1.Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, Weakness in Limbs, Edema, and Dyspnea: A Rare Inflammatory Myopathy with Positive Aniti-mitochondrial Antibodies and Cardiac Involvement
Chunsu LIANG ; Xuchang ZHANG ; Ning ZHANG ; Lin KANG ; Xiaohong LIU ; Jiaqi YU ; Yingxian LIU ; Lin QIAO ; Yanli YANG ; Xiaoyi ZHAO ; Ruijie ZHAO ; Na NIU ; Xuelian YAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):248-255
This article presents a case study of a patient who visited the Geriatric Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to "palpitations, shortness of breath for more than 2 years, limb weakness for 6 months, edema, and nocturnal dyspnea for 2 months". The patient exhibited decreased muscle strength in the limbs and involvement of swallowing and respiratory muscles, alongside complications of heart failure and various arrhythmias which were predominantly atrial. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of multiple autoantibodies and notably anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with anti-mitochondrial antibody-associated inflammatory myopathy. Treatment involved a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, along with resistance exercises for muscle strength and rehabilitation training for lung function, resulting in significant improvement of clinical symptoms. The case underscores the importance of collaborative multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosing and treating rare diseases in elderly patients, where careful consideration of clinical manifestations and subtle abnormal clinical data can lead to effective interventions.
2.Aerobic Exercise Improves Cognitive Function of Aging Mice by Regulating Intestinal Flora-metabolite Network
An-Feng WANG ; Tong WU ; Hu ZHANG ; Ji-Ling LIANG ; Ning CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1484-1498
ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in aging mice and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which aerobic exercise ameliorates cognitive decline through the regulation of gut microbiota-metabolite network. By providing novel insights into the interplay between exercise, gut microbiota, and cognitive health, this research seeks to offer a robust theoretical foundation for developing anti-aging strategies and personalized exercise interventions targeting aging-related cognitive dysfunction. MethodsUsing naturally aged C57BL/6 mice as the experimental model, this study employed a multi-omics approach combining 16S rRNA sequencing and wide-targeted metabolomics analysis. A total of 18 mice were divided into 3 groups: young control (YC, 4-month-old), old control (OC, 21-month-old), and old+exercise (OE, 21-month-old with 12 weeks of moderate-intensity treadmill training) groups. Behavioral assessments, including the Morris water maze (MWM) test, were conducted to evaluate cognitive function. Histopathological examinations of brain tissue sections provided morphological evidence of neuronal changes. Fecal samples were collected for gut microbiota and metabolite profiling via 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Data were analyzed using a combination of statistical and bioinformatics tools to identify differentially abundant microbial taxa and metabolites and to construct interaction networks between them. ResultsBehavioral tests revealed that 12 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly improved spatial learning and memory capacity of aged mice, as evidenced by reduced escape latency and increased target area exploration and platform crossings in the MWM. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that exercise mitigated aging-related neuronal damage in the hippocampus, enhancing neuronal density and morphology. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that exercise increased gut microbiota α‑diversity and enriched beneficial bacterial genera, including Bifidobacterium, Parabacteroides, and Rikenella. Metabolomics analysis identified 32 differentially regulated metabolites between OC and OE groups, with 94 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated in the OE group when compared with OC group. These metabolites were primarily involved in energy metabolism reprogramming (e.g., L-homocitrulline), antioxidant defense (e.g., L-carnosine), neuroprotection (e.g., lithocholic acid), and DNA repair (e.g., ADP-ribose). Network analysis further revealed strong positive correlations between specific bacteria and metabolites, such as Parabacteroides with ADP-ribose and Bifidobacterium with lithocholic acid, suggesting potential neuroprotective pathways mediated by the gut microbiota-metabolite axis. ConclusionThis study provides comprehensive evidence that aerobic exercise elicits cognitive benefits in aging mice by modulating the gut microbiota-metabolite network. These findings highlight three key mechanisms: (1) the proliferation of beneficial gut bacteria enhances metabolic reprogramming to boost DNA repair pathways; (2) elevated neuroinflammation-inhibiting factors reduce neurodegenerative changes; and (3) enhanced antioxidant defenses maintain neuronal homeostasis. These results underscore the critical role of the “microbiota-metabolite-brain” axis in mediating the cognitive benefits of aerobic exercise. This study not only advances our understanding of the gut-brain axis in aging but also offers a scientific basis for developing personalized exercise and probiotic-based interventions targeting aging-related cognitive decline. Future research should further validate these mechanisms in non-human primates and human clinical trials to establish the translational potential of exercise-induced gut microbiota-metabolite modulation for combating neurodegenerative diseases.
3.Obstructive sleep apnea and fundus vascular injury
Yichun WANG ; Kang ZHANG ; Ya LIANG ; Ning DING
International Eye Science 2025;25(8):1247-1252
The ocular fundus vasculature, serving as a critical window for monitoring disease progression, represents one of the primary targets of hypoxic injury. A growing body of evidence suggests associations between specific ocular vascular pathologies and sleep-disordered breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)has been implicated in fundus lesions through its detrimental effects on the central retinal artery, retinal veins, retinal microvasculature, and choroidal vessels. Mechanistically, these effects are linked to OSA-induced intermittent hypoxia, which drives hemodynamic disturbances, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, altered blood composition, endothelial dysfunction, and neuroendocrine/metabolic dysregulation. This review synthesizes current evidence on OSA-related retinal vascular injury and elucidates its mechanistic pathways. The goal is to identify sensitive and specific retinal vascular biomarkers to facilitate the early detection of OSA and its associated complications.
4.The clinical value of artificial intelligence quantitative parameters in distinguishing pathological grades of stage Ⅰ invasive pulmonary adenocarcinoma
Yun LIANG ; Mengmeng REN ; Delong HUANG ; Jingyan DIAO ; Xuri MU ; Guowei ZHANG ; Shuliang LIU ; Xiuqu FEI ; Dongmei DI ; Ning XIE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):598-607
Objective To explore the clinical value of artificial intelligence (AI) quantitative parameters in distinguishing pathological grades of stageⅠ invasive adenocarcinoma (IAC). Methods Clinical data of patients with clinical stageⅠ IAC admitted to Yantaishan Hospital Affiliated to Binzhou Medical University from October 2018 to May 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Based on the 2021 WHO pathological grading criteria for lung adenocarcinoma, IAC was divided into gradeⅠ, grade Ⅱ, and grade Ⅲ. The differences in parameters among the groups were compared, and logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of AI quantitative parameters for grade Ⅲ IAC patients. Parameters were screened using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Three machine learning models were constructed based on these parameters to predict grade Ⅲ IAC and were internally validated to assess their efficacy. Nomograms were used for visualization. Results A total of 261 IAC patients were included, including 101 males and 160 females, with an average age of 27-88 (61.96±9.17) years. Six patients had dual primary lesions, and different lesions from the same patient were analyzed as independent samples. There were 48 patients of gradeⅠ IAC, 89 patients of grade Ⅱ IAC, and 130 patients of grade Ⅲ IAC. There were statitical differences in the AI quantitive parameters such as consolidation/tumor ratio (CTR), ect among the three goups. (P<0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the differences in all variables except age were statistically significant (P<0.05) between the group gradeⅠ+grade Ⅱand the group grade Ⅲ . Multivariate analysis suggested that CTR and CT standard deviation were independent risk factors for identifying grade Ⅲ IAC, and the two were negatively correlated. Grade Ⅲ IAC exhibited advanced TNM staging, more pathological high-risk factors, higher lymph node metastasis rate, and higher proportion of advanced structure. CTR was positively correlated with the proportion of advanced structures in all patients. This correlation was also observed in grade Ⅲ but not in gradeⅠand grade ⅡIAC. CTR and CT median value were selected by using LASSO regression. Logistic regression, random forest, and XGBoost models were constructed and validated, among which, the XGBoost model demonstrated the best predictive performance. Conclusion Cautious consideration should be given to grade Ⅲ IAC when CTR is higher than 39.48% and CT standard deviation is less than 122.75 HU. The XGBoost model based on combined CTR and CT median value has good predictive efficacy for grade Ⅲ IAC, aiding clinicians in making personalized clinical decisions.
5.Construction of an infectious disease risk assessment system for childcare institutions in Shanghai
Lyulan HUANG ; Ruobing HAN ; Liang TIAN ; Junhua FAN ; Yan WANG ; Ning JIANG ; Renyi ZHU ; Jian CHEN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(8):692-696
ObjectiveTo explore the construction of a risk assessment indicator system for common infectious diseases in Shanghai’s childcare institutions, and to provide a reference standard for the prevention and control of infectious diseases, staff training and system construction in childcare institutions. MethodsBy combining the Delphi method with the literature review and expert consultation, the hierarchical dimensions and items at all levels of the risk assessment indicator system for common infectious diseases in Shanghai’s childcare institutions were constructed, and the weighting coefficients were determined by analytic hierarchy process. ResultsA total of 14 experts from the field of childcare institutions, infectious disease control, child healthcare and health supervision participated in the Delphi consultation. The system consisted of four core dimensions: organizational management, team building, hardware equipment, and infectious disease surveillance and disposal, with the weighting coefficients of 0.285 9, 0.261 6, 0.204 3 and 0.248 2, respectively. The evaluation indicator system consisted of 4 primary indicators, 15 secondary indicators and 45 tertiary items. The positivity coefficients of the two rounds of Delphi consultation were 0.93 and 1.00, the authority coefficients were both 0.81, and the Kendall’s coefficient of concordance were 0.44 and 0.49, respectively (P<0.01). ConclusionThe high expert engagement and coordination indicate that organizational management and team building remain the critical priorities for infectious disease prevention and control in Shanghai’s childcare institutions. It is recommended to strengthen financial investment, improve institutional mechanisms, and enhance personnel reserves and capacity building for healthcare teachers, thereby systematically upgrading the infectious disease control capabilities of childcare institutions.
6.Current status and frontier progress in diagnostic techniques for echinococcosis
BI Xiaojuan ; YANG Ning ; LI Liang
China Tropical Medicine 2025;25(2):232-
Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus tapeworms, posing a severe threat to patients' health. Its diagnostic techniques play a vital role in clinical diagnosis and treatment, surgical planning, and prognostic evaluation. Currently, the diagnostic methods for echinococcosis mainly include etiological, immunological, imaging, and molecular biological diagnostic techniques. This article comprehensively reviews existing diagnostic techniques for echinococcosis, analyzes the advantages and limitations of various methods, and explores their application prospects. With continuous advancements in scientific technology, emerging diagnostic approaches are expected to substantially enhance the efficiency and accuracy of echinococcosis diagnosis. These research findings will provide valuable references for the development of rapid clinical diagnostic detection products at the current stage, potentially improving cure rates, alleviating patients' disease burden, and offering robust support for the prevention, control, and treatment of echinococcosis.
7.Research on the equity of maternal health service utilization in Changning District, Shanghai
Ying HUANG ; Wenli FANG ; Fang BU ; Ye SHEN ; Ning QIAN ; Xuelin BAI ; Shuo YU ; Ji LIANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(6):137-141
Objective To understand the equity and influencing factors of maternal health service utilization in Changning District, Shanghai. Methods A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among mothers of children aged 1 to 1.5 years old who received health services from the child health care clinics and EPI clinics of 10 community health service centers in Changning District, Shanghai from March to April 2022. Count data was expressed by frequency and percentage. Chi-square analysis, binomial logistic regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze fairness-related factors. Rate difference, rate ratio and concentration index were used to represent fairness. Results A total of 696 subjects were investigated, with an average age of (33.35±4.76) years. There were statistically significant differences in service utilization among women with different household registrations only in early pregnancy registration (χ2=11.026, P=0.001) and postpartum visits (χ2=4.989, P=0.026). Women with a career showed differently in folic acid supplement (χ2=6.247, P=0.012), early pregnancy registration (χ2=12.989, P=0.002), physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ2=4.446, P=0.035) and postpartum contraception (χ2=4.061, P=0.044), and the differences were statistically significant. Women with different monthly family income had a statistically significant difference in pre-pregnancy examination (χ2=8.977, P=0.030) and postpartum visit (χ2=16.114, P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between women with maternity insurance or not in the early pregnancy registration (χ2=10.576, P=0.001) and physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ2=8.166, P=0.004). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that occupation (OR=2.616, 95% CI: 1.142-5.990) and maternity insurance (OR=4.490, 95% CI: 1.992~10.120) affected the utilization of service in early pregnancy registration. The monthly household income (OR=0.278, 95% CI: 0.124-0.625) affected the utilization of services in postpartum visit. At the same time, the monthly household income (10,000-19,999: OR=0.286, 95% CI: 0.090-0.907; ≥30,000: OR=0.180, 95% CI: 0.041-0.801) also affected the utilization of service in physical examination in 42 days postpartum. Conclusion The equity of maternal health care service utilization overall is good in central area in Shanghai, but there is still room for improvement. It is necessary to strengthen community mobilization, propagandize maternal health services, and expand the coverage of maternity insurance to improve the equity of maternal health service utilization and provide equal access to maternity health services.
8.Teaching reform and exploration of the graduate biochemistry technology courses based on OBE concept
Ning CHEN ; Xiangfan LIU ; Li LI ; Jiemin WU ; Xiaoxing JIANG ; Qiuli LIANG ; Peihua NI
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(8):1037-1041
Objective:To investigate the construction effects of the graduate biochemistry technology courses based on the outcome-based education (OBE) concept, analyze the technical needs of graduate students, and further integrate and optimize the teaching methods.Methods:A self-compiled questionnaire with good reliability and validity was used to conduct an overall sampling survey on the graduate students who took the elective courses in Batch 2021 in a medical college in Shanghai. Excel and GraphPad Prism software were used for data analysis.Results:According to this survey, the courses gain good effects in terms of teaching framework, course facilities, teaching forms, teaching contents and comprehensive evaluation of teaching. A total of 112 students (95.2%) thought that the course was very helpful to the expansion of experimental technology and experimental operation ability. However, there were still some teaching needs, such as expanding the types of experiments and increasing experimental operations.Conclusions:Under the guidance of OBE concept, the construction of the graduate biochemistry technology courses has gradually achieved good results. Later, the online-offline hybrid teaching form will be further improved and the curriculum teaching arrangement will be optimized further.
9.Analysis of death related risk factors in intensive care unit after gastrointestinal perforation
Heihei LI ; Yongjie WU ; Jifang LIANG ; Haipeng SHI ; Ning MA
International Journal of Surgery 2024;51(9):597-604
Objective:To investigate the mortality-related factors affecting patients with gastrointestinal perforation who are transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to establish a prediction model, and to evaluate the predictive performance of the model.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical records of 306 patients who underwent gastrointestinal perforation surgery in Shanxi Bethune Hospital (Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences) from January 2021 to January 2024 and were transferred to intensive care unit after surgery, including 176 males and 130 females, aged from 28 to 92 years with the average of (66.07±16.03) years. According to the prognosis, patients were divided into survival group ( n=264) and death group ( n=42). Clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of perioperative death, and the related risk factors were selected to establish a nomogram prediction model, the subject work curve was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated. Evaluate its predictive effectiveness; The calibration chart and clinical decision curve were further used to evaluate the prediction accuracy and clinical application value of the model. Results:Clinical data analysis showed that age, white blood cell count, procalcitonin, lactic acid level, preoperative shock, preoperative underlying diseases (cerebral infarction, hormone history), intraoperative blood loss, postoperative lung infection in the death group were higher than those in the survival group ( P<0.05), and hemoglobin was lower than those in the survival group ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed age ( OR=1.422, 95% CI: 1.205-1.680, P<0.001), hemoglobin ( OR=0.945, 95% CI: 0.904-0.987, P=0.012), white blood cell count ( OR=1.832, 95% CI: 1.341-2.501, P<0.001), procalcitonin ( OR=1.099, 95% CI: 1.012-1.192, P=0.024), lactic acid level ( OR=16.435, 95% CI: 3.729-72.425, P<0.001), reoperative shock ( OR=172.358, 95% CI: 13.059-2274.773, P<0.001), intraoperative blood loss ( OR=1.041, 95% CI: 1.017-1.065, P=0.001) and postoperative pulmonary infection ( OR=38.670, 95% CI: 3.449-433.553, P=0.003) was an independent risk factor for perioperative death in intensive care patients after DTP. Based on the screened independent risk factors ( P<0.05), a nomogram model was established and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn. The model area under the curve was 0.985. The accurate graph shows that the predicted results of the model are in good agreement with the actual clinical results, and the analysis of clinical decision curve indicates that the model has high clinical prediction value. Conclusion:Age>71.5 years, hemoglobin< 109 g/L, white blood cell count>17.9×10 9/L, procalcitonin>6.225 ng/mL, lactate level>2.25 mmol/L, preoperative shock, intraoperative blood loss>45 mL and postoperative pulmonary infection are independent risk factors for perioperative death in intensive care patients after DTP.
10.Effects of aloperine on proliferation,apoptosis and immune escape of colorectal cancer cells by regulating IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway
Liang YI ; Weidong LI ; You WANG ; Ning ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(7):1436-1440
Objective:To investigate the effects of aloperine(ALO)on cell behavior of colorectal cancer(CRC)cells through IL-6/tyrosine kinase 1(JAK1)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)pathway.Methods:SW480 cells were grouped into CK group(normal culture of SW480 cells),ALO low-dose group(ALO-L group,0.2 mmol/L),ALO medium-dose group(ALO-M group,0.4 mmol/L),ALO high-dose group(ALO-H group,0.8 mmol/L)and ALO-H+activator(IL-6 activator recombinant human IL-6 protein)group(0.8 mmol/L+100 ng/ml).Proliferation of SW480 cells was detected by CCK-8 and plate cloning experi-ments;apoptosis of SW480 cells was detected by flow cytometry;Western blot was used to detect expressions of proliferating cell nu-clear antigen(PCNA),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),IL-6,p-JAK1,p-STAT3 proteins in cells.After the above five groups of cells were co-cultured with natural killer cells NK-92MI,respectively,they were named as CK co-culture group,ALO-L co-culture group,ALO-M co-culture group,ALO-H co-culture group,and ALO-H+activator co-culture group,respectively.Levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatant and immune killing rate of NK-92MI in the co-culture system were detected.Results:Compared with CK group,OD450 value,clone formation rate,protein expressions of PCNA,IL-6,p-JAK1,p-STAT3 in SW480 cells in ALO-L group,ALO-M group and ALO-H group were decreased,while apoptosis rate and protein expression of Bax were increased,in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05);compared with ALO-H group,OD450 value,clone formation rate,protein expressions of PCNA,IL-6,p-JAK1,p-STAT3 in SW480 cells in ALO-H+activator were increased,while apoptosis rate and protein expression of Bax were decreased(P<0.05);compared with CK co-culture group,levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatant of cells,and the immune killing rate of NK-92MI cells in ALO-L co-culture group,ALO-M co-culture group and ALO-H co-culture group were increased,and in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05);compared with ALO-H co-culture group,levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatant of cells,and immune killing rate of NK-92MI cells in ALO-H+activator co-culture group were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:ALO may inhibit the proliferation,immune escape and promote apoptosis of SW480 cells by inhibiting IL-6/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway.


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