1.The Role and Mechanism of Circadian Rhythm Regulation in Skin Tissue Regeneration
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Xiao-Meng MA ; Zhen-Kai JIN ; Kun LI ; Min WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1165-1178
Circadian rhythm is an endogenous biological clock mechanism that enables organisms to adapt to the earth’s alternation of day and night. It plays a fundamental role in regulating physiological functions and behavioral patterns, such as sleep, feeding, hormone levels and body temperature. By aligning these processes with environmental changes, circadian rhythm plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and promoting optimal health. However, modern lifestyles, characterized by irregular work schedules and pervasive exposure to artificial light, have disrupted these rhythms for many individuals. Such disruptions have been linked to a variety of health problems, including sleep disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction, underscoring the critical role of circadian rhythm in human health. Among the numerous systems influenced by circadian rhythm, the skin—a multifunctional organ and the largest by surface area—is particularly noteworthy. As the body’s first line of defense against environmental insults such as UV radiation, pollutants, and pathogens, the skin is highly affected by changes in circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm regulates multiple skin-related processes, including cyclic changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as DNA repair mechanisms and antioxidant defenses. For instance, studies have shown that keratinocyte proliferation peaks during the night, coinciding with reduced environmental stress, while DNA repair mechanisms are most active during the day to counteract UV-induced damage. This temporal coordination highlights the critical role of circadian rhythms in preserving skin integrity and function. Beyond maintaining homeostasis, circadian rhythm is also pivotal in the skin’s repair and regeneration processes following injury. Skin regeneration is a complex, multi-stage process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, all of which are influenced by circadian regulation. Key cellular activities, such as fibroblast migration, keratinocyte activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling, are modulated by the circadian clock, ensuring that repair processes occur with optimal efficiency. Additionally, circadian rhythm regulates the secretion of cytokines and growth factors, which are critical for coordinating cellular communication and orchestrating tissue regeneration. Disruptions to these rhythms can impair the repair process, leading to delayed wound healing, increased scarring, or chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent information on the interactions between circadian rhythms and skin physiology, with a particular focus on skin tissue repair and regeneration. Molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation in skin cells, including the role of core clock genes such as Clock, Bmal1, Per and Cry. These genes control the expression of downstream effectors involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, oxidative stress response and inflammatory pathways. By understanding how these mechanisms operate in healthy and diseased states, we can discover new insights into the temporal dynamics of skin regeneration. In addition, by exploring the therapeutic potential of circadian biology in enhancing skin repair and regeneration, strategies such as topical medications that can be applied in a time-limited manner, phototherapy that is synchronized with circadian rhythms, and pharmacological modulation of clock genes are expected to optimize clinical outcomes. Interventions based on the skin’s natural rhythms can provide a personalized and efficient approach to promote skin regeneration and recovery. This review not only introduces the important role of circadian rhythms in skin biology, but also provides a new idea for future innovative therapies and regenerative medicine based on circadian rhythms.
2.Danggui Shaoyaosan Regulates Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Signaling Pathway to Inhibit Ferroptosis in Rat Model of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Xinqiao CHU ; Yaning BIAO ; Ying GU ; Meng LI ; Tiantong JIANG ; Yuan DING ; Xiaping TAO ; Shaoli WANG ; Ziheng WEI ; Zhen LIU ; Yixin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):35-42
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Danggui Shaoyaosan on ferroptosis in the rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and explore the underlying mechanism based on the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway. MethodsThe sixty SD rats were randomly grouped as follows: control, model, Yishanfu (0.144 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (2.44, 4.88, and 9.76 g·kg-1, respectively) Danggui Shaoyaosan. A high-fat diet was used to establish the rat model of NAFLD. After 12 weeks of modeling, rats were treated with corresponding agents for 4 weeks. Then, the body weight and liver weight were measured, and the liver index was calculated. At the same time, serum and liver samples were collected. The levels or activities of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Fe2+ in the serum and TC, TG, free fatty acids (FFA), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and Fe2+ in the liver were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and oil red O staining were employed to observe the pathological changes in the liver. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in the liver. Mitochondrial morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The protein levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, GPX4, transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), and divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) in the liver were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed increases in the body weight, liver weight, liver index, levels or activities of TC, TG, ALT, AST, and Fe2+ in the serum, levels of TC, TG, FFA, MDA, Fe2+, and ROS in the liver, and protein levels of TFR1 and DMT1 in the liver (P<0.01), and decreases in the activities of SOD, GPX and the protein levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the liver (P<0.05, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the liver tissue in the model group presented steatosis, iron deposition, mitochondrial shrinkage, and blurred or swollen mitochondrial cristae. Compared with the model group, all doses of Danggui Shaoyaosan reduced the body weight, liver weight, liver index, levels or activities of TC, TG, ALT, AST, and Fe2+ in the serum, levels of TC, TG, FFA, MDA, Fe2+, and ROS in the liver, and protein levels of TFR1 and DMT1 in the liver (P<0.01), while increasing the activities of SOD and GPX and the protein levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the liver (P<0.01). Furthermore, Danggui Shaoyaosan alleviated steatosis, iron deposition, and mitochondrial damage in the liver. ConclusionDanggui Shaoyaosan may inhibit lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway to treat NAFLD.
3.Exploration and Practice of the Construction of Molecular Biology in English
Yu-Meng CHEN ; Meng-Hao CAI ; Hai-Zhen WU ; Li-Qiang FAN ; Jian ZHAO ; Hui-Zhan ZHANG ; Jian-Hua FAN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(10):1471-1478
Molecular Biology is a key basic professional course for all the students specializing in Biolo-gy,Biotechnology,and Bioengineering.With the promotion of double world-class project and first-class undergraduate construction,the development of English-taught course faces challenges.We started to teach the Molecular Biology course in English at the East China University of Science and Technology since 2019,the construction of Molecular Biology course has been reformed and practiced,including the combination of imagery,vividness and classroom teaching,the combination of advanced,cutting-edge and classical theories,and the comprehensive coverage of the teaching process,which has effectively pro-moted the construction and practice of Molecular Biology course.The Molecular Biology course taught in English greatly increased the students'professional and scientific research ability,international vision and English academic communication ability,comprehensive ability and satisfaction,and teachers'teaching and research ability.This course provides an effective reference for fostering innovative profes-sional first-class undergraduates and the construction of Molecular Biology course.
4.Study on a mouse model of aldosterone-induced multi-organ damage
Yu LUO ; Haitao ZHANG ; Yawei ZHENG ; Xianze MENG ; Zhen FANG ; Yating WANG ; Zhuyuan FANG
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2024;32(8):1045-1051
Objective Establishment and evaluation of a mouse model of aldosterone-induced multi-organ damage.Methods Twenty mice were randomly divided into four groups,with five mice in each group:a blank control group(0 μg/(kg·d)),a low-dose aldosterone group(150 μg/(kg·d))),a medium-dose aldosterone group(300 μg/(kg d)),and a high-dose aldosterone group(450 pug/(kg·d)).Aldosterone-containing osmotic minipumps were surgically implanted under the skin,and aldosterone was infused for 4 weeks to establish the aldosterone-induced damage model.The body weight and blood pressure of the mice were recorded weekly.After the 4 week modeling period,the mice were euthanized,and their tissues were collected for observation and analysis of blood pressure and histological morphology of various organs.Results(1)After 4 weeks of aldosterone infusion,the serum aldosterone levels were significantly increased in the medium-dose and high-dose aldosterone groups,but not in the low-dose aldosterone group.(2)After the implantation of osmotic minipumps,the systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose aldosterone groups during the second and third weeks,but decreased in all these groups during the fourth week.(3)The kidney and heart in the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose aldosterone groups showed varying degrees of damage,interstitial edema,collagen deposition,and fibrotic lesions.The liver in the low-dose aldosterone group showed a small amount of collagen deposition,while the medium-dose and high-dose aldosterone groups showed varying degrees of hepatocyte damage,collagen deposition,and fibrotic lesions.Conclusions Aldosterone can induce multi-organ damage in mice.Under this modeling method,organ damage is mainly manifested as edema,collagen deposition,and fibrotic lesions.
5.Effect of CD8+CD28-T Cells on Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease after Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
An-Di ZHANG ; Xiao-Xuan WEI ; Jia-Yuan GUO ; Xiang-Shu JIN ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Fei LI ; ZHEN-Yang GU ; Jian BO ; Li-Ping DOU ; Dai-Hong LIU ; Meng LI ; Chun-Ji GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(3):896-905
Objective:To investigate the effect of CD8+CD28-T cells on acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(haplo-HSCT).Methods:The relationship between absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells and aGVHD in 60 patients with malignant hematological diseases was retrospectively analyzed after haplo-HSCT,and the differences in the incidence rate of chronic graft-versus host disease(cGVHD),infection and prognosis between different CD8+CD28-T absolute cells count groups were compared.Results:aGVHD occurred in 40 of 60 patients after haplo-HSCT,with an incidence rate of 66.67%.The median occurrence time of aGVHD was 32.5(20-100)days.At 30 days after the transplantation,the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells of aGVHD group was significantly lower than that of non-aGVHD group(P=0.03).Thus the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells at 30 days after transplantation can be used to predict the occurrence of aGVHD to some extent.At 30 days after transplantation,the incidence rate of aGVHD in the low cell count group(CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count<0.06/μl)was significantly higher than that in the high cell count group(CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count ≥0.06/μl,P=0.011).Multivariate Cox regression analysis further confirmed that the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells at 30 days after transplantation was an independent risk factor for aGVHD,and the risk of aGVHD in the low cell count group was 2.222 times higher than that in the high cell count group(P=0.015).The incidence of cGVHD,fungal infection,EBV infection and CMV infection were not significantly different between the two groups with different CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count.The overall survival,non-recurrent mortality and relapse rates were not significantly different between different CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count groups.Conclusion:Patients with delayed CD8+CD28-T cells reconstitution after haplo-HSCT are more likely to develop aGVHD,and the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells can be used to predict the incidence of aGVHD to some extent.The absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells after haplo-HSCT was not associated with cGVHD,fungal infection,EBV infection,and CMV infection,and was also not significantly associated with the prognosis after transplantation.
6.RHD Genotyping Characteristics of RhD-Negative Blood Donors in Wuhu Area
Meng-Nan LI ; Zhen-Jun DU ; Jing-Wen LIU ; Rui ZHANG ; Yuan WANG ; Dian-Ming CAO ; Ji-Chun TAO ; Lu-Chen ZOU ; Hui HUANG ; En-Tao SUN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1531-1538
Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanism and distribution characteristics of RhD negative phenotypes in Han population of blood donors in Wuhu city.Methods:A total of 210 RhD-samples from August 2021 to August 2022 were screened by serological test and collected from Wuhu Central Blood Station for the voluntary blood donor population.Exons 1 and 10 of the RHD gene were amplificated by PCR to determine whether the samples had the RHD gene.Exons 1-10 of the RHD gene were amplificated by PCR and zygosity analysis were performed in 82 samples containing D gene,and Sanger sequencing was performed on 55 samples containing all RHD exons to determine the genotype.Results:Among 210 RhD-specimens,128 cases(60.38%)had RHD gene deletion.27 cases had partial exons of RHD,including 2 cases with RHD*DVI.3/RHD*01N.01,24 cases with RHD*01N.04/RHD*01N.01,and 1 case with RHD-CE(2-10)/RHD*01N.01.55 cases had retained all of 10 exons,including 4 cases with RHD*01/RHD*01N.01,6 cases with RHD*15/RHD*01N.01,1 case with RHD*01W.72/RHD*01N.01,1 case with RHD*15/RHD*01EL.01,39 cases with RHD*01EL.01/RHD*01N.01,and the remaining 4 cases were determined to have no RHD gene deletion by zygosity analysis and sequencing showed the presence of 1227G>A mutation loci.Conclusion:There is polymorphism in the molecular mechanism of RhD-D gene in Wuhu blood donor population,among which RHD*01EL.01 and RHD*15 are the main variants in this region.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for RhD blood group identification and clinical blood transfusion in this region.
7.Advances in microglia replacement therapy in neurological disorders
Tao LI ; Jincheng MENG ; Zhen ZHANG ; Danyang LI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(10):1975-1979
Microglia are the primary immune cells in the central nervous system.The activation is of microg-lia crucial in neurological injury and neurodegenerative diseases.In recent years,research on microglia-targeted therapies has gained increasing attention.Microglia replacement therapy has shown promising results in treating various neurological diseases.This therapy involves the forced removal of dysfunctional microglia and their replacement with fully differentiated microglia through drug or gene targeting.This article discusses the potential pathophysiological mechanisms and effective therapeutic strategies of microglia replacement therapy in neurological diseases,including Alzheimer's disease and stroke.Moreover,it serves as a reference for the in-depth study of neurobiological mechanisms and treatment of neurological dis-eases.
8.Alterations in functional complexity of brain regions in autism spectrum disorder patients and correlations with the predicted brain age
Tianzi MENG ; Heran LI ; Shuting LIU ; Zhe LIU ; Yingnan WANG ; Rui LYU ; Haichen ZHAO ; Guangyu ZHANG ; Lemin HE ; Zhen ZHANG ; Xiaotao CAI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2024;40(9):1319-1322
Objective To observe the alterations in functional complexity of brain regions in autism spectrum disorder(ASD)patients and correlations with the predicted brain age.Methods Open brain resting-state functional MRI(rs-MRI)data of 93 ASD patients and 96 typically developing adolescents(healthy subjects)were downloaded.The functional complexity in brain regions were extracted with self-developed virtual digital brain software,and the alterations in functional complexity of brain regions in ASD patients and correlations with their ages were analyzed.Two networks were prospectively trained with data of 65 ASD patients and 67 healthy subjects as the training set to predict brain age,and the results were evaluated,and the predicting errors were compared using test set,i.e.the other 28 ASD patients and 29 healthy subjects.Results Compared to healthy subjects,on the basis of anatomical automatic labeling(AAL)atlas,ASD patients exhibited significantly reduced functional complexity based on Shannon entropy in the left precuneus,left cuneus and right parahippocampal gyrus.Conversely,functional complexity of ASD patients based on permutation entropy significantly increased in the left cuneus and right cerebellar Crus Ⅱ region.The left hippocampus showed reduced functional complexity based on Pearson correlation coefficient,while the left middle temporal gyrus showed increased functional complexity based on Pearson correlation coefficient.The functional complexity in brain regions of ASD patients were not closely correlated with ages(all|r|<0.4).According to the trained fully connected network,the predicted brain ages of ASD patients and healthy subjects in test set were all lower than their physiological ages,but no significant difference was found between the prediction errors of ASD patients and healthy subjects(P=0.283).Conclusion Functional complexity changed in some brain region functions in ASD patients.The predicted brain ages of ASD patients based on the obtained fully connected network were on the low side,but not obviously affected by the alterations of functional complexity in brain regions.
9.Clinical application of Visual throat forceps in the removal of hypopharyngeal foreign body.
Zhonghua MENG ; Qirui ZOU ; Zhongcheng XING ; Shangqing ZHOU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Ye WANG
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2024;38(1):80-82
Objective:To explore the feasibility of using self-made visual throat forceps to remove hypopharyngeal foreign bodies. Methods:The throat forceps were combined with the endoscope and connected to a monitor via a data cable resulting in a visual throat forceps apparatus. This device was utilized to examine and treat the hypopharyngeal foreign bodies. Results:Among 53 patients, foreign bodies were detected in 51,with 48 cases involving hypopharyngeal foreign bodies. All were successfully extracted using the visual throat forceps. Three cases, diagnosed as esophageal foreign bodies by electronic gastroscopy, were treated using the same method. Conclusion:Visual throat forceps can be used to examine the hypopharynx and remove foreign bodies. It has the advantages of simple operation, rapid operation, and high success rate of foreign body removal from the hypopharynx. It is worthy of clinical application.
Humans
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Hypopharynx/surgery*
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Pharynx/surgery*
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Endoscopes
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Surgical Instruments
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Foreign Bodies/diagnosis*
10.Effect of nalbuphine hydrochloride combined with dexmedetomidine on post-operative recovery quality and pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery
Jinyan FAN ; Lili CHEN ; Su LIU ; Ch-Uanwu ZHANG ; Zhen′ang MENG ; Guanglei WANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(7):996-1001
Objective To investigate the effects of nalbuphine combined with dexmedetomidine on postop-erative recovery quality and pain in patients who undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.Methods A total of 169 patients who underwent laparoscopic bariatric surgery at our hospital were included and divided into control group(group C),nalbuphine group(group N),dexmedetomidine group(group D),and nalbuphine combined with dexme-detomidine group(group ND)using randomised numerical table method.Group C received intravenous injection of saline,group N and group ND received intravenous injection of nalbuphine before the end of the surgery,and group D and group ND received pumping of dexmedetomidine before anesthesia induction and during surgery.Compare the postoperative recovery quality score(QoR-40),hemodynamics at different time points,visual analogue scale score(VAS),sedation-agitation scale(SAS),first time out of bed activity and exhaust time,and incidence of nausea and vomiting among four groups.Results The postoperative QoR-40 scores of patients in group ND were better than those in group C and group N(P<0.05),and the QoR-40 scores in group D were better than those in group C(P<0.05).MAP and HR were more stable during the awakening period in group ND and group D(P<0.05).Compared with group C,patients in all three groups had lower VAS scores and SAS scores(P<0.05)and consumed less remedial analgesic medication(P<0.05).In terms of adverse reactions,the incidence of postoperative nausea,vomiting and coughing in the group ND was lower than that in the group C(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of nalbuphine and dexmedetomidine could improve the quality of postoperative recovery and pain in patients under-going laparoscopic bariatric surgery,reduce hemodynamic fluctuations during the patients′ recovery period,reduce the incidence of nausea and vomiting,and improve the patients′ prognosis.

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