1.A cohort study and Mendelian randomization study on association between osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease
Xuan WU ; Xunying ZHAO ; Jinyu ZHOU ; Tao HAN ; Xia JIANG ; Ben ZHANG ; Wenzhi WANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):888-894
Objective:To analyze the association between osteoporosis and the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 471 922 study subjects were selected from the UK Biobank database, including 12 818 osteoporosis cases and 459 104 controls. Cox proportional hazard regression model and competing risk model were used to evaluate the association between osteoporosis and AD after adjusting confounding factors. Furthermore, a Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted by using the data of two published genome-wide association studies, and 1 050 highly relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified from the bone mineral density data as instrumental variables. The association between bone mineral density and the risk for AD was evaluated by using inverse variance weighted method, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median estimator method. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were performed.Results:After adjusting for confounders, no significant association between osteoporosis and an increased risk for AD was found in the cohort study (Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis: HR=1.10, 95% CI: 0.78-1.56, P=0.588). The MR analysis revealed no association between bone mineral density and the risk for AD (inverse-variance weighted: OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.98-1.09, P=0.252), and the results remained robust in multiple sensitivity analyses. Conclusion:The study result does not support the association between osteoporosis and risk for AD.
2.Cytotoxicity Studies of Light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) Domain Photosensitizers
Shuang XU ; Ben WAN ; Na SHA ; Kai-Hong ZHAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):487-500
ObjectiveAt present, the most commonly used photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy are still chemical photosensitizers, such as porphyrin and methylene blue, in order to specifically target cellular tissues, and thus poison cells, chemical photosensitizers need to use antibody conjugation or a transgenically encoded tag with affinity for the modified photosensitizing ligand, e.g. FlAsH, ReAsh or Halo Tag. Gene-encoded photosensitizers can directly poison cells by targeting specific cell compartments or organelles. However, currently developed gene-encoded photosensitizers have low reactive oxygen species production and low cytotoxicity, so it is necessary to continue to develop and obtain photosensitizers with higher reactive oxygen species production for the treatment of microbial infections and tumors. MethodsIn this study, we developed a photosensitizer LovPSO2 based on the light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) structural domain of phototropin-1B-like from Oryza sativa japonica. LovPSO2 was expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and purified to obtain protein samples, the purified protein samples were added 3 µmol/L singlet oxygen probe of SOSG and 5 µmol/L superoxide anion probe of DHE after fixed to A445=0.063±0.003, respectively, then measured every 2 min of singlet oxygen production for 10 min and every 1 min of superoxide anion production for 5 min under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m-2·s-1. ResultsThe results showed that LovPSO2 could produce a large amount of singlet oxygen under blue light irradiation at 445 nm, 70 µmol·m-2·s-1, and its singlet oxygen quantum yield was 0.61, but its superoxide anion yield was low, so in order to improve the superoxide anion yield of LovPSO2, a mutant with a relatively high superoxide anion yield was obtained by further development and design on its basis LovPRO2. The stability of proteins is crucial for research in drug development and drug delivery, among others. Temperature and light are the key factors affecting the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by photosensitive proteins and their stability, while the temperature in cell culture and mammals in vivo is about 37°C, and the temperature inside tumor cells is about 42-45°C. Therefore, we further analyzed the photostability of miniSOG, SOPP3, LovPSO2, and LovPRO2 and their thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃. The analysis of proteins thermostability showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better thermostability at 37℃ and 45℃, respectively. Analysis of the photostability of the proteins showed that LovPRO2 had better photostability. In addition, to further determine the phototoxic effects of photosensitizers, LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) and HeLa cells, respectively. The results showed that LovPSO2 and LovPRO2 had better phototoxicity to E. coli BL21(DE3) under blue light irradiation, and the cellular phototoxicity lethality was as high as 90% after 30 min of continuous light irradiation, but the phototoxicity was weaker in HeLa cells. The reason for this result may be that the intracellular environment exacerbated the photobleaching of FMN encapsulated by LovPSO2 and LovPRO2, respectively, which attenuated the damage of reactive oxygen species to animal cellular tissues, limiting its use as a mechanistic tool to study oxidative stress. ConclusionLovPSO2 and LovPRO2 can be used as antibacterial photosensitizers, which have broader application prospects in the food and medical fields.
3.Identification of core genes of osteoarthritis by bioinformatics
Xuekun ZHU ; Heng LIU ; Hui FENG ; Yunlong GAO ; Lei WEN ; Xiaosong CAI ; Ben ZHAO ; Min ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(3):637-644
BACKGROUND:At present,osteoarthritis has become a major disease affecting the quality of life of the elderly,and the therapeutic effect is poor,often focusing on preventing the disease process,and the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis is still not fully understood.Bioinformatics analysis was carried out to explore the main pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and related mechanisms of gene coding regulation. OBJECTIVE:To screen core differential genes with a major role in osteoarthritis by gene expression profiling. METHODS:Datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO):GSE114007,GSE117999,and GSE129147.Differential genes in the GSE114007 and GSE117999 data collections were screened using R software,performing differential genes to weighted gene co-expression network analysis.The module genes most relevant to osteoarthritis were selected to perform protein interaction analysis.Candidate core genes were selected using the cytocape software.The candidate core genes were subsequently subjected to least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and COX analysis to identify the core genes with a key role in osteoarthritis.The accuracy of the core genes was validated using an external dataset,GSE129147. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 477 differential genes were identified,265 differential genes associated with osteoarthritis were obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis,and 8 candidate core genes were identified.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis finally yielded a differential gene ASPM with core value that was externally validated.(2)It is concluded that abnormal gene ASPM expression screened by bioinformatics plays a key central role in osteoarthritis.
4.Clinical application of next-generation sequencing in early screening of neonatal diseases.
Li-Hong JIANG ; Ben-Qing WU ; Zheng-Yan ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(4):432-437
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the clinical value of next-generation sequencing (NGS) in neonatal disease screening, particularly its advantages when combined with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
METHODS:
A prospective study was conducted involving blood samples from 1 999 neonates born at the Shenzhen Guangming District People's Hospital, between May and August 2021. All samples were initially screened using MS/MS and fluorescence immunoassay, followed by NGS to detect high-frequency variation sites in 135 related pathogenic genes. Suspected positive variants were validated using Sanger sequencing or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in family studies.
RESULTS:
No confirmed positive cases were found in the MS/MS analysis of the 1 999 neonates. Genetic screening identified 58 positive cases (2.90%), 732 carriers of pathogenic genes (36.62%), and 1 209 negative cases (60.48%). One case of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis was diagnosed (0.05%, 1/1 999). Fluorescence immunoassay identified 39 cases of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (1.95%, 39/1 999), while genetic screening identified 43 cases of G6PD deficiency (2.15%, 43/1 999). The fluorescence immunoassay also detected 6 cases of hyperthyrotropinemia (0.30%, 6/1 999), all of whom carried DUOX2 gene variants. The top ten pathogenic gene carrier rates were G6PD (12.8%), DUOX2 (8.7%), HBB (8.2%), ATP7B (6.6%), GJB2 (5.7%), SLC26A4 (5.6%), PAH (5.6%), ACADSB (4.6%), SLC25A13 (4.2%), and SLC22A5 (4.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
NGS can serve as an effective complement to MS/MS, significantly improving the detection rate of inherited metabolic disorders in neonates. When combined with family validation, it enables precise diagnosis, particularly demonstrating complementary advantages in screening for monogenic diseases such as G6PD deficiency.
Humans
;
Infant, Newborn
;
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods*
;
Neonatal Screening/methods*
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
;
Prospective Studies
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Female
;
Male
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Infant, Newborn, Diseases/diagnosis*
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Genetic Testing
5.Application Value of Pancreatic Duct-to-Jejunum Stent-Bridging Internal Drainage in Robotic Central Pancreatectomy
Enli ZHANG ; Junjie WU ; Mingyue CHEN ; Ben MA ; Hanxin WU ; Yinzhe XU ; Haozhe CUI ; Zhiming ZHAO
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(4):1011-1017
Objective To conduct preliminary evaluation of the reliability and safety of pancreatic duct-to-jejunum stent-bridging internal drainage as a supplementary approach to pancreaticojejunostomy in central pancreatectomy.Methods The clinical data of 28 patients who underwent robotic central pancreatectomy performed by our team between January 2021 and November 2024 were retrospectively collected,and and follow-up of postoperative endocrine and exocrine functions was performed.Based on the methods of digestive tract reconstruction adopted,the patients were divided into a conventional pancreaticojejunostomy group and a pancreatic duct-to-jejunum stent-bridging internal drainage group(PancreaticoJejunal-Stent bridge group).The operative time,digestive tract reconstruction time,and short-term complications were compared between the two groups.Results Among patients undergoing robotic central pancreatectomy,the digestive tract reconstruction time was shorter(t=5.168,P<0.001)in the PancreaticoJejunal-Stent bridge group([31.1±6.3]min)than that in the conventional pancreaticojejunostomy group([49.7±8.9]min)(t=5.168,P<0.001).The total operative time was(172.7±64.6)min in the PancreaticoJejunal-Stent bridge group and(200.1±52.7)min in the conventional pancreaticojejunostomy group,showing no statistically significant difference(t=1.215,P=0.235).In the PancreaticoJejunal-Stent bridge group,one patient developed a postoperative biochemical fistula,and 14 patients developed grade B pancreatic fistulas.Among the 14 patients with grade B pancreatic fistulas,1 case was complicated by fistula-related intra-abdominal infection,and 13 cases had drainage tube retention time of more than 21 days.In the conventional pancreaticojejunostomy group,2 patients developed postoperative biochemical fistulas,and 11 patients developed grade B pancreatic fistulas.Among the 11 patients with grade B pancreatic fistulas,1 case was complicated by fistula-related intra-abdominal infection,and 1 case was complicated by fistula-related intra-abdominal bleeding and infection.No postoperative gastroparesis,pancreatitis,or grade C pancreatic fistulas occurred in either group.There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in overall postoperative complication rate(P=0.522),postoperative pancreatic fistula rate(P=0.583),intra-abdominal infection rate(P=0.583),or bleeding rate(P=0.464).Conclusion Pancreatic duct-to-jejunum stent-bridging internal drainage optimizes the anastomosis between the distal end of the pancreas and the jejunum during central pancreatectomy,shortens digestive tract reconstruction time,and reduces surgical complexity without increasing the risk of short-term severe postoperative complications.This approach is safe and feasible.
6.A cohort study and Mendelian randomization study on association between osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease
Xuan WU ; Xunying ZHAO ; Jinyu ZHOU ; Tao HAN ; Xia JIANG ; Ben ZHANG ; Wenzhi WANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):888-894
Objective:To analyze the association between osteoporosis and the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 471 922 study subjects were selected from the UK Biobank database, including 12 818 osteoporosis cases and 459 104 controls. Cox proportional hazard regression model and competing risk model were used to evaluate the association between osteoporosis and AD after adjusting confounding factors. Furthermore, a Mendelian randomization (MR) study was conducted by using the data of two published genome-wide association studies, and 1 050 highly relevant single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified from the bone mineral density data as instrumental variables. The association between bone mineral density and the risk for AD was evaluated by using inverse variance weighted method, MR-Egger regression, and weighted median estimator method. Additionally, sensitivity analyses were performed.Results:After adjusting for confounders, no significant association between osteoporosis and an increased risk for AD was found in the cohort study (Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis: HR=1.10, 95% CI: 0.78-1.56, P=0.588). The MR analysis revealed no association between bone mineral density and the risk for AD (inverse-variance weighted: OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.98-1.09, P=0.252), and the results remained robust in multiple sensitivity analyses. Conclusion:The study result does not support the association between osteoporosis and risk for AD.
7.Analysis of factors influencing the treatment outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
YANG Liugen ; MA Xiaoling ; FAN Ben ; ZHAO Yongnian ; DONG Gaimei ; DUAN Lili ; Delina Sairike ; LI Fanka
China Tropical Medicine 2024;24(4):456-
Abstract: Objective To investigate the treatment outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and to explore the risk factors affecting these outcomes, so as to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in the corps region. Methods TB patients registered in the Corps from 2016 to 2022 were selected, and the basic demographic and clinical data of the research objects were collected by retrospective method. Log-rank test was used for univariate analysis and the Cox multivariate regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of treatment outcomes of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Results From 2016 to 2022, a total of 8 838 TB patients were registered in the TB Management Information System of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, of which 495 cases were untreated, 43 cases had changed diagnoses, 301 cases had no treatment outcomes, 6 cases were diagnosed as extrapulmonary tuberculosis, 11 cases were diagnosed as tracheobronchial tuberculosis, and finally 7 982 TB patients were included in the study. Of the 7 982 patients, 7 578 (94.94%) were treated successfully, while 404 (5.06%) had adverse outcomes (including 32 cases of failure, 13 cases of TB death, 173 cases of non-TB death, 12 cases lost to follow-up, 94 cases of adverse reactions, 10 cases transferred to multi-drug resistance treatment, and 70 other cases). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the >30 to 60-year-old and >60-year-old age groups (OR=1.565, P=0.009; OR=2.960, P<0.001), belonging to ethnic minorities (OR=1.526, P<0.001), being a patients with diabetes mellitus (OR=1.696, P=0.002), current address being in other areas of the province or patients from other provinces (OR=1.419, P=0.004; OR=1.624, P=0.001), receiving retreatment (OR=1.910, P<0.001), and absence of primary care management (OR=1.351, P=0.003) were the risk factors for unsuccessful treatment outcomes in the corps' pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Conclusions The treatment success rate of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in the Corps region is relatively high, but there is still a need to strengthen the treatment and management of the elderly, ethnic minorities, diabetes patients, non-local floating population, retreatment patients and patients who did not receive primary management.
8.Species-level Microbiota of Biting Midges and Ticks from Poyang Lake
Jian GONG ; Fei Fei WANG ; Qing Yang LIU ; Ji PU ; Zhi Ling DONG ; Hui Si ZHANG ; Zhou Zhen HUANG ; Yuan Yu HUANG ; Ben Ya LI ; Xin Cai YANG ; Meihui Yuan TAO ; Jun Li ZHAO ; Dong JIN ; Yun Li LIU ; Jing YANG ; Shan LU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(3):266-277,中插1-中插3
Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the bacterial communities of biting midges and ticks collected from three sites in the Poyang Lake area,namely,Qunlu Practice Base,Peach Blossom Garden,and Huangtong Animal Husbandry,and whether vectors carry any bacterial pathogens that may cause diseases to humans,to provide scientific basis for prospective pathogen discovery and disease prevention and control. Methods Using a metataxonomics approach in concert with full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and operational phylogenetic unit(OPU)analysis,we characterized the species-level microbial community structure of two important vector species,biting midges and ticks,including 33 arthropod samples comprising 3,885 individuals,collected around Poyang Lake. Results A total of 662 OPUs were classified in biting midges,including 195 known species and 373 potentially new species,and 618 OPUs were classified in ticks,including 217 known species and 326 potentially new species.Surprisingly,OPUs with potentially pathogenicity were detected in both arthropod vectors,with 66 known species of biting midges reported to carry potential pathogens,including Asaia lannensis and Rickettsia bellii,compared to 50 in ticks,such as Acinetobacter lwoffii and Staphylococcus sciuri.We found that Proteobacteria was the most dominant group in both midges and ticks.Furthermore,the outcomes demonstrated that the microbiota of midges and ticks tend to be governed by a few highly abundant bacteria.Pantoea sp7 was predominant in biting midges,while Coxiella sp1 was enriched in ticks.Meanwhile,Coxiella spp.,which may be essential for the survival of Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann,were detected in all tick samples.The identification of dominant species and pathogens of biting midges and ticks in this study serves to broaden our knowledge associated to microbes of arthropod vectors. Conclusion Biting midges and ticks carry large numbers of known and potentially novel bacteria,and carry a wide range of potentially pathogenic bacteria,which may pose a risk of infection to humans and animals.The microbial communities of midges and ticks tend to be dominated by a few highly abundant bacteria.
9.Clinical study on the combination of the Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule and dapagliflozin for type 2 diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease
Jian LIU ; Zhaohui FANG ; Yingqun NI ; Jindong ZHAO ; Ruimin LU ; Ben WANG ; Yushan YAN
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(8):1119-1125
Objective This study aimed to explore the effect of the combined Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule with dapagliflozin on the blood lipid profile and related inflammatory markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease. Methods 72 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Endocrinology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine,from April 2021 to April 2023. The patients were assigned to the experimental group and the control group using the random number table method (36 cases in each group). The control group was treated with dapagliflozin in addition to standard treatment,while the experimental group received the Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule for 12 weeks. Clinical efficacy,glucose and lipid metabolism indicators,hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP),body mass index (BMI) levels,and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores were observed pre-and post-treatment.Results In post-treatment,the clinical efficacy was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Significant reductions in fasting blood glucose (FPG),2 h postprandial glucose (2 hPG),triglycerides (TG),total cholesterol (TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),hs-CRP,BMI,and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were observed. Scores for TCM syndrome and individual items also decreased (P<0.05). Comparisons within the groups for pre-and post-treatment showed reductions in FPG,2 hPG,TG,TC,LDL-C,hs-CRP,and an increase in HDL-C,along with a decrease in total scores of TCM syndrome (P<0.05). Conclusion The Danzhi Jiangtang Capsule combined with dapagliflozin in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with peripheral vascular disease can regulate the blood lipid profile,reduce inflammatory factors,and improve patient's symptoms. Integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment are more conducive to controlling the disease,and TCM can be used in clinical practice as a combination treatment.
10.Effect of high fat diet intake on pharmacokinetics of metronidazole tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers
Na ZHAO ; Cai-Hui GUO ; Ya-Li LIU ; Hao-Jing SONG ; Ben SHI ; Yi-Ting HU ; Cai-Yun JIA ; Zhan-Jun DONG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(1):102-106
Objective To evaluate the effects of high-fat diet on the pharmacokinetics of metronidazole in Chinese healthy adult subjects.Methods This program is designed according to a single-center,randomized,open,single-dose trial.Forty-seven healthy subjects were assigned to receive single dose of metronidazole tablets 200 mg in either fasting and high-fat diet state,and blood samples were taken at different time points,respectively.The concentrations of metronidazole in plasma were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectromentry.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of metronidazole in fasting state and high-fat diet state were as follows:Cmax were(4 799.13±1 195.32)and(4 044.17±773.98)ng·mL-1;tmax were 1.00 and 2.25 h;t1/2 were(9.11±1.73)and(9.37±1.79)h;AUC0_t were(5.59±1.19)x 104 and(5.51±1.18)x 104 ng·mL-1·h;AUC0_∞ were(5.79±1.33)x 104 and(5.74±1.32)× 104 ng·mL-1·h.Compared to the fasting state,the tmaxof the drug taken after a high fat diet was delayed by 1.25 h(P<0.01),Cmax,AUC0_t,AUC0-∞ were less or decreased in different degrees,but the effects were small(all P>0.05).Conclusion High-fat diet has little effects on the pharmacokinetic parameters of metronidazole,which does not significantly change the degree of drug absorption,but can significantly delay the time to peak.

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