1.Electroacupuncture Ameliorates NLRP3-mediated Pyroptosis in Spinal Cord Injury Rats by Reshaping The Gut Microbiota
Yin-Jie CUI ; Hong-Ru LI ; Jing-Yi LIU ; Hai-Lin DU ; Shu-Wen LIU ; Yuan YANG ; Chen-Guang ZHENG ; Jian-Qin XIANG ; Xiao-Juan SONG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1132-1153
ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.
2.Electroacupuncture Ameliorates NLRP3-mediated Pyroptosis in Spinal Cord Injury Rats by Reshaping The Gut Microbiota
Yin-Jie CUI ; Hong-Ru LI ; Jing-Yi LIU ; Hai-Lin DU ; Shu-Wen LIU ; Yuan YANG ; Chen-Guang ZHENG ; Jian-Qin XIANG ; Xiao-Juan SONG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1132-1153
ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.
3.Fluorescence Suppression Method of Raman Spectroscopy and Its Application in Skin and Cosmetics Analysis
Yun-Xia CHEN ; Jia-Rong WANG ; Jian-Yu ZHU ; Shi-Wen LIN ; Ya-Nan LIU ; Xiao-Yue MA ; Guang-Cheng XI ; Juan LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1914-1926
Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 106 to 108 times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.
4.Zhang Hong'Case Studies on the Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury with Acupuncture
Dandan MA ; Jie CHENG ; Zefei JIANG ; Guang LIU ; Xi CHEN ; Hong ZHANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(9):2745-2752
Peripheral nerve injury refers to the impairment that occurs when the sens-ory nerves and motor nerves are damaged.Professor Zhang Hong has unique insights into the treatment of neurologically diseases in children.Based on the different manifestations of the disease,it is categorized under the traditional Chinese medicine concepts of"atro-phy syndrome","muscle injury"and"Bi syndrome".Professor Zhang believes that the disease is fundamentally rooted in the liver and kidneys,and that treatment should notonly address the acquired symptoms but also nurture the innate foundation.This article a-nalyze and summarize professor Zhang's clinical experience in using acupuncture,electroa-cupuncture,moving cupping,and moxibustion in the comprehensive treatment of peripheral nerve injury,providing a reference for clinical treatment of peripheral neuropathy in chil-dren.
5.Resveratrol attenuates hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis via Nrf2/Keap1 pathway
Xue-fei FAN ; Jian ZHOU ; Su-huan CHEN ; Meng-yan ZHANG ; Hao-miao LIU ; Rui SU ; Guang-yi CHEN ; Yu-bao SHAO ; Tao YAO ; Xiao-yu CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):861-867
Aim To explore the therapeutic effects of resveratrol(Res)on hepatic inflammation and oxida-tive stress in rheumatoid arthritis(RA),and to eluci-date the relationship of the regulatory mechanism of the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway in it.Methods A mouse model of arthritis was induced using chicken type Ⅱ collagen in combination with complete Freund's adjuvant,and Res was administered by tube feeding for treatment.Serum liver function indices and levels of hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress were detected in mice.An in vitro cellular model of hepatic inflam-mation and oxidative stress was established by treating mouse primary hepatocytes(MPHs)with TNF-α(5μg·L-1),cell proliferation inhibition was detected by CCK-8,and inflammation and oxidative stress-relat-ed indices were detected by protein blotting.The in-trinsic mechanisms by which Res attenuated hepatic in-flammation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis were explored by treating MPHs with Nrf2 inhibitor and Keap1 overexpression plasmid.Results Res signifi-cantly reduced the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in hepatic tissues of collagen-induced arthritis mice as well as TNF-α-treated MPHs,and activated the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway.Inflammation and oxidative stress levels in MPHs were exacerbated by the use of Nrf2 inhibitors and Keap1 overexpression,which promoted apoptosis.Conclusion Res attenuates he-patic inflammation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis via the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway.
6.Coverage of National Immunization Program vaccines and vaccination information consistency rate among children born during 2020-2021 in 3 provinces in China
Wenqi HUANG ; Miao XU ; Xiaohua QI ; Qing WANG ; Jing CHEN ; Ming GUANG ; Yu LIU ; Xu CHEN ; Fangfang ZENG ; Dan LIU ; Xiaofeng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(8):1393-1399
Objective:To understand the coverage and information consistency rate of National Immunization Program (NIP) vaccines among children born during 2020-2021 in Zhejiang Province, Chongqing City, and Shanxi Province (3 provinces) of China .Methods:A simple random sampling method was used to randomly select 3 counties (districts) from each of the 3 provinces, 5 townships from each county (district), and 5 villages from each township. Vaccination information for seven NIP vaccines was collected for children born between 2020 and 2021 in each village. The vaccination coverage, timely coverage, and consistency rates between the survey data and the Immunization Planning Information System data were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 117 children were investigated. The vaccination coverage for each dose of NIP vaccine ranged from 99.10% to 100.00%, with those in Zhejiang Province, Chongqing City, and Shanxi Province ranging from 99.19% to 100.00%, 98.92% to 100.00%, and 99.20% to 100.00%, respectively. The timely coverage of each dose of NIP vaccine ranged from 89.79% to 99.82%, with those in Zhejiang Province, Chongqing City, and Shanxi Province ranging from 94.09% to 99.73%, 89.52% to 99.73%, and 78.55% to 100.00%, respectively. The consistency rate of information on each dose of NIP vaccine ranged from 94.36% to 99.91%, with those in Zhejiang Province, Chongqing City, and Shanxi Province ranging from 97.85% to 99.73%, 98.92% to 100.00%, and 86.06% to 100.00%, respectively.Conclusions:Coverage of NIP vaccines was generally high among children born during 2020-2021 in the 3 provinces of China, but there were regional differences in the timely coverage of some vaccine doses and the vaccination information consistency rate. It is necessary to strengthen the timely vaccination of children's vaccine booster doses and optimize the management of vaccination services.
7.Expert consensus on visualized tele-round and quality control management based on the improvement of clinical practice ability
Wanhong YIN ; Xiaoting WANG ; Ran ZHOU ; Dawei LIU ; Yan KANG ; Yaoqing TANG ; Xiaochun MA ; Jianguo LI ; Zhenjie HU ; Haitao ZHANG ; Wei HE ; Lixia LIU ; Wenjin CHEN ; Ran ZHU ; Jun WU ; Hongmin ZHANG ; Lina ZHANG ; Wenzhao CHAI ; Shihong ZHU ; Wangbin XU ; Rongqing SUN ; Xiangyou YU ; Tianjiao SONG ; Ying ZHU ; Hong REN ; Ai SHANMU ; Qing ZHANG ; Wei FANG ; Xiuling SHANG ; Liwen LYU ; Shuhan CAI ; Xin DING ; Heng ZHANG ; Guang FENG ; Lipeng ZHANG ; Bo HU ; Dong ZHANG ; Weidong WU ; Feng SHEN ; Xiaojun YANG ; Zhenguo ZENG ; Qibing HUANG ; Xueying ZENG ; Tongjuan ZOU ; Milin PENG ; Yulong YAO ; Mingming CHEN ; Hui LIAN ; Jingmei WANG ; Yong LI ; Feng QU ; Gang YE ; Rongli YANG ; Xiukai CHEN ; Suwei LI ; Juxiang WANG ; Yangong CHAO
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(2):101-109
Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor′s professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.
8.The clinical research of IFNGR1 proximal promoter polymorphism in susceptibility and prognosis of breast cancer
Xinping LIU ; Hong ZHOU ; Youyou DONG ; Ze ZHANG ; Mingxue ZHU ; Qi ZHU ; Guang ZHOU ; Changguo CHEN
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(7):1103-1107
This study investigated the association between a proximal promoter polymorphism of IFNGR1 (interferon-γ receptor α chain, IFNGR-α) and breast cancer susceptibility, as well as the prognostic value of its expression variation in breast cancer patients. A case-control study was conducted at the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from June 2020 to June 2022. The study included 182 pathologically confirmed breast cancer patients as the breast cancer group, 177 non-tumor patients with benign breast lesions as the benign breast lesions group, and 229 healthy individuals as the normal control group. 2-3 ml EDTA anticoagulant whole blood samples were collected from all participants, and genomic DNA was extracted and stored for further analysis. Basic patient information was retrieved from the hospital′s electronic medical records by patients′ ID number. The proximal promoter sequence of IFNGR1 was obtained from NCBI, and sequencing primers were designed using Primer Premier 6.0. Sanger sequencing was employed to analyze the IFNGR1 promoter sequence in the three groups, and the results were compared with the Eukaryotic Promoter Database (EPD) sequence using Bioedit software. Statistical analysis was performed on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IFNGR1 promoter. The TCGA database was utilized to assess the relationship between IFNGR1 expression levels and breast cancer patient survival. The findings revealed that the -56 TG genotype of the IFNGR1 promoter was significantly associated with increased breast cancer risk ( Z=2.73, P<0.05). Notably, IFNGR1 expression was lower in breast cancer group compared to normal control group ( P<0.05). Analysis of the TCGA database indicated that patients with high IFNGR1 expression had longer survival times than those with low expression ( HR=0.87, 95% CI:0.77-0.98, P<0.05). In summary, the IFNGR1 -56 TG genotype is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and there is a positive correlation between IFNGR1 expression levels and the survival of breast cancer patients.
9.Impact of Polygonum cuspidatum and polydatin on lipid deposition in adipose tissue of obese mice
Bi-lin XU ; Lu-guang SHENG ; Dan-dan LIU ; Wei-bin LIU ; Tao LEI ; Qing-guang CHEN ; Hao LU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(9):2912-2917
AIM To investigate the effects of Polygonum cuspidatum and polydatin on lipid deposition in adipose tissue of high-fat diet-induced obese mice.METHODS Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to either a control group(10 mice)fed standard chow or a diet-induced obesity(DIO)group(30 mice)fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks.The successful mouse models were randomly assigned to the model group,the polydatin group(250 mg/kg)and the P.cuspidatum group(4.5 g/kg),with 8 mice in each group,to resume their high-fat diet during the following 8 weeks corresponding drug administration by gavage.Weekly body weight measurements were recorded for all mice.Serum TG,TC and LDL levels were quantified post-treatment.Histopathological assessment of adipose tissue was performed using HE staining.The mRNA expressions of AMPK,SREBP-1c and FAS in adipose tissue were analyzed by RT-qPCR.The protein expressions of p-AMPK,SREBP-1c and FAS in adipose tissue was detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group displayed significantly higher body weight,inguinal fat weight and epididymal fat weight(P<0.05);elevated serum TG,TC and LDL levels(P<0.05);markedly enlarged volumes of inguinal and epididymal adipocytes(P<0.01);reduced p-AMPK protein expression in inguinal adipose tissue(P<0.01);and upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of SREBP-1c and FAS(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared to the model group,both the P.cuspidatum group and polygonin group exhibited significantly reduced body weight and inguinal fat weight(P<0.05);decreased serum TG and TC levels(P<0.05);reduced inguinal adipocyte size(P<0.01);elevated p-AMPK protein expression in inguinal adipose tissue(P<0.01);and downregulated mRNA and protein expressions of SREBP-1c and FAS(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION P.cuspidatum and polydatin significantly increases p-AMPK expression while decreasing SREBP-1c and FAS levels in adipose tissue.This regulatory effect likely contributes to reduction of body weight in obese mice through suppression of lipogenesis.
10.Expression level of miR-196a in patients with HPV16 and HPV18 subtypes infections and bioinformatics analysis of its association with survival of cervical cancer
Xinping LIU ; Guang ZHOU ; Youyou DONG ; Ze ZHANG ; Mingxue ZHU ; Qi ZHU ; Changguo CHEN
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(19):2950-2953
OBJECTIVE To explore the expression level of miR-196a in cervical cells infected with high-risk human papillomavirus(HPV)16 and 18.METHODS The Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)was used to screen for dif-ferentially expressed miRNAs between HPV 16 or 18-positive cervical cancer cells and normal cervical cells.On-line biological software https://kmplot.com/analysis/was utilized to analyze the relationship between the most differentially expressed miRNA and the overall survival of cervical cancer patients.Cervical swab samples positive for HPV 16 or HPV 18,detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)genoty-ping,were collected as the study subjects.Cervical swab samples from the same period of physical examination population that were negative for HPV 16 or HPV 18 by qPCR genotyping served as negative controls.The qRT-PCR method was employed to detect the level of miR-196a in cervical cells,with data processed via the 2-△△Ctmethod.RESULTS Differential analysis of the GSE86100 data revealed that miR-196a expression de-creased in HPV 16 or HPV 18-positive cervical cells(log2FC=-6.60,P<0.001),while miR-3188 expression significantly increased(log2FC=6.22,P<0.001).Using online analysis tools https://kmplot.com/analysis,it was found that cervical cancer patients with high miR-196a expression had a shorter overall survival compared to those with low m iR-196a expression(HR=1.87,95%CI:1.17-3.00,P=0.008).H owever,there was no cor-relation between miR-3188 and the overall survival of cervical cancer patients(HR=1.47,95%CI:0.92-2.37,P=0.110).The results of specific qRT-PCR testing showed that the expression levels of miR-196a in cervical cells positive for HPV 16 and HPV 18 were 0.93±0.09 and 0.51±0.07,respectively,which were lower than those in the normal control group(1.89±0.13)(P<0.05),consistent with the sequencing analysis results CONCLUSIONS Infection of cervical cells with HPV 16 or HPV 18 can lead to decreased expression of miR-196a,and the expres-sion level of miR-196a is negatively correlated with the overall survival of cervical cancer patients.

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