1.Exploration on Mechanism of Shengjiang Pingchuan Zhike Pills Against Cough Variant Asthma by Modulating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 Signaling Pathway Based on Transcriptomics
Baotang LU ; Jiao DU ; Min BAI ; Tengfei HE ; Le LI ; Yongqiang DUAN ; Changxi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(22):169-179
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Shengjiang Pingchuan Zhike pills (SPZP) alleviate airway injury in the rat model of cough variant asthma (CVA) via regulating autophagy through activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) signaling pathway based on transcriptomics, thus providing experimental evidence for the clinical application of SPZP. MethodsForty SPF-grade SD rats were enrolled in the present study and randomly via the random number table method assigned into four groups: a blank group, a model group, a SPZP (2 160 mg·kg-1·d-1) group, and a positive drug (montelukast sodium, MTL, 0.9 mg·kg-1·d-1)group, with 10 rats in each group. After one week of adaptive feeding, the rat model of cough variant asthma (CVA) was established by two-week sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminium hydroxide, followed by capsaicin atomization challenge. Rats in the blank group received an equal volume of normal saline during modeling. Upon successful modeling, rats in the SPZP group and positive drug group were administrated with SPZP suspension and MTL solution, respectively, while those in the blank and model groups received the same dose of normal saline by gavage. The whole intervention lasted for 21 consecutive days. After the intervention, general behaviors of rats in each group were observed. Pulmonary function indicators were subsequently detected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to visualize the pathological morphology of the lung tissue, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was adopted to evaluate airway mucus secretion. Transcriptomic sequencing was conducted to screen differentially expressed genes in the lung tissue across groups. The levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunofluorescence staining was used for detecting the co-localization of autophagy-related protein Beclin-1 and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR). Transmission electron microscopy was employed to count autophagosomes and observe mitochondrial morphological changes in the lung tissue. Western blot assay was utilized to measure the expression levels of AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 axis-related proteins, including AMPK, phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), mTOR, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), ULK1, and phosphorylated Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (p-ULK1) as well as the autophagy biomarkers Beclin-1 and selective autophagy adaptor protein p62 in lung specimens. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited markedly elevated cough frequency accompanied by wheezing and stridor, dull fur, poor mental activity, diminished motor activity, accelerated respiratory rate, and weakened sensory response and mobility to external stimuli, accompanied by a declining tendency of body mass. Meanwhile, the model group exhibited decreased dynamic lung compliance, increased airway resistance (P<0.01), severe pathological damage and excessive mucus secretion in the lung tissue (P<0.01), and elevated levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IgE and declined level of IFN-γ in the BALF (P<0.01). Ultrastructural observation revealed damaged mitochondrial morphology and a sharp reduction in the number of autophagosomes in the lung tissue. In addition, the expression of p-AMPK, p-ULK1, and Beclin-1 were downregulated, whereas p-mTOR and p62 were highly expressed (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the model group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses demonstrated significant enrichment of AMPK, mTOR, and autophagy-related pathways. Compared with the model group, both the positive drug group and SPZP group obtained visible improvements in general behavioral manifestations and obvious recovery of pulmonary function indicators (P<0.05), alleviated pulmonary pathological lesions and suppressed excessive airway mucus secretion (P<0.05), recovered levels of inflammatory cytokines in the BALF (P<0.05), restored mitochondrial morphology, increased autophagosomes, upregulated expression levels of p-AMPK, p-ULK1, and Beclin-1, and downregulated expression levels of p-mTOR and p62 (P<0.05). ConclusionSPZP can effectively ameliorate airway inflammation and improve the pulmonary function in the rat model of CVA by activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway, enhancing autophagy in the lung tissue, and inhibiting excessive airway mucus secretion and immune inflammatory imbalance.
2.Study on the Correlation Between Microscopic Features Indexes and Chemical Constituents of Aucklandiae Radix
Peng CUI ; Tao LI ; Shaojing CHEN ; Yafei DAI ; Changxi LI ; Zhengquan HE ; Jie YU ; Xuefang LI
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(2):469-476
Objective To analyze the correlation between the number of oil chambers,the proportion of phloem at cross-section of Aucklandiae Radix and the contents of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone,and the correlation between inulin quantity,vessel quantity and polysaccharide content in powder characteristics,so as to explore the scientific basis for Aucklandiae Radix"identifying the quality based on appearance differentiation".Methods The constant values of the microscopic features of oil chambers,inulin and vessels were determined by cross-sectional permanent slice method,chloral hydrate method and counting analysis method,and the contents of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone as well as polysaccharide content were determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)and the phenol-sulfuric acid method,respectively,and the correlation in the two groups of data was analyzed by statistical methods.Results There was a significantly positive correlation between the number of oil chambers per unit area in the cross-section of Aucklandiae Radix and the number of oil chambers per unit area in the phloem and the contents of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone;there was a significantly positive correlation between the quantity of inulin in the powder of Aucklandiae Radix and the polysaccharide content;there was no correlation between the quantity of vessels and the polysaccharide content.Conclusion This study initially established a new method and a new technology for quality evaluation of Chinese herbal medicines based on the determination of microscopic characteristic constants of Aucklandiae Radix,which can provide a new technical method for the quality control of Aucklandiae Radix.
3.Distance self-attention and long short-term memory model for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment
Haopeng ZHOU ; Yuyao TANG ; Changxi WANG ; Kang LI ; Zhenlin LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(4):659-665
Objective To construct a distance self-attention(DSA)and long short-term memory(LSTM)model and observe its value for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment.Methods CT equipment status data of internet of medical things were collected and preprocessed,then DSA-LSTM model based on model attention(MA)module and nonlinear attenuation distance factor was constructed,and its value for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment was analyzed compared with other models.Results Compared with other models,DSA-LSTM model had better comprehensive efficiency for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment.MA module and nonlinear attenuation distance factor could improve the predictive efficiency of DSA-LSTM model,and all included features contributed to the performance of DSA-LSTM model in a certain extent.Conclusion DSA-LSTM model could effectively predict X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment.
4.Successful Pregnancy after Autologous Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue Transplantation in a Cervical Cancer Patient: the First Reported Case in China
Yubin LI ; Yang ZHANG ; Tian MENG ; Bing CAI ; Chuling WU ; Changxi WANG ; Hongwei SHEN ; Guofen YANG
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):498-505
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and autologous transplantation in preserving fertility and ovarian endocrine function in patients with cervical cancer. MethodsA 26-year-old patient with stage ⅡA1 cervical cancer underwent ovarian tissue harvesting and cryopreservation during cancer surgery. Following complete remission of the cancer, autologous ovarian tissue transplantation was performed. Follow-up monitoring included assessment of menopausal symptoms, hormone levels, and follicular development. ResultsSix months after transplantation, follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased to 6.60 U/L, and estradiol levels increased from <10.00 ng/L to 89.00 ng/L. At 10 months after transplantation, ultrasound monitoring confirmed follicular development and physiological ovulation in the transplanted ovarian tissue. By 15 months after transplantation, follicle-stimulating hormone levels remained stable at 7.24 U/L, and estradiol levels further increased to 368.00 ng/L. Over 2 years after transplantation, the patient successfully gave birth to a healthy baby through assisted reproductive technology. ConclusionThe restoration of endocrine and ovulation functions in the transplanted cryopreserved ovarian tissue, followed by successful pregnancy, demonstrates the clinical success of ovarian tissue transplantation.
5.Finite element analysis on miniscrews and hooks with different locations assisted clear aligners in maxillary molar distalization
Panpan YE ; Changxi XU ; Hui LI ; Yang ZHANG ; Xiaolin XU ; Hongning WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(28):6012-6019
BACKGROUND:The utilization of miniscrews for assisting in molar distalization with clear aligners is a commonly adopted clinical approach.However,treatment outcomes may be influenced by the implantation position of miniscrew and the hooks in various tooth location.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the biomechanical effects of hooks at different tooth positions and the assistance of buccal and palatal miniscrews in distalizing molars with clear aligners by using the finite element method.METHODS:By integrating volunteer cone beam CT and Itero intraoral scan data,high-precision finite element models were constructed to simulate the combined use of miniscrews and hooks to assist in the distalization of the maxillary first and second molars with clear aligners,aiming for a designed distalization magnitude of 0.2 mm.Four conditions were established based on the placement of buccal or palatal miniscrews,as well as the located of hooks at the canine or first premolar.The buccal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the buccal side of the canine;the buccal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the buccal side of the first premolar;the palatal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the lingual side of the canine,and the palatal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the lingual side of the first premolar.Analysis using ANSYS software was conducted to evaluate the three-dimensional displacement trends of maxillary teeth and the maximum equivalent stress on the periodontal ligament under each condition.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Regardless of whether hooks were placed on canines or first premolars,palatal miniscrews had been shown to enhance the distal movement of maxillary molars and reduce the mesial movement of premolars as well as the labial tipping tendency of anterior teeth,compared to buccal miniscrews.The maximum equivalent stress in the periodontal ligament of molars was increased,while that of anterior teeth was decreased.(2)Regardless of whether the miniscrews were located on the buccal or palatal side,compared with hooks at the first premolar,when hooks were done at the canine,the labial inclination trend of the anterior teeth was reduced,the distal movement of the molars was reduced,the mesial movement of the premolars was increased,and the maximum equivalent stress of the molar and the periodontal membrane of the anterior teeth was reduced.(3)Regardless of whether miniscrews were located on the buccal or palatal side,and the hooks were located on the canine or the first premolar,the molar could not achieve overall movement.(4)The results show that clear aligner combined with palatal miniscrews and hooks at the first premolar are more conducive to improving the efficiency of maxillary molar distalization,but attention should be paid to protecting the anterior tooth miniscrews and molar torque control;clear aligner combined with palatal miniscrews and hooks at the canine is more conducive to reducing the labial tipping tendency of anterior teeth,but the efficiency of molar distalization will be relatively reduced.
6.Distance self-attention and long short-term memory model for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment
Haopeng ZHOU ; Yuyao TANG ; Changxi WANG ; Kang LI ; Zhenlin LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(4):659-665
Objective To construct a distance self-attention(DSA)and long short-term memory(LSTM)model and observe its value for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment.Methods CT equipment status data of internet of medical things were collected and preprocessed,then DSA-LSTM model based on model attention(MA)module and nonlinear attenuation distance factor was constructed,and its value for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment was analyzed compared with other models.Results Compared with other models,DSA-LSTM model had better comprehensive efficiency for predicting X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment.MA module and nonlinear attenuation distance factor could improve the predictive efficiency of DSA-LSTM model,and all included features contributed to the performance of DSA-LSTM model in a certain extent.Conclusion DSA-LSTM model could effectively predict X-ray tube arcing in CT equipment.
7.Finite element analysis on miniscrews and hooks with different locations assisted clear aligners in maxillary molar distalization
Panpan YE ; Changxi XU ; Hui LI ; Yang ZHANG ; Xiaolin XU ; Hongning WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(28):6012-6019
BACKGROUND:The utilization of miniscrews for assisting in molar distalization with clear aligners is a commonly adopted clinical approach.However,treatment outcomes may be influenced by the implantation position of miniscrew and the hooks in various tooth location.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the biomechanical effects of hooks at different tooth positions and the assistance of buccal and palatal miniscrews in distalizing molars with clear aligners by using the finite element method.METHODS:By integrating volunteer cone beam CT and Itero intraoral scan data,high-precision finite element models were constructed to simulate the combined use of miniscrews and hooks to assist in the distalization of the maxillary first and second molars with clear aligners,aiming for a designed distalization magnitude of 0.2 mm.Four conditions were established based on the placement of buccal or palatal miniscrews,as well as the located of hooks at the canine or first premolar.The buccal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the buccal side of the canine;the buccal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the buccal side of the first premolar;the palatal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the lingual side of the canine,and the palatal anchorage screw was used in combination with hooks on the lingual side of the first premolar.Analysis using ANSYS software was conducted to evaluate the three-dimensional displacement trends of maxillary teeth and the maximum equivalent stress on the periodontal ligament under each condition.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Regardless of whether hooks were placed on canines or first premolars,palatal miniscrews had been shown to enhance the distal movement of maxillary molars and reduce the mesial movement of premolars as well as the labial tipping tendency of anterior teeth,compared to buccal miniscrews.The maximum equivalent stress in the periodontal ligament of molars was increased,while that of anterior teeth was decreased.(2)Regardless of whether the miniscrews were located on the buccal or palatal side,compared with hooks at the first premolar,when hooks were done at the canine,the labial inclination trend of the anterior teeth was reduced,the distal movement of the molars was reduced,the mesial movement of the premolars was increased,and the maximum equivalent stress of the molar and the periodontal membrane of the anterior teeth was reduced.(3)Regardless of whether miniscrews were located on the buccal or palatal side,and the hooks were located on the canine or the first premolar,the molar could not achieve overall movement.(4)The results show that clear aligner combined with palatal miniscrews and hooks at the first premolar are more conducive to improving the efficiency of maxillary molar distalization,but attention should be paid to protecting the anterior tooth miniscrews and molar torque control;clear aligner combined with palatal miniscrews and hooks at the canine is more conducive to reducing the labial tipping tendency of anterior teeth,but the efficiency of molar distalization will be relatively reduced.
8.The Association Between EPHA5 Gene Polymorphism and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Based on the "Gene-Brain-Cognition" Model
Jieqiong WU ; Changxi JU ; Ziqing ZHU ; Yuan GAO ; Haimei LI ; Yufeng WANG ; Qiujin QIAN ; Lu LIU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;17(4):1033-1041
Based on the "gene-brain-cognition" model, this study aimed to investigate the association between the rs4860671 polymorphism of the EPHA5 gene and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and to analyze its impact on executive function and resting-state brain activity in affected children. This was a case-control study. Children with ADHD attending the outpatient clinic of Peking University Sixth Hospital from 2015 to 2020 and typically developing children from general primary and secondary schools in Beijing during the same period were enrolled as subjects. Genotypes of the EPHA5 rs4860671 polymorphism were determined in both groups. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess spontaneous brain activity. In addition, the ADHD Rating Scale and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function were administered to evaluate ADHD core symptoms and executive function, respectively. Genetic association analysis, analysis of covariance, and mediation analysis were systematically performed to explore the associations of the rs4860671 polymorphism with ADHD clinical symptoms, executive function, and brain functional activity. A total of 244 children with ADHD and 83 healthy controls were included. Among them, 188 children with ADHD and 70 healthy controls completed MRI scanning. Allelic analysis revealed that the frequency of the G allele of rs4860671 was significantly higher in children with ADHD than in healthy controls (77.5% The rs4860671 polymorphism of the EPHA5 gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of ADHD by influencing emotion regulation ability and visual network functional activity. This finding provides new scientific evidence for a deeper understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying ADHD.
9.Comparison of treatments and outcomes between early and late antibody-mediated rejection after kidney transplantation
Jinghong TAN ; Wenrui WU ; Longshan LIU ; Qian FU ; Jun LI ; Chenglin WU ; Jianming LI ; Wenyu XIE ; Huanxi ZHANG ; Changxi WANG
Chinese Journal of Organ Transplantation 2024;45(9):614-621
Objective:To explore the impact of early and late antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) on treatment options and allograft outcomes after kidney transplantation (KT).Methods:From January 2013 to December 2022, the study retrospectively enrolled 141 KT allograft recipients receiving allograft biopsy and diagnosed as AMR according to the Banff 2019 criteria. Recipients with a diagnosis of AMR within 30 days post-KT were classified into early AMR group (n=19) while the remainders assigned as late AMR group (n=122). The outcome endpoints included recipient survival rate, death-censored graft survival rate, follow-up estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and immunodominant donor-specific antibody (DSA) intensity. Wilcoxon's test was utilized for assessing the differences in eGFR and DSA intensity while Kaplan-Meier curve and Log-rank test were employed for evaluating graft survival impact. Treatment regimens for AMR were collected and categorized.Results:The median follow-up duration was 2.6(1.2, 5.2) year. No graft failure was noted in early AMR group while 44 recipients in late AMR group experienced graft failure, with 34 cases (77.2%) due to AMR progression. The 5-year death-censored graft survival rate was significantly better in early AMR group than that in late AMR group [100% vs 60.1%(50.5%, 71.6%), P=0.002]. The one-year change in eGFR for early AMR group was significantly superior to that of late AMR group [19.3(-2.6, 38.1) vs -3.3(-14.0, 5.4), P=0.001]. One-year mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) of early AMR group was 1 158(401.5, 3 126.5). It was significantly lower than that when diagnosed with early AMR [3 120.5(2 392.8, 9 340.0)] and one-year MFI of late AMR group [8 094(2 251.5, 13 560.5)] ( P=0.005, P<0.001). Early AMR group primarily received standard treatment (3/19, 15.8%) and regimens centered on rituximab and/or bortezomib (7/19, 43.8%). Late AMR group mainly received standard (16/122, 13.1%) or intensified regimens (9/122, 7.4%) and regimens focused upon rituximab and/or bortezomib (32/122, 26.2%) and MP monotherapy (21/122, 17.2%). Conclusion:The outcome for early AMR is significantly better than that for late AMR. For early AMR, early and robust immunosuppression is recommended. For late AMR, early detection and timely treatment are crucial and individualized strategies should be implemented.
10.Combined liver-kidney transplantation for giant polycystic liver and polycystic kidney involving iliac fossa: one case report
Longshan LIU ; Wenbin ZHANG ; Weiqiang JU ; Maogen CHEN ; Yongcheng WEI ; Yingzhen HE ; Jun LI ; Changxi WANG ; Xiaoshun HE
Chinese Journal of Organ Transplantation 2024;45(10):728-729
This report described one patient of giant polycystic liver and polycystic kidney involving iliac fossa. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) revealed a large polycystic kidney occupying partially iliac fossa space. A decompression of lower pole of original kidney was planned for placing transplanted kidney. During total liver resection plus orthotopic liver transplantation, right polycystic kidney could move up on its own and iliac fossa space was released for placing transplanted kidney smoothly. Polycystic kidney shrunk markedly post-operation. It provided references for surgical planning of combined liver-kidney transplantation for this type of disease.

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