1.Characteristics of 150 patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity
Xiaolei LU ; Yiji WANG ; Genlin LIU ; Ying ZHENG ; Chunxia HAO ; Ying ZHANG ; Haiqiong KANG ; Bo WEI ; Qianru MENG ; Hongjun ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2026;32(4):393-398
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of 150 patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 150 patients with spinal cord injury accompanied by spasticity from September, 2019 to December, 2024. Their age, gender, cause of injury, injury site, severity of injury, spasticity severity and other indicators were recorded. The relationships between different characteristics were analyzed, and a correlation analysis of disease duration, spasticity grade, injury level, injury severity and age were conducted. ResultsThere was no significant difference in age distribution between patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia (Z = 0.806, P = 0.420). The proportions of trauma (χ2 = 3.982, P = 0.046) and tetraplegia (χ2 = 10.559, P = 0.010) were higher in males than in females. Trauma was the main cause of injury in both tetraplegia and paraplegia patients; the proportion of tetraplegia was higher than paraplegia in trauma patients, while paraplegia was higher than tetraplegia in non-trauma patients (χ2 = 11.885, P < 0.001). Patients with tetraplegia was dominated by incomplete injury, whereas patients with paraplegia was dominated by complete injury (χ2 = 10.885, P = 0.012). Grade A injury was predominant in trauma patients (P = 0.003). Spasticity grade showed a very weak positive correlation with disease duration (r = 0.175, P = 0.032) and age (r = 0.168, P = 0.040). Injury severity showed a very weak positive correlation with age (r = 0.183, P = 0.025). ConclusionCharacteristics of patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity is different with gender, cause of injury, injury level, injury severity.
2.The Structure and Function of The YopJ Family Effectors in The Bacterial Type III Secretion System
Ao-Ning LI ; Wen-Bo LI ; Yu-Ying LU ; Min-Hui ZHU ; Yu-Long QIN ; Yong ZHAO ; Zhao-Huan ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):516-533
The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) serves as a pivotal virulence apparatus for numerous Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, enabling them to infect both animal and plant hosts. Functioning as a molecular syringe, the T3SS directly translocates bacterial effector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm into the interior of eukaryotic host cells. These effectors are central weapons that precisely manipulate a wide spectrum of host cellular physiological processes, ranging from cytoskeletal dynamics to immune signaling, to establish a favorable niche for bacterial survival and proliferation. Among the diverse arsenal of T3SS effectors, the YopJ family constitutes a critical group of virulence factors. Members of this family are characterized by a conserved catalytic triad structure—a hallmark of the CE clan of cysteine proteases that has been evolutionarily repurposed to confer acetyltransferase activity. A defining and intriguing feature of these enzymes is their stringent dependence on a host-derived eukaryotic cofactor, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6), for allosteric activation. This requirement acts as a sophisticated molecular safeguard, ensuring enzymatic activity only within the appropriate host environment, thereby preventing detrimental effects on the bacterium itself. While seminal studies on individual members such as Yersinia’s YopJ and Salmonella’s AvrA have provided deep mechanistic insights, a systematic and integrative understanding of the structure-function relationships across the entire family remains fragmented. Key questions persist regarding how a conserved catalytic core has diverged to recognize distinct host substrates in different kingdoms of life. To address this gap, this article provides a systematic review of the YopJ family, focusing on three interconnected aspects: their structural features, their catalytic mechanism, and their divergent immunosuppressive strategies in animal versus plant hosts. By conducting a comparative analysis of the sequences and resolved three-dimensional structures of three representative members (e.g., HopZ1a, PopP2, AvrA), we elucidate regions of significant variation embedded within the conserved core catalytic architecture. These variable regions, often involving surface loops and substrate-binding interfaces, are crucial determinants of target specificity and functional specialization. The functional divergence of this effector family is most apparent when comparing their modes of action in different hosts. In animal hosts, YopJ-family effectors primarily sabotage innate immune signaling pathways. They achieve this by acetylating key serine and threonine residues within the activation loops of critical kinases in the MAPK and NF‑κB pathways. This post-translational modification blocks the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of these kinases, leading to potent suppression of inflammatory cytokine production. Conversely, in plant hosts, the strategy broadens to dismantle the two-tiered plant immune system. YopJ homologs target a more diverse set of substrates, including immune-associated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), microtubule networks via tubulin acetylation (which disrupts cellular trafficking and signaling), and transcription factors central to defense gene regulation. This multi-target approach effectively suppresses both Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI). In conclusion, this synthesis aims to deepen the mechanistic understanding of YopJ family-mediated pathogenesis by integrating structural biology with cellular function across host kingdoms. Elucidating the precise molecular basis for substrate selection—how conserved platforms achieve target diversity—is a major frontier. Furthermore, this knowledge provides a vital theoretical foundation for developing novel anti-virulence strategies. Targeting the conserved IP6-binding pocket or the catalytic acetyltransferase activity itself represents a promising avenue for designing broad-spectrum inhibitors that could disarm this critical family of bacterial effectors, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches against a range of pathogenic bacteria.
3.Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal compounds for pulmonary nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Yanlong LI ; Xinze ZHENG ; Lingyan LAN ; Ying WANG ; Wei SU ; Jiahui CHEN ; Xiangjun QI ; Xuewei LI ; Bo AN ; Ling YU ; Lingling SUN ; Lizhu LIN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(07):1119-1128
Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound in treating pulmonary nodules, providing evidence-based medical evidence for TCM intervention in pulmonary nodules. Methods Computer search of PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, and SinoMed was conducted to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of TCM compound intervention in pulmonary nodules, with the retrieval time from the inception to November 29, 2023. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and Review Manager 5.4 was used for Meta-analysis. Results A total of 18 RCTs were included, covering 8 provinces across the country, with a total sample size of 1301 patients. The TCM compounds used in the included studies all incorporated the method of dissolving phlegm and dissipating nodules. There was a high risk of bias uncertainty in the included studies. Meta-analysis results suggested that TCM compound could significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules [MD=−1.41, 95%CI (−1.70, −1.13), P<0.001], decrease the number of nodules [MD=−0.37, 95%CI (−0.73, −0.01), P=0.05], alleviate clinical symptoms [MD=−4.84, 95%CI (−6.04, −3.64), P<0.001], and improve lung function [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), MD=0.55, 95%CI (0.09, 1.01), P=0.02; FEV1/forced vital capacity, MD=6.12, 95%CI (4.47, 7.78), P<0.001]. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the probability of malignancy between the experimental group and the control group [MD=−0.01, 95%CI (−0.01, 0.00), P=0.09]. Conclusion TCM compound can significantly reduce the diameter of pulmonary nodules, decrease the number of nodules, alleviate clinical symptoms, and improve lung function, but future multicenter, large-sample, high-quality RCTs are still needed to further explore and verify this conclusion.
4.Long-term prognosis of recompensation in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis
Zhiwei XIE ; Bo LI ; Lihua LIN ; Ying TAN ; Jianping LI ; Yujuan GUAN ; Yaping WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(6):1246-1252
Liver cirrhosis recompensation refers to the process in which patients with decompensated cirrhosis achieve the disappearance of decompensated complications and restoration of liver function and clinical phenotype to a compensated state after etiological treatment or symptomatic treatment. In recent years, with effective control of the etiology of cirrhosis and treatment or prevention of decompensated complications, the clinical significance of recompensation has gained increasing attention. This article elaborates on recompensation from the aspects of definition, diagnostic criteria, influencing factors, mechanisms affecting long-term prognosis, and clinical management strategies, and with reference to the latest research evidence, this article also discusses the core value of recompensation in improving quality of life and reducing the risk of end-stage events, in order to provide a basis for optimizing the comprehensive management of liver cirrhosis.
5.Multi-Parameter MRI for Evaluating Glymphatic Impairment and White-Matter Abnormalities and Discriminating Refractory Epilepsy in Children
Lu QIU ; Miaoyan WANG ; Surui LIU ; Bo PENG ; Ying HUA ; Jianbiao WANG ; Xiaoyue HU ; Anqi QIU ; Yakang DAI ; Haoxiang JIANG
Korean Journal of Radiology 2025;26(5):485-497
Objective:
To explore glymphatic impairment in pediatric refractory epilepsy (RE) using multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), assess its relationship with white-matter (WM) abnormalities and clinical indicators, and preliminarily evaluate the performance of multi-parameter MRI in discriminating RE from drug-sensitive epilepsy (DSE).
Materials and Methods:
We retrospectively included 70 patients with DSE (mean age, 9.7 ± 3.5 years; male:female, 37:33) and 26 patients with RE (9.0 ± 2.9 years; male:female, 12:14). The diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index as well as fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and nodal efficiency values were measured and compared between patients with RE and DSE. With sex and age as covariables, differences in the FA and MD values were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics, and nodal efficiency was analyzed using a linear model. Pearson’s partial correlation was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the discrimination performance of the MRI-based machine-learning models through five-fold cross-validation.
Results:
In the RE group, FA decreased and MD increased in comparison with the corresponding values in the DSE group, and these differences mainly involved the callosum, right and left corona radiata, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus, and posterior thalamic radiation (threshold-free cluster enhancement, P < 0.05). The RE group also showed reduced nodal efficiency, which mainly involved the limbic system, default mode network, and visual network (false discovery rate, P < 0.05), and significantly lower DTI-ALPS index (F = 2.0, P = 0.049). The DTI-ALPS index was positively correlated with FA (0.25 ≤ r ≤ 0.32) and nodal efficiency (0.22 ≤ r ≤ 0.37), and was negatively correlated with the MD (-0.24 ≤ r≤ -0.34) and seizure frequency (r = -0.47). A machine-learning model combining DTI-ALPS, FA, MD, and nodal efficiency achieved a cross-validated ROC curve area of 0.83 (sensitivity, 78.2%; specificity, 84.8%).
Conclusion
Pediatric patients with RE showed impaired glymphatic function in comparison with patients with DSE, which was correlated with WM abnormalities and seizure frequency. Multi-parameter MRI may be feasible for distinguishing RE from DSE.
6.Diagnosis and management of rectal injury after radical prostatectomy: clinical experience and literature review
Pengyu LU ; Xiang GAO ; Ying KE ; Bo YANG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(6):476-480
Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of rectal injury (RI) occurring after radical prostatectomy (RP). Methods: The clinical data of 513 patients with prostatic cancer undergoing RP in our hospital during Mar.2013 and Oct.2022 were retrospectively collected and statistical description of the occurrence of RI among them was conducted.There were a total of 7 patients with RI during operation and 1 progressed to rectourethral fistula (RUF).We summarized the clinical and pathological data of these 7 patients.The treatment strategies of RI/RUF after RP in 11 different centers were explored and summarized in combination with literature review. Results: Among the 7 RI patients, 6 developed RI during operation and healed after repair, while 1 progressed to RUF after operation.For this patient, conservative treatment failed and colostomy was performed along with bilateral ureteral stent placement and cystostomy.The RUF was repaired via the transanal approach.During the treatment process, recurrent and refractory bladder irritation symptoms and bladder spasms occurred.Data of 3203 patients who underwent RP in 11 different centers were collected; 56(1.75%) cases developed RI, 41 of which were detected and repaired during operation; 14(0.44%) developed RUF, 7 of which had fistula closed spontaneously and 7 received surgical repair. Conclusion: RI, especially RUF, is one of the rarest and severest complications after RP.Once RI is detected during operation, immediate and thorough two-layer suture repair should be performed.
7.Molecular characteristics and genetic evolution analysis of CRISPR loci in Listeria monocytogenes
DU Bo ; WU Ying ; CAI Nannan ; REN Yanyan ; XIU Min ; LIU Wenxin
China Tropical Medicine 2025;25(3):343-
Objective To detect clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in Listeria monocytogenes, and analyze the structure and homology of CRISPR loci. Methods Totally 34 strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated in our laboratory were identified, PCR amplified and sequenced. The repeat sequence structure and spacer sequence homology in CRISPR loci were analyzed by bioinformatics software. Results A total of 7 CRISPR loci were detected in 34 strains. The mutation rate of the first 2 and last 2 bases of the Repeat sequence of CRISPR loci was higher, while the mutation rate of the middle part was lower. Seven CRISPR sites form eight CRISPR structural types, among which the Repeat sequences of CRISPR1 and CRISPR2 are relatively conserved, while the Repeat sequences of CRISPR1 and CRISPR5 can form dumbbell shaped secondary structures. The number of Spacer sequences contained in each CRISPR site ranges from 2 to 15, with an average of 2.43. The 136 Spacer sequences detected were not only homologous to Listeria plasmids and bacteriophages, but also homologous to uncultured virus sequences, staphylococcal bacteriophages, and Listeria innocua. The same CRISPR genotype did not show large-scale clustering, but some strains in the same year were in the same evolutionary cluster with close genetic relationships. Conclusion The CRISPR structure of Listeria monocytogenes in this study exhibits high specificity, and its homology with bacteriophages provides a theoretical basis for the application of bacteriophages in the control and prevention of Listeria monocytogenes.
8.Analysis of factors influencing global longitudinal strain based on cardiac magnetic resonance after acute myocardial infarction
Ke LIU ; Yi-Qing ZHAO ; Zhen-Yan MA ; Xin A ; Li LI ; Wei-Ran KONG ; Lei ZHAO ; Hong-Bo ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Geng QIAN
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(11):1382-1389
Objective To investigate the factors influencing global longitudinal strain(GLS)measured by cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods Clinical data of 315 hospitalized patients diagnosed with acute STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from June 2016 to September 2021 were retrospectively collected.After analyzing CMR images of all patients,GLS and other strain parameters were obtained,and then the patients were divided into two groups according to the median GLS.In order to balance gender and age differences,1:1 propensity score matching was performed,and 206 patients were eventually included:GLS>-11.3%group(indicating severe GLS impairment,n=103)and GLS≤-11.3%group(n=103).Baseline characteristics,laboratory indicators,coronary angiographic parameters,electrocardiogram(ECG)features,and CMR parameters were compared between the two groups.Variables showing significant differences were analyzed for their correlation with GLS.Multivariate logistic regression and multiple stepwise linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with GLS impairment.Results Compared with GLS≤-11.3%group,GLS>-11.3%group had significantly higher peak levels of creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB)and troponin T(TnT)(P<0.001).A higher proportion of patients in GLS>-11.3%group had the left anterior descending artery(LAD)as the culprit vessel,while a lower proportion had the right coronary artery(RCA)as the culprit vessel(P<0.001).Additionally,GLS>-11.3%group had longer QRS duration(P<0.001)and a higher incidence of pathological Q waves(P=0.001).Regarding CMR parameters,GLS>-11.3%group exhibited larger global circumferential strain(GCS),infarct size(IS),and left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV),as well as lower global radial strain(GRS)and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)(P<0.001).Multivariate logistic regression indicated that peak TnT(OR=1.092,P=0.001),LAD culprit vessel(OR=3.744,P<0.001),and QRS duration(OR=1.026,P<0.001)were significantly associated with severely impaired GLS.Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that the logarithmic value of peak TnT,LAD as the culprit vessel,and the square root of QRS duration were linearly correlated with GLS values(adjusted R2=0.301,P<0.001),and these independent variables explained 30.1%of the variation in GLS.Conclusion Elevated peak TnT,prolonged QRS duration,and LAD as the culprit vessel are significantly associated with severe GLS impairment in STEMI patients,indicating more severe myocardial infarction and worse left ventricular function.
9.Creatine regulating neuronal ferroptosis by reducing STAT1-SOCS1 signaling activation in Alzheimer's disease model mice
Xiang-Qi SHAO ; Xue WANG ; Tao WANG ; Bo YUAN ; Wen-Ying QIU ; Fan LIU ; Chao MA
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(3):253-259
Objective To explore whether creatine therapy regulates neuronal ferroptosis by inhibiting the activation of STAT1 signaling pathway associated with suppressor of cytokine signaling 1(SOCS1)in Alzheimer's disease.Methods Immunohistochemical staining and counting of positive results using paraffin sections of human brain frontal lobes were employed to determine the trend of changes in the target proteins.Further validation was performed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting.STAT1 phosphorylation was inhibited by creatine injection using eleven FAD4T mice and by cerebellar medullary pool puncture,and the expression of target proteins was examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence after postmortem sampling.Results Compared with the age controls,interferon-γ(IFN-γ),an activating cytokine of the STAT1 signaling pathway,and SOCS1,a negative regulator of STAT1 activation,were both significantly up-regulated,STAT1 phosphorylation was enhanced,and the ferroptosis markers ferritin light chain(FTL)and cystine/glutamate transporter(xCT)increased markedly in the cortex of AD human brains;Creatine treatment of FAD4T mice resulted in a reduction of both IFN-γ and SOCS1,and a significant decrease in the ferroptosis markers FTL and xCT(SLC7A11).Conclusion Creatine ameliorates neuronal ferroptosis in AD model mice by reducing neuronal STAT1-SOCS1 signalling activation.
10.The role and mechanism of IQGAP1 in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation induced microglial polarization
Bo Chao ; Junhao Ren ; Ruoyu Guo ; Youle Su ; Ying Ma
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(11):2011-2018
Objective:
To investigate the role and mechanism of IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) in oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) -induced polarization of BV-2 microglia cells .
Methods:
The IQGAP1 overexpression plasmid ( oe-IQGAP1 ) and its negative control plasmid ( Vector) were transfected into BV-2 cells , and then the polarization of BV-2 cells was induced by OGD/R , and exogenous inter- feron-γ(IFN-γ) recombinant protein was used for intervention . Cell proliferation rate was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was detected using a test kit. The mRNA expression levels of IQGAP1 , IFN-γand microglial polarization markers inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) , CD86 , CD206 and arginase1 (Arg1) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) . The levels of IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) , interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4 and IL-10 in the cell supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . The protein expression levels of IQGAP1 and IFN-γwere detected by Western blot.
Results:
Following OGD/R treatment , the proliferation rate of BV-2 cells , the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the supernatant , and the mRNA expression levels of CD206 and Arg1 were significantly reduced (all P < 0. 05) . In contrast , the levels of LDH , TNF-αand IL-1βin the supernatant , as well as the mRNA expression levels of iNOS and CD86 in the cells significantly increased (all P < 0. 05) . More- over , both the mRNA and protein expression levels of IQGAP1 in the cells significantly decreased ( P < 0. 05) . Following IQGAP1 overexpression , the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the supernatant of BV-2 cells , along with the mRNA expression levels of CD206 and Arg1 in the cells , were significantly elevated under OGD/R conditions (all P < 0. 05) . Meanwhile , the levels of TNF-αand IL-1βin the supernatant and the mRNA expression levels of iNOS and CD86 in the cells significantly decreased (all P < 0. 05) . Additionally , both the intracellular expression and secretion of IFN-γprotein were reduced ( all P < 0. 05) , whereas the mRNA expression of IFN-γremained un- changed . However , combined intervention with exogenous IFN-γrecombinant protein obviously reversed the inhibi- tory effect of IQGAP1 overexpression on OGD/R-induced M1 polarization of microglia.
Conclusion
IQGAP1 over- expression inhibits M1 polarization of microglia under OGD/R conditions through the suppression of IFN-γexpres- sion and secretion .


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