1.Construction and Evaluation of Mouse Model of Qi Deficiency and Phlegm Dampness Syndrome
Qichun ZHOU ; Gangxing ZHU ; Yongchun ZOU ; Baoyi LAN ; Zhanyu CUI ; Xi WANG ; Mengfei XU ; Qing TANG ; Sumei WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):138-146
ObjectiveQi deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome is a common type of clinical traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome. However, there is no standard, scientific, and accurate report on the construction of animal models of Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome. This study aims to construct a mouse model of Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome by using a multi-factor composite modeling method and to evaluate the model. MethodsTwenty-one C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups with seven mice in each group, which were the normal group, model group, and Shenling Baizhusan (SLBZ) group. The control group was fed with ordinary diet and kept in a normal environment. The model group and SLBZ group were fed with a high-fat diet in a high-humidity environment. Swimming with heavy weights until exhaustion and gavage with cold water or lard were used to establish the mouse model of Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome. In order to test the syndrome by prescription, mice in the SLBZ group were treated with SLBZ for 14 days after model construction. The exhaustive swimming time, body weight, serum lipid levels, tongue changes, "Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness" assessment scale score, and cecal index of mice in each group were measured. The feces of each group of mice were sent for metagenomics and metabolome sequencing, and the changes in intestinal flora and metabolites were analyzed. ResultsAfter the modeling of Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome, the exhaustive swimming time of mice was obviously shortened (P<0.01). The serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol of mice were significantly increased (all P<0.01). The tongue of mice was significantly different from that of the normal group, and the score of the assessment scale was significantly higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). Cecal index decreased significantly (P<0.01). The serum lipid level, tongue image, assessment scale score, and cecal index were reversed in the SLBZ group. Metagenomic and metabolome sequencing results showed that intestinal flora and fecal metabolites were significantly changed in mice with Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness syndrome. Akkermansia_muciniphila, Faecalibaculum_rodentium, Eubacterium_plexicaudatum, Eubacterium sp 14_2, Candida glabrata, Romboutsia_ilealis, Turicibacter sp TS3, and other bacteria had significant changes, and the expressions of intestinal metabolites such as chenodeoxycholic acid, choline, L-phenylalanine betaine, and 2-phenylbutyric acid were significantly changed. Related metabolic pathways such as linoleic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, lysine degradation, arginine biosynthesis, and alpha-linolenic acid metabolism were affected. ConclusionThe Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness model of mice can be constructed by the multi-factor composite modeling method of high-fat diet feeding, high-humidity environment feeding, exhaustive swimming with heavy weight, and intragastric administration with cold water or lard. The blood lipid level, tongue change, score of "Qi deficiency and phlegm dampness assessment scale", cecal index, and changes in related intestinal flora and metabolites of mice can be used as key indicators for model evaluation.
2.Effects of laminarin on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in C57BL/6 mice based on transcriptomics analysis
Lei Zhang ; Sumei Zhang ; Zhen Yang ; Weikang Hu ; Hongmei Bai ; Wenjing Zhou ; Zihan Wang ; Mingcong Li ; Shengquan Zhang ; Rongfeng Liao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(3):392-398
Objective :
To investigate the effect of laminarin(LAM) on nonproliferative diabetes retinopathy by high throughput sequencing(RNA-seq).
Methods :
The diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ), and the effect of LAM on diabetic mice was observed.C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: Control group, Model group, and LAM group, with 8 mice in each group. After 8 weeks of modeling, the LAM group received a 4-week intraperitoneal injection of LAM treatment. Changes in blood glucose and body weight of the three groups of mice were recorded, HE staining was performed to examine retinal lesions, and RNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs) in diabetic retinopathy(DR) under the action of STZ and LAM.
Results :
STZ successfully established the model of DR, and LAM reduced the blood sugar in diabetic mice to a certain extent and improved the pathological morphology of retinal structural looseness in diabetic mice. After RNA-seq analysis of DEGs, it was found that there were a total of 214 DEGs in the retina of the Model group mice compared to the Control group. Enrichment analysis revealed that DR could exacerbate the lesions through the PI3K Akt signaling pathway. There were a total of 42 DEGs in the retina of the Model group and LAM group mice, and enrichment showed that LAM improved the lesions through the neutrophil extracellular trap pathway. Early growth response factor 1(Egr1), FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene(Fos), nuclear receptor subfamily 4A member 1(Nr4a1), and salt-induced kinase 1(Sik1) were regulated by STZ, and LAM significantly regulated their expression, which might be closely related to LAM′s treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion
DEGs can exacerbate the severity of diabetic retinopathyviathe PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. LAM can mitigate diabetic retinopathyviathe neutrophil extracellular trap pathway. Egr1, Fos, Nr4a1, and Sik1 are key genes involved in LAM treatment of STZ-induced DR.
3.Endoplasmic reticulum stress involved in high-fat induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Weikang Hu ; Wenjing Zhou ; Jun Zhang ; Zhen Yang ; Hongmei Bai ; Zihan Wang ; Yinliang Qi ; Shengquan Zhang ; Sumei Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(6):1086-1090
Objective :
To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the occurrence and development of fatty liver induced by high fat.
Methods :
In the high-fat Drosophila model, the high-fat group was fed with high-fat medium, while the control group was fed with normal medium; in the mouse fatty liver model, the high-fat group was fed with high-fat diet, and the control group was fed with normal diet; in the HepG2 cell steatosis model, the high-fat group was induced by palmitic acid(PA), and the control group was cultured with DMEM. The fat body size of the third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster was photographed. Steatosis in mice liver and HepG2 cells was observed by H&E and Oil Red staining. The expression levels of ATF6, Bip and CHOP in the third instar larvae, liver tissues of mice and HepG2 cells were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) and Western blot.
Results :
In Drosophila model, fat body and fat storage were obviously increased in high fat fed flies when compared with control group. The formation of liver fat droplets and cells vacuolation were confirmed by H&E and Oil Red staining in mice livers fed with high fat and HepG2 cells with palmitic acid treatment. The expression levels of ATF6, Bip and CHOP were significantly increased in third instar larvae and mice livers fed with high fat and palmitic acid treated HepG2 cells with palmitic acid treatment.
Conclusion
High fat may induce the occurrence and development of hepatic steatosis by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress.
4.Effects of LSS function deficiency on intestinal function in NAFLD model mice
Hongmei Bai ; Zhen Yang ; Weikang Hu ; Zihan Wang ; Wenjing Zhou ; Qingya He ; Jian Zhong ; Mingcong Li ; Li Liu ; Chaoyang Zhang ; Sumei Zhang ; Shengquan Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(9):1653-1660
Objective:
To investigate the effect of loss of function of lanosterol synthase( LSS) gene on intestinal function in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease( NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet.
Methods:
LSS gene heterozygous knockout C57 mice ( LSS + / -) were established using the CRISRP / Cas9 system.After being fed a high-fat diet with 60% fat content for 6 months,the fat deposition in liver tissues was detected by HE and Oil red O staining,the morphological changes of small intestine tissue were detected by HE staining.The changes in total cholesterol content in intestinal tissue were detected by kits.The gastrointestinal motility function of mice was detected by phenol red paste.The intestinal permeability was detected by Evans blue staining,and the expression of LSS,tight junction protein ( Claudin) -1,Claudin-5,cluster of differentiation 36 ( CD36) ,and Niemann-Pick type C1-like 1 protein ( NPC1L1) proteins in small intestinal tissues were detected by Western blot.
Results :
The results of HE and Oil red O staining of liver tissues showed that liver fat deposition in LSS gene heterozygous knockout mice was lower than that in wild-type mice in the high-fat diet group.The total cholesterol content in intestinal tis- sue of LSS gene heterozygous knockout mice decreased ( P <0. 01) ,but no morphological differences were ob- served between the two groups of mice by HE staining of intestinal tissues.The gastrointestinal motility function of LSS gene heterozygous knockout mice did not show significant changes.The intestinal permeability of LSS gene het- erozygous knockout mice in the high-fat diet group decreased as detected by Evans blue ( P<0. 05) .The expres- sion levels of Claudin-5 protein in the intestinal tissue of LSS gene heterozygous knockout mice in the high-fat diet group increased ( P <0. 05 ) ,while the expression of LSS protein in the intestinal tissues of LSS heterozygous knockout mice decreased ( P <0. 05) .
Conclusion
In the NAFLD model induced by a high-fat diet,LSS gene heterozygous knockout reduces liver fat deposition induced by a high-fat diet and improves intestinal barrier function by regulating cholesterol metabolism in intestinal tissues and up-regulating the expression of Claudin-5.
5.Pharmacological Research Progress for Anti-tumor Effect of Kaempferol
Zhiming ZHU ; Juanjuan WANG ; Sumei WANG ; Qichun ZHOU
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 2024;35(3):445-452
Kaempferol,a natural flavonoid compound,can be extracted from various traditional Chinese medicine,fruits and vegetables.It possesses effective physiological activity,low toxicity and low side effects.It has been revealed by the research results that kaempferol exhibits obvious preventive and inhibitory effects on many common cancers,such as colon cancer,breast cancer,leukemia,etc..The anti-tumor effects are mainly exerted by blocking cell cycle,inhibiting invasion and migration,inducing cell apoptosis and autophagy,and inhibiting aerobic glycolysis of tumors.Meanwhile,the combination of kaempferol and many drugs can produce synergistic anti-tumor and sensitizing effects.The nano-preparation of kaempferol has significant curative effect in the treatment of tumor,which indicates that kaempferol has a good clinical application prospect.In this work,the pharmacological research progress for anti-tumor effect of kaempferol in recent years was reviewed.This article aims to provide theoretical basis and research ideas for further research of kaempferol.
6.Radioactivity levels in foods during 2013 to 2020 around Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant and study on internal doses to the public
Erwei SHI ; Yong CUI ; Shuang YAO ; Di LI ; Guixia ZHOU ; Sumei SUN
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2021;41(10):741-745
Objective:To evaluate the impacts of radioactivity in foods since begining of the operation of the Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant (HNPP).Methods:The levels of radioactivity in foods collected within 30 km of HNPP from 2013 to 2020 were analyzed by comparison of the control samples and those collected before the operation. The impacts on the operation of the HNPP on foods were evaluated.Results:The man-made radionuclides such as 131I, 134Cs, 60Co, 58Co, 110Ag m were not found in food samples. The nautral radionuclides such as 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K were at the normal levels, with the average levels of (0.088±0.053), (0.155±0.178), (0.314±0.388)and(81.3±18.1)Bq/kg(fresh weight)in foods, respectively. The average levels of man-made nuclide 137Cs in foods were (0.013±0.010) Bq/kg (fresh weight). There was no increase in radionuclide levels compared with the control samples and the samples before the operation. Conclusions:The impacts on foods due to the operation of HNPP was not found.
7.Investigation on food radioactivity levels in areas around Xudabao nuclear power plant before operation
Erwei SHI ; Yong CUI ; Shuang YAO ; Di LI ; Guixia ZHOU ; Sumei SUN
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2021;30(5):551-554
Objective To investigate the food radioactivity levels in areas around the Xudabao nuclear plant before operation. Methods The food radioactivity levels were achieved by detecting samples collected within 30 km around the Xudabao nuclear power plant with a HPGe detector. Results The major radionuclides in food were 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and the man-made radionuclide of 137Cs. The average activity levels of natural 238U、226Ra、232Th、40K were(1.2 × 10−11 ± 2.6 × 10−11)、(9.2 × 10−12 ± 1.6 × 10−11)、(3.6 × 10−11 ± 6.5 × 10−12)、(9.0 × 101 ± 5.8 × 101)Bq/kg respectively. The average level of 137Cs in food was (1.2 × 10−12 ± 9.0 × 10−13)Bq/kg. Conclusion The man-made radionuclides were not detected except 137Cs in the collected food. The radioactivity concentrations were lower than the national standards. The effective dose for local residents by ingestion of 137Cs was around 6.0 × 10−12 µSv/a.
8.On the application of internet-based formative evaluation in the teaching of paediatric nursing
Na XU ; Xiaolan ZHOU ; Fei LI ; Li MENG ; Sumei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2019;18(8):860-864
Objective To discuss the effect of applying internet-based formative evaluation in paediatric nursing teaching. Methods Three nursing classes from grade 2015 were selected as research subjects, and determined randomly as test group, control group 1 and control group 2. Internet-based formative evaluation was used in the test group, while control group 1 used traditional test papers, and control group 2 skipped formative evaluation. Results Analysis of the results and the total scores of the final examination showed no significant difference between the test group and the control group 1 (P>0.05), but the scores of both groups were significantly higher than that of the control group 2 (P<0.05). The scores of the students' evaluation to teachers in test group was better than that in control group 1 and control group 2, and the differences between the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The average time of exams in the test group was shorter than that of control group 1, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The cost of the test group was 0 yuan, while the cost of the control group1 was 638 yuan. Conclusion Although there is no significant difference in the teaching effect between the internet-based formative evaluation and traditional test papers , internet-based tests can significantly improve the students' interest in learning, increase the efficiency of teaching and learning, and improve the teaching quality . The internet-based formative evaluation can be widely used in nursing teaching.
9.Cohort study of association between caesarean section and pubertal development in boys and girls
SHAN Jie, ZHOU Sumei, FANG Jiao, DUAN Xiaonan, TAO Fangbiao, SUN Ying
Chinese Journal of School Health 2019;40(5):658-661
Objective:
To examine the prospective effect of cesarean section on pubertal development after controlling the polygenic susceptibility for early puberty in boys and girls,and to provide a reference for choosing a delivervary way beneficial to pubertal development.
Methods:
Cluster sampling method was used to select 997 students of grade 1 to 3 from 2 priwary schools in Bengbu of Anhui in 2016 to establish the puberty development cohort. Delivery mode,birth weight,gestational age,early teeding way,family income and parental educational background were derived from parental questionnaire. Breast Tanner stage and testicular volume of 997 children were annually assessed. The polygenic risk score (PRS) was computed based on 17 SNPs derived from published genome-wide association studies for early pubertal timing. Kaplan-Meier analyses was used to examine associations between cesarean section with pubertal development in boys and girls.
Results:
The average age of 997 children was 8.01±0.84 years old, and average BMI was (17.96±2.96) kg/m2. The prevalence of cesarean section for boys and girls was 43.30% and 32.47%, respectively. At baseline, the detection of thelarche in girls delivered by cesarean section (39.89%) was higher than that of girls delivered naturally (4.39%) (χ2=118.65, P<0.01). Similar result was observed during the last follow-up, the detection of thelarche in girls born by cesarean section (95.21%) was higher than girls born vaginally (68.48%), respectively (χ2=51.42, P<0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors (age, BMI, birthweight, infancy feeding, gestational age, household monthly income and parental education), girls delivered by cesarean section had maturation at significantly younger than girls who delivered naturally (Hazard Ratio, HR=1.98,95%CI=1.67-2.34,P<0.01).
Conclusion
Caesarean section might increase the risk of earlier age at pubertal onset in a sex-specific manner. Whether natural delivery could be one of the protective measures to prevent early pubertal timing in children warrants further investigation.
10.A 2-Year Follow-up Study of Residual Hearing after Cochlear Implantation
Sumei QIU ; Lin LIN ; Ping ZHOU ; Xiaobing LAN ; Minghui ZHENG ; Huijuan CHEN
Journal of Audiology and Speech Pathology 2013;(5):523-525
Objective To investigate the effects of cochlear implantation on residual hearing and to evaluate the potential impact of long -term electrical stimulations on residual hearing .Methods 58 hearing impaired children with cochlear implants were included in this study .All subjects could cooperate with behavioral audiometry .Audio-metric evaluations were carried out pre -implantation and 3 ,12 ,24 months post -implantation respectively .Of 58 subjects ,43 were followed up more than 1 year and 17 were followed up more than 2 years .Results All 58 subjects showed significant differences (P<0 .05) between pre- and 3 months post-implantation of residual hearing at the individual frequencies of 0 .25 ,0 .5 ,1 ,2 and 4 kHz .43 subjects followed up more than 1 year showed statistic differences (P<0 .05) between pre- and 3 months post -implantation ,pre- and 12 months post-implantation at 0 .25 ,0 .5 ,1 ,2 and 4 kHz respectively .Comparing 3 months with 12 months post -implantation ,there were sta-tistic differences at 0 .25 and 0 .5 kHz ,while no significant difference (P>0 .05) at 1 ,2 and 4 kHz .Of 17 subjects followed up more than 2 years ,there were significant differences (P<0 .05) between pre- and various return visits post-implantation .Post-implantation return visits ,there were significant differences between 3 months and 12 , 24 months at 0 .25 and 0 .5 kHz respectively ,not any significant differences on 1 ,2 and 4 kHz .There were no sig-nificant differences on each frequency between 12 months and 24 months post- implantation .Conclusion Residual hearing after cochlear implantation could decrease to some extent for various reasons .There were significant differ-ences between 3 and 12 months post-implantation at 0 .25 and 0 .5 kHz .Not any significant differences were ob-served between 12 months and 24 months post-implantation at each frequency .


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