1.Terms Related to The Study of Biomacromolecular Condensates
Ke RUAN ; Xiao-Feng FANG ; Dan LI ; Pi-Long LI ; Yi LIN ; Zheng WANG ; Yun-Yu SHI ; Ming-Jie ZHANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Cong LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):1027-1035
Biomolecular condensates are formed through phase separation of biomacromolecules such as proteins and RNAs. These condensates exhibit liquid-like properties that can futher transition into more stable material states. They form complex internal structures via multivalent weak interactions, enabling precise spatiotemporal regulations. However, the use of inconsistent and non-standardized terminology has become increasingly problematic, hindering academic exchange and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the terminology related to biomolecular condensates in order to clarify concepts, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance research efficiency, and support the healthy development of this field.
2.Hygiene status and influencing factors of swimming venues: Based on surveillance data from 2010 to 2024 in Shanghai
Fengchan HAN ; Tian CHEN ; Ting PENG ; Shaofeng SUI ; Weiwei ZHENG ; Ling TONG ; Mingjing XU ; Ming ZHAN ; Yewen SHI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(10):1225-1233
Background Swimming is becoming increasingly popular for its combined leisure and fitness benefits. However, polluted swimming pool water may pose various health risks. Previous studies have indicated that health indicators of swimming venues have lower qualification rates compared to other public places, highlighting the urgent need to optimize hygiene management measures. Objective To assess the overall hygiene status and identify the key factors influencing water quality in Shanghai’s swimming venues from 2010 to 2024, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing water quality management. Methods Water quality was assessed in three stages (2010—2019, 2020—2022, and 2023—2024) based on the monitoring data of Shanghai’s swimming venues (2010—2024). The influences of monitoring stage, region, season, scale, day of week, and per capita attendance on water quality were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results From 2010 to 2024, water quality was monitored in
3.Implementation of teaching clinic in the standardized training of general practice residents: current situation and implications
Xinyan YU ; Lingyan WU ; Lingna MAO ; Ming NI ; Zhizhi JIANG ; Yuling TONG ; Yi GUO ; Zhenya SONG ; Zhijie XU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(9):1281-1285
Teaching clinics represent a unique form of outpatient training of resident physicians and serve as a crucial instrument and core component of standardized training of general practice residents. This article reviews the common model and innovations of teaching clinics of general practice in China, and analyzes their reported effectiveness in enhancing the capabilities of consultation of resident physicians, the teaching capabilities of general practice trainers, as well as satisfaction levels of involved participants. It outlines the challenges encountered in implementing teaching clinics, including inadequate teaching facilities and equipment, incomplete incentive system for teaching, difficulties in patient recruitment, and weaknesses in the teaching capabilities of trainers. To address these challenges, this article proposes corresponding strategies based on realistic needs, including the improvement of facilities and equipment in teaching clinics, the establishment of incentive systems for teaching clinics, the expansion of patient recruitment channels for teaching clinics, and the enhancement of training for trainers' teaching capabilities. This is envisaged to provide both theoretical bases and practical guidance for the effective execution and standardized development of teaching clinics in general practice residency training bases.
4.Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and triglyceride-glucose index predict no early neurological improvement after intravenous thrombolysis in non-diabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2024;32(5):338-343
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index for no early neurological improvement (ENI) of non-diabetic patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after intravenous thrombolysis.Methods:Non-diabetic patients with AIS received intravenous thrombolysis in the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University from January 2023 to December 2023 were retrospectively included. Their demographic and baseline clinical data were collected. ENI was defined by a ≥8-point improvement in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or an NIHSS score of 0 or 1 at 24 hours after intravenous thrombolysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of ENI in patients with AIS after intravenous thrombolysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of NLR and TyG index for no ENI. Results:A total of 122 non-diabetic patients with AIS were enrolled, including 90 males (73.8%), aged 64.43±9.59 years, and 37 (30.3%) patients achieved ENI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the baseline NIHSS score (odds ratio [ OR] 1.110, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.007-1.224; P=0.036), NLR ( OR 1.199, 95% CI 1.001-1.437; P=0.001) and higher TyG index ( OR 2.069, 95% CI 1.009-4.244; P=0.047) were the independent predictors of no ENI. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of NLR predicting no ENI was 0.682 (95% CI 0.581-0.783; P=0.001). The optimal cutoff value was 3.44, and the specificity and sensitivity were 75.7% and 57.6%, respectively. The area under the curve of TyG index for predicting no ENI was 0.648 (95% CI 0.539-0.757; P=0.009). The optimal cutoff value was 8.785, and the specificity and sensitivity were 62.2% and 74.1%, respectively. Conclusion:NLR and TyG index have certain predictive value for no ENI in non-diabetic patients with AIS after intravenous thrombolysis.
5.Dynamic characterization of neuronal injury in cortex and hippocampus of mice after acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion
Tong LI ; Jia-Ming BAI ; Yi-Jun SHI ; Cai-Ming WEN ; Lin CUI ; Jing-Xian YANG ; Hong-He XIAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(9):1708-1718
Aim To dynamically characterize neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampus of mice follow-ing acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R).Meth-ods Male C57BL/6J mice weighing 25-28 g under-went middle cerebral artery occlusion using the fila-ment method,followed by 1 hour of reperfusion to es-tablish the acute cerebral I/R injury mouse model.The experiment comprised a sham surgery group,I/R-6 h group,I/R-24 h group,and I/R-72 h group.Longa neurological function score was used to assess the neu-rological function.Triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining was conducted to detect cerebral in-farct volume.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was utilized to observe brain tissue pathological dam-age.Nissl staining was performed to evaluate neuronal damage.Immunofluorescence histochemistry staining was employed to assess the activation of astrocytes and microglia,as well as neuronal loss.Transmission elec-tron microscopy was used to examine mitochondrial damage in hippocampal neurons.Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression levels of mito-chondrial fission-fusion-related proteins p-Drp1/Drp1,Mff,Fis1,and OPA1.Results With prolonged cere-bral I/R time,neurological functional impairment,cerebral infarct volume,neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampus,glial cell activation,neuronal loss,and mitochondrial damage gradually worsened in mice.The expression of mitochondrial fission-related proteins increased gradually,while the expression of mitochon-drial fusion-related proteins decreased gradually.Con-clusions Neuronal pathological damage,such as glial cell activation,neuronal loss,and mitochondrial dam-age,is gradually aggravated with prolonged cerebral I/R time,which may be associated with mitochondrial dynamics imbalance.
6.A single-center study on the safety and effectiveness of a novel non-implant interatrial shunt device
San-Shuai CHANG ; Xin-Min LIU ; Zheng-Ming JIANG ; Yu-Tong KE ; Qian ZHANG ; Qiang LÜ ; Xin DU ; Jian-Zeng DONG ; Guang-Yuan SONG
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2024;32(8):425-433
Objective To preliminarily evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel non-implantable atrial shunt device based on radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of chronic heart failure(CHF).Methods This was a prospective single-arm study.From January 2023 to December 2023,five eligible CHF patients were consecutively enrolled at Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University,and underwent inter-atrial shunt using Shenzhen Betterway atrial shunt device.Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure(PCWP),right atrial pressure(RAP),pulmonary artery pressure(PAP),total pulmonary resistance(TPR),pulmonary vascular resistance(PVR),and pulmonary/systemic blood flow ratio(Qp/Qs)were measured using right heart catheterization before and immediately after procedure.Patients were followed up for 90 days,and echocardiography,right heart catheterization,and cardiac functional indicators were evaluated.The primary endpoint was procedural success.Secondary endpoints included clinical success,echocardiographic changes,6-minute walk distance(6MWD)changes,New York Heart Association(NYHA)class changes,Kansas city cardiomyopathy questionnaire(KCCQ)score changes,and amino-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)level changes at 90 days.The safety endpoint was major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events and device-related adverse events.Results All five patients successfully achieved left-to-right atrial shunt.Compared with baseline,PCWP decreased significantly immediately after procedure in all five patients,with a procedural success rate of 100%.There were no significant changes in RAP,PAP,TPR,and PVR before and immediately after procedure.After 90 days follow-up,four patients had persistent left-to-right atrial shunt,and PCWP was significantly lower than baseline,with a clinical success rate of 80%.Compared with baseline,LVEF increased,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased,and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and right ventricular fractional area change were not impaired in all five patients at 90 days.KCCQ scores and 6MWT improved,NT-proBNP decreased,and NYHA class did not change significantly.There were no deaths,rehospitalizations for heart failure,stroke-related adverse events,or device-related adverse events during the follow-up.Conclusions The novel non-implantable atrial shunt catheter can safely and effectively improve hemodynamic,echocardiographic,and cardiac functional indicators in patients with heart failure.However,larger-scale clinical studies are still needed to validate its long-term clinical effectiveness.
7.Alpha-Lipoic Acid Induces Adipose Tissue Browning through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling in Vivo and in Vitro
Shieh-Yang HUANG ; Ming-Ting CHUNG ; Ching-Wen KUNG ; Shu-Ying CHEN ; Yi-Wen CHEN ; Tong PAN ; Pao-Yun CHENG ; Hsin-Hsueh SHEN ; Yen-Mei LEE
Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome 2024;33(2):177-188
Background:
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key enzyme for cellular energy homeostasis and improves metabolic disorders. Brown and beige adipose tissues exert thermogenesis capacities to dissipate energy in the form of heat. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in menopausal obesity and the underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
Female Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy (Ovx) and divided into four groups: Sham (n=8), Ovx (n=11), Ovx+ALA2 (n=10), and Ovx+ALA3 (n=6) (ALA 200 and 300 mg/kg/day, respectively; gavage) for 8 weeks. 3T3-L1 cells were used for in vitro study.
Results:
Rats receiving ALA2 and ALA3 treatment showed significantly lower levels of body weight and white adipose tissue (WAT) mass than those of the Ovx group. ALA improved plasma lipid profiles including triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Hematoxylin & eosin staining of inguinal WAT showed that ALA treatment reduced Ovx-induced adipocyte size and enhanced uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. Moreover, plasma levels of irisin were markedly increased in ALA-treated Ovx rats. Protein expression of brown fat-specific markers including UCP1, PRDM16, and CIDEA was downregulated by Ovx but markedly increased by ALA. Phosphorylation of AMPK, its downstream acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and its upstream LKB1 were all significantly increased by ALA treatment. In 3T3-L1 cells, administration of ALA (100 and 250 μM) reduced lipid accumulation and enhanced oxygen consumption and UCP1 protein expression, while inhibition of AMPK by dorsomorphin (5 μM) significantly reversed these effects.
Conclusion
ALA improves estrogen deficiency-induced obesity via browning of WAT through AMPK signaling.
8.Effect comparison between improved 18F-PSMA-1007 PET-CT score and mpMRI PI-RADS score for diagnosis of prostate cancer
Lanlan BAO ; Ming ZHAO ; Rongrong TIAN ; Xi ZHANG ; Tong ZHAO ; Fengqin SHI
Cancer Research and Clinic 2024;36(9):670-677
Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of improved 18F-prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-1007 PET-CT score (referred to as PSMA score) and multi parameter magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) score (referred to as PI-RADS score) for primary prostate cancer (PCa). Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The imaging and clinical data of 134 suspected PCa patients underwent 18F-PSMA-1007 PET-CT and mpMRI examinations at Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from July 2018 to May 2023 were collected. Pathological diagnosis showed 92 cases of PCa and 42 cases of benign prostatic lesions. The clinical and imaging parameters, as well as the distribution of patients with two scores, were compared between the two groups. The blind diagnosis of benign and malignant lesions was made based on the improved PSMA score (dividing 1 point into 1a and 1b points, 1b, 2 and 3 points were diagnosed as PCa), PI-RADS score (3, 4 and 5 points were diagnosed as PCa) and the combination of the two (diagnosed as PCa when either PSMA score ≥ 1b point or PI-RADS score ≥ 4 points was met). The indicators of the diagnostic efficiency of PSMA score, PI-RADS score and the combination of the two for PCa were calculated. Using pathological results as the gold standard, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of PSMA score, PI-RADS score and the combination of the two for diagnosing PCa was drawn, and the diagnostic efficiency of the 3 methods was analyzed. Results:The age, serum prostate-specific antigen, and maximum standard uptake value of PET-CT in the PCa group were higher than those in the benign prostatic lesion group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, false negative rate, false positive rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PSMA score for diagnosing PCa were 91.30% (84/92), 80.95% (34/42), 88.06% (118/134), 8.70% (8/92), 19.05% (8/42), 91.30% (84/92), and 80.95% (34/42), respectively; those of PI-RADS score were 93.48% (86/92), 61.90% (26/42), 83.58% (112/134), 61.90% (26/42), 38.10% (16/42), 84.31% (86/102), and 81.25% (26/32), respectively; those of the combination of the two were 97.83% (90/92), 88.10% (37/42), 94.78% (127/134), 2.17% (2/92), 11.90% (5/42), 94.74% (90/95), and 94.87% (37/39), respectively. The differences in specificity, accuracy, false negative rate, and false positive rate among the 3 methods were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of PSMA score, PI-RADS score and the combination of the two for diagnosing PCa were 0.930 (95% CI: 0.872-0.967), 0.935 (95% CI: 0.826-0.939) and 0.959 (95% CI: 0.910-0.986), respectively, and the differences between each two methods were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); the sensitivity of PSMA score, PI-RADS score and the combination of the two was 90.11%, 89.13% and 98.09%, and the specificity was 90.48%, 90.48% and 92.09%. Conclusions:Compared with the PI-RADS score, the improved PSMA score can improve the specificity and accuracy of PCa diagnosis, and decrease the false negative and false positive rates; the diagnostic efficiency of the combination of the two is superior.
9.Chromosomal microarray analysis of embryos during early spontaneous abortion in a hospital in Yangzhou
Min ZHANG ; Suwei HU ; Anping SUN ; Ming TONG ; Qian LI
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(18):78-82
Objective To explore the value of chromosomal microarray analysis(CMA)for the diagnosis of early spontaneous abortion,and to investigate the relationship between chromosomal abnormalities and early spontaneous abortion.Methods A total of 432 cases embryos were collected from June 2017 to December 2022 which occur early spontaneous abortion in Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital.We retrospectively analyze the results of chromosomal microarray analysis,and analyze the correlation between different gestational weeks and numerical chromosomal abnormalities and copy number variations.Results A total of 428 specimens were successfully analyzed by the CMA.Chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 270 specimens,including 212 cases of numerical chromosomal abnormalities,53 cases of copy number variations,and 5 cases of uniparental disomy.Most chromosomal abnormalities are trisomies,with 16-trisomy was the most common.Among the copy number variations,31 cases of pathogenic and likely pathogenic were detected,and 22 cases of clinically unknown copy number abnormalities were detected.There was no statistically significant difference in numerical chromosomal abnormalities among different gestational weeks(P>0.05),while the positive rate of copy number variations was highest at 10-11+6 weeks of pregnancy.Conclusion CMA can clarify the etiological diagnosis of early spontaneous abortion.It can not only detect chromosomal abnormalities,but also can detect copy number variations and even chromosome microdeletion syndrome,chromosome microduplication syndrome.In the study,numerical chromosomal abnormalities are the main cause of spontaneous abortion.
10.Prognostic value and imaging features of 18F-FDG PET-CT in follicular lymphoma with different histopathology grade
Tong ZHAO ; Min BAI ; Rui WANG ; Ming ZHAO ; Rongrong TIAN ; Jun XING ; Yanmei LIN ; Jie ZHOU ; Ling YUAN
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2024;45(8):776-780
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is highly heterogeneous with different histopathologic grades. Its biological characteristics and clinical management are different. This study retrospectively analyzed 18F-FDG PET-CT metabolic parameters, clinical features, and their relationship with prognosis in 161 FL patients with different histopathological grades (grade 1-2, grade 3A, grade 3B) at the Shanxi Cancer Hospital. There were 93 cases in the grade 1-2 group, 40 cases in the grade 3A group, and 28 cases in the grade 3B group. The expression of LDH, CD10, EZH2, c-Myc, and CD37 proteins was correlated with histological grade (grade 1-2, grade 3A, and grade 3B) (all P values<0.05) . The SUVmax, TLG, TBR, and TLR for the three groups were different (all P values<0.05) . The optimal thresholds of SUVmax, MTV, TLG, TBR, and TLR for predicting FL disease progression were 8.32, 201.31, 2 342.55, 6.56, and 3.52, respectively, and the rate of disease progression increased in patients with higher thresholds (all P value<0.05) . β 2-MG (>2.3 μg/L) , Follicular lymphoma international prognostic index-1 (FLIPI-1) score (3-5 points) , negative CD37 expression, positive c-Myc expression, and TLG (>2 342.55 g) were all independent risk factors for PFS in the FL patients ( HR=3.609, 2.509, 0.255, 3.506, 13.531, all P value<0.05) . 18F-FDG PET-CT is a powerful complement to FL histopathological grading and the combination of the two may better predict the prognosis of FL patients.

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