontitis.
2.Integrated plasma and synovial membrane lipidomic profiling revealing the therapeutic effects of moxibustion in collagen-induced arthritis rat models
Jiamin WEN ; Rui ZHANG ; Danwen WANG ; Zhiling SUN
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(2):254-266
Objective:
To reveal the therapeutic effects of moxibustion in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat models using the combined analysis of plasma and synovial membrane lipidomic profiling and to enhance the understanding of how moxibustion affects lipid metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods:
A total of 32 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, moxibustion control (MC), model, and moxibustion model (MM) groups, with 8 rats in each group. CIA was induced in SD rats by two immunizations. The paw volume was measured before the induction of CIA. Following induction, after assessing paw volume and arthritis index (AI) scores, the MC and MM groups received treatment at bilateral Shenshu (BL23) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints for 10 min per acupoint. The intervention included three treatment courses, each spanning 6 d and followed by a 1-d interval. Paw volume and AI scores were assessed after each treatment course. After the completion of the three treatment courses, serum, plasma, synovial tissue, and ankle joint samples were collected. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to quantify the levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed for histopathological examination of the ankle joint tissues. Meanwhile, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS) was utilized to analyze the plasma and synovial tissue samples. In addition, multivariate statistical analysis was performed to identify differential lipid metabolites, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was applied to explore metabolic pathways modulated by moxibustion therapy.
Results:
No significant difference in hind paw volume and AI scores was observed among the groups (P > 0.05). After CIA induction, model group showed increased hind paw volume and AI scores compared with control group (P < 0.05), which were significantly reduced after moxibustion treatment in MM group compared with model group (P < 0.05). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly higher in model and MM groups compared with control group (P < 0.05), but were lower in MM group than those in model group (P < 0.05). Histopathological analysis showed improved cartilage and reduced inflammation in MM group. A total of 33 differential lipid metabolites in the plasma and 24 in the synovial membranes of CIA rat models were identified when compared with control group. Among these lipid metabolites, 31 in the plasma and all 24 in the synovial membranes were regulated by moxibustion treatment. Pathological analysis revealed upregulation of diacylglycerol (DG) and fatty acid (FA) levels, alongside downregulation of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). Under physiological conditions, the treatment specifically reduced LPC and PC levels. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that moxibustion predominantly affected α-linolenic acid, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism under pathological conditions. Under physiological conditions, the regulation was centered around α-linolenic acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism.
Conclusion
The RA rat models exhibited significant lipid metabolic disturbances. Moxibustion alleviated paw swelling, reduced AI scores, modulated inflammatory cytokine levels, and partially corrected the altered levels of multiple lipid metabolites. The potential metabolic pathways implicated in the regulation of lipid metabolism under both physiological and pathological conditions include α-linolenic acid, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism.
3.Exploring Mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway to Improve Learning and Memory Ability of Insomnia Rats with Liver Depression Syndrome Based on Transcriptomics
Jiamin LIU ; Yale WANG ; Hai HUANG ; Yue LI ; Xin FAN ; Pengpeng LIANG ; Shizhao ZHANG ; Mei YAN ; Guiyun LI ; Hongyan WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):114-125
ObjectiveBased on transcriptomics, to explore the mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway to improve the learning and memory ability of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome. MethodsSixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, eszopiclone group (0.09 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan (3.82, 7.65, 15.30 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other groups were induced insomnia rat model with liver depression by chronic restraint, tail clamping stimulation and intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Each treatment group received intragastric administration according to the specified dosage, once a day for 14 consecutive days. The pentobarbital sodium cooperative sleep test, open field test, and Morris water maze test were used to test the sleep quality, depressive-like behavior, and learning and memory abilities of rats. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nitric oxide (NO) in hippocampus. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe pathological changes of the hippocampal tissue, while terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to evaluate apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Transcriptomic sequencing technology was employed to identify differentially expressed genes in hippocampus between the model group and the blank group, as well as between the medium-dose group of Hei Xiaoyaosan and the model group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting genes. Subsequently, the enriched key genes and signaling pathways were analyzed and verified. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was utilized to assess the mRNA expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-like protein 11 (BCL2L11), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) in hippocampus, and Western blot was employed to evaluate the protein expressions of PI3K, phosphorylation (p)-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved Caspase-3 in the same tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight, an increase in sleep latency, and a decrease in sleep duration (P<0.01). Additionally, rats showed obvious depression-like behavior, and their learning and memory abilities decreased. Furthermore, the contents of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in hippocampus decreased (P<0.01). Histological examination revealed a disorganized cell arrangement in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, characterized by irregular cell shapes, a reduced cell count, deeply stained and pyknotic nuclei, increased vacuolar degeneration, and an elevated apoptosis rate (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight of the high and medium dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan increased, the sleep latency shortened and the sleep time prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.01). Additionally, depression-like behavior and learning and memory abilities of rats were significantly improved, the levels of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in the hippocampus increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). These interventions also ameliorated pathological damage in the hippocampal CA1 area and reduced the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons (P<0.01). Transcriptomic sequencing results indicated that Hei Xiaoyaosan might exert a therapeutic effect by regulating PI3K/Akt pathway through key mRNAs such as PTEN, BCL2L11, and MAPK1. The roles of these key mRNAs and proteins within PI3K/Akt pathway were further validated. In comparison to the blank group, the expression levels of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats in the model group were increased (P<0.01), while the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 were decreased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan could down-regulate the expressions of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNAs (P<0.01), up-regulate the expressions of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 proteins (P<0.01), and down-regulate the protein expressions of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by down-regulating expressions of key genes such as PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1, and thus improve the learning and memory abilities of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome.
4.Houshihei San Repairs Skeletal Muscle Injury After Ischaemic Stroke by Regulating Ferroptosis Pathway
Hu QI ; Dan TIAN ; Xiongwei ZHANG ; Zeyang ZHANG ; Yuanlin GAO ; Yanning JIANG ; Xinran MIN ; Jiamin ZOU ; Jiuseng ZENG ; Nan ZENG ; Ruocong YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(20):1-11
ObjectiveTo investigate the pharmacodynamic effects of Houshihei San (HSHS) recorded with the effects of treating wind and limb heaviness on muscle tissue injury after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in rats through the ferroptosis pathway. MethodsThirty SD male rats were selected and randomly grouped as follows: sham, MCAO, deferoxamine mesylate, high-dose HSHS (HSHS-H, 0.54 g·kg-1), and low-dose HSHS (HSHS-L, 0.27 g·kg-1), with 6 rats in each group. A laser scattering system was used to evaluate the stability of the MCAO model, and rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 7 days. During the administration period, behavioral, imaging and other methods were used to systematically evaluate the skeletal muscle tissue injury after MCAO and the therapeutic effect in each administration group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to evaluate the cross-section of muscle cells. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry was used to detect tumor suppressor p53 and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in the soleus tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of p53, GPX4, myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD1), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Myostatin, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), muscle ring-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), and muscle atrophy F-box protein (MAFbx) to verify the therapeutic effect in each group. ResultsCompared with the MCAO group, HSHS enhanced the locomotor ability and promoted muscle regeneration, which suggested that the pharmacological effects of HSHS were related to the inhibition of muscle tissue ferroptosis to reduce the expression of muscle atrophy factors. Behavioral and imaging results suggested that compared with the MCAO group, HSHS ameliorated neurological impairments in rats on day 7 (P<0.01), enhanced 5-min locomotor distance and postural control (P<0.01), strengthened grasping power and promoted muscle growth (P<0.01), stabilized skeletal muscle length and weight (P<0.01), and increased the cross-section of muscle cells (P<0.01). Compared with the MCAO group, HSHS promoted the increases in glutathione and superoxide dismutase content and inhibited the increase in malondialdehyde content (P<0.05,P<0.01). Ferroptosis pathway-related assays suggested that HSHS reduced the p53-positive cells and increased the GPX4-positive cells (P<0.01). HSHS ameliorated muscle function decline after stroke by promoting the expression of GPX4, Nrf2, SLC7A11, and MyoD1 and inhibiting the expression of p53, Myostatin, MurRF1, and MAFbx to reduce ferroptosis in the muscle (P<0.01). ConclusionHSHS, prepared with reference to the method in the Synopsis of Golden Chamber, can simultaneously reduce the myolysis and increase the protein synthesis in the skeletal muscle tissue after ischemic stroke by regulating the ferroptosis pathway.
5.Research Progress of Antibacterial Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Synergistic Antibacterial Drugs to Reverse Drug Resistance
Jiamin CHEN ; Xinyu ZHAO ; Shuhua YUE ; Zihao SHEN ; Chujiong CHEN ; Shenghua LU ; Zengyu ZHANG ; Jie REN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1157-1169
With the widespread use of antimicrobial agents, bacterial drug resistance has become an increasingly severe issue, posing significant challenges to global healthcare. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has emerged as a research focus in the field of bacterial resistance due to its broad sources, high safety profile, low toxicity, and antimicrobial mechanisms distinct from those of chemical drugs. Studies have shown that various TCM herbs, such as Scutellaria baicalensis, exert antibacterial effects through multiple pathways, including disrupting the integrity of bacterial cell walls and membranes, inhibiting nucleic acid and protein synthesis, and impairing energy production and metabolism. Additionally, certain TCM herbs, including Scutellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis, and Fritillaria thunbergii, can reverse antimicrobial resistance by eliminating resistant plasmids, inhibiting bacterial efflux pump function, and suppressing β-lactamase activity. TCM holds promising potential for antibacterial applications and synergistically reversing antimicrobial resistance, though systematic analyses remain limited. This review summarizes the mechanisms of antibacterial action of TCM and current research on its synergistic use with antimicrobial agents to reverse drug resistance, aiming to provide insights for developing novel TCM-based antimicrobials and addressing bacterial resistance.
6.Immunogenicity of PreF and PostF recombinant protein vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus
Jiamin CHEN ; Hongjian XIAO ; Yaoyun YANG ; Heng ZHANG ; Zhihua LI ; Qianqian LI
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(2):110-119
Objective:To compare the immunogenicity of the prefusion (PreF) and postfusion (PostF) conformations of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F protein.Methods:The expression of PreF and PostF recombinant proteins was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The binding affinity between F protein and its specific antibodies was detected by Octet. The binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies in immune serum were detected after immunizing mice with PreF or PostF recombinant protein.Results:PreF protein was stable in the form of a trimer after modification with higher binding affinity with monoclonal antibodies such as D25, 8897, AM14, Palivizumab and Motavizumab. PostF protein lacked the antigenic site ? and showed a monomer conformation. Besides, it was unable to bind to D25, 8897 and AM14 antibodies. Animal experiments showed that AS01 adjuvant was better than aluminum adjuvant in inducing binding antibodies and neutralizing antibodies against RSV Long strains. The binding antibodies induced by PreF and PostF recombinant proteins had similar binding ability to PreF protein, while the binding antibodies induced by PostF recombinant protein showed stronger binding ability to PostF than to PreF.Conclusions:PreF has more epitopes and the trimer form of PreF recombinant protein after modification is more stable and can induce stronger neutralizing antibodies. Moreover, the immunopotentiating effect of AS01 adjuvant is better than that of aluminum adjuvant. Therefore, stabilization-based trimer structure modification of PreF and the development of adjuvants are crucial for the development of RSV vaccines.
7.Advances in the Targeted Delivery of Antibody Drug Conjugates
Linfei WU ; Shanshan HU ; Jiamin HUANG ; Hongzhang SHEN ; Xiaofeng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(9):1281-1286
Targeted delivery of antibody bound to antigen is a precise drug delivery mode. It is regarded as one of the ideal targeted drug delivery modes due to its high specificity and affinity, which opens up a new way to successfully solve the problem of poor selectivity of chemotherapy drugs in antitumor therapy. Currently, the research on antibody drug conjugates(ADCs) that bind monoclonal antibodies to target antigens has become a research hotspot of molecular targeted therapy. This paper reviews the mechanism of action, targeting strategies and progress in the targeted delivery of ADCs, in order to provide reference for the clinical development of new ADCs.
8.Analysis and research of online teaching supervision based on the characteristics of medical disciplines
Jiamin YANG ; Yang ZOU ; Hongyi HU ; Chuanhai PU ; Wei ZHANG ; Yujin LIU ; Peihan LI ; Yu TANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(2):242-245
Given the systematic, rigorous, and practical characteristics of medical disciplines, ensuring the teaching quality of online courses has become a significant focus. In traditional teaching models, teaching supervision is an important method to guarantee instructional quality, and introducing teaching supervision into online teaching activities is of great significance. This article systematically reviews and summarizes the domestic and international experience of conducting online medical courses. We explore the instructional supervision of online medical courses from the following perspectives: the meaning of supervision, the necessity of online supervision, online supervision methods and technical approaches, the feedback and application of supervision information, and the establishment of a standardized online supervision process.
9.Research Progress of Granulocytic Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
YANG CHAODAN ; ZHU RUI ; ZHANG YUTING ; YING LISHA ; WANG JIAMIN ; LIU PAN ; SU DAN
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2024;27(1):65-72
Granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells(G-MDSCs)are one of the main subgroups of MD-SCs,which are widely enriched in most cancers.It can inhibit the killing function of T-lymphocyte through the expression of arginase-1(Arg-1)and reactive oxygen species(ROS),reshape the tumor immune microenvironment,and promote the oc-currence and development of tumors.In recent years,more and more studies have found that G-MDSCs are significantly cor-related with the prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy of patients with non-small cell lung cancer,and the use of drugs specifi-cally targeting the recruitment,differentiation and function of G-MDSCs can effectively inhibit tumor progression.This article reviews the immunosuppressive effect of G-MDSCs in non-small cell lung cancer and the progress of related pathway targeting drugs.
10.Correlation between macular perfusion status and visual acuity in retinal vein occlusion
Ziyi ZHU ; Yezhen YANG ; Feng ZHANG ; Jiamin CAO ; Wenhua ZHANG
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2024;49(6):943-950
Objective:Retinal vein occlusion(RVO)is the second most common retinal vascular disease worldwide,and the retinal perfusion status is closely related to the prognosis of the disease.Macular perfusion status is particularly correlated with visual acuity.This study aims to investigate the changes in macular perfusion indicators in RVO using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)and analyze the correlation between macular perfusion status and visual acuity. Methods:This cross-sectional study included 41 RVO patients,who were divided into 2 groups based on the occlusion site:18 cases in the central retinal vein occlusion(CRVO)group and 23 cases in the branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO)group.Additionally,they were categorized into ischemic RVO(23 cases)and non-ischemic RVO(16 cases)groups based on the presence of ischemia(2 eyes were excluded due to hemorrhage obscuring the peripheral retina,making it impossible to confirm the area of non-perfusion).A control group of 29 healthy individuals matched by sex and age was also recruited.Macular perfusion indicators were measured using OCTA,and the correlation between macular perfusion status and visual acuity was analyzed. Results:Compared with healthy eyes,RVO eyes showed an increased foveal avascular zone(FAZ)area and significantly reduced superficial and deep vessel density(P<0.001).However,there were no significant differences in central foveal thickness(CFT)or macular perfusion indicators between the CRVO and BRVO groups(P>0.05).The best corrected visual acuity(BCVA)at the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution(logMAR BCVA)was significantly negatively correlated with both superficial and deep retinal vessel density in RVO eyes(unstandardized coefficient B=-0.039,B=-0.042;P=0.017,P=0.040).The average BCVA in the ischemic RVO group was significantly worse than that in the non-ischemic RVO group(0.82±0.44 vs 0.45±0.29,P=0.007).The ischemic RVO group also had a larger FAZ area(P=0.003)and lower superficial and deep retinal vessel density(P<0.001,P=0.008,respectively)compared with the non-ischemic RVO group.The severity of macular ischemia did not correspond directly with the peripheral ischemia severity in RVO. Conclusion:Macular perfusion status is significantly reduced in RVO eyes compared to healthy eyes,which negatively impacts and limits visual acuity in RVO patients.Eyes with ischemic RVO have poorer visual acuity and macular perfusion status than those with non-ischemic RVO.OCTA is advantageous for observing vascular morphology and quantifying macular perfusion status,making it an effective tool for assessing disease progression.


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