1.The causal relationship between immune cells and heart failure risk and the mediating role of serum metabolites: A Mendelian randomization study
Yun ZHU ; Jiaming WEI ; Ruifang LIN ; Yongjun LIU ; Yue LIU ; Guohua ZHANG ; Zhihua GUO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):115-121
Objective To explore the causal relationship between immune cells and heart failure (HF), and the mediating role of serum metabolites, in order to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Methods We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, analyzing the direct and indirect effects of 731 types of immune cells and 1 400 metabolites on HF. We selected valid instrumental variables and conducted statistical analyses using R software. The primary analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighted method, supplemented by MR-Egger analysis and weighted median method. The stability of the results was assessed through tests such as Cochran’s Q test. Results Our research found a negative causal relationship between PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ and HF. Sensitivity analysis supported this result. The reverse MR analysis did not find an effect of HF on PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+, indicating that PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ might play a unidirectional role in reducing the risk of HF. Further mediation MR analysis showed that PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ might influence the risk of HF onset by regulating the levels of sphingomyelin (d17:1/14:0, d16:1/15:0), with a mediation effect ratio of 6.7%. Conclusion PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ may reduce the risk of HF by elevating the levels of sphingomyelin (d17:1/14:0, d16:1/15:0), which provides a new perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of HF.
2.Bioinformatics Reveals Mechanism of Schisandrin B in Inhibiting Ferroptosis to Ameliorate Methionine and Choline Deficiency-induced Fatty Liver Disease in Mice
Zhifeng ZHU ; Wenting LI ; Yongjun CAO ; Yuanyuan LIN ; Yifei LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):74-83
ObjectiveNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic stress liver injury. Ferroptosis is involved in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. Exploring the efficacy and mechanism of schisandrin B in treating NAFLD facilitates the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. MethodsThe molecular structure of schisandrin B was obtained by searching against PubChem, and the related targets were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction. The active ingredients and their targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the high-throughput experiment- and reference-guide database of traditional Chinese medicine (HERB). GeneCards and FerrDb were searched for the targets of NAFLD and ferroptosis. The common targets were taken as the core targets, and the protein-protein interaction network of the core targets was established. DAVID was used for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Finally, molecular docking was performed between schisandrin B and core targets, and the binding energy was calculated. C57BL/6 mice were fed with a methionine and choline-deficiency (MCD) diet for the modeling of NAFLD. Mice were randomized into normal, model, positive drug (essentiale), and low- and high-dose schisandrin B groups. The body mass and liver index of mice were measured after drug administration. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum and those of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and Fe2+ in the liver homogenate were measured by biochemical assay kits. The pathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and red oil O staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in the serum. Western blotting and real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), transferrin, and ferritin heavy chain (FTH) in the liver tissue. ResultsA total of 2 370, 2 547, and 1 451 targets of schisandrin B, NAFLD, and ferroptosis were obtained, in which 90 common targets were shared by the three. Enrichment analyses predicted 505 GO terms and 92 KEGG pathways. Molecular docking suggested that schizandrin B had strong binding affinity with the key targets of ferropstosis (SLC7A11 and SLC3A2). Animal experiments showed that schizandrin B significantly decreased the liver index, lowered the levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, alleviated hepatocyte ballooning and inflammatory cell infiltration, and reduced lipid accumulation in the liver of NAFLD mice. In addition, schisandrin B significantly lowered the levels of MDA, 4-HNE, and Fe2+, elevated the level of GSH, up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of SLC7A11, SLC3A2, and GPX4, and down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of transferrin in the liver tissue. ConclusionSchisandrin B can alleviate NAFLD by inhibiting ferroptosis in hepatocytes.
3.The introduction and inspiration from US FDA guidance: bacterial risk control strategies for blood collection establishments and transfusion services to enhance the safety and availability of platelets for transfusion
Ningjie ZHANG ; Yuanqing YANG ; Yuanpei ZHU ; Yongjun WANG ; Yongjian GUO
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(1):142-148
Room temperature stored platelets are associated with a higher risk of sepsis and related fatality. The risk of bacterial contamination of platelets is a leading risk of infection from blood transfusion. U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued a guidance on bacterial risk control strategies for blood collection establishments and transfusion services to enhance the safety and availability of platelets for transfusion. The prevention and control strategies in the guidance would be informative and instructive for further development of risk control strategies of platelet bacterial contamination in China.
4.Clinical Study on the Classic Prescription Xinyi Powder in Treating Allergic Rhinitis with Lung Deficiency Related Cold
Shanshan XUE ; Bingruo ZHENG ; Xinchen SUN ; Rongjin LU ; Zhiyuan ZHU ; Yongjun WU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(2):257-262
OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical efficacy and possible mechanism of the classic prescription Xinyi Powder in the treatment of allergic rhinitis with lung deficiency related cold.METHODS A total of 189 patients who met the inclusion criteria of al-lergic rhinitis with lung deficiency related cold in the otolaryngology clinic of Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine from Janu-ary 2023 to July 2024 were selected and randomly divided into the experimental group(n=126)and the control group(n=63).The control group was treated with oral loratadine,and the experimental group took Xinyi Powder.Before and after treatment,the TNSS,TNNSS scores and TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were compared to comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy.The changes in the patients'quality of life were evaluated in multiple dimensions using nasal VAS and RQLQ scores.The changes in serum IL-4,IL-5,IgE,SP and CGRP expression levels were detected by ELISA.RESULTS After 14 days of treatment,the TNSS,TNNSS,VAS,RQLQ scores and TCM syndrome scores of the two groups of patients were reduced(P<0.01);the experi-mental group was better than the control group in improving the concomitant symptoms such as nasal congestion,runny nose,postnasal drip,and itchy eyes(P<0.05,P<0.01),and it could also significantly improve the symptoms of fear of wind and cold,spontaneous sweating,shortness of breath,and cough with thin sputum(P<0.01),and the total RQLQ score was significantly better than the con-trol group(P<0.01).After treatment,the serum IL-4,IL-5,IgE,SP,and CGRP levels of the two groups of patients were signifi-cantly reduced(P<0.01),and there was no statistical difference between the two groups.CONCLUSION Xinyi Powder can signifi-cantly alleviate the nasal symptoms and systemic concomitant symptoms of patients with allergic rhinitis of lung deficiency and cold type,and significantly improve the quality of life of patients.It may play a therapeutic role by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors and neuropeptides and regulating neuroimmunity.
5.Immune Cells and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease:a Mendelian Randomization Study Mediated by Serum Metabolites
Yun ZHU ; Jiaming WEI ; Ruifang LIN ; Yongjun LIU ; Yue LIU ; Ya LI ; Zhihua GUO
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(5):508-515
Objectives:This study aims to explore the causal relationships between immune cells and serum metabolites in the development of coronary heart disease(CHD)using Mendelian randomization(MR)methods.Methods:We conducted a two-sample MR analysis utilizing data from the FinnGen Project's genome-wide association study(GWAS)on CHD,alongside data on metabolites and immune cells from the GWAS catalog.For the identified associated metabolites,we further employed mediation MR methods to evaluate their mediating roles in the influence of immune cells on CHD.Results:The MR analysis indicated that three immune cells(IgD-CD24-%B cell,CD11b on CD14+monocyte,HLA DR on DC)had stable causal relationship with CHD(under the premise of inverse variance weighted[IVW]method P<0.05,both MR-Egger and weighted median methods also showed P<0.05).Furthermore,these immune cells were associated with CHD through four metabolites(N-acetylneuraminic acid levels,the ratio of desmethyltaurine to taurine,X-24801 and X-18779).Conclusions:This study reveals the causal relationships between immune cells and serum metabolites in the pathogenesis of CHD,providing new biomarkers for early prediction and risk assessment of CHD.
6.Expert Consensus on Classification of Hand Degloving Injures and Emergency Repair of Avulsion Skin
Jihui JU ; Gang ZHAO ; Yongjun RUI ; Xin WANG ; Weiyang GAO ; Xiaoheng DING ; Qingtang ZHU ; Xianyou ZHENG ; Yongqing XU ; Shanlin CHEN ; Juyu TANG ; Lei XU ; Jianxi HOU ; Huaqiao WANG ; Jingyi MI ; Haifeng SHI ; Shusen CUI ; Chunlin HOU ; Liqiang GU
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery 2025;48(2):121-134
Hand degloving injury represents one of the most severe forms of hand trauma, characterised by challenging treatment and a complex prognostic outcome. It is crucial to effectively utilise the degloved tissues in emergency or primary repair of a hand degloving injury. This consensus provides a comprehensive review of the existing literature on definition, classification, emergency assessment, debridement, judgment of skin viability, in situ repair of the degloved skin, and adjunctive treatment for degloving injury of hand. Based on conclusion of both domestic and international experiences, this expert consensus on the classification of hand degloving injury and the emergency repair with the avulsed skin is established, aiming to provide a guidance to surgeons on standardised treatment strategy and improve the management of hand degloving injury.
7.Exploration on the Mechanism of Huatan Quyu Decoction in Treating Vascular Dementia Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Wanyu ZHAO ; Yongjun FANG ; Yali HU ; Pengfang WEI ; Sen QIAO ; Jingyuan KONG ; Xiaona ZHU ; Hui LIU ; Yuqian TIAN ; Yongmei YAN
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(5):98-105
Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Huatan Quyu Decoction on learning and memory abilities in rats with vascular dementia(VD).Methods Totally 112 male SD rats were randomly selected with 16 rats as the sham-operation group,the remaining rats were used to prepare VD models by segmental ligation of the common carotid artery.The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group,Huatan Quyu Decoction low-,medium-and high-dosage groups(6.1,12.1,24.2 g/kg),donepezil hydrochloride group(0.5 mg/kg)and combination group(Huatan Quyu Decoction 12.1 g/kg+donepezil hydrochloride 0.5 mg/kg),with 16 rats in each group.Each group was given the corresponding treatment measures for 4 weeks.The Morris water maze test was used to assess learning and memory abilities,neurological function was evaluated using Garcia score,HE staining was used to observe the morphology of the hippocampal tissue,ELISA was employed to detect the serum content of Aβ,immunohistochemistry was utilized to observe the β-catenin,LRP6 and GSK-3β protein expression in brain tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the escape latency of the model group rats was prolonged(P<0.01),the number of crossing platforms was reduced(P<0.01),and the neurological deficit score was decreased(P<0.01),the arrangement of hippocampal tissue cells was disorderly,and the tissue was severely damaged,the serum Aβ content increased(P<0.01),the expressions of β-catenin and LRP6 protein in brain tissue decreased,and the expression of GSK-3β protein increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the escape latency of rats in each administration group was shortened,the number of crossing platforms increased,the neurological deficit score increased,the number of hippocampal cells was relatively more,the arrangement was more orderly,and the structure was relatively complete,the serum Aβ content decreased,the expressions of β-catenin and LRP6 proteins increased,and the expression of GSK-3β protein decreased.Among them,Huatan Quyu Decoction high-dosage group had a significantly better effect than Huatan Quyu Decoction low-and medium-dosage groups(P<0.01),and there was no statistical significance in various indicators compared with the donepezil hydrochloride group(P>0.05).Compared with the donepezil hydrochloride group,the combination group showed significant improvements in learning and memory abilities(P<0.01),the neurological deficit score significantly increased(P<0.01),the number of hippocampal cells significantly increased,arranged neatly,and structurally intact,the serum Aβ content significantly decreased(P<0.01),the expression of β-catenin and LRP6 proteins significantly increased,and the expression of GSK-3β protein significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Huatan Quyu Decoction can repair cognitive function in VD rats,improve learning and memory abilities,and alleviate VD symptoms by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to reduce serum Aβ content,decrease the apoptosis of nerve cells and alleviate the degree of pathological damage in hippocampal tissue.
8.Evidence-based guideline for diagnosis and early fixation of severe open tibiofibular fractures (version 2025)
Yongjun RUI ; Yongqing XU ; Qingtang ZHU ; Xin WANG ; Zhao XIE ; Shanlin CHEN ; Jingyi MI ; Xianyou ZHENG ; Juyu TANG ; Xiaoheng DING ; Aixi YU ; Tao SONG ; Jianxi HOU ; Jian QI ; Xinyu FAN ; Jun FEI ; Lin GUO ; Xingwen HAN ; Weixu LI ; Aiguo WANG ; Yun XIE ; Tao XING ; Meng LI ; Baoqing YU ; Yan ZHUANG ; Xiaoqing HE ; Tao SUN ; Pengcheng LI ; Jihui JU ; Hongxiang ZHOU ; Haidong REN ; Guangyue ZHAO ; Gang ZHAO ; Yongwei WU ; Jun LIU ; Yunhong MA ; Yapeng WANG
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(11):1021-1034
Severe open tibiofibular fractures account for approximately 28.1% of all open fractures. Among them, Gustilo-Anderson type IIIB/C fractures present significant clinical challenges due to associated bone and soft tissue defects, high infection rates, and risk of amputation. Inadequate preoperative assessment may lead to suboptimal emergency surgical planning or intraoperative complications. Historically, external fixation was often preferred, but this approach has been associated with limitations such as restricted joint mobility, delayed bone union, joint stiffness, and disuse osteoporosis, resulting in poor functional recovery. With advancements of debridement techniques, standardization of antibiotic use, and popularization of early soft tissue coverage, early internal fixation has gained broader acceptance. Nevertheless, controversies persist regarding the choice of fixation method, timing of definitive fixation, use of reamed versus unreamed intramedullary nailing, and necessity of fibular fixation. To standardize the diagnosis and early management of severe open tibiofibular fractures, reduce complication rates, and improve functional recovery, the Society of Microsurgery of the Chinese Medical Association organized a panel of domestic experts to develop the Evidence-based guideline for the diagnosis and early fixation of severe open tibiofibular fractures ( version 2025), using evidence-based methodology. The guidelines provided 12 recommendations covering diagnostic and early fixation strategies of severe open tibiofibular fractures, aiming to provide clinicians with scientifically grounded and standardized guidance.
9.Study on the Expression Levels of Serum sCD73 and miR-124a in Patients with Acute Septic Shock and Their Predictive Value for 28-day Prognosis
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(1):94-98
Objective To investigate the relationship between soluble CD73(sCD73) and miRNA(miR)-124a expression level and the severity of acute septic shock and its predictive value for 28 days. Methods A prospective analysis was conducted on 109 patients with acute septic shock admitted to the Third People's Hospital of Chengdu from June 2021 to December 2023. These patients were divided into a survival group (n=87) and a death group (n=22) based on their 28-day prognosis. The clinical data,serum sCD73,miR-124a levels of the two groups were compared,Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between sCD73,miR-124a and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation system Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ),sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA),C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT). The predictive value of sCD73 and miR-124a for prognosis was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis,and the interaction between sCD73 and miR-124a in the prognosis of patients with acute septic shock was analyzed using the interaction coefficient γ. Results The age,APACHE Ⅱ,SOFA score,CRP and PCT levels of the death group were higher than that of the survival group(t=4.485~14.147),and the duration of mechanical ventilation was longer than that of the survival group(t=7.215),with statistically significant differences (all P<0.001),respectively. Serum sCD73(3.69±1.12 μg/L) levels were lower in the death group than in the survival group(6.42±2.38 μg/L),and miR-124a (3.31±0.70) was higher than in the survival group(2.63±0.52),and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.222,5.089,all P<0.001). Serum sCD73 and APACHE Ⅱ,SOFA score,CRP and PCT was negatively correlated (r=-0.712~-0.649,all P<0.001),miR-124a and APACHE Ⅱ,SOFA score,CRP and PCT was positively correlated (r=0.643~0.728,all P<0.001). Serum sCD73,miR-124a was significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with acute septic shock after 28 days of treatment (partial correlation coefficient-0.882,0.896,all P<0.001). The AUC(95%CI) of serum sCD73 and miR-124a for predicting the prognosis of 28-day treatment were 0.765 (0.674~0.841) and 0.754 (0.662~0.831),respectively. The AUC(95%CI) of the combined prediction of 28-day treatment prognosis was 0.916 (0.847~0.960),which was greater than that of the single indicator,and the differences were statistically significant (Z=4.352,4.221,all P<0.001). Low expression of sCD73 and high expression of miR-124a showed a positive interaction in the 28-day mortality risk of patients with acute septic shock (OR=6.668,95%CI:1.245~35.714,γ=1.133,P<0.024). Conclusion Low sCD73 expression and high miR-124a expression positively interacted with each other in the risk of death at 28-day in patients with acute septic shock,and the combined assay is informative for prognostic prediction.
10.Effects of Split Formulas of Biyuan Heji on Paranasal Sinus Mucosal Inflammation in ARS Rats Based on the Pathogenesis of"Wind-Cold Transforming into Lung-Heat"
Huixia ZHOU ; Shanshan XUE ; Lu BAI ; Yang FANG ; Xinchen SUN ; Zhiyuan ZHU ; Yongjun WU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(5):689-695
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the split formulas of Biyuan Heji(BYHJ)on paranasal sinus mucosal in-flammation in rats with acute rhinosinusitis(ARS)based on the pathogenesis of"wind-cold transforming into lung-heat".METHODS Unilateral nasal cavity occlusion combined with nasal dripping of Staphylococcus aureus were performed to establish a rat model of ARS.SD rats were randomly divided into blank,model,BYHJ(wind-cold removal+lung-heat removal),lung-heat removal,wind-cold removal,and positive drug groups,with 6 rats in each group.The rats were treated with the corresponding drugs for 7 d and then the samples were collected.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of rat paranasal sinus mucosa tissues,ELISA was employed to determine the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6,IL-8,IL-9,IL-10,and IL-12 in serum,immunohistochemis-try(IHC)was adopted to measure the protein expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and intercellular adhesion molecule(ICAM-1)in paranasal sinus mucosa tissues,and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of phosphorylated p38 mito-gen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK),nuclear transcription factor-κB p50(NF-κB p50),and NF-κB p65 in paranasal sinus mucosa tissues.RESULTS The acute sinusitis rat inflammation model was successfully established.Compared with the model group,the water drinking,diet eating,and body weight of rats in the BYHJ group,wind-cold removal,lung-heat removal,and positive drug groups were significantly improved,the aggregation of inflammatory cells in the paranasal sinus mucosal tissue was reduced,and the levels of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-9,and IL-12 in the serum were significantly reduced(P<0.01),IL-10 content significantly in-creased(P<0.01),the protein expression of TNF-α,ICAM-1,p38 MAPK,NF-κB p50,and NF-κB p65 in the paranasal sinus mucosa was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The comparison between various traditional Chinese medicine groups showed that the decrease of IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-9,IL-12,TNF-α,ICAM-1,p38 MAPK,NF-κB p50,and NF-κB p65 and the increase of IL-10 in the BYHJ group were better than those in the split formula groups(P<0.01),and the lung-heat removal group was better than the wind-cold removal group(P<0.01).CONCLUSION BYHJ and its split formulas can effectively inhibit the inflammatory response in rats with ARS.

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