1.Liuwei Dihuangwan Reduces Valproic Acid-induced ASD-like Behaviors in Rats by Modulating mTOR-mediated Synaptic Plasticity in Prefrontal Cortex-hippocampus Circuit
Ji WU ; Niya YIN ; Lei OUYANG ; Siyu HE ; Fangyu PEI ; Ying XIE ; Fan LI ; Qian LEI ; Sha ZHAO ; Di ZHANG ; Qinquan ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(22):1-11
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Liuwei Dihuangwan on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-mediated synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex-hippocampus circuit in the rat model of valproic acid (VPA)-induced autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to explore its potential mechanism for reducing behavioral abnormalities in ASD rats. MethodsThirteen SD pregnant rats were randomized into the VPA group (10 rats) and the control group (3 rats). On gestational day 13, the VPA group was intraperitoneally injected with VPA solution (600 mg·kg-1), while the control group was injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Male pups of 21 days old from both groups underwent behavioral tests to screen the ASD model rats (32 rats). These rats were then randomly assigned to the model (distilled water), vitamin D (1 480 U·kg-1), low-dose (0.75 g·kg-1) Liuwei Dihuangwan, and high-dose (1.5 g·kg-1) Liuwei Dihuangwan groups, and normal male pups were selected as the blank group (distilled water), with 8 rats in each group. Each group was treated with the corresponding drug or an equal volume of distilled water via gavage daily. After drug administration, behavioral tests were conducted again, followed by anesthesia and tissue collection. Nissl staining was carried out to observe the morphological changes of neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe changes in hippocampal synaptic structure. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to determine the expression of mTOR, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt) in the prefrontal cortex, as well as synaptophysin-1 (SYP-1), postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95), and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited severe growth retardation and developmental deformities, with abnormal behavioral performance and pathological damage to neurons and synapses in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Compared with the model group, all treatment groups showed reduced behavioral abnormalities and pathological damage to neurons and synapses in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, with the most significant effects in the high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited significantly increased protein levels and phosphorylation ratios of p-mTOR, p-Akt, and p-PI3K in the prefrontal cortex (P<0.05, P<0.01), and decreased protein levels of SYP-1 and PSD95 and increased protein level of NMDARs in the hippocampus (P<0.01). Compared with those in the model group, the protein levels of p-mTOR, p-Akt, and p-PI3K in the prefrontal cortex decreased in the vitamin D and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups (P<0.05), and the p-mTOR/mTOR, p-Akt/Akt, and p-PI3K/PI3K ratios in the prefrontal cortex declined in the vitamin D group (P<0.05). The high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan group showed a reduction in p-PI3K/PI3K ratio (P<0.05). The protein level of SYP-1 and PSD95 in the hippocampus increased in the vitamin D, low-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan, and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the protein level of NMDARs decreased in the vitamin D and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups (P<0.01). ConclusionLiuwei Dihuangwan significantly reduces VPA-induced ASD-like behaviors and enhances the regeneration and repair of neurons in the prefrontal cortex and synaptic structures in the hippocampus by downregulating of PI3K/Akt/mTOR expression in the prefrontal cortex, upregulating SYP-1 and PSD95 expression in the hippocampus, and inhibiting NMDARs expression.
2.Construction, reliability and validity of a professional identity questionnaire for psychiatrists
Pei HE ; Xintong DENG ; Longtao HE ; Rui YANG ; Junmei WANG ; Fangyu DENG
Sichuan Mental Health 2024;37(2):144-149
BackgroundDomestic researches on the professional identity of psychiatrists are still relatively rare up to now, and effective evaluation tools remain inadequate. ObjectiveTo construct a professional identity questionnaire for psychiatrists with high reliability and validity, so as to provide an effective tool for the evaluation of professional identity of psychiatrists. MethodsA self-designed questionnaire titled "Professional Identity Questionnaire" was compiled. After preliminary screening of items and expert consultation, an initial questionnaire was formed and administered to a sample of 400 psychiatrists, and the final questionnaire was assessed by item analysis, reliability analysis and validity analysis. ResultsThe Cronbach's α coefficient was 0.930 for the final questionnaire, and ranged from 0.817 to 0.920 for each dimension. The value of KMO was 0.904 (χ2=2 931.652, P<0.01). The cumulative variance contribution rate of factors extracted from exploratory factor analysis was 68.306%. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the integrity of fit indexes were χ2/df=1.234, GFI=0.905, NFI=0.916, RMSEA=0.036, CFI=0.983, IFI=0.983. The final version of the professional identity questionnaire for psychiatrists consisted of 23 items relating to 4 dimensions, namely, professional cognition, professional behavior, professional emotion and professional values. ConclusionThe professional identity questionnaire for psychiatrists has good reliability and validity, and can be used as an effective tool to evaluate the professional identity of psychiatrists. [Funded by Foundation of Sichuan Research Center of Applied Psychology of Chengdu Medical College (number, CSXL-22304); Science and Technology Guiding Plan Project of Guangyuan City (number, 22ZDYF0072)]
3.Assessment the methodological and ethical quality of randomized controlled trials of non-small cell lung cancer in China
Ying XU ; Fangyu SHI ; Long GE ; Gaiqin PEI ; Jinhui TIAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Library and Information Science 2016;25(4):52-56
Objective To assess the methodological and ethical quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) of non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ) in China. Methods The methodological and ethical quality on RCT of NSCLC, covered in CBM, CNKI, VIP and Wanfang was assessed according to the Jadad Scale and Berdeu Scale respectively. Results The average methodological and ethical quality was 62. 24% according to the Jadad Scale and was 18. 79% according to the Berdeu Scale. Correlation analysis showed that the methodological quality was closely correlated with the ethical quality, except that of curative effect of invasive therapy (OR=1. 064, 95%CI:0. 832-1. 361, P>0. 05). Conclusion The methodological and ethical quality of RCT of NSCLC in China is low. The methodological quality is positively correlated with the ethical quality.

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