1.Analysis of Major Syndromes and Their Typical Related Symptoms and Signs in 135 Patients with Metabolic Syndrome:A Clinical Study Based on Syndrome Element Differentiation and Latent Class Analysis
Tong WANG ; Mingqian JIANG ; Lifen MI ; Shanyi SHEN ; Shujie XIA ; Candong LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(4):376-381
ObjectiveTo explore the typical syndromes and their characteristic of symptoms and signs with high diagnostic value in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS). MethodsTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diagnostic information was collected from 135 MS patients. Syndrome element differentiation and latent class analysis (LCA) were applied to identify the major TCM syndromes in MS patients. Symptoms were analyzed based on the differentiated syndromes, and a binary logistic regression model was constructed to determine symptoms and signs with high diagnostic value. ResultsA total of 135 MS patients were included, involving 163 symptoms and signs with a total frequency of 1749; twenty-three syndrome elements were extracted, 367 times frequency in total, among which 8 syndrome elements occurred ≥10 times with 323 frequencies (88.01% of the total). These included location-related elements such as kidney (48 times), spleen (14 times), and stomach (14 times), and nature-related elements such as phlegm (71 times), yin deficiency (64 times), dampness (57 times), heat (42 times), and qi deficiency (13 times). Based on LCA, the 135 patients were categorized into two groups distinguished by the syndrome elements of dampness and phlegm, forming the "phlegm-dampness syndrome" as the major syndrome type. Nine high-frequency symptoms and signs associated with the phlegm-dampness syndrome were identified,i.e. obesity (39 times), greasy coating (38 times), slippery pulse (33 times), white coating (31 times), preference for fatty and heavy foods (30 times), excessive urination (30 times), fatigue and lack of strength (29 times), wiry pulse (25 times), and dark red tongue (25 times). A binary logistic regression model was constructed combining these nine symptoms and signs with the LCA classification results, ultimately identifying obesity, greasy coating, fatigue and lack of strength, and white coating as independent factors associated with the phlegm-dampness syndrome in MS patients (P<0.05). ConclusionThe major TCM syndrome in MS patients is phlegm-dampness syndrome, and obesity, greasy coating, fatigue and lack of strength, and white coating are the typical symptoms and signs for diagnosing phlegm-dampness syndrome in MS patients.
2.Identification and validation of characterized gene NFE2L2 for ferroptosis in ischemic stroke
Mi WANG ; Shujie MA ; Yang LIU ; Rui QI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(7):1466-1474
BACKGROUND:Ferroptosis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke,and targeting ferroptosis is a promising regimen for the treatment of ischemic stroke,but the specific regulatory targets are unclear. OBJECTIVE:To screen ferroptosis-related characterized genes in ischemic stroke by bioinformatics and machine learning methods and validate them by cellular experiments to investigate the role of ferroptosis in ischemic stroke. METHODS:Eligible ischemic stroke-related datasets and ferroptosis expression datasets were selected based on GEO database and FerrDb database,and ferroptosis-related differential genes were screened by t-test.GO functional enrichment analysis with KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis was performed for ferroptosis-related differential genes.Characterized genes for ferroptosis in ischemic stroke were screened by PPI network analysis and machine learning.The reliability and biological functions of the characterized genes were explored using ROC analysis and GSEA analysis,followed by cell experiment.HT22 cells were divided into control and ischemic stroke groups.No intervention was made in the control group,and 0.1 mM H2O2 was added to the ischemic stroke group for 24 hours to simulate cellular oxidative stress injury and ferroptosis.The ferroptosis and the expression of characterized genes were verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Forty-five ferroptosis-associated differential genes were obtained,and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the differential genes were closely associated with oxidative stress,autophagy,ferroptosis,adipocytokine signaling pathway,and mitochondrial metabolism.(2)A total of one ferroptosis characterized gene,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NFE2L2),was identified by the MCODE plugin and cytoHubba plugin in the PPI network with the LASSO algorithm and SVM-RFE algorithm in machine learning.(3)Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of NFE2L2 revealed that the diagnostic prediction models constructed in the training and validation sets had good accuracy and specificity.GSEA analysis of NFE2L2 revealed that the characterized gene was involved in the regulation of ischemic stroke pathogenesis through immunity,inflammatory response,amino acid metabolism,and neurofactor regulation.(4)RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that the acyl coenzyme A synthetase long chain family,member 4(ACSL4)mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in the ischemic stroke group compared with the control group(P<0.05),and the glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly lower in the ischemic stroke group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of the characterized gene NFE2L2 were significantly higher in the ischemic stroke group(P<0.05).(5)It suggests that ischemic stroke is closely related to ferroptosis,and targeting the characterized gene NFE2L2 may provide certain ideas and directions for the study and treatment of ischemic stroke.
3.Application of three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence using artificial intelligence-assisted compressed sensing technique in intravenous gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of inner ear
Kai LIU ; Jian WANG ; Huaili JIANG ; Shujie ZHANG ; Di WU ; Xinsheng HUANG ; Mengsu ZENG ; Menglong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(2):212-217
Objective To investigate the value of artificial intelligence-assisted compressed sensing (ACS) technology for intravenous gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the inner ear using three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (3D-FLAIR) sequence. Methods The patients received gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging using ACS and united compressed sensing (uCS) 3D-FLAIR at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from January to November 2024 were prospectively enrolled. The repetition time was 16 000 ms, and acquisition time was 6 min 40 s and 10 min 24 s in ACS 3D-FLAIR and uCS 3D-FLAIR, respectively. The images on the two sequences were evaluated independently by two radiologists. The image quality of the two sequences was subjectively evaluated and compared. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were compared between the two sequences. The grading consistencies using two sequences and between the two doctors were analyzed. Results There was no statistically difference in subjective score of image quality between the two sequences. SNR and CNR of the ACS 3D-FLAIR sequence were significantly higher than those of the uCS 3D-FLAIR sequence (P<0.001). The kappa values of grades of cochlear and vestibular endolymphatic hydrops were 0.942 and 0.888 using two sequences (P<0.001). The kappa values of grades of cochlear and vestibular endolymphatic hydrops using the ACS 3D-FLAIR sequence between the two doctors were 0.784 and 0.831, respectively (P<0.001); the kappa values of grades of cochlear and vestibular endolymphatic hydrops using uCS 3D-FLAIR sequence between the two doctors were 0.725 and 0.756, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusions ACS 3D-FLAIR could provide higher SNR and CNR than uCS 3D-FLAIR, and is more suitable for intravenous gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the inner ear; the endolymphatic hydrops grades using ACS 3D-FLAIR is similar to use uCS 3D-FLAIR.
4.Structure-Activity Relationship of NMDA Receptor Ligands and Their Activities on the ERK Activation through Metabotropic Signaling Pathway
Dooti KUNDU ; Mengling WANG ; Suresh PAUDEL ; Shujie WANG ; Choon-Gon JANG ; Kyeong-Man KIM
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):278-285
The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) subunit GluN2B is abundantly expressed in brain regions critical for synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes. This study investigated the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of NMDA-R ligands using GluN2B as a molecular target. Thirty potential NMDA-R antagonists were categorized into two structural classes: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) amines (series A) and α-amino-2-phenylcyclohexanone derivatives (series B). In series A compounds, the phenyl ring and R1 substituents were positioned at the carbon center of the cyclohexyl ring, with R2 substituents at the para- or meta-positions of the phenyl ring. SAR analysis revealed optimal binding affinity when R1 was carbonyl (C=O) and R2 was 4-methoxy (4-OMe). Series B compounds featured a cyclohexanone scaffold with NH-R1 at the α-position and a phenyl ring bearing R2 substituents at ortho-, meta-, or para-positions. Maximum binding affinity was achieved with R1 as hydrogen (H) and R2 as hydroxyl (OH). Compounds were assessed for GluN2B-mediated ERK activation to evaluate potential metabotropic signaling properties. Approximately 50% of the compounds demonstrated ERK activation through a non-ionotropic signaling cascade involving Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and protein kinase C. This study elucidated key structural determinants for NMDA-R binding and characterized a novel metabotropic signaling pathway. Notably, our findings suggest that compounds acting as antagonists at the ionotropic site may simultaneously function as agonists through non-ionotropic mechanisms.
5.Structure-Activity Relationship of NMDA Receptor Ligands and Their Activities on the ERK Activation through Metabotropic Signaling Pathway
Dooti KUNDU ; Mengling WANG ; Suresh PAUDEL ; Shujie WANG ; Choon-Gon JANG ; Kyeong-Man KIM
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):278-285
The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) subunit GluN2B is abundantly expressed in brain regions critical for synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes. This study investigated the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of NMDA-R ligands using GluN2B as a molecular target. Thirty potential NMDA-R antagonists were categorized into two structural classes: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) amines (series A) and α-amino-2-phenylcyclohexanone derivatives (series B). In series A compounds, the phenyl ring and R1 substituents were positioned at the carbon center of the cyclohexyl ring, with R2 substituents at the para- or meta-positions of the phenyl ring. SAR analysis revealed optimal binding affinity when R1 was carbonyl (C=O) and R2 was 4-methoxy (4-OMe). Series B compounds featured a cyclohexanone scaffold with NH-R1 at the α-position and a phenyl ring bearing R2 substituents at ortho-, meta-, or para-positions. Maximum binding affinity was achieved with R1 as hydrogen (H) and R2 as hydroxyl (OH). Compounds were assessed for GluN2B-mediated ERK activation to evaluate potential metabotropic signaling properties. Approximately 50% of the compounds demonstrated ERK activation through a non-ionotropic signaling cascade involving Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and protein kinase C. This study elucidated key structural determinants for NMDA-R binding and characterized a novel metabotropic signaling pathway. Notably, our findings suggest that compounds acting as antagonists at the ionotropic site may simultaneously function as agonists through non-ionotropic mechanisms.
6.Structure-Activity Relationship of NMDA Receptor Ligands and Their Activities on the ERK Activation through Metabotropic Signaling Pathway
Dooti KUNDU ; Mengling WANG ; Suresh PAUDEL ; Shujie WANG ; Choon-Gon JANG ; Kyeong-Man KIM
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):278-285
The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA-R) subunit GluN2B is abundantly expressed in brain regions critical for synaptic plasticity and cognitive processes. This study investigated the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of NMDA-R ligands using GluN2B as a molecular target. Thirty potential NMDA-R antagonists were categorized into two structural classes: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) amines (series A) and α-amino-2-phenylcyclohexanone derivatives (series B). In series A compounds, the phenyl ring and R1 substituents were positioned at the carbon center of the cyclohexyl ring, with R2 substituents at the para- or meta-positions of the phenyl ring. SAR analysis revealed optimal binding affinity when R1 was carbonyl (C=O) and R2 was 4-methoxy (4-OMe). Series B compounds featured a cyclohexanone scaffold with NH-R1 at the α-position and a phenyl ring bearing R2 substituents at ortho-, meta-, or para-positions. Maximum binding affinity was achieved with R1 as hydrogen (H) and R2 as hydroxyl (OH). Compounds were assessed for GluN2B-mediated ERK activation to evaluate potential metabotropic signaling properties. Approximately 50% of the compounds demonstrated ERK activation through a non-ionotropic signaling cascade involving Src, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and protein kinase C. This study elucidated key structural determinants for NMDA-R binding and characterized a novel metabotropic signaling pathway. Notably, our findings suggest that compounds acting as antagonists at the ionotropic site may simultaneously function as agonists through non-ionotropic mechanisms.
7.Investigation and multivariate analysis of humanistic care experience among patients visiting traditional Chinese medicine outpatient clinics
Hongxia WANG ; Xu CHE ; Haiying CAO ; Haixin ZHANG ; Shujie GUO ; Yilan LIU ; Heng ZHANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(11):1498-1509
ObjectiveTo explore the current situation and influencing factors of humanistic care experience among patients visiting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outpatient clinics in China, and to provide a basis for optimizing TCM-characterized services in both TCM and Western medicine hospitals. MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to select 35 hospitals across 13 provinces in China (including 3 TCM hospitals and 32 TCM outpatient clinics in general hospitals). A total of 3,430 patients were surveyed using the general information questionnaire and the Outpatient Humanistic Care Experience Questionnaire, with data collected via Questionnaire Star. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were employed to examine the impacts of patient characteristics, visit characteristics, hospital type (TCM hospital/general hospital), and geographic region (eastern/central/western) on humanistic care experience. ResultsThe total score of humanistic care experience was 194 (188, 233). Univariate analysis showed that gender, educational level, current residence, per capita monthly household income, location attribute of medical institutions, number of previous visits to this hospital, payment method of medical expenses, previous hospitalization history in this hospital, frequency of outpatient visits within the past 12 months, self-rated disease severity, familiarity with the outpatient procedures, implementation of the follow-up service provided by the hospital, satisfaction with follow-up services, the grade of the hospital visited, geographical region of the hospital visited, and the department visited had an impact on the humanistic care experience during outpatient visits (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that educational level (β=0.609, P=0.011), self-rated disease severity (β=-0.646, P=0.047), familiarity with outpatient procedures (β=4.784, P<0.001), satisfaction with follow-up services (β=6.365, P<0.001), and the grade of the hospital visited (β=-5.487, P<0.001) affected the humanistic care experience in outpatient medical treatment, explaining 24.4% of the total variation. ConclusionHumanistic care experience in TCM outpatient clinics is influenced by multiple factors. It is recommended to optimize the medical treatment process, strengthen doctor-patient communication training, and establish a precise follow-up mechanism, with a focus on improving care perceptions among patients with lower education levels and those attending primary-level hospitals, to refine the TCM-characterized service system.
8.Molecular analysis of the new allele 803delC of subtype B
Liping WANG ; Xiaomei YU ; Shujie LI ; Xi LI ; Baojun JI ; Xinju LI ; Futing SUN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(3):344-347
【Objective】 To analyze the serological characteristics and molecular mechanism of a novel B subtype allele 803delC. 【Methods】 ABO blood group was detected by serological method. Sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP) was used to detect ABO blood group genes. The coding region of exon 1-7 of ABO gene was detected by Sanger sequencing to determine the mutation site. 【Results】 Serological identification of patients was with forward O-type and reverse B-type. The result of PCR-SSP genotyping was A/O. There was A gene, which was not consistent with serological results. Further Sanger double-strand sequencing revealed that the C-base was deleted at position 803 of exon 7 on the basis of ABO*B. 01/ABO*O. 01.01. The mutation eventually leads to the amino acid substitution of p. Ala268Gly and p. Phe269Ser and the production of new open reading frame starting at position 269, with the new open reading frame No.20 amino acid being stop codon, resulted in the termination of B gene expression. Further single-strand sequencing of the ABO gene revealed that the mutation was located in the ABO*B. 01 gene. The mutation was submitted to the NCBI database with the number OR343908. 【Conclusion】 A new ABO allele leading to B variant has been found in Chinese population. Genetic detection can be used to identify the ambiguous blood group with discrepancy between forward and reverse blood grouping.
9.Changes and predictive value of serum Omentin-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes under different bone metabolic states
Zonghu LI ; Mingming ZHU ; Xianling ZHENG ; Yingxia WANG ; Shujie ZHANG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;45(4):410-415
Objective To investigate the changes and predictive value of Omentin-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)under different bone metabolic status.Methods A total of 120 T2DM pa-tients admitted to a hospital from June 2021 to December 2022 were selected and divided into group A(normal bone mass,T-value-1.0,36 cases),Group B(bone loss,-2.5<T-value<-1.0,49 cases)and group C(osteoporosis,T-value-2.5,35 cases)according to different bone mineral density.Another 50 healthy sub-jects who underwent physical examination in a hospital during the same period were selected as the healthy control group.Basic data,serum Omentin-1 and bone metabolism levels of the 4 groups were compared,and the correlation between serum Omentin-1 and bone metabolism and blood glucose levels was analyzed by Pear-son correlation analysis.Multiple stepwise regression analysis was conducted to analyze the factors affecting bone mineral density in T2DM patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of serum Omentin-1 level in T2DM with osteoporosis.Results The fasting blood glucose(FBG)level of groups A,B and C was higher than that of healthy control group,and the hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c)and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)of healthy control group,group A and group B were lower than that of group C,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Omentin-1,type Ⅰ procollagen N-terminal propeptide(P Ⅰ NP)and osteocalcin(BGP)in healthy control group,group A and group B were higher than those in group C,while the β-CTX sequence of type Ⅰ collagen in healthy con-trol group,group A and group B was lower than that in group C,and the difference was statistically signifi-cant(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the serum Omentin-1 level in T2DM patients was negatively correlated with the levels of HbA1c,HOMA-IR and β-CTX(r=-0.770,-0.807,-0.759,P<0.05),and positively correlated with the levels of P Ⅰ NP and BGP(r=0.868,0.879,P<0.05),but no sig-nificant correlation with FBG level(r=-0.085,P=0.152).Omentin-1,P Ⅰ NP,β-CTX,BGP,HbA1c and HOMA-IR were independent influencing factors of BMD in T2DM patients(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum Omentin-1 level predicting T2DM with osteoporosis was 0.835(95%CI:0.764-0.906),and when the cut-off value was 50.325 ng/mL,the sensitivity was 0.854,the speci-ficity was 0.801,and the Youden index was 0.655.Conclusion Serum Omentin-1 expression is low in T2DM patients,and its expression is closely related to bone mineral density,bone metabolism and insulin resistance in T2DM patients,and can effectively predict the occurrence of T2DM with osteoporosis.
10.Current research on driving fatigue induced by special vehicles
Wenjia LIU ; Xiaofeng LIU ; Bo WANG ; Shujie CUI
Military Medical Sciences 2024;48(2):154-157
Fatigue-related traffic accidents and fatalities have been extensively studied by scholars globally.Specialized vehicles,due to their unique mission profiles,are more likely to cause driving-related fatigue and serious consequences.This paper reviews the current research of fatigue driving by using an inductive analysis method to summarize the mechanisms,risk factors,and monitoring methods.This paper also offers a vision of priorities and methodologies for research in the future.It is recommended that the mechanisms of driving fatigue be explored at the molecular biological level and that fatigue monitoring systems be made more feasible via the combined application of non-intrusive monitoring in order to reduce the toll on life and property taken by driving fatigue.

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