1.Design and establishment of a database for toxins and molecular mass spectra of drugs
Xuemeng LI ; Mengfan LI ; Junjie MA ; Bin XU ; Jie DU ; Wei YOU ; Jia CHEN ; Jianwei XIE ; Dongsheng ZHAO
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(1):41-46
Objective To construct a database for molecular mass spectra of toxins and drugs in order to facilitate the management and retrieval of mass spectra for nerve agents,metabolites and other small molecules.Methods Requirement analysis and functional design were performed using software engineering methods.The Spec2Vec algorithm was used for vector representation of mass spectra,while SMILES molecular structures were vectorized using the extended connectivity fingerprint(ECFP).A data storage model integrating structured information and vector representations was established using the Milvus database.Similarity search of mass spectra and molecular structures was conducted via vector similarity comparison and the FlashEntropySearch algorithm.Results The constructed database of mass spectra encompassed over 400,000 entries from such sources as OCAD,NIST,MASSBANK,metabolic products,and natural products of TCM,which was capable of searching for similarities in mass spectra and molecular structures.On a standard server,similarity search of mass spectra took no more than 5 seconds,while that of molecular structures took no more than 1 second.Conclusion The system enables efficient management of complex mass spectra and provides rapid retrieval and comparison of mass spectra-related information through advanced vector indexing technology,offering robust data support and research tools for toxicology and pharmacology.
2.Exploring the mechanism of cistanche in the treatment of Alzheimer′s disease based on network pharmacology and animal experiment
Jie Zhao ; Dongsheng Huo ; Hongbo Zhu ; Shibin Zhang ; Jianxin Jia
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(7):1266-1274
Objective:
To explore the mechanism of cistanche deserticola(meat cistanche) in treating Alzheimer′s disease(AD) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments.
Methods :
Effective components of meat cistanche were mined from the TCMSP database, and AD-related targets were filtered using the SwissTargetPrediction, DisGeNET, and GeneCards databases. The intersection of these targets was analyzed using protein-protein interaction(PPI) networks. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted via the Metascape database. Molecular docking of meat cistanche′s active components with core targets was performed using AutoDock Vina. Based on network pharmacology predictions, an AD model was established using 8-month-old SAMP8 mice, with Morris water maze tests assessing learning and cognitive functions, Nissl staining observing hippocampal neuron morphology, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and Western blotting detecting the expression levels of cAMP signaling pathway-related proteins in hippocampal tissues.
Results :
Network pharmacology analysis predicted that meat cistanche might act on 74 AD targets through 8 active components. Molecular docking showed high affinity of active components like acteoside with core targets such as ESR1, BDNF, MAPK1, and APP. KEGG analysis indicated involvement in pathways related to cancer, cAMP signaling, and AD. Animal experiments demonstrated that meat cistanche effectively improved learning and cognitive impairments in AD mice and alleviated hippocampal neuron damage. ELISA and Western blotting results indicated that meat cistanche significantly increased the expression levels of cAMP, PKA, P-CREB in the cAMP pathway and promoted the expression of downstream neurotrophic factor BDNF.
Conclusion
Meat cistanche can improve learning and cognitive disorders in AD model mice and may exert therapeutic effects on AD by up-regulating the cAMP signaling pathway and the expression of downstream BDNF protein targets, thereby improving hippocampal neuron injury.
3.Current research and future perspectives on oropouche virus
Peijun HE ; Ziyun CHEN ; Tianfeng AN ; Dongsheng CHEN ; Xin CHEN ; Yishan CAI ; Enjiong HUANG ; Lihua MA ; Xiaohua LIU ; Zhenyong REN ; Na JIA
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(8):1513-1518
The oropouche virus (OROV) poses a threat to pregnant women and fetuses, potentially causing fetal neurological defects and even stillbirth, which has caused global attention. OROV is an arthropod-borne virus belonging to the Orthobunyavirus genus in the Bunyavirales order, primarily transmitted by arthropods and causing oropouche fever. This article reviews the etiological characteristics, epidemiological distribution, clinical symptoms, detection methods, and prevention strategies of OROV. OROV is prevalent in Central and South America, with a sharp increase in cases reported in Brazil in 2024. The virus's symptoms resemble those of several other arthropod-borne viral diseases, which can lead to misdiagnosis. Currently, there are no specific drugs or vaccines available, and treatment is mainly supportive. Culicoides paraensis and Culex quinquefasciatus are among the significant vectors of OROV. Furthermore, the article analyzes the distribution of Culex quinquefasciatus in China, highlights the risk of imported cases, proposes targeted prevention and control strategies, and underscores the significance of international cooperation in disease prevention and control.
4.Panoramic and local histological observations of biotinylated dextran amine neural tracer labeling in the motor cortex of rat brain
Jiaying LU ; Dongsheng XU ; Jingjing CUI ; Yuqing WANG ; Yuxin SU ; Yihan LIU ; Jia WANG ; Wanzhu BAI
Journal of Capital Medical University 2025;46(1):83-90
Objective To reveal the detailed histological characteristics of pyramidal neuron cell bodies and their axonal projections along the corticospinal tract in the primary motor cortex(M1)of the brain,by using the biotinylated dextran amine(BDA)neural tracing technique combined with panoramic and local microscopic imaging technologies.Methods A total of 100 nL of 10%BDA(10,000 molecular weight)was injected into M1 region using stereotaxic system.The distribution of BDA labeling along the corticospinal tract was continuously tracked with panoramic tissue scanning analysis system.Detailed observations of the histological characteristics of BDA labeling were carried out with laser confocal microscope.Results It is more convenient to observe the overall distribution of BDA neural labeling by using the panoramic tissue scanning analysis system.Around the injection site in M1,the BDA labeling was shown in the somas of pyramidal neurons in layer V.In the M1 region corresponding to the contralateral site of the injection site and ipsilateral primary sensory cortex,BDA showed predominantly the anterograde labeled nerve fibers accompanied by a few retrograde labeled neurons.Besides,BDA labeled nerve fibers-including bundles and terminals-projecting to regions such as the ipsilateral striatum,thalamus,internal capsule,cerebral peduncle,and pons,and further reaching the contralateral spinal cord via the brainstem pyramidal decussation.Confocal microscopy and its 3D reconstruction system facilitated detailed analysis of the local microscopic features of BDA labeling,revealing retrograde labeled neuron cell bodies,dendrites and their spines,as well as anterograde labeled nerve fibers and their terminals.Conclusions These findings demonstrated that the integration of traditional BDA neural tracing with panoramic tissue scanning analysis and confocal microscopy provided an effective approach to the observation and analysis of long-projection neural circuits from panoramic to local perspectives,with broad application prospects.
5.Current research and future perspectives on oropouche virus
Peijun HE ; Ziyun CHEN ; Tianfeng AN ; Dongsheng CHEN ; Xin CHEN ; Yishan CAI ; Enjiong HUANG ; Lihua MA ; Xiaohua LIU ; Zhenyong REN ; Na JIA
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(8):1513-1518
The oropouche virus (OROV) poses a threat to pregnant women and fetuses, potentially causing fetal neurological defects and even stillbirth, which has caused global attention. OROV is an arthropod-borne virus belonging to the Orthobunyavirus genus in the Bunyavirales order, primarily transmitted by arthropods and causing oropouche fever. This article reviews the etiological characteristics, epidemiological distribution, clinical symptoms, detection methods, and prevention strategies of OROV. OROV is prevalent in Central and South America, with a sharp increase in cases reported in Brazil in 2024. The virus's symptoms resemble those of several other arthropod-borne viral diseases, which can lead to misdiagnosis. Currently, there are no specific drugs or vaccines available, and treatment is mainly supportive. Culicoides paraensis and Culex quinquefasciatus are among the significant vectors of OROV. Furthermore, the article analyzes the distribution of Culex quinquefasciatus in China, highlights the risk of imported cases, proposes targeted prevention and control strategies, and underscores the significance of international cooperation in disease prevention and control.
6.Panoramic and local histological observations of biotinylated dextran amine neural tracer labeling in the motor cortex of rat brain
Jiaying LU ; Dongsheng XU ; Jingjing CUI ; Yuqing WANG ; Yuxin SU ; Yihan LIU ; Jia WANG ; Wanzhu BAI
Journal of Capital Medical University 2025;46(1):83-90
Objective To reveal the detailed histological characteristics of pyramidal neuron cell bodies and their axonal projections along the corticospinal tract in the primary motor cortex(M1)of the brain,by using the biotinylated dextran amine(BDA)neural tracing technique combined with panoramic and local microscopic imaging technologies.Methods A total of 100 nL of 10%BDA(10,000 molecular weight)was injected into M1 region using stereotaxic system.The distribution of BDA labeling along the corticospinal tract was continuously tracked with panoramic tissue scanning analysis system.Detailed observations of the histological characteristics of BDA labeling were carried out with laser confocal microscope.Results It is more convenient to observe the overall distribution of BDA neural labeling by using the panoramic tissue scanning analysis system.Around the injection site in M1,the BDA labeling was shown in the somas of pyramidal neurons in layer V.In the M1 region corresponding to the contralateral site of the injection site and ipsilateral primary sensory cortex,BDA showed predominantly the anterograde labeled nerve fibers accompanied by a few retrograde labeled neurons.Besides,BDA labeled nerve fibers-including bundles and terminals-projecting to regions such as the ipsilateral striatum,thalamus,internal capsule,cerebral peduncle,and pons,and further reaching the contralateral spinal cord via the brainstem pyramidal decussation.Confocal microscopy and its 3D reconstruction system facilitated detailed analysis of the local microscopic features of BDA labeling,revealing retrograde labeled neuron cell bodies,dendrites and their spines,as well as anterograde labeled nerve fibers and their terminals.Conclusions These findings demonstrated that the integration of traditional BDA neural tracing with panoramic tissue scanning analysis and confocal microscopy provided an effective approach to the observation and analysis of long-projection neural circuits from panoramic to local perspectives,with broad application prospects.
7.To construct a risk model and study the immune mechanism of genes related to myocardial infarction and cuproptosis based on bioinformatics and single cell sequencing
Xing JU ; Lianqun JIA ; Zhe ZHANG ; Dongsheng WEI ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Guanlin YANG
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(11):2247-2256
Objective:Integrating genes and GEO database related cuproptosis chips,to analyze connection between cupropto-sis genes,immune infiltration and myocardial infarction(MI),construct risk prediction model,predict Western medicine and Chi-nese medicine,analyze miRNA-mRNA regulatory network,and to provides a new research direction for the future study of MI-related cuproptosis mechanism and immune infiltration.Methods:By GEO database retrieval of MI related chips,standardized processing and MI-related cuproptosis genes screening were performed,and immunoinfiltration analysis and quantification were performed based on the treated gene expression matrix,correlation between immune infiltrating cells and function was analyzed,as well as their differ-ences in MI group and the control group.Cuproptosis genes that most related to MI in immune infiltration were screened out,and the risk model was constructed to analyze the risk probability of cuproptosis genes in MI.The Enrichr website and Coremine Medical data-base were used to predict cuproptosis-related genes in MI in Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.Finally,the up-stream mirnas of FDX1 and SLC31A1 were predicted by miRTarBase,Starbase and Targetscan databases,and miRNA-mRNA regula-tory networks were constructed.Results:Correlation of immune infiltration showed that Tfh cells and B cells had the strongest positive correlation(r=0.68),while regulatory T cells and iDC had the strongest negative correlation(r=-0.63);the difference analysis of im-mune infiltration showed that the differences among mast cells,NK cells and Th1 cells in the MI group at the cellular level were the most significant(P<0.001);and the differences in APC co-inhibition and MHCⅠ at the functional level were the most significant(P<0.001).Six genes with the highest correlation between immune cells and immune function were screened out:ATP7A,DLD,FDX1,LIAS,LIPT1 and SLC31A1.Results of the risk model showed that the high levels of FDX1 and SLC31A1 were negatively correlated with the risk prediction of MI.A total of 21 Western medicines and 30 traditional medicines were predicted by database comparison.miRTarBase,Starbase and Targetscan databases predicted 9 upstream miRNAs of cuproptosis-related genes in MI,including has-miR-122-5p.Conclusion:Tfh cells,B cells,para-inflammatory,typeⅠinterferon response and other related immune cells and functions may play important roles in pathogenesis and prognosis of MI.FDX1 and SLC31A1 as the key genes of cuproptosis process,are negatively correlated with MI.A total of 30 kinds of traditional Chinese medicines including Spirulina,sheep liver,Wen ezhu,Pian jianghuang and Yujin may have potential value in treatment of MI.Finally,9 miRNAs including has-miR-122-5p may play an important role in the regulation of cuproptosis in myocardial infarction.
8.Effects of acute sleep deprivation on behavior and synaptic biomarker expression in rats
Shibin ZHANG ; Lu WANG ; Chu WANG ; Pengcheng GUO ; Xusheng YAN ; Dongsheng HUO ; Zhanjun YANG ; Yanguo WANG ; Jianxin JIA
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(5):55-64
Objective To investigate the effects of acute sleep deprivation on the behavior and synaptic protein expression of rats.Methods Seventy healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups,a Control group and sleep deprivation groups(24,48,72,96,120 and 144 hours).The sleep deprivation rat model was established by the modified multiplatform water environment sleep deprivation method.Spatial learning and memory were assessed by the Morris water maze.Anxiety was assessed by the open field test.The morphology and quantity of hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining.Western blot and Real-time PCR were used to determine the expression of synaptophysin(SYN),post-synaptic density protein-95(PSD-95),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in rats.Results Compared with the Control group,the numbers of standing and modification were significantly increased by prolongation of the sleep deprivation time(P<0.05).The escape latency and path length were significantly increased in 120 and 144 h groups(P<0.05),whereas the number of platform crossings and the percentage of the target quadrant time were significantly decreased(P<0.01)and negatively correlated to the sleep deprivation time.The expression levels of BDNF,SYN,and PSD-95 were significantly decreased with the prolongation of sleep deprivation time(P<0.01).Conclusions With the increase in sleep deprivation time,cognitive dysfunction and anxiety gradually deteriorated,which may be related to decreases in the expression of synaptic biomarkers.
9.Association between Residential Greenness and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Adults in Rural Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China:A Cross-Sectional Study
Jian LEYAO ; Yang BO ; Ma RULIN ; Guo SHUXIA ; He JIA ; Li YU ; Ding YUSONG ; Rui DONGSHENG ; Mao YIDAN ; He XIN ; Sun XUEYING ; Liao SHENGYU ; Guo HENG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(10):1184-1194
Objective This study aimed to explore the relationships between residential greenness and cardiometabolic risk factors among rural adults in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(Xinjiang)and thus provide a theoretical basis and data support for improving the health of residents in this region. Methods We recruited 9,723 adult rural residents from the 51st Regiment of the Third Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in September 2016.The normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)was used to estimate residential greenness.The generalized linear mixed model(GLMM)was used to examine the association between residential greenness and cardiometabolic risk factors. Results Higher residential greenness was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk factor prevalence.After adjustments were made for age,sex,education,and marital status,for each interquartile range(IQR)increase of NDVI500-m,the risk of hypertension was reduced by 10.3%(OR=0.897,95%CI=0.836-0.962),the risk of obesity by 20.5%(OR=0.795,95%CI=0.695-0.910),the risk of type 2 diabetes by 15.1%(OR=0.849,95%CI=0.740-0.974),and the risk of dyslipidemia by 10.5%(OR=0.895,95%CI=0.825-0.971).Risk factor aggregation was reduced by 20.4%(OR=0.796,95%CI=0.716-0.885)for the same.Stratified analysis showed that NDVI500-m was associated more strongly with hypertension,dyslipidemia,and risk factor aggregation among male participants.The association of NDVI500-m with type 2 diabetes was stronger among participants with a higher education level.PM10 and physical activity mediated 1.9%-9.2%of the associations between NDVI500-m and obesity,dyslipidemia,and risk factor aggregation. Conclusion Higher residential greenness has a protective effect against cardiometabolic risk factors among rural residents in Xinjiang.Increasing the area of green space around residences is an effective measure to reduce the burden of cardiometabolic-related diseases among rural residents in Xinjiang.
10.Theoretical basis of bone-touching acupuncture method for brain diseases based on the "bone-brain axis".
Tianchen YU ; Jia WANG ; Yuqing WANG ; Jiaying LU ; Yuxin SU ; Dongsheng XU ; Yihan LIU ; Jingjing CUI
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2024;44(12):1445-1448
The bone-touching acupuncture method, as one of the five-body acupuncture techniques, is widely used and highly effective in the treatment of brain diseases, though its theoretical foundation has been lacking. This paper explores the close connection between bones and the brain in both physiological and pathological states, as described in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classics, and explains the "bone-brain axis" concept within the framework of TCM. It summarizes the effects and characteristics of the five-body acupuncture techniques, traces the origins and modern applications of the bone-touching acupuncture method, and discusses its theoretical basis for treating brain diseases. The aim is to provide a reference for future clinical and mechanistic research on bone-touching acupuncture in brain disease treatment and to offer new perspectives and approaches for acupuncture treatment of brain diseases.
Humans
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Acupuncture Therapy/methods*
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Brain/physiopathology*
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Brain Diseases/physiopathology*
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Bone and Bones/physiopathology*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*


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