1.SIRT3 protects endometrial receptivity in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Zhonghong ZENG ; Hongying SHAN ; Mingmei LIN ; Siyu BAO ; Dan MO ; Feng DENG ; Yang YU ; Yihua YANG ; Ping ZHOU ; Rong LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1225-1235
BACKGROUND:
The sirtuin family is well recognized for its crucial involvement in various cellular processes. Nevertheless, studies on its role in the human endometrium are limited. This study aimed to explore the expression and localization of the sirtuin family in the human endometrium, focusing on sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) and its potential role in the oxidative imbalance of the endometrium in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
METHODS:
Endometrial specimens were collected from both patients with PCOS and controls undergoing hysteroscopy at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, from July to August 2015 and used for cell culture. The protective effects of SIRT3 were investigated, and the mechanism of SIRT3 in improving endometrial receptivity of patients with PCOS was determined using various techniques, including cellular bioenergetic analysis, small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) silencing, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry analysis.
RESULTS:
The sirtuin family was widely expressed in the human endometrium, with SIRT3 showing a significant increase in expression in patients with PCOS compared with controls ( P <0.05), as confirmed by protein and gene assays. Concurrently, endometrial antioxidant levels were elevated, while mitochondrial respiratory capacity was reduced, in patients with PCOS ( P <0.05). An endometrial oxidative stress (OS) model revealed that the downregulation of SIRT3 impaired the growth and proliferation status of endometrial cells and reduced their receptivity to day 4 mouse embryos. The results suggested that SIRT3 might be crucial in maintaining normal cellular state by regulating antioxidants, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, thereby contributing to enhanced endometrial receptivity.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings proposed a significant role of SIRT3 in improving endometrial receptivity in patients with PCOS by alleviating OS and regulating the balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. Therefore, SIRT3 could be a promising target for predicting and improving endometrial receptivity in this patient population.
Humans
;
Female
;
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome/metabolism*
;
Endometrium/metabolism*
;
Sirtuin 3/genetics*
;
Oxidative Stress/genetics*
;
Adult
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Apoptosis/physiology*
;
Immunohistochemistry
;
Cell Proliferation/physiology*
2.Diagnostic yield and safety of pancreatic cystic lesions: A comparison between EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB.
Xiaoyu YU ; Mingmei YE ; Yawen NI ; Qianqi LIU ; Pan GONG ; Yuanyuan HUANG ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Li TIAN
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(2):227-236
OBJECTIVES:
In recent years, the incidence and detection rate of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) have increased significantly. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) plays an indispensable role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PCLs. However, evidence comparing the diagnostic performance of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) and fine-needle biopsy (FNB) remains limited. This study aims to compare the diagnostic yield, adequacy of tissue acquisition, and safety between EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB in evaluating PCLs to inform clinical practice.
METHODS:
A retrospective review was conducted on patients with PCLs who underwent either EUS-FNA or EUS-FNB between January 2014 and August 2021. The diagnostic yield, tissue acquisition adequacy, and incidence of adverse events were compared between the 2 groups.
RESULTS:
A total of 90 patients with PCLs were included (52 in the FNA group and 38 in the FNB group). The diagnostic yield was similar between the FNA and FNB groups (94.2% vs 94.7%, P>0.05). The adequacy of tissue acquisition was 71.2% in the FNA group and 81.6% in the FNB group (P>0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the incidence of adverse events between the 2 groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Both EUS-FNA and EUS-FNB demonstrate equally high diagnostic yields and tissue adequacy in PCLs, with excellent safety profiles. Both methods are safe and effective diagnostic tools for evaluating PCLs.
Humans
;
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration/adverse effects*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Female
;
Male
;
Pancreatic Cyst/diagnostic imaging*
;
Middle Aged
;
Biopsy, Fine-Needle/adverse effects*
;
Aged
;
Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis*
;
Adult
;
Endosonography/methods*
;
Pancreas/pathology*
;
Diagnosis, Differential
3.Nanomedicine-driven tumor glucose metabolic reprogramming for enhanced cancer immunotherapy.
Chenwei JIANG ; Minglu TANG ; Yun SU ; Junjie XIE ; Qi SHANG ; Mingmei GUO ; Xiaoran AN ; Longfei LIN ; Ruibin WANG ; Qian HUANG ; Guangji ZHANG ; Hui LI ; Feihu WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):2845-2866
Tumors exhibit abnormal glucose metabolism, consuming excessive glucose and excreting lactate, which constructs a tumor microenvironment that facilitates cancer progression and disrupts immunotherapeutic efficacy. Currently, tumor glucose metabolic dysregulation to reshape the immunosuppressive microenvironment and enhance immunotherapy efficacy is emerging as an innovative therapeutic strategy. However, glucose metabolism modulators lack specificity and still face significant challenges in overcoming tumor delivery barriers, microenvironmental complexity, and metabolic heterogeneity, resulting in poor clinical benefit. Nanomedicines, with their ability to selectively target tumors or immune cells, respond to the tumor microenvironment, co-deliver multiple drugs, and facilitate combinatorial therapies, hold significant promise for enhancing immunotherapy through tumor glucose metabolic reprogramming. This review explores the complex interactions between tumor glucose metabolism-specifically metabolite transport, glycolysis processes, and lactate-and the immune microenvironment. We summarize how nanomedicine-mediated reprogramming of tumor glucose metabolism can enhance immunotherapy efficacy and outline the prospects and challenges in this field.
4.Discovery and proof-of-concept study of a novel highly selective sigma-1 receptor agonist for antipsychotic drug development.
Wanyu TANG ; Zhixue MA ; Bang LI ; Zhexiang YU ; Xiaobao ZHAO ; Huicui YANG ; Jian HU ; Sheng TIAN ; Linghan GU ; Jiaojiao CHEN ; Xing ZOU ; Qi WANG ; Fan CHEN ; Guangying LI ; Chaonan ZHENG ; Shuliu GAO ; Wenjing LIU ; Yue LI ; Wenhua ZHENG ; Mingmei WANG ; Na YE ; Xuechu ZHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5346-5365
Sigma-1 receptor (σ 1R) has become a focus point of drug discovery for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. A series of novel 1-phenylethan-1-one O-(2-aminoethyl) oxime derivatives were synthesized. In vitro biological evaluation led to the identification of 1a, 14a, 15d and 16d as the most high-affinity (K i < 4 nmol/L) and selective σ 1R agonists. Among these, 15d, the most metabolically stable derivative exhibited high selectivity for σ 1R in relation to σ 2R and 52 other human targets. In addition to low CYP450 inhibition and induction, 15d also exhibited high brain permeability and excellent oral bioavailability. Importantly, 15d demonstrated effective antipsychotic potency, particularly for alleviating negative symptoms and improving cognitive impairment in experimental animal models, both of which are major challenges for schizophrenia treatment. Moreover, 15d produced no significant extrapyramidal symptoms, exhibiting superior pharmacological profiles in relation to current antipsychotic drugs. Mechanistically, 15d inhibited GSK3β and enhanced prefrontal BDNF expression and excitatory synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons. Collectively, these in vivo proof-of-concept findings provide substantial experimental evidence to demonstrate that modulating σ 1R represents a potential new therapeutic approach for schizophrenia. The novel chemical entity along with its favorable drug-like and pharmacological profile of 15d renders it a promising candidate for treating schizophrenia.
5.Mechanism of diosmin in alleviating anxiety of PTSD-like mice based on network pharmacology
Xinchao ZHANG ; Hongyu LI ; Mingmei WU
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2024;40(3):305-312
Objective:Investigate the potential of diosmin(DSM)in alleviating anxiety behavior associated with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)in mice.Methods:A PTSD-like mouse model was induced with continuous restraint,forced swimming,anesthesia,and electric shock.DSM was administered via intraperitoneal injection.The impact of DSM on anxiety behavior was assessed using open-field and elevated maze tests.Databases such as Swiss Tar-get Prediction,Drug Bank,TTD,and Gene Cards were utilized to gather the pertinent targets associated with DSM and PTSD.The Venny2.1 tool was employed to identify overlapping targets between DSM components and those relevant to PTSD.A protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and topological analysis was conducted to identify core targets.The core targets were further analyzed through GO classification and KEGG pathway enrichment.The"component-disease-target-pathway"network of DSM anti-PTSD was constructed.Immunofluorescence staining of mouse brain tissue was used to verify the core targets.Results:DSM significantly alleviates anxiety-like behavior in PTSD-like mice.The result of network pharmacology revealed 53 common targets,15 key targets,649 biological proces-ses,and 46 differential signaling pathways of DSM in the treatment of PTSD.Key targets CCL5,JNK,and TNF-α with relatively high screening values were used for immunofluorescence staining of mouse brain slices.The expression of CCL5,JNK,and TNF-α were highly higher in the PTSD group than the normal group,and DSM could significantly in-hibit their expression in PTSD-Like mice.Conclusion:DSM can significantly alleviate anxiety-like behaviors in PTSD-like mice,and its mechanism of action may be closely related to the inhibition of inflammatory immune response.
6.Network pharmacology analysis based on potential mechanism of dandelion-mulberry leaf in treatment of acute myeloid leukemia
Xinchen ZHOU ; Shuhan DONG ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Mingmei SHEN ; Xiangjun WANG ; Ying LI ; Limei LIU
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2024;50(4):1087-1097
Objective:To analyze the role of dandelion and mulberry leaf in the progression of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)by network pharmacology,and to clarify the active components and their mechanisms in treating AML.Methods:The active components of dandelion and mulberry leaf were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP).The targets were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction Database.The AML-related genes and protein targets were retrieved from the SymMap Database,the GeneCards Human Gene Database,the DisGeNET Database,and the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)Database.The AML-related genes and target genes of dandelion and mulberry leaf were compared by comparative analysis and were identify by the enrichment genes,followed by Gene Ontology(GO)functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathway enrichment analysis.The drug-active component-target network and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network were constructed by Cytoscape 3.8.0 software,and the core genes were selected by CytoNCA plugin;the molecular docking was conducted by AutoDock software.Results:After filtering by databases,39 active components were identified,and 148 common targets between dandelion-mulberry leaf and AML were collected.The GO functional enrichment analysis mainly involved cytokine-mediated signaling pathways,positive regulation of kinase activity,and oxidative stress responses.The KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis focused on the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K-AKT)signaling pathway,the tumor necrosis factor(TNF)signaling pathway,and the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription(JAK-STAT)signaling pathway.The key targets were identified by topological analysis including signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),protein kinase B1(AKT1),recombinant human epidermal growth factor(EGF),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),oncogene MYC,tumor protein P53(TP53),mitogen-activated protein kinase 3(MAPK3),cysteiny asparate specific protease-3(CASP3),oncogene SRC,heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1(HSP90AA1),tenascin XB1(CTNNB1),phosphoinositide kinase-3 catalytic subunit alpha(PIK3CA),interleukin 6(IL-6),TNF,mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1),and phosphatidylinositide kinase-3 regulatory subunit 1(PIK3R1).The molecular docking results showed the highest affinity pairing to be taraxerol with MYC(-8.74 kcal·mol-1),and quercetin,kaempferol,luteolin,and artemetin demonstrated good binding affinities with various targets.Conclusion:The main active components of dandelion-mulberry leaf,such as quercetin,taraxerol,kaempferol,luteolin,and artemetin,may exert the anti-AML effect by regulating AKT1,STAT3,HSP90AA1,IL-6,and MAPK1;regulation the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway may be the critical mechanism of anti-AML effect by dandelion-mulberry leaf.
7.Lower extremity rehabilitation with a Lokomat or Relink robot can better improve the motor function of children with spastic cerebral palsy
Zhichong HUI ; Weihang QI ; Yi ZHANG ; Huachun XIONG ; Mingmei WANG ; Shaoqing LI ; Dong LI ; Dengna ZHU
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2024;46(6):512-517
Objective:To compare the effectiveness of two types of robotic training in improving the lower extremity motor functioning of children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP).Methods:Twenty-eight children with SCP were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group, each of 14. Both groups received conventional exercise therapy, paraffin therapy, neuromuscular electrical stimulation, and massage. Both also performed 30 minutes of gait training five days a week for eight weeks assisted by either a Lokomat or a Relink lower limb rehabilitation robot. Before and after the treatment, both groups were evaluated using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS), the six-minute walk test (6MWT), the Physiological Cost Index (PCI) and their self-selected walking speed (SWS).Results:Significant improvement in all of the measurements were observed in both groups. After the treatment, there were no significant differences between the two group in the average GMFM (section D and E) or PBS scores. The average MTS R1 and R2, SWS, 6MWT and PCI results of the experimental group were, however, significantly better than those of the control group.Conclusion:Applying either the Lokomat or Relink robot in lower extremity rehabilitation improves the lower extremity motor function of children with grade II-III SCP. The Relink robot is the more effective in improving triceps surae spasm and walking ability.
8.Analysis of CYP2U1 gene variants in a child with Hereditary spastic paraplegia type 56.
Guangyu ZHANG ; Sansong LI ; Lei YANG ; Mingmei WANG ; Gongxun CHEN ; Dengna ZHU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2023;40(5):577-581
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of a child with Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP).
METHODS:
A child with HSP who was admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on August 10, 2020 due to discovery of tiptoeing for 2 years was selected as the study subject, and relevant clinical data was collected. Peripheral blood samples of the child and her parents were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. And trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) was carried out. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Bioinformatic software was used to analyze the conservation of variant sites.
RESULTS:
The child was a 2-year-and-10-month-old female with clinical manifestations including increased muscle tone of lower limbs, pointed feet, and cognitive language delay. Trio-WES results showed that she had harbored compound heterozygous variants of c.865C>T (p.Gln289*) and c.1126G>A (p.Glu376Lys) of the CYP2U1 gene. And the corresponding amino acid for c.1126G>A (p.Glu376Lys) is highly conserved among various species. Based on guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the c.865C>T was predicted as a pathogenic variant (PVS1+PM2_Supporting), and c.1126G>A was rated as a variant of uncertain significance (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3).
CONCLUSION
The child was diagnosed with HSP type 56 due to compound variants of the CYP2U1 gene. Above findings have enriched the mutation spectrum of the CYP2U1 gene.
Female
;
Humans
;
Cytochrome P450 Family 2/genetics*
;
Mutation
;
Pedigree
;
Phenotype
;
Spastic Paraplegia, Hereditary/genetics*
;
Infant
9.Clinical features and genetic analysis of a child with EAST/SeSAME syndrome.
Guangyu ZHANG ; Mingmei WANG ; Gongxun CHEN ; Lei YANG ; Sansong LI ; Dengna ZHU
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2023;40(7):838-841
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the genetic basis for a EAST/SeSAME syndrome child featuring epilepsy, ataxia, sensorineural deafness and intellectual disability.
METHODS:
A child with EAST/SeSAME syndrome who had presented at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in January 2021 was selected as the study object. Peripheral blood samples of the child and her parents were collected and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing.
RESULTS:
Genetic testing revealed that the child has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the KCNJ10 gene, namely c.557T>C (p.Val186Ala) and c.386T>A (p.Ile129Asn), which were inherited from her mother and father, respectively. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were predicted as likely pathogenic (PM1+PM2_Supporting+PP3+PP4; PM1+PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3+PP4).
CONCLUSION
The patient was diagnosed with EAST/SeSAME syndrome due to the compound heterozygous variants of the KCNJ10 gene.
Humans
;
Child
;
Female
;
Intellectual Disability/genetics*
;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/genetics*
;
Ataxia
;
Genetic Diseases, X-Linked
;
Mutation
10.A clinical cross-sectional study of resting energy expenditure in children with cerebral palsy
Dengna ZHU ; Kaili SHI ; Junying QIAO ; Jun WANG ; Gongxun CHEN ; Guohui NIU ; Bingbing LI ; Mingmei WANG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2023;38(8):580-585
Objective:To investigate the characteristics of resting energy expenditure (REE) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) graded with different levels of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), and to evaluate the accuracy and association of commonly used REE prediction formulas in children with CP.Methods:It was a retrospective study involving 36 children with CP aged 24-144 months who visited the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between September 2021 and August 2022.REE was measured by the indirect calorimetry.Based on the GMFCS, children with CP were divided into grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ group (20 cases), grade Ⅲ group (6 cases) and grade Ⅳ-Ⅴ group(10 cases). During the same period, 11 age-matched healthy children were included in control group.The measured REE (MREE) between children with CP and healthy controls was compared.Predicted REE (PREE) calculated by the Harris-Benedict, WHO, Schofield-W, Schofield-WH and Oxford prediction formulas were compared with MREE in children for their consistency and correlation.Independent samples were analyzed using t-test or Mann- Whitney U test, and categorical data were analyzed using Chi- square test.Using paired t-test and Pearson linear correlation analysis to analyze the correlation between MREE and PREE.The accuracy of PREE values calculated by different formulas was assessed using the root mean square error. Results:The MREE in control group and children with CP were (952.18±270.56) kcal/d and (801.81±201.89) kcal/d, respectively.There was no significant difference in the MREE between grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ group versus control group[(868.30±194.81) kcal/d vs.(952.18±270.56) kcal/d, P>0.05], and grade Ⅲ group versus control group [(813.17±192.48) kcal/d vs.(952.18±270.56) kcal/d, P>0.05]. The MREE was significantly lower in grade Ⅳ-Ⅴ group than that of control group [666.00(513.50, 775.50) kcal/d vs.(952.18±270.56) kcal/d, P=0.011]. There were no significant difference between MREE and PREEs calculated by Harris-Benedict, WHO, Schofield-W, Schofield-WH, and Oxford (all P>0.05). The correct classification fraction calculated by the 5 formulas were 33.3%, 47.2%, 41.7%, 47.2%, and 41.7%, respectively.The r values of the consistency of PREE calculated by the 5 formulas were 0.585, 0.700, 0.703, 0.712, and 0.701, respectively.The Blande-Altman Limits of Agreement were (-297.77, 359.22), (-245.60, 326.94), (-250.62, 316.05), (-242.22, 177.36) and (-241.28, 325.81), respectively.The clinically acceptable range was -80.18 to 80.18 kcal/d.The root mean square error were 168.09 kcal/d, 149.64 kcal/d, 146.24 kcal/d, 144.23 kcal/d and 148.77 kcal/d, respectively. Conclusions:The MREE values decreased significantly in children with CP classified as CMFCS grade Ⅳ and Ⅴ.When REE cannot be regularly monitored by indirect calorimetry to develop nutritional support programs, children with CP may be prioritized to estimate REE using the prediction formula of Schofield-WH.

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