1.The Mechanism of Exercise Regulating Intestinal Flora in The Prevention and Treatment of Depression
Lei-Zi MIN ; Jing-Tong WANG ; Qing-Yuan WANG ; Yi-Cong CUI ; Rui WANG ; Xin-Dong MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1418-1434
Depression, a prevalent mental disorder with significant socioeconomic burdens, underscores the urgent need for safe and effective non-pharmacological interventions. Recent advances in microbiome research have revealed the pivotal role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of depression. Concurrently, exercise, as a cost-effective and accessible intervention, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the interplay among exercise, gut microbiota modulation, and depression, elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms via the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. Depression is characterized by gut microbiota alterations, including reduced alpha and beta diversity, depletion of beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Coprococcus), and overgrowth of pro-inflammatory and pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Morganella, Klebsiella, and Enterobacteriaceae). Metagenomic analyses reveal disrupted metabolic functions in depressive patients, such as diminished synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impaired tryptophan metabolism, and dysregulated bile acid conversion. For instance, Bifidobacterium longum deficiency correlates with reduced synthesis of neuroactive metabolites like homovanillic acid, while decreased Coprococcus abundance limits butyrate production, exacerbating neuroinflammation. Furthermore, elevated levels of indole derivatives from Clostridium species inhibit serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, contributing to depressive phenotypes. These dysbiotic profiles disrupt the MGB axis, triggering systemic inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Exercise exerts profound effects on gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that sustained aerobic exercise increases alpha diversity, enriches SCFA-producing genera (e.g., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, and Akkermansia), and suppresses pathobionts (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Streptococcus). For example, a meta-analysis of 25 trials involving 1 044 participants confirmed that exercise enhances microbial richness and restores the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a biomarker of metabolic health. Notably, endurance training promotes Veillonella proliferation, which converts lactate into propionate, enhancing energy metabolism and delaying fatigue. Exercise also strengthens intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (e.g., ZO-1, occludin), thereby reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation and systemic inflammation. However, excessive exercise may paradoxically diminish microbial diversity and exacerbate intestinal permeability, highlighting the importance of moderate intensity and duration. Exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms through multifaceted interactions with the gut microbiota, primarily via 4 interconnected pathways. First, exercise mitigates neuroinflammation by elevating anti-inflammatory SCFAs such as butyrate, which suppresses NF-κB signaling to attenuate microglial activation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Animal studies demonstrate that voluntary wheel running reduces hippocampal TNF‑α and IL-17 levels in stress-induced depression models, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from exercised mice reverses depressive behaviors by modulating the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway. Second, exercise regulates neurotransmitter dynamics by enriching GABA-producing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, thereby counteracting neuronal hyperexcitability. Aerobic exercise also enhances the abundance of Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus, which facilitate 5-HT and dopamine synthesis. Clinical trials reveal that 12 weeks of moderate exercise increases fecal Coprococcus and Blautia abundance, correlating with improved 5-HT bioavailability and reduced depression scores. Third, exercise normalizes HPA axis hyperactivity by reducing cortisol levels and restoring glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. In rodent models, chronic stress-induced corticosterone elevation is reversed by probiotic supplementation (e.g., Lactobacillus), which enhances endocannabinoid signaling and hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, exercise upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) via microbial metabolites like butyrate, promoting histone acetylation and synaptic plasticity. FMT experiments confirm that exercise-induced microbiota elevates prefrontal BDNF expression, reversing stress-induced neuronal atrophy. Fourth, exercise reshapes microbial metabolic crosstalk, diverting tryptophan metabolism toward 5-HT synthesis instead of neurotoxic kynurenine derivatives. Butyrate inhibits indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a key enzyme in the kynurenine pathway linked to depression. Concurrently, exercise-induced Akkermansia enrichment enhances mucin production, fortifies the gut barrier, and reduces LPS-driven neuroinflammation. Collectively, these mechanisms underscore exercise as a potent modulator of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, offering a holistic approach to alleviating depression through microbial and neurophysiological synergy. Current evidence supports exercise as a potent adjunct therapy for depression, with personalized regimens (e.g., aerobic, resistance, or yoga) tailored to individual microbiota profiles. However, challenges remain in optimizing exercise prescriptions (intensity, duration, and type) and integrating them with probiotics, prebiotics, or FMT for synergistic effects. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized controlled trials to validate causality, multi-omics approaches to decipher MGB axis dynamics, and mechanistic studies exploring microbial metabolites as therapeutic targets. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift toward microbiota-centric interventions, emphasizing the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and gut ecosystem resilience in mental health management. In conclusion, this review underscores exercise as a multifaceted modulator of the gut-brain axis, offering novel insights into non-pharmacological strategies for depression. By bridging microbial ecology, neuroimmunology, and exercise physiology, this work lays a foundation for precision medicine approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate depressive disorders.
2.Influencing factors and clinical treatment of severe complications after unilateral pneumonectomy in treating tuberculous destroyed lung
Xiao LI ; Ning WANG ; Lei BAO ; Zhiqiang WU ; Gang LI ; Cong CAI ; Yijie SONG ; Dan LI ; Banggui WU ; Liangshuang JIANG ; Xiaojun YAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(05):626-633
Objective To evaluate the surgical efficacy of unilateral pneumonectomy for the treatment of tuberculous destroyed lung, analyze the causes of severe postoperative complications, and explore clinical management strategies. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with tuberculous destroyed lung who underwent unilateral pneumonectomy at the Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from 2017 to 2023. Postoperative severe complications were statistically analyzed. Patients were divided into a non-severe complication group and a severe-complication group, and the causes, management, and outcomes of complications were analyzed. Results A total of 134 patients were included, comprising 69 males and 65 females, with a mean age of 17-73 (40.43±12.69) years. There were 93 patients undergoing left pneumonectomy and 41 patients undergoing right pneumonectomy. Preoperative sputum smear was positive in 35 patients, all of which converted to negative postoperatively. There were 58 patients with hemoptysis preoperatively, and none experienced hemoptysis postoperatively. Postoperative incisional infection occurred in 8 (5.97%) patients, and postoperative pulmonary infection in 26 (19.40%) patients. Severe postoperative complications occurred in 17 (12.69%) patients, including empyema in 9 (6.72%) patients, bronchopleural fistula with empyema in 1 (0.75%) patient, severe pneumonia in 3 (2.24%) patients, postpneumonectomy syndrome in 1 (0.75%) patient, chylothorax in 1 (0.75%) patient, ketoacidosis in 1 (0.75%) patient, and heart failure with severe pneumonia in 1 (0.75%) patient. Perioperative mortality occurred in 2 (1.49%) patients, both of whom underwent right pneumonectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a history of ipsilateral thoracic surgery, concomitant Aspergillus infection, and greater blood loss were independent risk factors for severe complications following unilateral pneumonectomy for tuberculous destroyed lung (P<0.05). Conclusion Unilateral pneumonectomy for patients with tuberculous destroyed lung can significantly improve the clinical cure rate, sputum conversion rate, and hemoptysis cessation rate. However, there is a certain risk of severe perioperative complications and mortality, requiring thorough perioperative management and appropriate management of postoperative complications.
4.Basiliximab is superior to low dose rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: The younger, the better.
Lan ZHU ; Lei ZHANG ; Wenjun SHANG ; Wenhua LIU ; Rula SA ; Zhiliang GUO ; Longshan LIU ; Jinghong TAN ; Hengxi ZHANG ; Yonghua FENG ; Wenyu ZHAO ; Wenqi CONG ; Jianyong WU ; Changxi WANG ; Gang CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(2):225-227
5.Research progress on the role and mechanism of endothelin-1 in pain.
Cong-Kun HU ; Hao-Jun YOU ; Jing LEI
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(1):120-130
Endothelin-1 is a peptide derived from endothelial cells, consisting of 21 amino acid residues. In recent years, research has found that endothelin-1 not only plays a key role in vascular tone regulation but also participates in the occurrence and development of various types of pathological pain, including inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, and cancer pain. Endothelin-1 binds to its receptors and activates multiple signaling pathways such as protein kinase C, calcium ion channels, and the phosphoinositide pathway, thereby influencing neuronal excitability and nociceptive information transmission. This article briefly reviews the current understanding of the mechanisms and potential roles of endothelin-1 in the development of pain, as well as commonly used endothelin-1 receptor antagonists, aiming to provide clues for better utilizing endothelin-1 and its receptors to alleviate and treat pathological pain.
Humans
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Endothelin-1/physiology*
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Pain/physiopathology*
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Signal Transduction/physiology*
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Animals
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Neuralgia/physiopathology*
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Cancer Pain/physiopathology*
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Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
6.Huanglian Jiedu Decoction prevents and treats acute liver injury in septic mice via AMPK/SIRT1 autophagy pathway.
Rui-Zhu ZHAO ; Xin-Yue REN ; Yu-Hang WANG ; Ding-Xing FAN ; Shi-Lei LOU ; Hui YAN ; Cong SUN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):507-514
This study aims to explore the mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction(HJD) in treating acute liver injury(ALI) in the mouse model of sepsis induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Fifty-four male C57BL/6 mice were randomized into six groups: blank group, model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose group HJD, and dexamethasone group. The mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS after 7 days of gavage with HJD, and dexamethasone(0.2 mL) was injected intraperitoneally 1.5 h after modeling. The murine sepsis score(MSS) was recorded 12 h after modeling. The levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in the liver tissue and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in the serum were measured by ELISA. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the mouse liver. The content of light chain 3 of microtubule-associated protein 1(LC3) was detected by immunofluorescence, and that of sirtuin 1(SIRT1) was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK), LC3, and P62 were detected by RT-PCR. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of AMPK, p-AMPK, and SIRT1 in the liver tissue. The results showed that compared with model group, drug interventions decreased the MSS and liver injury indicators, lowered the levels of inflammatory cytokines, improved the liver tissue structure, upregulated the protein levels of of p-AMPK/AMPK and SIRT1 and the mRNA levels of AMPK and LC3, and downregulated the mRNA level of P62. To sum up, HJD can regulate the autophagy level and reduce inflammation to ameliorate acute liver injury in septic mice by activating the AMPK/SIRT1 autophagy pathway.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Sirtuin 1/genetics*
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Male
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Mice
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Sepsis/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Autophagy/drug effects*
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics*
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Liver/metabolism*
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Humans
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics*
7.Multiple biomarkers risk score for accurately predicting the long-term prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Zhi-Yong ZHANG ; Xin-Yu WANG ; Cong-Cong HOU ; Hong-Bin LIU ; Lyu LYU ; Mu-Lei CHEN ; Xiao-Rong XU ; Feng JIANG ; Long LI ; Wei-Ming LI ; Kui-Bao LI ; Juan WANG
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(7):656-667
BACKGROUND:
Biomarkers-based prediction of long-term risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is scarce. We aim to develop a risk score integrating clinical routine information (C) and plasma biomarkers (B) for predicting long-term risk of ACS patients.
METHODS:
We included 2729 ACS patients from the OCEA (Observation of cardiovascular events in ACS patients). The earlier admitted 1910 patients were enrolled as development cohort; and the subsequently admitted 819 subjects were treated as validation cohort. We investigated 10-year risk of cardiovascular (CV) death, myocardial infarction (MI) and all cause death in these patients. Potential variables contributing to risk of clinical events were assessed using Cox regression models and a score was derived using main part of these variables.
RESULTS:
During 16,110 person-years of follow-up, there were 238 CV death/MI in the development cohort. The 7 most important predictors including in the final model were NT-proBNP, D-dimer, GDF-15, peripheral artery disease (PAD), Fibrinogen, ST-segment elevated MI (STEMI), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), termed as CB-ACS score. C-index of the score for predication of cardiovascular events was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.76-0.82) in development cohort and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.76-0.78) in the validation cohort (5832 person-years of follow-up), which outperformed GRACE 2.0 and ABC-ACS risk score. The CB-ACS score was also well calibrated in development and validation cohort (Greenwood-Nam-D'Agostino: P = 0.70 and P = 0.07, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
CB-ACS risk score provides a useful tool for long-term prediction of CV events in patients with ACS. This model outperforms GRACE 2.0 and ABC-ACS ischemic risk score.
8.Relationship between minimal residual disease on the 19th day and prognosis of children with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia
Cong XIN ; Xin MI ; Yusu PAN ; Lei GUO ; Yongchao WANG ; Jizhao GAO
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(1):38-43
Objective To explore the relationship between minimal residual disease(MRD)on the 19th day(D19)and prognosis of children with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL),as well as the correlation with related biological changes.Methods A total of 88 children with B-ALL newly diagnosed in this hospital from April 2016 to April 2020 who met the enrollment conditions were analyzed for induction therapy D19 MRD,overall survival(OS)rate,event-free survival(EFS)rate,chromosome karyotype,fusion gene and mu-tation gene.MRD≥ 0.01%was considered positive,and they were divided into MRD positive group and MRD negative group.The characteristics of OS rate,EFS rate,immunophenotype and molecular biology/cytogenet-ics were compared between the two groups over a period of 3 years.Results The 3-year OS rate and EFS rate of 88 pediatric patients were 92.0%and 86.4%,respectively.The rates of OS rate and EFS rate in MRD posi-tive group were lower than those in MRD negative group,with statistical significance(P<0.05).The detec-tion rate of CD10 in MRD positive group was lower than that in MRD negative group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Thirty-two patients(36.4%)detected 8 types of 35 fusion genes.The de-tection rates of BCR-ABL1 and E2A-PBX1 in MRD positive group were higher than those in MRD negative group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Among 48 cases(54.5%)of pediatric pa-tients,41 types of 91 mutated genes were detected,and the remaining mutated genes were less than 5 cases.Abnormal karyotype was detected in 18 cases(20.5%),and no mitotic phase was detected in 17 cases.There was no difference in MRD between normal and abnormal karyotype.Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that BCR-ABL1 and E2A-PBX1 were prognostic factors of children with B-ALL.Conclusion The positive D19 MRD is the influential factor of adverse OS and EFS in children with B-ALL.Both E2A-PBX1 and BCR-ABL1 have adverse effects on the prognosis of children with B-ALL.
9.Emodin Alleviating Lung Injury in Stroke Associated Pneumonia Rats through Regulating JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Na LI ; Lan ZHANG ; Yan QIN ; Yawei LIU ; Yizi ZHANG ; Lei SONG ; Cong FU
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(1):191-197
Objective To observe the effect of emodin on lung injury in rats with stroke associated pneumonia(SAP)through regulating Janus kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activators of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway.Methods The SAP rat model was established by modified thread embolization method combined with intratracheal injection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa method.The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group,emodin low-and high-dose groups and emodin high-dose+coumermycin(JAK2 activator)group,with 12 rats in each group,and another 12 SD rats were selected as the sham-operated group.After the intervention,the partial pressure of arterial blood gas indexes such as carbon dioxide(PaCO2)and partial pressure of oxygen(PaO2)were measured,the ratio of lung wet/dry mass(W/D)was determined,the inflammatory cell count in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)was detected,the histopathological feature in the lung tissues was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining and the pathological injury was scored,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect myeloperoxidase(MPO)activity in the lung tissues and interleukin 6(IL-6)and cyclooxygenase 2(COX-2)levels in BALF and serum,and Western Blot was used to detect the expression of JAK2/STAT3 pathway key proteins in lung tissues.Results Compared with the sham-operated group,the model group rats showed that more obvious pathological injury in lung tissues was seen,and PaCO2 value,ratio of lung W/D,white blood cell count and eosinophils count in BALF,pathological injury score,MPO activity in lung tissues,IL-6 and COX-2 levels in BALF and serum,and ratios of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 in lung tissues were significantly increased,and PaO2 value was significantly decreased,the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the emodin low-and high-dose groups rats showed that the pathological injury in lung tissues was reduced,PaCO2 value,ratio of lung W/D,white blood cell count and eosinophils count in BALF,pathological injury score,MPO activity in lung tissues,IL-6 and COX-2 levels in BALF and serum,and ratios of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 in lung tissues were all decreased,and PaO2 value was increased,the differences being statistically significant(P<0.05),and the improvement effect was more stronger in high-dose emodin group;coumermycin attenuated the improvement effect of emodin on the above various indexes in the model rats.Conclusion Emodin can reduce the inflammation levels in SAP rats through inhibiting the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway,thus reducing the lung tissue damage and improving the lung function of rats.
10.Metabolic Characteristics of Patients With Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and a Risk Prediction Model for Microvascular Complications
Yanyan WANG ; Hua JIANG ; Xin LYU ; Cong WANG ; Yue ZHAO ; Yongyu WEI ; Danqing JING ; Jiajia LIU ; Lei ZHENG
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(4):931-938
Objective To investigate the metabolic characteristics of patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and to develop a risk prediction model for microvascular complications.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 980 T2DM patients admitted for treatment between April 2020 and April 2024.Based on age at diagnosis,the patients were divided into two groups,an early-onset T2DM group(age at diagnosis<40 years,n=265)and a late-onset T2DM group(age at diagnosis≥40 years,n=715).Differences in metabolic indicators between the two groups were compared.Patients in the early-onset group were further divided into a complication subgroup(n=142)and a non-complication subgroup(n=123)based on the presence or absence of microvascular complications.Data on baseline characteristics,metabolic parameters,and laboratory indicators were collected and compared between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for microvascular complications,and a nomogram prediction model was constructed.The model's discriminative performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and its calibration was evaluated using calibration curves and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Decision curve analysis(DCA)was also performed to assess the model's clinical utility.Results Compared with the late-onset group,patients in the early-onset group exhibited more pronounced metabolic abnormalities,including higher body mass index(BMI),proportion of family history of diabetes mellitus,glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c)levels,total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),triglyceride-glucose index(TyG),and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)levels(all P<0.05),along with a shorter disease duration and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)(P<0.05).According to a multivariate analysis,systolic blood pressure(SBP),total bilirubin(TBIL),HDL-C,LDL-C,TyG,and LDH were identified as independent risk factors for microvascular complications in patients with early-onset T2DM.A predictive model based on these factors was established as the follows,Log(P)=-19.915+0.017×SBP-0.136×TBIL-1.241×HDL-C+0.684×LDL-C+0.769×TyG+0.050×LDH.The area under the ROC curve(AUC)was 0.864(95%CI,0.820-0.907),and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test indicated good model fit(χ2=10.286,P=0.246).The slope of the DCA curve was also close to 1.Conclusion The nomogram prediction model based on SBP,TBIL,HDL-C,LDL-C,TyG,and LDH demonstrates good predictive performance for microvascular complications and can provide a reference for clinical risk stratification and individualized intervention.

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