1.Effects and mechanisms of atomization on the transdermal delivery behavior of active ingredients with diverse properties
Yating CHEN ; Ruifang HAN ; Jing SHANG ; Xiang LI ; Bin CU ; Wenting SONG
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2026;57(3):332-340
This study systematically examined the effects of atomization as a transdermal permeation enhancer on the transdermal delivery of active ingredients with different physicochemical properties and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Porcine ear skin served as an in vitro model, and skin permeation experiments were conducted using Franz diffusion cells. Receptor fluids were collected at specific time points, and samples of the stratum corneum and viable epidermis–dermis were separated and prepared. Quantitative and visualization methods, including high-performance liquid chromatography, fluorescence derivatization, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, were used to compare skin retention and transdermal permeation of adenosine (AD), tranexamic acid (TXA), calcein (CAL), and tocopheryl acetate (TA) under atomized and non-atomized conditions. Additionally, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were employed to analyze the mechanism behind the penetration enhancement caused by atomization. The findings showed that atomization increased skin retention within the stratum corneum and viable epidermis–dermis, as well as the transdermal permeation of all four active ingredients to varying degrees. The most significant enhancement was observed for TXA, which has a relatively low molecular weight and moderate lipophilicity, while the enhancement effects for highly hydrophilic AD and highly lipophilic TA were comparatively limited; however, atomization significantly increased the skin retention of TA. TEWL results indicated that skin permeability increased within 4 hours after atomization and largely recovered within 8 hours. ATR-FTIR analysis suggested that atomization may facilitate transdermal delivery by disrupting the lipid order and keratin conformation in the stratum corneum.This study provides theoretical support and experimental references for the advancement of atomization transdermal delivery technology, as well as the design and development of related atomization products.
2.Schwann cells promote peripheral nerve regeneration:retrospect and prospect
Zhenyi FU ; Junhao LI ; Yating ZHANG ; Yunkai HE ; Junyu LIU ; Yunhao WEI ; Jiaxin LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1236-1246
BACKGROUND:Peripheral nerve axon rupture seriously affects patients' physical function and mental health.Microsurgery,nerve autograft,nerve allograft,fibrin glue and catheter technology are the main treatments for peripheral nerve injury,each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages,but the overall treatment effect is not satisfactory.Despite the clinical success of Schwann cells in promoting axonal regeneration,there are still many challenges in the treatment with Schwann cells,such as slow expansion of Schwann cells,immune rejection,and low survival rate of transplanted cells.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the role and mechanism of Schwann cells in promoting the regeneration of peripheral nerve axons,and the difficulties and challenges of Schwann cells in the process of nerve regeneration treatment.METHODS:PubMed,Medline,WanFang,VIP,and CNKI were searched by computer using the search terms of"Schwann cells,synaptic Schwann cell,macrophage,peripheral nerve axon rupture,Wallerian degeneration,Peripheral nerve axon regeneration,Central nervous system repair"in English and Chinese.Literature related to Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation,promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration,and clinical applications was retrieved from database inception to October 2024,and a total of 95 articles were finally included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Schwann cells interact with macrophages,T cells and other cells,to initiate the regeneration process through signaling pathways,including Krox20/C-Jun,NRG-1/ErbB,Notch,MAPK,and PI3K/Akt/mTOR,synthesize and release nerve growth factors,and thus promote regeneration of the peripheral nervous system.Schwann cells have been experimentally demonstrated to have great potential in peripheral nerve repair and are expected to become the key target of therapeutic intervention.However,there are still problems such as difficulties in cell harvest and culture,as well as the occurrence of other diseases during the treatment process.
3.Standardization Challenges in Outcome Evaluation Systems of Animal Experiments and Considerations for Core Outcome Set Construction Strategies
Qingyong ZHENG ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Tengfei LI ; Jianguo XU ; Chen TIAN ; Hui LIU ; Min TIAN ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Yating CUI ; Junfei WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):138-148
Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.
4.Schwann cells promote peripheral nerve regeneration:retrospect and prospect
Zhenyi FU ; Junhao LI ; Yating ZHANG ; Yunkai HE ; Junyu LIU ; Yunhao WEI ; Jiaxin LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1236-1246
BACKGROUND:Peripheral nerve axon rupture seriously affects patients' physical function and mental health.Microsurgery,nerve autograft,nerve allograft,fibrin glue and catheter technology are the main treatments for peripheral nerve injury,each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages,but the overall treatment effect is not satisfactory.Despite the clinical success of Schwann cells in promoting axonal regeneration,there are still many challenges in the treatment with Schwann cells,such as slow expansion of Schwann cells,immune rejection,and low survival rate of transplanted cells.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the role and mechanism of Schwann cells in promoting the regeneration of peripheral nerve axons,and the difficulties and challenges of Schwann cells in the process of nerve regeneration treatment.METHODS:PubMed,Medline,WanFang,VIP,and CNKI were searched by computer using the search terms of"Schwann cells,synaptic Schwann cell,macrophage,peripheral nerve axon rupture,Wallerian degeneration,Peripheral nerve axon regeneration,Central nervous system repair"in English and Chinese.Literature related to Schwann cell proliferation and differentiation,promotion of peripheral nerve regeneration,and clinical applications was retrieved from database inception to October 2024,and a total of 95 articles were finally included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Schwann cells interact with macrophages,T cells and other cells,to initiate the regeneration process through signaling pathways,including Krox20/C-Jun,NRG-1/ErbB,Notch,MAPK,and PI3K/Akt/mTOR,synthesize and release nerve growth factors,and thus promote regeneration of the peripheral nervous system.Schwann cells have been experimentally demonstrated to have great potential in peripheral nerve repair and are expected to become the key target of therapeutic intervention.However,there are still problems such as difficulties in cell harvest and culture,as well as the occurrence of other diseases during the treatment process.
5.Mechanism of artemether in treating diabetic sarcopenia via network pharmacology and animal experiment
Jiaxin LI ; Yuchun CAI ; Xiufen GU ; Yating ZHANG ; Shoupan GAO ; Huili SUN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(6):1032-1044
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of artemether in diabetic sarcopenia(DS)using network pharmacology and animal experiments. MethodsPotential active components and therapeutic targets were screened using artemisinin as the parent compound. The predicted targets were intersected with DS-related targets, followed by construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to identify the key biological processes and signaling pathways. Molecular docking was further used to evaluate the binding affinity between artemether and core targets. The DS mouse model was established using db/db mice, followed by artemether intervention. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, diabetes-related symptoms, body composition, grip strength, serum and skeletal muscle triglyceride levels, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) were assessed. The expression levels of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), Atrogin-1, muscle RING finger protein 1 (MuRF1), acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), and fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) in skeletal muscle were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. In addition, metabolomics was performed to analyze changes in acylcarnitine metabolites in skeletal muscle. ResultsA total of 68 overlapping targets between artemether and diabetic sarcopenia (DS) were identified. The core targets included AKT1, FoxO1, NFKB1, FBXO32, and TRIM63, which were mainly enriched in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, forkhead box O (FoxO) signWaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and insulin resistance-related pathways. Molecular docking analysis showed that artemether exhibited favorable binding affinity with the core targets. Animal experiments demonstrated that artemether reduced fasting blood glucose, ameliorated metabolic symptoms, increased lean mass and grip strength, decreased serum and skeletal muscle triglyceride levels, and increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) in DS mice. In addition, artemether downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of FoxO1, FBXO32/Atrogin-1, TRIM63/MuRF1, ACSS2, CPT2, and FABP3, and improved the disturbance of acylcarnitine metabolism in skeletal muscle. ConclusionArtemether improves metabolic and skeletal muscle phenotypes in DS mice. Its effects may be associated with the amelioration of lipid metabolic disorders and the downregulation of FoxO1 and its downstream ubiquitin-proteasome pathway-related factors Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in skeletal muscle.
6.Analyzing the re-evaluation results for occupational medical examination conclusions in noise-exposed workers
Yang WANG ; Hong XIANG ; Yating LI
China Occupational Medicine 2026;53(1):69-73
Objective To analyze the occupational medical examination (OME) conclusions for noise-exposed workers issued by OME institutions in Shijiazhuang City. Methods A total of 1 111 noise-exposed workers, whose OME reports were issued by 32 OME institutions in Shijiazhuang City from 2022 to 2024, were selected as the study subjects using the convenience sample method. Expert review was conducted to re-evaluate the initial OME conclusions for noise-exposed workers, and reasons for inconsistencies between the initial and reviewed conclusions were analyzed. Results Initial OME conclusions included occupational contraindications, re-examination, other diseases or abnormalities, and no abnormal findings, with 109, 286, 378, and 338 cases, respectively. After expert review, the consistency rate for occupational contraindication conclusions was 91.7%, with two suspected cases of occupational noise-induced deafness (ONID) and seven cases of other diseases or abnormalities identified. For other diseases or abnormalities, the consistency rate was 95.5%, with one cases of suspected ONID and 16 occupational contraindications detected. In terms of no abnormal findings, the consistency rate was 70.4%, with 100 cases reclassified as other diseases or abnormalities. Regarding the 286 re-examination cases, experts identified 72 cases of suspected occupational diseases, 99 cases of occupational contraindications, and 115 cases of other diseases or abnormalities. Conclusion The chief physicians of OME institutions demonstrate insufficient rigor in determining noise-related target diseases, ambiguous understanding of OME conclusions, and inadequate follow-up on cases recommended for re-examination.
7.Identification and molecular biological mechanism study of subtypes caused by ABO*B.01 allele c. 3G>C mutation
Yu ZHANG ; Jie CAI ; Yating LING ; Lu ZHANG ; Meng LI ; Qiang FU ; Chengtao HE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(2):274-279
[Objective] To study on the genotyping of a sample with inconsistent forward and reverse serological tests, and to conduct a pedigree investigation and molecular biological mechanism study. [Methods] The ABO blood group of the proband and his family members were identified using blood group serological method. The ABO gene exon 1-7 of samples of the proband and his family were sequenced by Sanger and single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT). DeepTMHMM was used to predict and analyze the transmembrane region of proteins before and after mutation. [Results] The proband and his mother have the Bw phenotype, while his maternal grandfather has ABw phenotype. The blood group results of forward and reverse typing of other family members were consistent. ABO gene sequencing results showed that there was B new mutation of c.3 G>C in exon 1 of ABO gene in the proband, his mother and grandfather, leading to a shift in translation start site. DeepTMHMM analysis indicated that the shift in the translation start site altered the protein topology. [Conclusion] The c.3G>C mutation in the first exon of the ABO gene leads to a shift in the translation start site, altering the protein topology from an α-transmembrane region to a spherical signaling peptide, reducing enzyme activity and resulting in the Bw serological phenotype.
8.PCSK9 promotes mitochondrial dysfunction to accelerate the process of abdominal aortic aneurysm
Man LI ; Yanyu CHEN ; Mengdie XIA ; Qian XU ; Yating ZHOU ; Huayu ZHANG ; Lushan LIU ; Zhihan TANG ; Juan PENG
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(3):209-218
Aim To explore the impact and mechanism of proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin 9(PCSK9)on the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA).Methods 6~8 week old ApoE-/-mice were selected to estab-lish the AAA model.Angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)was continuously infused through subcutaneous implantation of a micro-os-motic pump.The mice were fed with high-fat diet and killed after 28 days.The expression of PCSK9 in abdominal aor-tic smooth muscle cells was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence in normal abdominal aortic blood vessels and AAA samples in human and mice.Primary cultured murine vascular smooth muscle cells(mVSMC)of C57BL/6 mice were treated with different concentrations of AngⅡ for 24 h,and the expression of PCSK9 mRNA and pro-tein was detected.PCSK9 overexpression and knockdown cell models were established,and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS),mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP),mitochondrial permeability transition pore(MPTP)open-ing,and Z-DNA binding protein 1(ZBP1)protein expression were detected.Bioinformatics was used to analyze the dif-ferential expression of multiple single-cell sequencing datasets to obtain the key differentially expressed genes,and to study their expression and role in AAA.Results Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed that PCSK9 expression in human and mouse AAA increased(P<0.01),and co-localized with smooth muscle.Ang Ⅱ promoted PCSK9 expression in mVSMC in a concentration-dependent manner,the 2.0 μmol/L Ang Ⅱ group showed a 2.9-fold and 1.1-fold increase in the expression of PCSK9 mRNA and protein,respectively(P<0.01),with the most significant effect observed.After successfully constructing PCSK9 overexpression and PCSK9 interference mVSMC models,PCSK9 overex-pression led to an increase in intracellular mtROS,a decrease in MMP,an increase in MPTP opening,and a decrease in cellular activity(P<0.01);PCSK9 knockdown could reduce Ang Ⅱ induced increase in mtROS,decrease in MMP and MPTP opening;compared with the siNC+Ang Ⅱ group,the siPCSK9+Ang Ⅱ group showed a decrease in mtROS and an in-crease in the fluorescence brightness of MMP and MPTP(P<0.05).Bioinformatics analysis revealed that ZBP1 was a core differentially expressed gene in AAA.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence results showed that ZBP1 ex-pression in human and mouse AAA tissues increased,and co-localized with smooth muscle.Western blot results showed that PCSK9 overexpression or treatment with 2.0 μmol/L Ang Ⅱ could increase ZBP1 protein expression(P<0.01),while PCSK9 knockdown could alleviate the increased ZBP1 expression caused by AngⅡ(P<0.05).Conclusion PCSK9 may induce mitochondrial damage in smooth muscle cells,activate downstream molecule ZBP1 to cause cell damage,and promote the development of AAA.
9.Characteristics of potassium current remodeling of atrial myocytes in aged mice with atrial fibrillation
Ying DONG ; Yating CHEN ; Bin LI ; Zupei MIAO ; Qing DAN ; Xueping WANG ; Qiao XUE ; Yang LI
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(10):1873-1881
AIM:To observe the changes of atrial fibrillation susceptibility,and the remodeling of atrial myo-cyte action potential,ultrarapid activation delayed rectifier potassium current(IKur)and transient outward potassium cur-rent(Ito)in elderly mice,and to explore the mechanism of atrial fibrillation from the single cell electrophysiological level.METHODS:The C57BL/6J mice were divided into old group(20 months old)and young group(4 months old).Atrial fi-brillation was induced by esophageal atrial pacing.The atrial myocytes were isolated,and action potential and ion currents were recorded with patch-clamp technique.The associated proteins were detected by Western blot technique.RE-SULTS:(1)Compared with young mice,the total incidence of atrial fibrillation was significantly increased in old mice(20.0%at 4 months old vs 60.0%at 20 months old,P<0.01).(2)The action potential duration of atrial myocytes in aged mice was shortened,and more significantly after stimulation.(3)The density of Ito and IKur in atrial myocytes of aged mice increased significantly,from(12.6±1.4)pA/pF to(21.7±1.1)pA/pF,and from(7.5±1.5)pA/pF to(13.3±2.1)pA/pF,respectively(P<0.01).After stimulation,the current increased more significantly,especially in older atrial cells.Compared with the young mice,the steady-state activation curve of Ito in the atrial myocytes of the aged mice shifted towards the depolarization,suggesting that activation of Ito channels in the aged mice increased at the same voltage stimula-tion.(4)Compared with young group,the expression of KV4.2(generating Ito)and KV1.5(generating IKur)proteins in the atrial tissue of the mice in old group was significantly increased,and the expression of caveolin-3 and end-binding protein 1(EB1)was up-regulated,suggesting that the increases in KV4.2 and KV1.5 total channel proteins and effective proteins in the cell membrane might contribute to the increase in the remodeling of potassium currents in the elderly atrial myo-cytes.CONCLUSION:The incidence of atrial fibrillation in elderly mice is significantly augmented,which may be related to the increases in Ito and IKur in atrial myocytes.The remodeling of potassium currents in elderly atrial myocytes is one of the electrophysiological bases leading to the shortening of action potential duration and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation.
10.The clinical value ofmannan binding lectin associated serine protease 2, galectin-3, and midkine in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules
Xiao HUANG ; Qian ZHU ; Yating CHEN ; Peng LI ; Yan LIU
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(10):953-956
Objective:To analyze the clinical value of mannan binding lectin associated serine protease 2 (MASP-2), galectin-3, and midkine in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.Methods:From March 2021 to March 2022, 75 patients (study group) with thyroid nodules admitted to the Nanchong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and 50 volunteers(control group) who underwent health examinations during the same period were retrospectively selected. The levels of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine were compared between the two groups, and the levels of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine in benign and malignant thyroid nodules in the study group were compared. The predictive value of MASP-2, galectin-3, midkine and combined tests for malignant thyroid nodules diagnosis was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The levels of MASP-2, galectin-3, midkine in the study group were higher than those in the control group: (433.92 ± 35.01) mg/L vs. (215.12 ± 22.60) mg/L, (26.73 ± 3.12) μg/L vs. (20.51 ± 2.10) μg/L, (258.96 ± 27.03) ng/L vs. (122.47 ± 15.72) ng/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The levels of MASP-2, galectin-3, midkine in the patients with malignant nodules were higher than those in the patients with benign thyroid nodules: (541.27 ± 57.35) mg/L vs. (400.02 ± 30.17) mg/L, (41.68 ± 5.23) μg/L vs. (22.01 ± 2.89) μg/L, (318.97 ± 40.23) ng/L vs. (240.01 ± 25.01) ng/L, there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine in the diagnosis of malignant thyroid nodules was the highest (0.819), which was higher than that of any single index. Conclusions:The serum levels of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine in patients with malignant nodules were higher than those in patients with benign nodules, and the combined value of MASP-2, galectin-3 and midkine is higher in predicting malignant thyroid nodules.

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