1.Effect of Dingzhi Xiaowan on PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α Pathway in Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment Model Mice
Han ZHANG ; Yu WANG ; Xiaoqin ZHONG ; Zhenqiu NING ; Dafeng HU ; Minzhen DENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):1-11
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Dingzhi Xiaowan (DZXW) in post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) model mice. MethodsThe cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model of mice was established by using the middle cerebral artery occlusion method. Forty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into the sham operation group, model group, low-dose DZXW group (1.43 g·kg-1), and high-dose DZXW group (2.56 g·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group. Both the sham operation group and the model group were treated with equal amounts of normal saline by gavage, and the above four groups of mice were gavaged once a day for 30 consecutive days. Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the learning memory ability of mice. Serum levels of amyloid precursor protein (APP), amyloid 42 (Aβ42), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Deoxyribonucleotide end transferase-mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay was applied to detect the degree of apoptosis in the mouse's hippocampal neurons. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) homologous structural domain protein (Beclin1), sequestosome 1 (p62), microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), Bcl-2, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in hippocampal tissue. Prussian blue staining was used to detect iron deposition in hippocampal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was taken to observe the ultrastructure of the mouse's hippocampal neurons. ResultsCompared with the sham operation group, the latency, APP, Aβ42, AChE, TUNEL positivity, ferric ion deposition, HIF-1α, Beclin1, Bax, and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01), while the number of crossing platforms, SOD, p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p62, and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the latency, APP, Aβ42, AChE, TUNEL positivity rate, ferric ion deposition, HIF-1α, Beclin1, Bax, and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ were significantly reduced in the DZXW groups (P<0.05), while the number of crossing platforms, SOD, p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, p62, and Bcl-2 were significantly higher (P<0.05). ConclusionDZXW can alleviate cognitive impairment induced by oxidative stress-aggravated hippocampal neuronal damage in PSCI model mice by modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α autophagy signalling pathway.
2.Efficacy of implantable neuromuscular electrical stimulation system on stress urinary incontinence model in female rats
Bohong LONG ; Chen LI ; Han DENG ; Haoyu SUN ; Limin LIAO ; Xing LI
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(5):438-441
Objective: To investigate the efficacy of implantable neuromuscular electrical stimulation system on stress urinary incontinence (SUI) model in female rats. Methods: A total of 21 female infertile SD rats were randomly divided into the control,sham stimulation,and stimulation groups,with 7 rats in each group.All rats received vaginal dilation (VD) to simulate postpartum SUI.One week after VD,the control group was given normal feeding,stimulators were implanted in the pelvic floor muscles of the sham stimulation and stimulation groups.The sham stimulation group received normal feeding for 2 weeks,and the stimulation group received pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES) for 2 consecutive weeks.The leak point pressure (LPP) of each rat was measured with cystometry before VD (baseline value),1 week after VD,and 2 weeks after PFES. Results: In the control group and sham stimulation group,LPP increased after 2 weeks of treatment compared with that after 1 week of VD,but it still did not return to the baseline level (P<0.001).In the stimulation group,after 2 consecutive weeks of PFES,LPP increased significantly compared with that 1 week after VD,and returned to the baseline value (P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the LPP baseline values and levels after 1 week of VD among the 3 groups (P>0.05).The LPP in the stimulation group after 2 weeks of PFES was significantly higher than that in the sham stimulation group and stimulation group (P<0.001). Conclusion: The implantable neuromuscular electrical stimulation system is effective in short-term intervention of SUI in female rats,the further studies are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy and safety of the system,the optimal stimulation sites,optimal stimulation parameters,and potential mechanisms of action.
3.Analysis of the availability of bronchodilators listed in the medical insurance catalog for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in community health service centers in Shanghai
Hui DENG ; Qundi YANG ; Han WU ; Danni LIU ; Xuena LA ; Yang ZHENG ; Yan SHI
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(5):390-396
ObjectiveTo assess the availability of bronchodilators for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in community health service centers (CHCs) in Shanghai. MethodsOn the basis of previous research, the questionnaire was updated, and surveys were conducted from April to May 2023 in CHCs in Shanghai, with a focus on the availability of medications for COPD treatment. According to the National Basic Medical Insurance, Work Injury Insurance, and Maternity Insurance Drug List (2023 Edition), a total of 24 types of bronchodilators for COPD treatment were identified. The availability rates were used to assess the accessibility of specific drugs in CHCs, and the dispensing rates were used to evaluate the variety of these medications in CHCs. ResultsA total of 248 CHCs responded, with a response rate of 100.0%. Among them, a total of 232 CHCs (93.5%) were equipped with bronchodilators. In terms of availability rates, the availability rates for β2 adrenoreceptor agonists, muscarinic antagonists, combination drugs, and xanthines drugs were 86.3%, 52.0%, 52.4%, and 85.1%, respectively. Regional differences were observed, in that salbutamol/levalbuterol and budesonide-formoterol were less available in suburban CHCs, ipratropium bromide had lower availability in urban CHCs, and aminophylline was more available in suburban CHCs. Regarding the dispensing rates of the 24 types of bronchodilators for COPD treatment, the median of types equipped by CHCs was 5, with a total of 200 CHCs (80.6%) equipped with fewer than 7 types of bronchodilator drugs. ConclusionThe proportion of CHCs in Shanghai equipped with bronchodilators for COPD is relatively high. However, there exist problems such as limited variety of stocked medications, significant differences in the availability of different drugs, and regional imbalances in drug stocking. To improve the standardized diagnosis, treatment, and management of COPD patients, it is recommended to enhance the availability of COPD treatment medications in CHCs.
4.The Invariant Neural Representation of Neurons in Pigeon’s Ventrolateral Mesopallium to Stereoscopic Shadow Shapes
Xiao-Ke NIU ; Meng-Bo ZHANG ; Yan-Yan PENG ; Yong-Hao HAN ; Qing-Yu WANG ; Yi-Xin DENG ; Zhi-Hui LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2614-2626
ObjectiveIn nature, objects cast shadows due to illumination, forming the basis for stereoscopic perception. Birds need to adapt to changes in lighting (meaning they can recognize stereoscopic shapes even when shadows look different) to accurately perceive different three-dimensional forms. However, how neurons in the key visual brain area in birds handle these lighting changes remains largely unreported. In this study, pigeons (Columba livia) were used as subjects to investigate how neurons in pigeon’s ventrolateral mesopallium (MVL) represent stereoscopic shapes consistently, regardless of changes in lighting. MethodsVisual cognitive training combined with neuronal recording was employed. Pigeons were first trained to discriminate different stereoscopic shapes (concave/convex). We then tested whether and how light luminance angle and surface appearance of the stereoscopic shapes affect their recognition accuracy, and further verify whether the results rely on specify luminance color. Simultaneously, neuronal firing activity of neurons was recorded with multiple electrode array implanted from the MVL during the presentation of difference shapes. The response was finally analyzed how selectively they responded to different stereoscopic shapes and whether their selectivity was affected by the changes of luminance condition (like lighting angle) or surface look. Support vector machine (SVM) models were trained on neuronal population responses recorded under one condition (light luminance angle of 45°) and used to decode responses under other conditions (light luminance angle of 135°, 225°, 315°) to verify the invariance of responses to different luminance conditions. ResultsBehavioral results from 6 pigeons consistently showed that the pigeons could reliably identify the core 3D shape (over 80% accuracy), and this ability wasn’t affected by changes in light angle or surface appearance. Statistical analysis of 88 recorded neurons from 6 pigeons revealed that 83% (73/88) showed strong selectivity for specific 3D shapes (selectivity index>0.3), and responses to convex shapes were consistently stronger than to concave shapes. These shape-selective responses remained stable across changes in light angle and surface appearance. Neural patterns were consistent under both blue and orange lighting. The decoding accuracy achieves above 70%, suggesting stable responses under different conditions (e.g., different lighting angles or surface appearance). ConclusionNeurons in the pigeon MVL maintain a consistent neural encoding pattern for different stereoscopic shapes, unaffected by illumination or surface appearance. This ensures stable object recognition by pigeons in changing visual environments. Our findings provide new physiological evidence for understanding how birds achieve stable perception (“invariant neural representations”) while coping with variations in the visual field.
5.Risk factors of depression and anxiety in epilepsy patients and their relationship with quality of life
Wenjie HAN ; Youtian ZHOU ; Zhensheng LI ; Jianjie KANG ; Bingmei DENG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(4):460-465
Objective To explore the risk factors of depression and anxiety in adult patients with epilepsy and their relationship with quality of life.Methods From May 2022 to January 2023,patients diagnosed with epilepsy(aged≥18 years)in the department of neurology of our hospital were collected.General demographic data and disease-related information were recorded.Quality of life,depression and anxiety scales were measured in all patients.SPSS26.0 software was used for multiple linear regression analysis,multiple ordered Logistic regression analysis,rank sum test,Pearson correlation analysis,etc.Results Among the 111 patients,49.5%had depression and 43.2%had anxiety.Depression score and anxiety score were correlated with attack type,attack frequency,quality of life and right temporal lobe,and there was a significant negative correlation between life quality score and anxiety and depression score(P<0.01).Seizure frequency,seizure type and right temporal lobe were common risk factors for depression and anxiety in patients with epilepsy(P<0.05).Conclusion Epileptic depression and anxiety were affected by seizure frequency and seizure type,and this bad mood further affected the quality of life of patients.No clear link has been found between the lateralization of seizures and the presence of depression and anxiety states,and further research is needed.
6.Mechanism underlying rat hepatocyte apoptosis regulated by exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Rongjiong ZHENG ; Zerun DENG ; Dan HAN ; Lihua SUN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(1):44-49
BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)can release a large number of exosomes(Exos).The effect of Exos derived from BMSCs on hepatocyte apoptosis and the specific mechanism has not been fully clarified. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of miR-21-5p carried by Exos derived from BMSCs on apoptosis of rat liver cells and its mechanism. METHODS:Rat BMSCs were isolated and miR-21-5p NC or miR-21-5p inhibitor was transfected into BMSCs.The Exos were extracted by ultracentrifugation and named(BMSCs+miR-21-5p NC)-Exos and(BMSCs+miR-21-5p inhibitor)-Exos.BMSCs-derived Exos were co-cultured with rat hepatocytes to observe the effect of inhibiting miR-21-5p expression on the apoptosis of rat hepatocytes.The targeting relationship between miR-21-5p and PIK3R1 was verified by double luciferase reporter gene detection.TUNEL was used to detect the effect of miR-21-5p directly targeting PIK3R1 in Exos to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway on hepatocyte apoptosis in BRL rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The double luciferase reporting system confirmed that when PI3KR1 wild type vector and miR-21-5p mimics co-transfected 293T cells,the luciferase activity decreased significantly compared with the PI3KR1 mutant vector co-transfected group,indicating that miR-21-5p could target PIK3R1.(2)TUNEL test results showed that compared with(BMSCs+miR-21-5p NC)-Exos group,(BMSCs+miR-21-5p inhibitor)-Exos treatment significantly increased the apoptosis rate.Compared with the(BMSCs+miR-21-5p NC)-Exos group,after the addition of AKT inhibitor LY294002,the apoptosis rate was significantly increased.(3)The results indicate that Exos may inhibit the apoptosis of BRL rat hepatocytes through miR-21-5p,in which miR-21-5p directly targets PIK3R1 to activate PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
7.Research on the differential diagnosis of phlegm and blood stasis pattern and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern in stable angina pectoris based on coronary artery CT angiography radiomics
Dongsheng WEI ; Jiajie QI ; Xiaosheng LIU ; Luzhen LI ; Han LI ; Yuting LIU ; Chengkang DENG ; Xu DAI ; Baoying ZHAO ; Zhe ZHANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(4):545-554
Objective To establish a differential model of phlegm and blood stasis pattern and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern in stable angina pectoris using radiomics.Methods A total of 91 patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent coronary artery CT angiography in Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to January 2022 were collected,including 47 cases of phlegm and blood stasis pattern and 44 cases of qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern.The patients were divided into train set(64 cases)and test set(27 cases)according to the ratio of 7∶3 by stratified random sampling method.3D-slicer software was used to extract the radiomics features of pericoronary adipose tissue(PCAT)images.Principal component analysis was used to visualize the distribution of radiomics features of pattern of phlegm and blood stasis and pattern of qi deficiency and blood stasis.The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis and support vector machine decreasing feature elimination were used for feature selection.The multinomial logistics regression was used for model construction.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to verify the model in the train set and the test set to evaluate the effectiveness of the radiomics features in differentiating phlegm and blood stasis pattern and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern.Finally,Spearman coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between the differential features and clinical physicochemical data.Results A total of 837 radiomics features were extracted from PCAT images by 3D-slicer software.In the principal component analysis,PC1 and PC2 explained 77.9%and 8.1%of the total variance,respectively,and there was a relatively obvious separation trend between the two pattern groups.After feature screening,7 radiomics features were used to construct the differential model of phlegm and blood stasis pattern and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern.The area under the ROC curve(AUC)of the differential model was 0.844 in the train set and 0.834 in the test set.Spearman correlation analysis showed that the differential features were significantly correlated with cTnI,neutrophil,triglyceride,total cholesterol,and leukocyte.Conclusion The CT radiomics model based on PCAT has a high discrimination efficiency for stable angina pectoris with phlegm and blood stasis pattern and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern.
8.Predictive value of serum uric acid/albumin ratio for acute kidney injury after cardiac valve surgery
Xiaoru ZHAO ; Zehua SHAO ; Wenwen ZHANG ; Xiaoyu DENG ; Han LI ; Lei YAN ; Yue GU ; Fengmin SHAO
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2024;40(3):201-208
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum uric acid/albumin ratio (sUAR) for acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac valve surgery.Methods:The clinical data of adult patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass from January 2021 to December 2021 from the Heart Center of Henan Provincial People's Hospital were collected retrospectively, and the sUAR was calculated. All patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to whether AKI occurred within 7 days after cardiac valve surgery, and the differences of clinical data between the two groups were compared. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent correlation factors of AKI after cardiac valve surgery. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the performance of relevant indicators.Results:A total of 422 patients were enrolled, including 194 females (46.0%), 141 hypertension patients (33.4%) and 172 atrial fibrillation patients (40.8%). They were 57 (50, 65) years old. Their sUAR was 8.13 (6.57, 9.54) μmol/g, and hemoglobin was 135 (125, 145) g/L. There were 142 cases in AKI group and 280 cases in non-AKI group, and the incidence of AKI after cardiac valve surgery was 33.6%. Age, atrial fibrillation rate, baseline serum creatinine, N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide, serum urea,serum uric acid, blood glucose and sUAR were higher in the AKI group than those in the non-AKI group (all P<0.05), and estimated glomerular filtration rate, lymphocyte count,hemoglobin and serum albumin were lower in the AKI group than those in the non-AKI group (all P<0.05). The median cardiopulmonary bypass time of patients in the AKI group was slightly longer than that in the non-AKI group, but the difference was not statistically significant [159 (125, 192) min vs. 151 (122, 193) min, Z=-0.797, P=0.426], and there were no statistically significant differences in other indicators between the two groups. The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sUAR ( OR=1.467, 95% CI 1.308-1.645, P<0.001), age ( OR=1.045, 95% CI 1.020-1.072, P<0.001), atrial fibrillation ( OR=2.520, 95% CI 1.580-4.020, P<0.001), hemoglobin ( OR=0.984, 95% CI 0.971-0.997, P=0.015) were the independent correlation factors. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve ( AUC) of sUAR predicting AKI after cardiac valve surgery was 0.710 (95% CI 0.659-0.760, P<0.001) with a sensitivity of 85.2% and specificity of 45.0% for the sUAR cut-off point of 7.28 μmol/g. The AUC for the diagnosis of AKI after cardiac valve surgery was 0.780 (95% CI 0.734-0.825, P<0.001) with a sensitivity of 72.5% and specificity of 71.8% for the combination of sUAR with age, hemoglobin and atrial fibrillation. Conclusions:For patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass, preoperative high sUAR is an independent risk factor for postoperative AKI, and sUAR has a certain predictive value for postoperative AKI.
9.Intranasal immunization with single-dose vaccine based on recombinant influenza virus H1N1 expressing the extracellular domain of respiratory syncytial virus G protein induces robust immunity and protection in mice
Ruiwen HAN ; Donghong WANG ; Tangqi WANG ; Xueting CHENG ; Jialuo BING ; Chengcheng ZHAI ; Shucai SUN ; Yao DENG ; Baoying HUANG ; Wenjie TAN
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(2):93-100
Objective:To construct a novel respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine based on a recombinant influenza virus vector and evaluate its immune protective effects in mice.Methods:A recombinant H1N1 influenza A virus (IAV) expressing the extracellular domain (Gecto) of RSV A2 G protein was constructed and rescued, named as PR8NAGecto/WSN. After in vitro verification of the Gecto expression and PR8NAGecto/WSN growth kinetics, a single dose of PR8NAGecto/WSN was used to immunize BALB/c mice through intranasal administration to evaluate the efficacy of PR8NAGecto/WSN by assessing humoral (IgG, neutralizing antibody), mucosal (IgA) and cellular immunity (IFN-γ ELISPOT). Four weeks after immunization, the mice were challenged with RSV A2 or RSV B9320 to evaluate the protective effects of PR8NAGecto/WSN by analyzing mouse body weight changes, lung tissue virus titers and pathological changes. Results:A single-dose intranasal immunization with PR8NAGecto/WSN induced robust humoral, mucosal and cellular immunity in mice. Moreover, the mice in the immunized group had lower lung virus loads and mild lung pathological damages following the challenge with RSV A or RSV B subtype as compared with the control group.Conclusions:A single-dose intranasal immunization with PR8NAGecto/WSN induces robust immunity and provide protection against RSV A and B challenges in mice. This study provides new ideas and reference for the development of novel mucosal vaccines against RSV.
10.Separation and determination of chiral and achiral impurities in glimepiride tablets by supercritical fluid chromatography
Han CHEN ; Li-ju YU ; Yan-hua FENG ; Si-li LIU ; Li-li HUANG ; Jian-ping ZHU ; Ming DENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(8):2337-2342
Separation and determination of chiral and achiral impurities in glimepiride tablets by supercritical fluid chromatography. Chiral and achiral impurities were separated on a ACQUITY UPC2 TrefoilTM CEL1 column (150 mm × 3.0 mm, 2.5 μm) maintained at 30 ℃ with the mobile phase containing a mixture of CO2 and methanol-isopropanol (1∶1) at 1 mL·min-1, and the detection wavelength was set at 228 nm. The back pressure was set at 13.8 MPa. The injection volume was 5 μL. In the chromatogram of the system suitability solution, the peaks elute in the following order: impurity Ⅳ, impurity Ⅴ, glimepiride, impurity Ⅲ, impurity Ⅰ and impurity Ⅱ. The six substances were separated successfully in 6 min using the proposed method with a resolution factor of 2.9, 1.6, 3.0, 2.0, 6.4. The impurity Ⅰ-Ⅴ detection limit (S/N = 3) was 0.17, 0.10, 0.06, 0.15, 0.10 μg·mL-1, respectively. Good linear relationship was established between the peak response and the concentration in the range of 0.48-51.30 μg·mL-1 for all impurities. The spiked recovery of impurity Ⅰ-Ⅴ was found to be acceptable for 99.9%, 98.9%, 102.1%, 100.1%, 96.3% (

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