1.Design of a Capture Stress-Free Marmoset Monkey Chair Device for Experiments and Its Preliminary Application
Shengye XU ; Junfeng HUANG ; Yihang CHEN ; Liangtang CHANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(1):67-72
ObjectiveTo avoid stress responses in experimental monkeys caused by direct capture, and to improve the adaptability and experimental efficiency of marmosets in behavioral, two-photon imaging, and electrophysiological experiments, a device for immobilizing marmosets without the need for capture is developed. MethodsA set of compatible transport cage and monkey chair was produced through 3D graphic design and printing. First, the transport cage was aligned with the feeding outlet of the experimental housing cage, and the marmoset was gently guided into the transport cage. Then, the transport cage was connected to the monkey chair, and the marmoset was gently guided into the chair for immobilization. Subsequent experiments were carried out afterward. The effectiveness was evaluated by observing the efficiency of transport and immobilization, the marmoset cooperation level, and stress responses. ResultsAfter testing and improvements, the device successfully completed immobilization of marmosets without the need for capture, significantly improving the fluency and efficiency of the experiment. As the number of operations increased, the marmosets became more cooperative, and the operation speed was significantly enhanced. After using the device, the stress responses were noticeably reduced, with marmosets showing lower stress levels. In particular, compared to traditional capture methods, the use of this device significantly reduced marmoset anxiety and discomfort, increasing their cooperation levels during the experiment. ConclusionThe monkey chair device designed allows for restraint of marmosets without the need for capture, ensuring smooth progress of subsequent experiments while also safeguarding animal welfare. This device is easy to operate, highly practical, cost-effective, and has great potential for widespread application.
2.Association between mental health and muscle strength among Chinese adolescents aged 13-18
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1232-1236
Objective:
To explore the association between mental health and muscle strength among Chinese adolescents aged 13- 18, providing a theoretical foundation and intervention strategies for mental health promotion.
Methods:
Data were obtained from the 2019 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health, including 98 631 Chinese adolescents aged 13- 18. Psychological distress was assessed by using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), and mental well being was measured with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well being Scale (WEMWBS). Based on the gender and age specific Z scores of various test items [grip strength, standing long jump, pull ups (for males), and sit ups (for females)], muscle strength index (MSI) was constructed to evaluate the comprehensive level of muscle strength in adolescents. According to the Dual factor Model (DFM) of mental health, participants were categorized into four groups:troubled, symptomatic but content, vulnerable, and complete mental health. Gender differences were analyzed by using Chi-square tests, trends were tested with Cochran-Armitage tests, and multinomial Logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between muscle strength and mental health among adolescents.
Results:
In 2019, 37.4% of Chinese adolescents aged 13-18 were reported of high mental distress, and 59.9% were reported of low mental well being. Boys had significantly lower rates of high mental distress (35.3%) and low mental well being (55.6%) compared to girls (39.4%, 64.3%), and the differences were of statistical significance ( χ 2=176.13, 780.42, both P <0.05). In 2019, the rate of complete mental health among adolescents showed a downward trend with increasing age ( χ 2 trend = 258.47) and a gradual upward trend with increasing muscle strength levels ( χ 2 trend =123.14),and both boys and girls exhibited similar trends ( χ 2 trend =103.83, 168.46; 57.00 , 67.34) (all P <0.05). The results of the unordered multiclass Logistic regression model showed that after controlling for confounding factors such as age and gender, when the completely pathological group as a reference, for every 1 unit increase in MSI in adolescents, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 29% ( OR = 1.29); for every unit increase in the Z-score for pull ups, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 6% ( OR =1.06) among boys; for every 1 unit increase in sit up Z score, the likelihood of being in a completely mental health state increased by 19% ( OR =1.19) among girls (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
The mental health status of Chinese adolescents is not good enough. Muscle strength is positively associated with mental health.
3.Evolution and development of mental health policies for children and adolescents in China
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1246-1251
Objective:
To systematically review the development and changes in mental health policies within the National Outline for Children s Development in China from 1992 to 2030, providing a reference basis for future formulation of mental health policies among children and adolescent in China.
Methods:
Based on the four editions of the National Outline for Children s Development in China across different periods from 1992 to 2030, word frequency analysis was used to reveal shifts in policy priorities, and an internationally recognized framework for adolescent health policy analysis was applied to conduct a textual review.
Results:
Word frequency analysis revealed that the term "psychological" appeared 6 times in the National Outline for Children s Development in China (2001-2010) but increased to 20 times in the National Outline for Children s Development in China (2021-2030) (abbreviated as the National Outline of 2021), while the term "health" rose from 4 times in the National Outline for Children s Development Plan in China in the 1990s to 68 times in the National Outline of 2021. The scope of mental health policy interventions expanded to encompass five key areas:health, safety, education, welfare and legal protection. Textual analysis highlighted that the policies of the National Outline for Children s Development in China were demand driven, prioritized vulnerable groups and continuously broadened their coverage, emphasizing sustainability and appropriateness, and monitoring/evaluation mechanisms. By 2023, 42.3% of primary schools and 64.8% of secondary schools employed full time mental health education teachers. However, the National Outline for Children s Development in China lacked direct evidence of children and adolescents participation in policy formulation, and publicly available mental health data disaggregated by age and gender remained limited.
Conclusion
Mental health policies of children and adolescents in China have evolved from nonexistence to gradual refinement, yet institutionalized channels for youth involvement in policy development and evaluation remain insufficient, and transparency in age and gender specific mental health data needs improvement.
4.Quercetin mediates the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis by regulating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit the IL-23/IL-17A axis.
Qing LIU ; Jing LIU ; Yihang ZHENG ; Jin LEI ; Jianhua HUANG ; Siyu LIU ; Fang LIU ; Qunlong PENG ; Yuanfang ZHANG ; Junjie WANG ; Yujuan LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(1):90-99
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the active components that mediate the therapeutic effect of Centella asiatica on psoriasis and their therapeutic mechanisms.
METHODS:
TCMSP, TCMIP, PharmMapper, Swiss Target Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM and TTD databases were searched for the compounds in Centella asiatica and their targets and the disease targets of psoriasis. A drug-active component-target network and the protein-protein interaction network were constructed, and DAVID database was used for pathway enrichment analysis. In a RAW264.7 macrophage model of LPS-induced inflammation, the anti-inflammatory effect of 7.5, 15, 30, and 60 μmol/L quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid, which were identified as the main active components in Centella asiatica, were tested by measuring cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 using Griess method and ELISA and by detecting mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF-α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727) with RT-qPCR and Western blotting.
RESULTS:
A total of 139 targets of Centella asiatica and 4604 targets of psoriasis were obtained, and among them CASP3, EGFR, PTGS2, and ESR1 were identified as the core targets. KEGG analysis suggested that quercetin, asiaticoside, and asiatic acid in Centella asiatica were involved in cancer and IL-17 and MAPK signaling pathways. In the RAW264.7 macrophage model of inflammation, treatment with quercetin significantly reduced cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6, and lowered mRNA expressions of IL-23, IL-17A, TNF‑α and IL-6 and protein expressions of p-STAT3 (Tyr705) and p-STAT3 (Ser727).
CONCLUSIONS
Quercetin, asiaticoside and asiatic acid are the main active components in Centella asiatica to mediate the therapeutic effect against psoriasis, and quercetin in particular is capable of suppressing cellular production of NO, TNF‑α and IL-6 and regulating the IL-23/IL-17A inflammatory axis by mediating STAT3 phosphorylation to inhibit inflammatory response.
Quercetin/pharmacology*
;
Psoriasis/metabolism*
;
STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Animals
;
Centella/chemistry*
;
Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Phosphorylation
;
Interleukin-17/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-23/metabolism*
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
;
Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Macrophages/drug effects*
;
Signal Transduction
;
Plant Extracts
5.Status and pathways of factors influencing physical activity time among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing
Shan CAI ; Yihang ZHANG ; Ziyue CHEN ; Yunfei LIU ; Jiajia DANG ; Di SHI ; Jiaxin LI ; Tianyu HUANG ; Jun MA ; Yi SONG
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2024;56(3):403-410
Objective:To describe the current distribution of daily physical activity time among ele-mentary and junior high school students in Beijing,and to analyze the influencing factors and pathways at the individual,family,school and community levels.Methods:Data were drawn upon from a cross-sectional investigation in Beijing in 2023,and a total of 3 157 elementary and junior high school students were included in the final analysis.Questionnaire was used to collect data on basic characteristics,over-all and in-school physical activity time per day,the number of sports mastered,perceived physical activi-ty benefits and barriers scales,perceived family,school,and community physical activity supportive en-vironment scales.Log-binomial regression model was used to analyze the associations between physical activity time and influencing factors,and structural equation modeling was used for the path analysis of the influencing factors.Results:The reported rates of ≥ 2 hours of overall physical activity per day and≥1 hour of physical activity in school per day among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing in 2023 were 33.1%and 64.8%,respectively.The associations between the number of sports mastered by students and the reported rate of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day showed a typical dose-response relationship(P-trend<0.001).The perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratio(PR=1.24,95%CI:1.20-1.28),scores of perceived family,school,and community physical acti-vity supportive environment scales were all positively associated with the reported rate of≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day(PR=1.51,95%CI:1.38-1.66;PR=1.50,95%CI:1.37-1.64;PR=1.21,95%CI:1.16-1.27).The structural equation modeling showed that the number of sports mastered by the students(β=0.11,P<0.001),perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratios(β=0.15,P<0.001),and scores of supportive environment scales consisting of family,school,and community(β=0.13,P<0.001)were associated with the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physi-cal activity per day directly.In addition,the scores of supportive environment scales could indirectly in-fluence the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day by influencing the number of sports mastered by the students(β=0.21,P<0.001)and the perceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratio(β=0.56,P<0.001),while the number of sports mastered by the students could indi-rectly influence the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day by influencing the per-ceived physical activity benefits-to-barriers ratios(β=0.05,P=0.003).The influencing factors and pathways of the reported rates of ≥ 1 hour of physical activity in school per day were similar with those of the reported rates of ≥2 hours of overall physical activity per day described above.Conclusion:The dai-ly physical activity time among elementary and junior high school students in Beijing in 2023 fell short of meeting the national requirement.There was a need to build a supportive environment consisting of fami-ly,school,and community for physical activity,to promote the students'sports skills,to establish the idea of independent physical activity,and to ensure that primary and secondary school students were given one hour of physical activity time every day,both inside and outside the school.
6.Prognostic performance of pulmonary effective arterial elastance in patients with heart failure
Yihang WU ; Boping HUANG ; Jiayu FENG ; Liyan HUANG ; Xuemei ZHAO ; Jing WANG ; Jingyuan GUAN ; Xinqing LI ; Yuhui ZHANG ; Jian ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2024;52(4):397-404
Objective:To explore the predictive value of pulmonary effective arterial elastance (Ea) in patients with heart failure (HF).Methods:This is a retrospective cohort study, which retrospectively included 284 patients with HF who underwent right heart catheterization at Heart Failure Center in Fuwai Hospital between September 2013 and February 2022. Data regarding baseline clinical characteristics, hemodynamic profiles, and prognosis were collected. Ea was calculated as mean pulmonary arterial pressure/stroke volume. Patients were divided into Ea<0.555 group and Ea≥0.555 group according to the median value of Ea (0.555 mmHg/ml, 1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The primary outcome was the primary clinical event, set as the first occurrence of a series of composite events, including all-cause death, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device implantation, and HF rehospitalization. Event-free survival was defined as the absence of primary clinical events. Spearman correlation analysis was used to calculate the correlation coefficient between Ea and parameters reflective of right heart function. The Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the different groups for the estimation of outcomes with the log-rank test. We used Cox proportional-hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios ( HR) for primary clinical event. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the age, gender, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction, presence of pulmonary hypertension, and serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) values. We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to calculate the area under the curve ( AUC) of Ea for predicting event-free survival in patients with HF. Results:The median age was 51 years, and 206 (72.5%) patients were male. Ea and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were significantly correlated ( r=0.698, P<0.001). The correlation between Ea and pulmonary arterial elastance (PAC) were even more significant ( r=-0.888, P<0.001). Compared with Ea<0.555 group, Ea≥0.555 group presented with higher serum NT-proBNP values (4 443 (1 792, 8 554) ng/L vs. 1 721 (480, 4 528)ng/L, P<0.001), higher PVR (3.4 (2.5, 4.7) Wood vs. 1.4 (0.9, 2.2) Wood, P<0.001), lower cardiac output (3.0 (2.3, 3.9) L/min vs. 4.3 (3.8, 4.9) L/min, P<0.001), and lower PAC (1.6 (1.3, 2.0) ml/mmHg vs. 4.0 (3.0, 6.0) ml/mmHg, P<0.001). The median follow-up time was 392 (166, 811) days. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve demonstrated a lower event-free survival rate in the Ea≥0.555 group compared to the Ea<0.555 group ( Plog-rank<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, Ea ( HR=1.734, P<0.001) remained significantly associated with the primary outcome. Subgroup analysis indicated that Ea was associated with the primary outcome across all subgroups. The AUC was 0.724 ( P<0.001) for Ea to predict event-free survival calculated from ROC analysis. Conclusions:Ea is closely related to parameters reflective of right ventricular afterload. Increased Ea is an independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with HF.
7.Prevalence of comorbidity of spinal curvature abnormality and malnutrition among primary and middle school students in Tianjin in 2023
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(8):1171-1175
Objective:
To analyze the prevalence of comorbidity of spinal curvature abnormality and malnutrition among primary and secondary school students aged 10-18 years in Tianjin in 2023, so as to provide scientific basis for the combined prevention of common diseases and multiple diseases among students and the construction of school health system.
Methods:
In September to October 2023, 31 884 primary and secondary school students aged 10 to 18 years in Tianjin were selected using stratified cluster random sampling. Abnormal spinal curvature in children and adolescents was assessed by Sereening of Spinal Curvature Abnormality of Children and Adolescents, while stunting, wasting, overweight, and obesity were determined according to the Screening for Malnutrition among Schoolage Children and Adolescents and Screening for Overweight and Obesity among Schoolage Children and Adolescents. The χ2 test was used to compare betweengroup differences in coprevalence, and multiple Logistic regression models were used to analyze the risk of different comorbidity types in different clusters.
Results:
The coprevalence of spinal curvature abnormality and malnutrition among primary and secondary school students in Tianjin was 1.6%, which was higher for girls than boys (1.8%, 1.4%), higher (2.5%) for senior high schools than for junior high schools and elementary schools (2.0%, 0.5%), and higher in rural than in urban areas (2.1%, 1.1%) (χ2=9.45, 141.92, 46.94, P<0.05). Multiple Logistic regression models showed that junior high school girls had a higher risk of incorrect posture comorbid with stunting and wasting (OR=4.52, 95%CI=1.84-11.06) and incorrect posture comorbid with overweight and obesity (OR=2.67, 95%CI=1.74-4.10) than boys, and that scoliosis/sagittal spinal abnormality comorbid with stunting and wasting (OR=0.10, 95%CI=0.02-0.44) risk was lower than that of boys, senior high school girls had a lower risk of scoliosis/sagittal spinal abnormality comorbid with overweight and obesity (OR=0.27, 95%CI=0.11-0.66) (P<0.05).
Conclusions
The coprevalence of spinal curvature abnormality and malnutrition is specific among primary and secondary school students in Tianjin, and the comorbidity type varies by gender and education stage. There is a need to increase prevention and control of spinal curvature abnormalities in school health working, intensive screening of key populations, and timely intervention.
8.Key Information Research and Contemporary Research Progress of Classical Formula Jinlingzi San
Yizhen WANG ; Lyuyuan LIANG ; Jialei CAO ; Yihang LIU ; Rongze MA ; Zhengshao ZHANG ; Jing TANG ; Bingqi WEI ; Chongyi HUANG ; Hejia WAN ; Bingxiang MA ; Wenli SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(24):215-223
Jinlingzi San is a formula frequently used in treating pain syndrome, first recorded in the Collection of Writings on the Mechanism of Disease, Suitability of Qi, and the Safeguarding of Life as Discussed in the 'Basic Questions' written by LIU Wansu in the Jin Dynasty. Jinlingzi San is composed of 2 Chinese medicinals Toosendan Fructus and Corydalis Rhizoma with a concise composition and exact clinical efficacy, having been included in the Catalogue of Ancient Classical Formulas (Second Batch: Han Chinese Medicine). The formula name, historic evolution, medicine origins, composition, dosage, decocting methods, and ancient and modern clinical application were sorted out and analyzed with the bibliometric method. A total of 209 pieces of information were collected from ancient books and literature. After screening, 49 pieces of effective data involving 45 ancient books were included. Results showed that the name of Jinlingzi San was first recorded in Secret Formulas of the Yang Family written by Yang Tan in the Southern Song Dynasty and developed into 3 other versions of the decoction. The Jinlingzi San included in the Collection of Writings on the Mechanism of Disease, Suitability of Qi, and the Safeguarding of Life as Discussed in the 'Basic Questions' written by LIU Wansu invariably plays a dominant role. As for the 3 other versions, although they have the same name of Jinlingzi San, their composition and indications are different from those of the original formula, which were therefore viewed as prescriptions based on Jinlingzi San and also included in the research. The medicine origins and processing of Jinlingzi San are suggested: Toosendan Fructus is the dry mature fruit of Melia toosendan of Meliaceae, and the crude is used after cleansing without putamen. Corydalis Rhizoma is the dry tuber of Corydalis yanhusuo of Papaveraceae, which is used after impurity removal, cleaning, and drying. Depending on the conversion from the measurement system in the Jin Dynasty to modern measurement, it is suggested that Toosendan Fructus and Corydalis Rhizoma (41.3 g each) are ground into fine powder, and one dose includes 12.39 g of the powder, which should be taken with an appropriate amount of wine. If wine is not suitable for the patient, the decoction can also be taken with warm water. Jinlingzi San has the effects of soothing the liver, discharging heat, and activating blood to stop pain. As recorded in ancient books, Jinlingzi San is specialized in treating heart pain caused by reversal heat, chest and abdominal pain, hypochondriac pain, jaundice, hernia, and other diseases. Modern studies have shown that modified Jinlingzi San can be used in treating diseases involving the digestive system, the integumentary system, the gynecological system, the reproductive system, and other systems and has wide clinical application in treating epigastric pain, herpes zoster, dysmenorrhea, and other diseases. This study has made clear the key information of Jinlingzi San by textual research of ancient books and literature in the hope of providing a theoretical reference for the clinical application, set prescriptions, and new drug development.
9.Preliminary application of artificial intelligence in the pathological diagnosis of periapical cysts
HAO Yihang ; HUANG Meichang ; LI Mao ; TANG Yaling ; LIANG Xinhua
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2023;31(9):641-646
Objective:
To study the effect of artificial intelligence in the pathological diagnosis of periapical cysts and to explore the application of artificial intelligence in the field of oral pathology.
Methods:
Pathological images of eighty-seven periapical cysts were selected as subjects to read, and a neural network with a U-net structure was constructed. The 87 HE images and labeled images of periapical cysts were divided into a training set (72 images) and a test set (15 images), which were used in the training model and test model, respectively. Finally, the target level index F1 score, pixel level index Dice coefficient and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to evaluate the ability of the U-net model to recognize periapical cyst epithelium.
Results :
The F1 score of the U-net network model for recognizing periapical cyst epithelium was 0.75, and the Dice index and the areas under the ROC curve were 0.685 and 0.878, respectively.
Conclusion
The U-net network model constructed by artificial intelligence has a good segmentation result in identifying periapical cyst epithelium, which can be preliminarily applied in the pathological diagnosis of periapical cysts and is expected to be gradually popularized in clinical practice after further verification with large samples.
10.Gli1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis of non-small cell lung carcinoma by regulating snail transcriptional activity and stability.
Xueping LEI ; Zhan LI ; Yihang ZHONG ; Songpei LI ; Jiacong CHEN ; Yuanyu KE ; Sha LV ; Lijuan HUANG ; Qianrong PAN ; Lixin ZHAO ; Xiangyu YANG ; Zisheng CHEN ; Qiudi DENG ; Xiyong YU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(10):3877-3890
Metastasis is crucial for the mortality of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role in regulating tumor metastasis. Glioma-associated oncogene 1 (Gli1) is aberrantly active in a series of tumor tissues. However, the molecular regulatory relationships between Gli1 and NSCLC metastasis have not yet been identified. Herein, we reported Gli1 promoted NSCLC metastasis. High Gli1 expression was associated with poor survival of NSCLC patients. Ectopic expression of Gli1 in low metastatic A549 and NCI-H460 cells enhanced their migration, invasion abilities and facilitated EMT process, whereas knock-down of Gli1 in high metastatic NCI-H1299 and NCI-H1703 cells showed an opposite effect. Notably, Gli1 overexpression accelerated the lung and liver metastasis of NSCLC in the intravenously injected metastasis model. Further research showed that Gli1 positively regulated Snail expression by binding to its promoter and enhancing its protein stability, thereby facilitating the migration, invasion and EMT of NSCLC. In addition, administration of GANT-61, a Gli1 inhibitor, obviously suppressed the metastasis of NSCLC. Collectively, our study reveals that Gli1 is a critical regulator for NSCLC metastasis and suggests that targeting Gli1 is a prospective therapy strategy for metastatic NSCLC.


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