1.Influenza A virus infection activates TLR3-mediated necroptosis
Weijie LI ; Congying HUANG ; Ziling ZENG ; Xiang LI ; Jia XU ; Tian GONG ; Hao ZHANG ; Xinyan ZHANG ; Ping WANG ; Yuanjia HU ; Haiyu XU ; Lijuan SONG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):40-49
Background: Influenza A virus (IAV) is a negative-sense RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family and is the etiological agent of a highly contagious acute respiratory disease that can lead to acute lung injury. Objective: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of IAV infection, an integrative research approach combining gene expression profiling, multinetwork analysis, and in vivo experimental validations was employed. Methods: First, a series of network-based analyses were performed, including protein-protein interaction network construction, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and subsequent gene set enrichment analysis, to identify the major underlying mechanisms of IAV infection. Following gene expression analysis, core targets, both direct and indirect regulators, were screened. An IAV (H1N1) strain A/PR/8/34-induced acute lung injury mouse model was constructed for in vivo validations. Batch one included two groups to evaluate findings from the multi-network analysis: Mock (n = 10; 5 males and 5 females) and IAV (n = 10; 5 males and 5 females). Batch two included three groups to assess the role of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in IAV infection: Mock (n = 6; 3 males and 3 females), IAV (n = 6; 3 males and 3 females), and TLR3 inhibitor (n = 6; 3 males and 3 females). Body weight was measured on days 0, 3, and 5 after infection. On day 5, lung tissues were collected to assess viral load and histopathological changes. Key targets were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining, both in sera and lung tissues. Results: IAV infection was significantly associated with dysregulation of the immune-inflammation system, such as the LTR, nucle-otide-binding oligomerization domain-(NOD) like receptor, retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor, and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathways. Gene set enrichment analysis further indicated that the TLR and necroptosis signaling pathways played crucial roles in the progression of IAV infection (TLR signaling pathway normalized enrichment score = 2.3941, P = 1.00 × 10 −10; necroptosis normalized enrichment score = 1.9421, P = 6.21 × 10 −7). Among the core targets, TLR3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) may regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level (all P < 0.05). In vivo validation using an IAV (PR8) infected acute lung injury mouse model demonstrated increased viral load and lung index, alveolar structural damage, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunofluorescence staining exhibited large gaps in Lamin B1 staining and breaches in Emerin signals following IAV-PR8 infection. Expression levels of TLR3, p-receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/RIPK3, and p-mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL)/MLKL proteins in lung tissues, as well as proinflammatory factors and mediators in sera, were significantly elevated after IAV infection. Moreover, enhanced neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase) and citrullinated histone H3 (a neutrophil extracellular trap-specific marker), both established indicators of neutrophil extracellular trap formation, were observed. Notably, treatment with a TLR3 inhibitor significantly ameliorated IAV-induced acute lung injury by regulating necroptosis-related targets. Conclusion: Our study provides network-based in vivo evidence that TLR3-receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3-MLKL-mediated necroptosis may underlie IAV-induced acute lung injury and could serve as a potential therapeutic target in severe influenza cases.
2.Survey of post-discharge exercise behavior and analysis of factors influencing exercise intensity in patients undergoing lung surgery
Hongyu ZENG ; Xiang WANG ; Tian ZHANG ; Yaqin WANG ; Xing WEI ; Zhen DAI ; Liping ZHANG ; Xiaoqin LIU ; Qiang LI ; Qiuling SHI ; Wei DAI ; Jia LIAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):734-742
Objective To investigate the post-discharge exercise behavior and factors influencing moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in patients undergoing lung surgery. Methods A total of 2874 patients from the large prospective, observational perioperative lung symptom study cohort (CN-PRO-Lung 3) in the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Sichuan Cancer Hospital between April 7, 2021, and January 31, 2024, were selected as the survey subjects. A survey was conducted using the Investigation of Exercise Behavior after Lung Surgery questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) among patients who underwent lung surgery. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors influencing patients’ engagement in MVPA. Results A total of 702 patients were surveyed, including 252 males and 450 females, with an average age of (52.4±10.2) years. Patients with lung cancer accounted for 85.9%. Only 36.0% of the patients had regular exercise habits, while 42.3% did not engage in any physical activity. The three main barriers for postoperative exercise were physical discomfort (pain, coughing, shortness of breath, etc, 54.7%), lack of professional guidance (41.7%), and concerns about the surgical wound (28.9%). The proportions of patients engaging in vigorous, moderate, and low-intensity physical activity were 5.7%, 28.2%, and 66.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with a personal annual income ≥50000 yuan (OR=1.52, 95%CI 1.01-2.29, P=0.044), high school education or above (OR=1.92, 95%CI 1.33-2.76, P<0.001), and lobectomy (OR=1.44, 95%CI 1.02-2.03, P=0.037) engaged in more MVPA. Conclusion Patients undergoing lung surgery have inadequate physical activity after discharge, particularly lacking in MVPA. Patients with higher income, higher educational levels, and lobectomy are more frequently engaged in MVPA. Measures such as symptom control, providing exercise guidance, and enhancing education on wound care may potentially improve the inadequate physical activity in lung surgery patients after discharge.
3.Mediating effect of frailty on social isolation and cognitive function among the elderly
JIANG Meiting ; YANG Wenfei ; ZHANG Xiang ; CAI Xin ; GUAN Aijun ; ZENG Dongyang
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):17-20
Objective:
To examine the mediating effect of frailty on social isolation and cognitive function among the elderly.
Methods:
Demographic information, smoking, alcohol consumption and cognitive function of the elderly at ages of 60 years and older were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study 2020. Social isolation and frailty were evaluated using social isolation index and frailty index, respectively. The mediating effect of frailty on social isolation and cognitive function was analyzed using the Process program, and the significance of the mediating role was tested using the Bootstrap test.
Results:
A total of 2 822 individuals were enrolled, including 1 483 males (52.55%) and 1 339 females (47.45%). There were 2 497 (88.48%) and 325 (11.52%) individuals at ages of 60-<75 years and ≥75 years, respectively. The median cognitive function score was 14 (interquartile range, 16) points. There were 432 cases with social isolation (15.31%), with a median social isolation index of 10 (interquartile range, 5) points. The median frailty index was 0.11 (interquartile range, 0.15). There were 1 111 individuals without frailty, accounting for 39.37%; 1 214 individuals with pre-frailty, accounting for 43.02%; and 497 individuals with frailty, accounting for 17.61%. Mediating effect analysis showed that social isolation affected cognitive function directly and negatively with the effect value of -0.773 (95%CI: -0.899 to -0.647), and also affected cognitive function by frailty indirectly and negatively with the effect value of -0.147 (95%CI: -0.188 to -0.110), with the mediating effect contributed 15.98% of the total effect.
Conclusion
Frailty can directly or indirectly affect cognitive function among elderly through social isolation.
4.Application of serological methods combined with flow cytometry in the detection of immune hemolytic transfusion reaction
Lei LIU ; Qunjuan ZENG ; Guoqin GONG ; Dong XIANG ; Zhongying WANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(1):116-121
[Objective] To explore the effects of different methods on antibody detection through investigating the causes of cross-matching incompatible in a patient with gastric malignant tumor, and to establish flow cytometry protocol for confirming hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR). [Methods] Antibodies in the patient's serum were identified by red blood cells (RBCs) blood grouping, antibody screening and identification, acid elution test and PEG enhancement test. To confirm HTR, patient RBCs, proximal and distal ends RBCs, separated by capillary centrifugation, were tested by direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and Jka antigen single label and double label flow cytometry. [Results] Routine serological technology revealed the presence of anti-C, e (titer:2) and anti-Jka (titer >1) in the patient’s serum. After separation using capillary centrifugation technology, both the proximal and distal DAT and Jka antigen tests were negative. Both DAT and Jka antigen positive red blood cells (0.21%, 6/6 327) were found in the patient's blood samples by flow cytometry. After separation of blood samples by capillary centrifugation, there were significantly more DAT and Jka antigen double-positive RBCs in the distal end (0.43%, 33/7 707) than in the proximal end (0.09%, 15/7 225). Two blood samples were screened from over 100 donor blood samples that are compatible with the patient's cross-matching, and the transfusion effect was favorable. [Conclusion] Serological methods combined with flow cytometry could improve the sensitivity of antibody detection, provide a more accurate basis for the diagnosis of HTRs, and guarantee the safety of blood transfusion.
5.Recognition of breath odor map of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome elements based on electronic nose combined with machine learning: An observational study in a single center
Shiyan TAN ; Qiong ZENG ; Hongxia XIANG ; Qian WANG ; Xi FU ; Jiawei HE ; Liting YOU ; Qiong MA ; Fengming YOU ; Yifeng REN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(02):185-193
Objective To explore the recognition capabilities of electronic nose combined with machine learning in identifying the breath odor map of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome elements. Methods The study design was a single-center observational study. General data and four diagnostic information were collected from 108 patients with pulmonary nodules admitted to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from April 2023 to March 2024. The patients' TCM disease location and nature distribution characteristics were analyzed using the syndrome differentiation method. The Cyranose 320 electronic nose was used to collect the odor profiles of oral exhalation, and five machine learning algorithms including random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were employed to identify the exhaled breath profiles of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules and different TCM syndromes. Results (1) The common disease locations in pulmonary nodules were ranked in descending order as liver, lung, and kidney; the common disease natures were ranked in descending order as Yin deficiency, phlegm, dampness, Qi stagnation, and blood deficiency. (2) The electronic nose combined with the RF algorithm had the best efficacy in identifying the exhaled breath profiles of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, with an AUC of 0.91, accuracy of 86.36%, specificity of 75.00%, and sensitivity of 92.85%. (3) The electronic nose combined with RF, LR, or XGBoost algorithms could effectively identify the different TCM disease locations and natures of pulmonary nodules, with classification accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity generally exceeding 80.00%.Conclusion Electronic nose combined with machine learning not only has the potential capabilities to differentiate the benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, but also provides new technologies and methods for the objective diagnosis of TCM syndromes in pulmonary nodules.
6.Percutaneous coronary intervention vs . medical therapy in patients on dialysis with coronary artery disease in China.
Enmin XIE ; Yaxin WU ; Zixiang YE ; Yong HE ; Hesong ZENG ; Jianfang LUO ; Mulei CHEN ; Wenyue PANG ; Yanmin XU ; Chuanyu GAO ; Xiaogang GUO ; Lin CAI ; Qingwei JI ; Yining YANG ; Di WU ; Yiqiang YUAN ; Jing WAN ; Yuliang MA ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhimin DU ; Qing YANG ; Jinsong CHENG ; Chunhua DING ; Xiang MA ; Chunlin YIN ; Zeyuan FAN ; Qiang TANG ; Yue LI ; Lihua SUN ; Chengzhi LU ; Jufang CHI ; Zhuhua YAO ; Yanxiang GAO ; Changan YU ; Jingyi REN ; Jingang ZHENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(3):301-310
BACKGROUND:
The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China.
METHODS:
This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences.
RESULTS:
Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses.
CONCLUSION
This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans
;
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Renal Dialysis/methods*
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
China
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Treatment Outcome
7.Comparison of the efficacy of heat and acid elution methods for IgG anti-M and anti-Ku
Qunjuan ZENG ; Huaiying KANG ; Dong XIANG ; Wei SHEN ; Chengrui QIAN ; Zhongying WANG ; Guoqin GONG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(7):964-968
Objective: To compare the efficacy of heat and acid elution methods for IgG anti-M and anti-Ku. Methods: Ten samples with IgG anti-M and two samples with IgG anti-Ku were selected and standardized to a titer of 64. These antibodies underwent overnight absorption at 4℃ with O-type MM and kk-type erythrocytes, and then heat and acid elution methods were used on the absorbed sensitized erythrocytes respectively by detecting the titer of anti-M and anti-Ku in the eluate to compare the differences in the elution efficiency of IgG anti-M and anti-Ku between the two elution methods. Results: In heat elution tests, all 10 anti-M samples showed positive results with titers ranging from 8 to 64, while 2 anti-Ku samples yielded negative results. In acid elution tests, all 10 anti-M samples demonstrated negative results, whereas both anti-Ku (n=2) samples exhibited positive reactions with consistent titers of 32. Following acid elution with subsequent heat elution, 8 of 10 anti-M samples showed positive results with titers ranging from 8 to 32, while 2 remained negative. Both anti-Ku samples demonstrated positive with titers of 4. Conclusion: Heat elution demonstrated superior efficiency for IgG anti-M compared to acid elution, whereas acid elution showed greater efficacy for IgG anti-Ku than heat elution.
8.Comparison of the efficacy of heat and acid elution methods for IgG anti-M and anti-Ku
Qunjuan ZENG ; Huaiying KANG ; Dong XIANG ; Wei SHEN ; Chengrui QIAN ; Zhongying WANG ; Guoqin GONG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(7):964-968
Objective: To compare the efficacy of heat and acid elution methods for IgG anti-M and anti-Ku. Methods: Ten samples with IgG anti-M and two samples with IgG anti-Ku were selected and standardized to a titer of 64. These antibodies underwent overnight absorption at 4℃ with O-type MM and kk-type erythrocytes, and then heat and acid elution methods were used on the absorbed sensitized erythrocytes respectively by detecting the titer of anti-M and anti-Ku in the eluate to compare the differences in the elution efficiency of IgG anti-M and anti-Ku between the two elution methods. Results: In heat elution tests, all 10 anti-M samples showed positive results with titers ranging from 8 to 64, while 2 anti-Ku samples yielded negative results. In acid elution tests, all 10 anti-M samples demonstrated negative results, whereas both anti-Ku (n=2) samples exhibited positive reactions with consistent titers of 32. Following acid elution with subsequent heat elution, 8 of 10 anti-M samples showed positive results with titers ranging from 8 to 32, while 2 remained negative. Both anti-Ku samples demonstrated positive with titers of 4. Conclusion: Heat elution demonstrated superior efficiency for IgG anti-M compared to acid elution, whereas acid elution showed greater efficacy for IgG anti-Ku than heat elution.
9.Association of vaccine knowledge and vaccine literacy with vaccine hesitancy among parents of preschool children
DONG Shuwen, WU Yuqian, ZHU Liwan, ZENG Yuexian, XIANG Xinrong, GAN Jianzhe, REN Li
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(11):1580-1583
Objective:
To investigate the mediating role of vaccine literacy between vaccine knowledge and vaccine hesitancy and the moderating role of parental education level, so as to provide references for adjusting vaccination strategies.
Methods:
From May to December 2024, a stratified random sampling method was used to select 10 community hospitals in Guiyang and Zunyi City, Guizhou Province. A total of 1 401 parents of children aged 0-6 years were surveyed regarding their socio demographic characteristics, vaccine knowledge, vaccine literacy, and vaccine hesitancy levels. Data were analyzed using common method bias tests, Spearman correlation analysis, mediation and moderation effects tests.
Results:
The mean score for vaccine knowledge, vaccine literacy and vaccine hesitancy were (2.96±1.11, 14.25±2.64, 39.12±4.93) among the 1 401 participants. Mediating effect analysis showed that both parental vaccine knowledge ( β =1.28, 95% CI =1.08-1.49) and vaccine literacy ( β =0.75, 95% CI =0.66-0.84) positively predicted vaccine hesitancy (both P <0.01). Meanwhile, vaccine literacy accounted for 28.1% of the total effect of mediation between knowledge and vaccine hesitancy. In the moderated effects analysis, education level positively predicted vaccine literacy ( β =0.40, 95% CI =0.24-0.57), and education level moderated the pathway of vaccine knowledge on vaccine hesitancy ( β = 0.28 , 95% CI =0.05-0.52) (both P <0.01).
Conclusions
Vaccine literacy partially mediates the relationship between vaccine knowledge and vaccine hesitancy. Parental education level positively moderates the prediction of vaccine knowledge on vaccine hesitancy score.
10.Mechanism of Pizhan Powder in regulating the Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway to promote wound healing in mice with chronic skin ulcers
Pingxinyi QUE ; Xiang XIAO ; Li ZENG ; Xianbin ZHAO ; Min XIAO ; Songqi TANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):205-215
Objective:
We aimed to explore the mechanism of Pizhan Powder in regulating the Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway to promote wound healing in mice with chronic skin ulcer.
Methods:
Male BALB/c mice were divided into blank, model, Pizhan Powder, Pizhan powder removed bark medications, bark medications, inhibitor, and Pizhan Powder + inhibitor groups using the random number table method, with six mice per group. Except for the blank group, chronic skin ulcer wound models were prepared in the other groups by implanting foreign bodies. The blank control group received no treatment, whereas the wounds of the model group were cleaned with furacilin solution. The Pizhan Powder, Pizhan Powder removed bark medications, and bark medications groups were each administered 0.1 g of the corresponding medication on the skin wounds. The inhibitor group received an intraperitoneal injection of 3-(4-methylphenylsulfonamido) benzoic acid methyl ester (MSAB) at a dosage of 10 mg/kg. The Pizhan Powder + inhibitor group was administered 0.1 g of Pizhan Powder on the skin wound, and an intraperitoneal injection of MSAB was also administered (10 mg/kg). These treatments were administered once a day for 14 consecutive days. Wound healing was observed on the first, third, seventh, and 14th day of treatment; hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of ulcerated skin; keratin 10 (CK10), keratin 14 (CK14), cell proliferation nuclear antigen (Ki-67), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and β-catenin expression in wounds was observed through immunofluorescence; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of signaling pathway-related proteins (Wnt4 and β-catenin).
Results:
Compared to the model group, the Pizhan Powder group showed a reduced wound area and an increased wound healing rate (P<0.05) and elevated CK10, CK14, Ki-67, α-SMA, β-catenin, and Wnt4 protein expressions (P<0.05). Compared to the Pizhan Powder group, the wound healing rate of the bark medications and Pizhan Powder removed bark medications groups was reduced (P<0.05). The wound healing rate and the fluorescence expression of CK10, CK14, Ki-67, and α-SMA in the Pizhan Powder removed bark medications group were lower than that in the bark medications group (P<0.05). Compared to the Pizhan Powder group, the wound healing rate of the Pizhan Powder + inhibitor group was reduced, and CK10, CK14, Ki-67, α-SMA, β-catenin and Wnt4 protein expression were lower (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Pizhan Powder promotes wound healing in chronic skin ulcers of mice by regulating the Wnt4/β-catenin signaling pathway. The bark medications (buffalo hide, white mulberry root-bark, and Chinese wolfberry root-bark) play a crucial role, representing a concrete application of the traditional Chinese medicine theory of " treating skin with skin.


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