1.Pseudolaric Acid B-linked Double-network Hydrogel Alleviates Pruritus by Inhibiting The Growth of Staphylococcus aureus
Ye YOU ; Yan YANG ; Tong-Yu LI ; Cheng-Long CAI ; Ting WANG ; Chan ZHU ; Zong-Xiang TANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1734-1745
ObjectiveThis study aimed to elucidate the mechanistic role of Staphylococcus aureus in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by pruritus and barrier dysfunction. A key focus was screening traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) active components with dual antibacterial and antipruritic efficacy, followed by systematic evaluation of their in vitro antibacterial activity. Additionally, a novel drug delivery system was constructed to enable localized efficient drug delivery, inhibiting S. aureus proliferation and alleviating its induced pruritus, thereby providing new strategies for targeted AD therapy. MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks (body weight 18-22 g) were used to establish an AD model via repeated oxazolone sensitization. On day 14, microbial samples were collected from the lesional area (1 cm²) using sterile cotton swabs, followed by vortex mixing, serial dilution, and plating on 5% sheep blood agar plates (incubated at 37°C for 24 h). Single colonies with complete transparent β-hemolytic zones were isolated and identified as vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) via 16S rRNA sequencing. An S. aureus mono-infection animal model was then established by applying gauze saturated with bacterial suspension (McFarland turbidity 0.1) to the nape and back skin of mice. The pruritic phenotype and inflammatory cell infiltration induced by S. aureus were evaluated using comprehensive approaches including behavioral assays (e.g., scratching frequency recording), hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and toluidine blue staining. The in vitro antibacterial efficacy of the TCM monomer pseudolaric acid B (PAB) and double network hydrogel (DN) was separately assessed by disk diffusion assay, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of PAB was determined via broth dilution method. Further validation of the pharmacodynamic characteristics of the composite system (PAB@DN, composed of PAB and DN) was conducted through behavioral assays, HE staining, and dermatitis scoring, with its drug release profile evaluated by mass spectrometry analysis. Based on scratching behavioral analysis and dermatitis scoring, the optimal ratio and concentration of PAB@DN were optimized. ResultsThe S. aureus load in AD lesional tissues was significantly higher than in normal skin ((5.3±0.33)×10⁶ CFU vs. (3.6±0.26)×10⁷ CFU, P<0.001). In the S. aureus mono-infection group, mice exhibited a 6.7-fold increase in scratching frequency compared to the control group. HE staining revealed marked epidermal thickening ((10.4±2.39) μm vs. (85.6±1.95) μm, P<0.000 1), and toluidine blue staining showed a 23-fold increase in mast cell degranulation. Pseudolaric acid B exhibited a significant concentration-dependent inhibitory effect onS. aureus growth, with its in vitro antibacterial effect being 57% that of the antibiotic cefepime (inhibition zone diameter: PAB (1.885±0.036) cm vs. cefepime (3.636±0.005) cm, P<0.000 1) and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 g/L. The carrier double network hydrogel (DN) itself lacked direct antibacterial activity (no significant difference in inhibition zone diameter compared to the control) but effectively ameliorated the dry symptoms of AD-like lesions. The PAB@DN composite system demonstrated a synergistic effect compared to individual components, resulting in a 50% reduction in scratching behavior, an 86% decrease in dermatitis score, and a 60% reduction in epidermal thickening. It also reduced the S. aureus load in mouse skin by approximately 34%, with the optimal effective formulation being PAB at 1 g/L loaded onto DN. ConclusionS. aureus colonization plays a critical driving role in the onset and progression of AD. Using an S. aureus infection model, this study confirmed that the pseudolaric acidB-hydrogel composite delivery system (PAB@DN) can effectively alleviate S. aureus-induced pruritus and skin damage, providing experimental evidence for microbiota-targeted therapy of AD.
2.Aerobic Exercise and MOTS-c Ameliorate Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes via The NRF2/PPARγ Axis
Fei-Long CHEN ; Zhi-Yu LI ; Tu-Tu WANG ; Yu FU ; Lei LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Shun-Chang LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(8):2071-2090
ObjectiveType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often causes severe hepatic metabolic complications, dominated by metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Persistent hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress further trigger steatohepatitis and progressive liver damage, increasing the mortality risk of diabetic patients. Aerobic exercise effectively improves hepatic lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity, but poor patient adherence restricts its long-term clinical application. Mitochondrial-derived mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c (MOTS-c) is a key peptide regulating insulin sensitivity and hepatic redox homeostasis. This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of MOTS-c against T2DM-related liver injury and its combined beneficial effect with aerobic exercise via the NRF2/PPARγ signaling axis. This study aimed to investigate whether MOTS-c cooperates with aerobic exercise to alleviate T2DM-associated hepatic oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction by activating the NRF2/PPARγ axis, and to clarify the molecular and transcriptomic characteristics of their combined intervention. MethodsStable MOTS-c overexpression and knockdown HepG2 cell lines were constructed using lentiviral transfection. An oleic acid-induced cellular lipid accumulation model and NRF2-knockout cell model were applied to verify the NRF2-dependent mechanism ofMOTS-c. Intracellular lipid deposition, triglyceride levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the expression of NRF2/PPARγ pathway-related genes and proteins were detected. In vivo, a T2DM rat model with obvious hepatic steatosis was established via a high-fat and high-sucrose diet combined with streptozotocin injection. Model rats received aerobic exercise, MOTS-c intraperitoneal injection, or combined intervention. We detected systemic glycolipid metabolic indicators, hepatic histopathological changes, and the expression of core proteins in the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Hepatic transcriptomic sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enrich key pathways co-regulated by MOTS-c and aerobic exercise. ResultsCellular results showed that MOTS-c overexpression significantly reduced oleic acid-induced lipid deposition, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and upregulated NRF2 and PPARγ expression. Conversely, MOTS-c knockdown aggravated hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative damage and inhibited NRF2/PPARγ pathway activation. NRF2 knockout completely eliminated the protective effects of MOTS-c on lipid metabolism and redox balance, confirming its NRF2-dependent regulatory mechanism. In T2DM rats, both MOTS-c supplementation and aerobic exercise effectively improved insulin resistance, corrected glycolipid metabolic disorders, and alleviated hepatic steatosis, while consistently activating the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Compared with single intervention, the combined treatment showed a better improvement trend in hepatic metabolic and oxidative injury, without definitive synergistic effects. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the co-regulated DEGs of MOTS-c and aerobic exercise were primarily enriched in lipid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways, with multiple antioxidant and lipid-regulating genes significantly modulated by combined intervention. ConclusionMOTS-c exhibits obvious exercise-mimetic hepatoprotective effects in T2DM. It activates the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis to strengthen antioxidant defense, stabilize lipid metabolism, and relieve T2DM-associated hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage. Furthermore, MOTS-c produces additive beneficial effects with aerobic exercise, showing a superior intervention trend on diabetic liver dysfunction. This study identifies the NRF2/PPARγ axis as the core mechanism of MOTS-c-regulated hepatic protection, elucidates the transcriptomic basis of combined intervention, and provides a reliable theoretical basis and potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in T2DM-complicated MAFLD.
3.Anatomical Importance Between Neural Structure and Bony Landmark in Neuroventral Decompression for Posterior Endoscopic Cervical Discectomy
Xin WANG ; Tao HU ; Chaofan QIN ; Bo LEI ; Mingxin CHEN ; Ke MA ; Qingyan LONG ; Qingshuai YU ; Si CHENG ; Zhengjian YAN
Neurospine 2025;22(1):286-296
Objective:
This study aims to investigate the anatomical relationship among the nerve roots, intervertebral space, pedicles, and intradural rootlets of the cervical spine for improving operative outcomes and exploring neuroventral decompression approach in posterior endoscopic cervical discectomy (PECD).
Methods:
Cervical computed tomography myelography imaging data from January 2021 to May 2023 were collected, and the RadiAnt DICOM Viewer Software was employed to conduct multiplane reconstruction. The following parameters were recorded: width of nerve root (WN), nerve root-superior pedicle distance (NSPD), nerve root-inferior pedicle distance (NIPD), and the relationship between the intervertebral space and the nerve root (shoulder, anterior, and axillary). Additionally, the descending angles between the spinal cord and the ventral (VRA) and dorsal (DRA) rootlets were measured.
Results:
The WN showed a gradual increase from C4 to C7, with measurements notably larger in men compared to women. The NSPD decreased gradually from the C2–3 to the C5–6 levels. However, the NIPD showed an opposite level-related change, notably larger than the NSPD at the C4–5, C5–6, and C7–T1 levels. Furthermore, significant differences in NIPD were observed between different age groups and genders. The incidence of the anterior type exhibited a gradual decrease from the C2–3 to the C5–6 levels. Conversely, the axillary type exhibited an opposite level-related change. Additionally, the VRA and DRA decreased as the level descended, with measurements significantly larger in females.
Conclusion
A prediction of the positional relationship between the intervertebral space and the nerve root is essential for the direct neuroventral decompression in PECD to avoid damaging the neural structures. The axillary route of the nerve root offers a safer and more effective pathway for performing direct neuroventral decompression compared to the shoulder approach.
4.Efficacy of typeⅡ hybrid surgery versus Sun’s surgery in the treatment of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection: A retrospective cohort study in a single center
Jie WANG ; Wei WU ; Long CHENG ; Feifei TANG ; Shilin DAI ; Yuqiang SHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):663-669
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of typeⅡhybrid surgery versus Sun’s surgery in treating acute Stanford A aortic dissection. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with acute Stanford A aortic dissection who were treated at the Central Hospital of Wuhan affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from 2016 to 2022. According to the surgical method, patients were divided into a typeⅡhybrid group and a Sun’s surgery group, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was compared. Results A total of 52 patients were included, with 22 in the typeⅡhybrid surgery group and 30 in the Sun’s surgery group. The typeⅡhybrid group consisted of 18 males and 4 females, with an average age of (58.18±6.00) years, while the Sun’s surgery group consisted of 22 males and 8 females, with an average age of (53.03±11.89) years. All surgeries were successfully completed. There were 4 (13.3%) perioperative deaths in the Sun’s surgery group, including 2 patients of multiple organ failure, 1 patient of paraplegia, and 1 patient of uncontrollable postoperative bleeding. There was 1 (4.5%) perioperative death in the typeⅡhybrid surgery group, who was suspected of acute coronary syndrome and took a loading dose of dual antiplatelet drugs preoperatively. The patient underwent secondary thoracotomy for hemostasis, was re-cannulated during the operation, and finally died of circulatory failure after implantation of intra-aortic balloon pumping. There was no statistical difference in perioperative mortality between the two groups (P=0.381). Compared with the Sun’s surgery group, the typeⅡhybrid surgery group had shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time [153.00 (135.00, 185.25) min vs. 182.50 (166.50, 196.75) min, P=0.013], aortic cross-clamping time [77.00 (70.50, 92.00) min vs. 102.50 (93.50, 109.75) min, P<0.001], postoperative ICU stay [4.00 (2.83, 6.00) days vs. 8.00 (6.38, 11.78) days, P<0.001], postoperative ventilator support time [72.00 (29.50, 93.25) h vs. 87.65 (39.13, 139.13) h, P=0.138], less intraoperative blood loss [(1586.82±209.41) mL vs. (1 806.00±292.62) mL, P=0.004], postoperative 24 h drainage volume [612.50 (507.50, 762.50) mL vs. 687.50 (518.75, 993.75) mL, P=0.409], and shorter postoperative hospital stay [18.00 (13.00, 20.25) days vs. 22.00 (17.00, 29.25) days, P=0.013]. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of other early postoperative complications such as secondary thoracotomy for hemostasis, tracheotomy, renal dysfunction requiring dialysis, stroke, and paraplegia between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion For patients with acute Stanford A aortic dissection, typeⅡhybrid surgery is safe and effective; compared with traditional Sun’s surgery, typeⅡhybrid surgery has relatively less trauma, lower incidence of complications, satisfactory short-term results, and further research is needed on long-term prognosis.
5.Analysis of the effect of bladder artery embolization combined with sequential TURBt in the treatment of bladder cancer
Hao ZHENG ; Chengtao GU ; Hao XU ; Shaochen WANG ; Zilong ZHANG ; Long CHENG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(12):1338-1342
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative bladder artery embolization followed by transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TURBt)in treating bladder cancer.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 129 bladder cancer patients treated at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2021 to June 2024.Exclusions included 2 cases of acute bleeding with shock,3 cases requiring staged surgery due to poor intraoperative visualization,7 cases with other malignancies,12 cases without TURBt performed within 24 hours after embolization,and 1 case where selective bladder artery embolization failed.Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they underwent pre-TURBt embolization.Group A(n=61)underwent TURBt alone,while Group B(n=43)underwent TURBt within 24 hours after bladder artery embolization.There were no statistically significant differences in gender composition,tumor size,or other clinical characteristics between the two groups(P>0.05).Statistical comparisons were made between the two groups regarding operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative hospital stay,duration of postoperative catheterization,and incidence of adverse reactions.Results In Group A,the mean operation time was(67.9±14.2)min,intraoperative blood loss was(80.7±24.7)mL,postoperative hospital stay was(8.5±1.6)days,and catheterization duration was(6.9±1.1)days.In Group B,the mean operation time was(54.0±12.6)min,intraoperative blood loss was(58.6±27.3)mL,postoperative hospital stay was(7.3±1.4)days,and catheterization duration was(6.4±0.9)days.Operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative hospital stay,and catheterization duration were significantly lower in Group B compared to Group A(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Preoperative bladder artery embolization followed by TURBt for bladder cancer reduces tumor blood supply,thereby decreasing intraoperative bleeding.This approach effectively minimizes surgical bleeding,shortens operation time and postoperative hospital stay,with minimal side effects.It represents a safe and effective combined treatment method worthy of clinical promotion and application.
6.Oxymatrine,a novel TLR2 agonist,promotes megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the STING/NF-κB pathway
Chengyang NI ; Ling ZHOU ; Shuo YANG ; Mei RAN ; Jiesi LUO ; Kui CHENG ; Feihong HUANG ; Xiaoqin TANG ; Xiang XIE ; Dalian QIN ; Qibing MEI ; Long WANG ; Juan XIAO ; Jianming WU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):208-229
Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia(RIT)faces a perplexing challenge in the clinical treatment of cancer patients,and current therapeutic approaches are inadequate in the clinical settings.In this research,oxy-matrine,a new molecule capable of healing RIT was screened out,and the underlying regulatory mecha-nism associated with magakaryocyte(MK)differentiation and thrombopoiesis was demonstrated.The capacity of oxymatrine to induce MK differentiation was verified in K-562 and Meg-01 cells in vitro.The ability to induce thrombopoiesis was subsequently demonstrated in Tg(cd41:enhanced green fluorescent protein(eGFP))zebrafish and RIT model mice.In addition,we carried out network pharmacological pre-diction,drug affinity responsive target stability assay(DARTS)and cellular thermal shift assay(CETSA)analyses to explore the potential targets of oxymatrine.Moreover,the pathway underlying the effects of oxymatrine was determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses,Western blot(WB),and immunofluorescence.Oxymatrine markedly promoted MK differentiation and maturation in vitro.Moreover,oxymatrine induced thrombopoiesis in Tg(cd41:eGFP)zebrafish and accelerated thrombopoiesis and platelet function recovery in RIT model mice.Mechanistically,oxymatrine directly binds to toll-like receptor 2(TLR2)and further regulates the downstream pathway stimulator of interferon genes(STING)/nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB),which can be blocked by C29 and C-176,which are specific inhibitors of TLR2 and STING,respectively.Taken together,we demonstrated that oxymatrine,a novel TLR2 agonist,plays a critical role in accelerating MK differentiation and thrombopoiesis via the STING/NF-κB axis,suggesting that oxymatrine is a promising candidate for RIT therapy.
7.Oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, promotes megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the STING/NF-κB pathway.
Chengyang NI ; Ling ZHOU ; Shuo YANG ; Mei RAN ; Jiesi LUO ; Kui CHENG ; Feihong HUANG ; Xiaoqin TANG ; Xiang XIE ; Dalian QIN ; Qibing MEI ; Long WANG ; Juan XIAO ; Jianming WU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):101054-101054
Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) faces a perplexing challenge in the clinical treatment of cancer patients, and current therapeutic approaches are inadequate in the clinical settings. In this research, oxymatrine, a new molecule capable of healing RIT was screened out, and the underlying regulatory mechanism associated with magakaryocyte (MK) differentiation and thrombopoiesis was demonstrated. The capacity of oxymatrine to induce MK differentiation was verified in K-562 and Meg-01 cells in vitro. The ability to induce thrombopoiesis was subsequently demonstrated in Tg (cd41:enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)) zebrafish and RIT model mice. In addition, we carried out network pharmacological prediction, drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) analyses to explore the potential targets of oxymatrine. Moreover, the pathway underlying the effects of oxymatrine was determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, Western blot (WB), and immunofluorescence. Oxymatrine markedly promoted MK differentiation and maturation in vitro. Moreover, oxymatrine induced thrombopoiesis in Tg (cd41:eGFP) zebrafish and accelerated thrombopoiesis and platelet function recovery in RIT model mice. Mechanistically, oxymatrine directly binds to toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and further regulates the downstream pathway stimulator of interferon genes (STING)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), which can be blocked by C29 and C-176, which are specific inhibitors of TLR2 and STING, respectively. Taken together, we demonstrated that oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, plays a critical role in accelerating MK differentiation and thrombopoiesis via the STING/NF-κB axis, suggesting that oxymatrine is a promising candidate for RIT therapy.
8.Chlorogenic acid mitigates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via modulation of HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
An-Na XIE ; Sun-Zheng-Yuan ZHANG ; Yu ZHANG ; Jin-Long CAO ; Cheng-Long WANG ; Li-Bo WANG ; Hong-Jin WU ; Jie ZHANG ; Wei-Wei DAI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(6):670-682
OBJECTIVE:
Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a common complication of prolonged glucocorticoid therapy. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenol with antioxidant properties that is extracted from traditional Chinese medicines such as Eucommiae Cortex, has potential anti-osteoporotic activity. This study aimed to investigate the possible effects of CGA on GIOP in mice and murine long bone osteocyte Y4 (MLO-Y4) cells and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.
METHODS:
The protective effects of CGA were initially evaluated in the GIOP mouse model induced by dexamethasone (Dex). The micro-computed tomography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, silver nitrate staining, and serum detection were used to assess the efficacy of CGA for improving bone formation in vivo. Then, network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the potential targets and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of CGA against GIOP. After that, 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate staining, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to verify the mechanisms of CGA against GIOP in vitro.
RESULTS:
Animal experiments showed that CGA treatment effectively attenuated Dex-induced decreases in bone mass and strength and improved disrupted osteocyte morphology in mice. The protein-protein interaction analysis highlighted erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase (ERBB2), which is also known as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), caspase-3, kinase insert domain receptor, matrix metallopeptidase 9, matrix metallopeptidase 2, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src, and epidermal growth factor receptor as core targets. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed several significantly enriched pathways (P < 0.05), including the ERBB, phosphoinositide 3 kinase-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT), and mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) pathways. Cellular experiments verified that CGA enhanced bone formation and promoted autophagy while inhibiting apoptosis in MLO-Y4 cells exposed to Dex, which was associated with the upregulated expression of HER2 and activation of the HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
CONCLUSION
CGA exerted anti-osteoporotic effects against GIOP, partially through targeting osteocytes and modulating the HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Please cite this article as: Xie AN, Zhang SZY, Zhang Y, Cao JL, Wang CL, Wang LB, Wu HJ, Zhang J, Dai WW. Chlorogenic acid mitigates glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via modulation of HER2/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):670-682.
Animals
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Chlorogenic Acid/therapeutic use*
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Osteoporosis/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
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Mice
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Glucocorticoids/adverse effects*
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Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Mas
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Dexamethasone/adverse effects*
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Osteocytes/drug effects*
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Osteogenesis/drug effects*
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Male
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Cell Line
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Humans
9.(Meta)transcriptomic Insights into the Role of Ticks in Poxvirus Evolution and Transmission: A Multicontinental Analysis.
Yu Xi WANG ; Jing Jing HU ; Jing Jing HOU ; Xiao Jie YUAN ; Wei Jie CHEN ; Yan Jiao LI ; Qi le GAO ; Yue PAN ; Shui Ping LU ; Qi CHEN ; Si Ru HU ; Zhong Jun SHAO ; Cheng Long XIONG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1058-1070
OBJECTIVE:
Poxviruses are zoonotic pathogens that infect humans, mammals, vertebrates, and arthropods. However, the specific role of ticks in transmission and evolution of these viruses remains unclear.
METHODS:
Transcriptomic and metatranscriptomic raw data from 329 sampling pools of seven tick species across five continents were mined to assess the diversity and abundance of poxviruses. Chordopoxviral sequences were assembled and subjected to phylogenetic analysis to trace the origins of the unblasted fragments within these sequences.
RESULTS:
Fifty-eight poxvirus species, representing two subfamilies and 20 genera, were identified, with 212 poxviral sequences assembled. A substantial proportion of AT-rich fragments were detected in the assembled poxviral genomes. These genomic sequences contained fragments originating from rodents, archaea, and arthropods.
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that ticks play a significant role in the transmission and evolution of poxviruses. These viruses demonstrate the capacity to modulate virulence and adaptability through horizontal gene transfer, gene recombination, and gene mutations, thereby promoting co-existence and co-evolution with their hosts. This study advances understanding of the ecological dynamics of poxvirus transmission and evolution and highlights the potential role of ticks as vectors and vessels in these processes.
Animals
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Poxviridae/physiology*
;
Ticks/virology*
;
Phylogeny
;
Transcriptome
;
Evolution, Molecular
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Poxviridae Infections/virology*
;
Genome, Viral
10.Changes in reported cases and distribution of infectious disease under the grading diagnosis and treatment model in Minhang District, Shanghai
Long CHEN ; Linjuan DONG ; Yibin ZHOU ; Tingqin CHENG ; Dunjia WANG ; Zhiyin XU ; Wanli CHEN ; Wei ZHONG ; Xiaohua LIU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(9):795-801
ObjectiveTo analyze the reported cases of infectious diseases across different tiers of public medical and healthcare institutions in Minhang District, Shanghai from 2013 to 2023, to investigate the status and changes in reported infectious diseases in this district from a temporal, etiological, and demographic perspectives, so as to provide a scientific basis for the construction of a hierarchica early-warning surveillance system under the grading diagnosis and treatment model in medical institutions, as well as for optimizing sentinel surveillance at facilities of different levels. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed using surveillance data from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System in Minhang District from 2013 to 2023. Reported infectious diseases were categorized into three categories based on transmission routes: respiratory infectious diseases, intestinal infectious diseases, and sexually transmitted and blood borne infectious diseases. According to the implementation phase of the grading diagnosis and treatment policy, the research time was divided into four time periods: 2013‒2016, 2017‒2019, 2020‒2022, and 2023. The distribution and temporal changes of reported cases of infectious diseases were compared across community health service centers (CHCs), secondary hospitals, tertiary grade-A hospitals and tertiary grade-B hospitals. Chi-square test was used for univariate analysis of differences in the number of reported cases. Quantitative data with normal distribution were analyzed using parametric tests, otherwise, Kruskal⁃Wallis H tests were used. ResultsThe proportions of total reported cases of infectious diseases in medical institutions at all levels in Minhang District, Shanghai from 2013 to 2023 were 10.66% in CHCs, 9.10% in secondary hospitals, 64.95% in tertiary grade-B hospitals, and 15.29% in tertiary grade-A hospitals, with an overall decline and then rebound trend in the reported cases. After the implementation of grading diagnosis and treatment policy, the number of reported cases in CHCs and secondary hospitals showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, while that in tertiary grade-B hospitals showed a steady decreasing trend and that in tertiary grade-A hospitals showed an increasing trend. In terms of the research periods divided above, a total of 10 392 cases were reported in 2013‒2016 (70.34% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 12.59% from CHCs), including 2 922 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 1 241 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 6 229 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. Between 2017 and 2019, a total of 6 967 cases were reported (73.49% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 11.84% from tertiary grade-A hospitals), including 2 983 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 279 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 3 705 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. Between 2020 and 2022, a total of 4 599 cases were reported (69.92% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 24.57% from tertiary grade-A hospitals), including 1 627 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 123 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 2 849 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. In 2023, a total of 4 648 cases were reported (35.20% from tertiary grade-B hospitals and 27.50% from tertiary grade-A hospitals), including 3 165 cases of respiratory infectious diseases, 69 cases of intestinal infectious diseases, and 1 414 cases of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infectious diseases. The proportion of reported cases from tertiary grade-B hospitals was the highest in all the four research periods, but exhibited an obvious decrease in 2023. The differences in the reported cases of infectious diseases with different transmission routes among medical institutions at all levels were statistically significant (χ²=3 225.628, P<0.05). The differences in the mean age of patients among medical institutions at all levels were statistically significant (H=1 325.927, P<0.05). ConclusionThere are significant differences in the number of reported cases of infectious disease in the medical institutions at different levels. Tertiary grade-B hospitals have historically dominated the number of reported cases, but its share has declined recently. Whereas, CHCs and tertiary grade-A hospitals have played an increasingly important role in the surveillance and early warning of respiratory and intestinal infectious diseases. Therefore, it is recommended to leverage the strengths of grading diagnosis and treatment to establish targeted sentinel sites and deploy specialized teams tailored to the epidemiological characteristics of specific disease categories.

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