1.Sputum metabolomics study in patients with occupational coal workers′ pneumoconiosis
Yiming ZHANG ; Qiufang QU ; Qingnan ZHOU ; Shuhan GUO ; Le LIU ; Yuke WANG ; Zhenlin HE ; Sanqiao YAO
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):241-248
Objective To investigate the sputum metabolic profiles of patients with occupational coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) by an untargeted metabolomics method, and to identify relevant differential metabolic pathways and potential biomarkers. Methods A total of 12 male patients with stage Ⅰ CWP were selected as the CWP group, and 16 healthy male individuals were selected as the control group, using a judgmental sampling method. Sputum metabolites of individuals in both groups were detected to perform non-targeted metabolomic analysis using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Differential metabolites (DMs) and their pathways were screened using principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Potential biomarkers were analyzed and identified via the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Results There were apparent metabolic alterations observed in sputum of CWP patients compared with healthy controls. In the positive ion mode, a total of 42 DMs were identified in sputum from CWP patients, including 19 downregulated and 23 upregulated metabolites. In the negative ion mode, a total of 25 DMs were identified in sputum from CWP patients, including 16 downregulated and 9 upregulated metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis of sputum from CWP patients showed that seven DMs pathways were enriched in ABC transporters, histidine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, purine metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation, involving 26 DMs. ROC analysis indicated that 16(R)-hydroxyarachidonic acid, pyrophosphate, and 2-hydroxyphenylacetate of these 26 DMs may serve as potential biomarkers for CWP. Conclusion Sputum metabolomic profiles were altered in CWP patients compared with healthy controls. The potential biomarkers of CWP prevention and treatment are 16(R)-hydroxyarachidonic acid, pyrophosphate, and 2-hydroxyphenylacetate.
2.Analysis on Formation Mechanism of Self-precipitation in Process of Compound Decoction of Famous Classical Formula Sinitang
Meihui LI ; Xi FENG ; Xinyu LUO ; Juehan ZHOU ; Yunya HUANG ; Shuhan LI ; Yanfen CHENG ; Shu FU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(22):145-152
ObjectiveTo explore the main mechanism of self-precipitation formed during the decoction of Sinitang(SNT), and to provide a research basis for exploring the differences in the toxic and effective components of this compound. MethodsThe average precipitation yields of SNT, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(GRR)-Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata(ALRP) decoction(GF), ALRP-Zingiberis Rhizoma(ZR) decoction(FJ), GRR-ZR decoction(GJD), ALRP decoction(FZ), ZR decoction(GJ) and GRR decoction(GC) were determined. The four main self-precipitation samples of SNT, GF, FZ and GC were physically characterized by particle size, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), pH, total dissolved solids(TDS), conductivity, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR) analysis. The chemical compositions of SNT decoction and its different phases was identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS) for SNT, SNT self-precipitation and SNT supernatant, and the contents of its main toxic and effective components were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). ResultsPrecipitation yield results of the 7 samples of SNT decoction and single decoction showed that SNT had the highest self-precipitation yield. The formation of SNT self-precipitation was mainly related to the reaction between ALRP and GRR components to form complexes, and FT-IR showed that GRR had the greatest influence on the formation of self-precipitation. A total of 110 components were identified in the SNT decoction, including 100 components in the SNT self-precipitation and 106 components in the SNT supernatant. And quantitative results of the main toxic and effective components revealed that the reaction between ALRP and GRR components formed complexes, resulting in the following content hierarchy for free components:SNT decoctionsupernatantself-precipitation, these components included free liquiritin, benzoylmesaconine, benzoylaconitine, benzoylhypacoitine, liquiritigenin, aconitine, hypoaconitine, isoliquiritigenin and ammonium glycyrrhizinate. ConclusionSNT exhibits spontaneous precipitation during compound decoction, with GRR exerting the greatest influence on its formation. This suggests GRR plays a significant role in the detoxification of SNT. The differences in the self-precipitated toxic-effective components of SNT compound decoction primarily manifest as changes in component content, reflecting the characteristics of SNT "deposition in vitro and sustained release in vivo" and the importance of "administered at draught" in the clinical application of SNT.
3.Research Progress of Animal Model of Spleen and Stomach Damp-Heat Syndrome under the Combination of Disease and Syndrome
Lin YU ; Qinghua GAO ; Yanping ZHOU ; Shuhan ZHOU ; Siyi ZHANG ; Hailin YAN ; Wenliang LYU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(8):2323-2330
Objective To systematically sort out the current situation of animal model construction and evaluation of damp-heat syndrome of spleen and stomach under the pattern of combining disease and evidence,references for optimizing the standardized research of this syndrome were provided.Methods The references in the past 20 years from CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,PubMed and other databases were searched to summarize and analyze the modeling ideas,evaluation systems and problems of the animal models of spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome.Results Most of the existing models used high-fat and high-sugar feeds combined with hot and humid environment exposure,compound pathogenic microbial infection or chemical stimulation to construct the combined disease and evidence model.The model validity was evaluated by macroscopic signs,gastrointestinal function indexes,inflammatory factors,and intestinal bacterial flora,etc.However,there were still problems of insufficient stability of the model,and inconsistencies in the criteria for evaluation of the evidence.Conclusion The combination of disease and evidence model can better simulate the clinical characteristics of spleen and stomach damp-heat syndrome,but it is necessary to strengthen the construction of multimodal evaluation system and molecular mechanism research.The standardization of animal models can be promoted through the integration of multidisciplinary technology,which can provide a more accurate method for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine research.
4.Discovery and Application of Plant-Derived Cardiovascular Active Peptides
Qiangxiang ZHANG ; Shuhan LIU ; Chen ZHOU ; Wenting LIU ; Yawen LI ; Qi LI ; Mengying ZHU ; Xinyue WANG ; Jing LI ; Wenjun DENG
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(7):1126-1133
Plant-derived bioactive peptides have become a research hotspot in the fields of food and medicine due to their high source safety,easy absorption and utilization by the human body,and potential edible and medicinal value.Bioactive peptides can be classified into antihypertensive,hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic,anticancer,antioxidant,antimicrobial,and anti-inflammatory peptides according to their functions.Among these,antihypertensive,hypoglycemic,and hypolipidemic peptides are collectively referred to as cardiovascular active peptides,which can be used for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and have an important role in the development of modem biomedicine.This review focused on the preparation methods,separation,purification,and identification techniques of bioactive peptides,as well as their mechanisms of action and applications in regulating cardiovascular diseases,aiming to provide a reference for further development and application of plant-derived cardiovascular peptides.
5.Clinical efficacy of extended abdominal wall resection combined with reconstruction for abdo-minal wall aggressive fibromatosis
Zhen REN ; Lisheng WU ; Wenxiu HAN ; Bo HAO ; Xiaohan WEI ; Hu LIU ; Shuhan WANG ; Chen PAN ; Pengfei JI ; Baichuan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(9):1186-1190
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of extended abdominal wall resec-tion combined with reconstruction for abdominal wall aggressive fibromatosis (AF).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 70 patients with abdominal wall AF who were admitted to 3 medical centers, including The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China, between January 2009 and July 2024 were collected. There were 6 males and 64 females, aged (36±13)years. All patients underwent extended abdominal wall resection combined with abdominal wall reconstruction. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) tumor recurrence and postoperative complications. Comparisons of measurement data with skewed distribution between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Comparison of count data between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Results:(1)Surgical situations. All 70 patients underwent extended abdominal wall resection combined with abdominal wall recons-truction. The operation time was 90(91)minutes and duration of postoperative hospital stay was 10(6)days. Of the 70 patients, 41 patients underwent abdominal wall AF resection plus polypropylene mesh abdominal wall reconstruction, with a defect area of 60(54)cm2. The mesh placement method was uniformly Sublay repair. The remaining 29 patients underwent abdominal wall AF resection plus direct suture repair, with a defect area of 34(31)cm2. There was a significant difference in the abdominal wall defect area between the two groups ( U=291.00, P<0.05). All 70 patients achieved R 0 resection. The distance from surgical margin to tumor edge was 2-3 cm in 39 cases and >3 cm in 31 cases. (2) Tumor recurrence and postoperative complications. All 70 patients were followed up for 78(90)months. During follow-up, 10 patients developed tumor recurrence (5 cases with mesh reinforced abdominal wall reconstruction and 5 cases with direct suture repair). Among them, one case was monitored, one case underwent radiotherapy, and neither received further surgical treatment. The remaining 8 patients underwent repeat R 0 resection, and no further recurrence occurred. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between the patients with mesh reconstruction and patients with direct suture repair ( χ2=0.06, P>0.05). The postoperative recurrence rate was 9.7%(3/31) in patients with the distance from surgical margin to tumor edge >3 cm, versus 17.9%(7/39) in patients with the distance from surgical margin to tumor edge of 2-3 cm, showing no significant difference between them ( χ2=0.97, P>0.05). Sixty patients had no tumor recurrence. During follow-up, none of the 70 patients developed incisional hernia. Two patients experienced postoperative wound infection, and 6 cases developed postoperative chronic pain. Conclusion:Extended abdominal wall resection combined with reconstruction is safe and feasible for abdominal wall AF.
6.Research progress on breakthrough cases of vaccine-preventable diseases
Ying SU ; Yao ZHU ; Yang ZHOU ; Shuhan ZHENG ; Feng LUO ; Hanqing HE
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(4):535-541
Immunization represents the most effective strategy for the prevention and control of diseases. Nevertheless, some people may still get infected and contract the disease even after being fully vaccinated, which is known as a "breakthrough case." The presence of breakthrough cases shows that although vaccines significantly lower the rates of disease and death, they do not entirely eliminate the risk of illness.Addressing breakthrough cases, comprehending their epidemiological characteristics, and identifying the associated factors carry substantial public health implications for vaccine development, the optimization of vaccination strategies, and the implementation of intervention efforts. This review aims to provide a scientific reference for enhancing the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases by summarizing the definitions, epidemiological characteristics, and relevant factors related to breakthrough infection cases across various diseases.
7.Long-term Impact of Newly Diagnosed Diabetes on the Incidence and Risk of Severe Microvascular Complications
Qier AN ; Jinping WANG ; Xinxing FENG ; Xin QIAN ; Shuhan ZHOU ; Siyao HE ; Hui LI ; Guangwei LI ; Yanyan CHEN
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(6):571-576
Objectives:There is a lack of long-term follow-up study results on severe microvascular complications in a larger Chinese population with diabetes.This study aims to explore long-term impact of newly diagnosed diabetes(NDD)on the incidence and risk of severe microvascular complications.Methods:A total of 598 NDD and 493 normal glucose tolerance(NGT)subjects were included in this study in 1986.By questionnaire and systematic case review,the occurrence of severe microvascular complications,including severe diabetic retinopathy,severe diabetic nephropathy,and severe diabetic neuropathy,was followed up and collected over a period of 34 years.Results:The cumulative incidence of severe microvascular complications in the NDD population was 65.03%(95%CI:58.90%-70.48%)over 34 years,significantly higher than that in the NGT population(16.8%,95%CI:12.64%-20.11%).After adjusting for related risk factors,the risk of severe microvascular complications in the NDD population was 7.08 times than that of the NGT population(HR=7.08,95%CI:5.09-9.84,P<0.0001).Stratified analysis by sex showed that the cumulative incidence and risk of severe microvascular complications were slightly higher in male NDD population(68.02%,95%CI:57.27%-76.61%;HR=9.45,95%CI:5.78-15.47,P<0.0001)than in female NDD population(63.37%,95%CI:55.69%-70.09%;HR=5.86,95%CI:3.75-9.16,P<0.0001);however,the cumulative incidence increased more rapidly in women during the follow-up period of 10-25 years.Conclusions:The incidence and risk of severe microvascular complications in diabetes were significantly higher than those in the NGT population;and the incidence of severe vascular complications increased rapidly after the duration of diabetes exceeded 10 years,indicating that strict control of blood glucose in the early stage of diabetes is of vital importance.
8.Effect of Lianpu Yin on Improvement of Duodenal Microinflammation in FD Rats and Its Mechanism via NLRP3 Activation
Yang ZHANG ; Wenliang LYU ; Shuhan ZHOU ; Ningfeng MAO ; Jiawei HE ; Yi ZHAO ; Zixuan XU ; Linlin LIU ; Xueyan WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(6):1693-1698
Objective To investigate the effect of Lianpu Yin on duodenal microinflammation in rats with functional dyspepsia(FD)by regulating NLRP3 activation.Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group and model group.FD rats were reconstructed by iodoacetamide method(2%sucrose solution containing 0.1%iodoacetamide),and the model was verified.FD model rats were randomly divided into model group,Lianpu Yin group and Moxapride group by random number expression method.After a period of two weeks of administration,measurements were taken to determine the body mass,three-hour food consumption,as well as the rates of gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion.The pathological structure of duodenal tissue was observed by HE staining.The serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)method.The expression levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in each group were detected by Western blot.Expression levels of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 proteins were detected by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with the blank group,body weight,food intake at 3 h,gastric emptyand intestinal propulsion rate in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and inflammatory infiltration of duodenum tissue appeared in the model group.Meanwhile,the expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 proteins,as well as the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in the duodenal tissue of the model group,showed significant increasing(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,rats in the Lianpu Yin and Moxapride groups displayed significant increasing in body weight,gastric emptying rate,and intestinal propulsion rate(P<0.01).Additionally,inflammatory infiltration of duodenum tissue reduced in these groups.Furthermore,NLRP3 and Caspase-1 protein expressions,as well as IL-1β and IL-18 levels,significantly decreased in the Lianpu Yin and Moxapride groups compared to the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion Lianpu Yin can treat FD rats by inhibiting duodenal microinflammation and then restoring gastrointestinal motility,which may be related to the abnormal activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.
9.To Explore the Biological Connotation of Dampness-Heat Syndrome of Spleen and Stomach Based on the Correspondence Between Syndrome and Prescription under the Mode of Combining Disease and Syndrome
Hailin YAN ; Wenliang LYU ; Jing XU ; Shuhan ZHOU ; Qinghua GAO ; Siyi ZHANG ; Hanlin ZHANG ; Lin YU ; Xiaohui XU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(6):1501-1508
Dampness-heat syndrome of the spleen and stomach refers to the evil dampness-heat invading the spleen and stomach,the abnormal rise and fall of the middle jiaoqi machinery,dampness-heat depression and steaming,the physiological dysfunction of the spleen and stomach,with abdominal distention and distention,nausea and lethargy of the limbs,poor loose stool,red tongue and yellow greasy fur,and slippery pulse as the main symptoms of the syndrome,most common in digestive system diseases,among which chronic gastritis is the first.This paper summarized the research results in the past decade and related fields.In the mode of combination of disease and syndrome,based on the principle of corresponding prescription and syndrome,combined with the etiology and pathogenesis evolution of spleen and stomach damp-heat syndrome,the biological connotation of spleen and stomach damp-heat syndrome was explained from various aspects such as inflammation and immune disorders,gastrointestinal motivity disorders,water and humidity loss,endoplasmic reticulum function,and micro-ecological disorders.Enrich the research of the essence of syndrome.
10.AI-assisted compressed sensing technology in accelerated MR simulation for radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Shuhan ZHOU ; Yu LUO ; Chuyan LIN ; Jianhui SHAO ; Shaojin WANG ; Wenjun FAN ; Feng CHI
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2025;34(9):929-936
Objective:To investigate the feasibility and clinical value of artificial intelligence-assisted compressed sensing (ACS) technology in accelerating MR simulation (MR-sim) for radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods:Thirty patients with NPC scheduled to receive radical radiotherapy at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent head and neck MR-sim on a 3.0 T scanner, with axial T 1 weighted imaging (WI), T 2WI, contrast-enhanced T 1WI, and fat-suppressed contrast-enhanced T 1WI images acquired using both ACS and parallel imaging (PI) techniques. Paired-sample t tests or rank-sum tests were used to compare scan time, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of MR-sim images between the two techniques. A 5-point Likert scale was applied to evaluate tumor lesion visualization, lesion margin clarity, artifacts, and overall image quality, with chi-square tests used to compare subjective image quality scores between the two techniques. Tumor target volumes were delineated on MR-sim images obtained by both ACS and PI techniques after fusion with CT simulation images, and consistency was assessed using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Results:For both individual sequences and overall protocols, ACS significantly reduced MR-sim acquisition time compared with PI ( P < 0.001). The total acquisition time with ACS was (378.60±17.07) s versus (694.93±17.07) s with PI, representing a 45.52% time reduction. SNR, CNR, tumor lesion identification, margin clarity, artifacts, and overall image quality scores of MR-sim images did not differ significantly between ACS and PI ( P > 0.05). Tumor target volumes delineated from ACS- and PI-based MR-sim images showed high consistency after fusion with CT simulation images ( P > 0.05), with mean DSC values of primary tumors and metastatic cervical lymph nodes approaching 1. Conclusion:Compared with conventional MR acceleration methods (PI), ACS enables faster MR-sim acquisition in NPC without compromising image quality or the accuracy of tumor target delineation.

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