1.Clinical observation of pramipexole combined with levodopa-benserazide in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Heng XU ; Chengrong YE ; Chunming XIE
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):584-588
OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical efficacy of pramipexole combined with levodopa-benserazide in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). METHODS A total of 108 PD patients treated at the Fifth People’s Hospital of Wuhu City from January 1, 2021, to February 28, 2023, were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 54 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were administered levodopa-benserazide (initial dose of 62.5 mg per dose), three times daily; after one month, the dose was increased to 250 mg per dose, four times daily. Patients in the observation group received the same treatment as the control group, with the addition of pramipexole (initial dose of 0.25 mg per dose) orally twice daily on an empty stomach; after 14 days, the dose was increased to 0.25 mg per dose, three times daily. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The short-term efficacy, safety and long-term prognosis of the two groups were compared. RESULTS After treatment, the observation group had significantly lower scores on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39( PDQ- 39) compared to the control group; in contrast, the observation group had higher scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scale, the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), and the Quality of Life (QOL) scale (P<0.05). Both groups showed a significant reduction in UPDRS-Ⅲ and PDQ-39 scores, and a significant increase in DRS scores compared to baseline (P<0.05). However, only the observation group showed a significant increase in MoCA scale, MMSE scale, and QOL scores, and a significant decrease in HAMD and HAMA scores compared to baseline (P< 0.05). The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in both groups was not significantly different (P>0.05). The 12 months follow-up results showed that the incidence of dementia and mortality rates in the observation group were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pramipexole combined with levodopa-benserazide significantly improves motor function, cognitive function, quality of life and symptoms of depression and anxiety in PD patients, and may reduce the long-term risk of dementia and mortality in these patients.
2.Production of GTKO pigs and kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques
Yan WANG ; Yue CHANG ; Chang YANG ; Taiyun WEI ; Xiaoying HUO ; Bowei CHEN ; Jiaoxiang WANG ; Heng ZHAO ; Jianxiong GUO ; Hongfang ZHAO ; Xiong ZHANG ; Feiyan ZHU ; Wenmin CHENG ; Hongye ZHAO ; Kaixiang XU ; Ameen Jamal MUHAMMAD ; Zhendi WANG ; Hongjiang WEI
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(4):526-537
Objective To explore the construction of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene-knockout (GTKO) Diannan miniature pigs and the kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques, and to assess the effectiveness of GTKO pigs. Methods The GTKO Diannan miniature pigs were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system and somatic cell cloning technology. The phenotype of GTKO pigs was verified through polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect antigen-antibody (IgM) binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Kidney xenotransplantation was performed from GTKO pigs to rhesus macaques. The humoral immunity, cellular immunity, coagulation and physiological indicators of the recipient monkeys were monitored. The function and pathological changes of the transplanted kidneys were analyzed using ultrasonography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining. Results Single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting exon 4 of the GGTA1 gene in Diannan miniature pigs was designed. The pGL3-GGTA1-sgRNA1-GFP vector was transfected into fetal fibroblasts of Diannan miniature pigs. After puromycin selection, two cell clones, C59# and C89#, were identified as GGTA1 gene-knockout clones. These clones were expanded to form cell lines, which were used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. The reconstructed embryos were transferred into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, resulting in 13 fetal pigs. Among them, fetuses F04 and F11 exhibited biallelic mutations in the GGTA1 gene, and F04 had a normal karyotype. Using this GTKO fetal pig for recloning and transferring the reconstructed embryos into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, seven surviving piglets were obtained, all of which did not express α-Gal epitope. The binding of IgM from the serum of rhesus monkey 20# to GTKO pig PBMC was reduced, and the survival rate of GTKO pig PBMC in the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay was higher than that of wild-type pig. GTKO pig kidneys were harvested and perfused until completely white. After the left kidney of the recipient monkey was removed, the pig kidney was heterotopically transplanted. Following vascular anastomosis and blood flow restoration, the pig kidney rapidly turned pink without hyperacute rejection (HAR). Urine appeared in the ureter 6 minutes later, indicating successful kidney transplantation. The right kidney of the recipient was then removed. Seven days after transplantation, the transplanted kidney had good blood flow, the recipient monkey's serum creatinine level was stable, and serum potassium and cystatin C levels were effectively controlled, although they increased 10 days after transplantation. Seven days after transplantation, the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in the recipient monkey increased, while platelet count and fibrinogen levels decreased. The activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and prothrombin time remained relatively stable but later showed an upward trend. The recipient monkey survived for 10 days. At autopsy, the transplanted kidney was found to be congested, swollen and necrotic, with a small amount of IgG deposition in the renal tissue, and a large amount of IgM, complement C3c and C4d deposition, as well as CD68+ macrophage infiltration. Conclusions The kidneys of GTKO Diannan miniature pigs may maintain normal renal function for a certain period in rhesus macaques and effectively overcome HAR, confirming the effectiveness of GTKO pigs for xenotransplantation.
3.Construction and Functional Validation of GTKO/hCD55 Gene-Edited Xenotransplant Donor Pigs
Jiaoxiang WANG ; Lu ZHANG ; Shuhan CHEN ; Deling JIAO ; Heng ZHAO ; Taiyun WEI ; Jianxiong GUO ; Kaixiang XU ; Hongjiang WEI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):379-392
Objective To develop GTKO (α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout, GTKO)/hCD55 (human CD55) gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs and verify their function. Methods In this study, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9), PiggyBac transposon technology and somatic cell nuclear transfer technology were used to construct GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited Diannan miniature pigs. The phenotype and function of GTKO/hCD55 pigs were analyzed by Sanger sequencing, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, bisulfite sequencing, antigen-antibody binding assays, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays. Results After transfection of PX458 and PiggyBac gene editing vectors into wild-type fetal pig fibroblasts, 48 single-cell colonies were obtained through puromycin drug screening. Two single-cell colonies were selected for somatic cell nuclear transfer, resulting in two fetal pigs at 33 days of gestation. The GGTA1(α-1,3-galactosyltransferase) genotypes of fetal pig F01 were -17 bp and wild type (WT), while the GGTA1 genotypes of fetal pig F02 were -26 bp/+2 bp and -3 bp. The hCD55 mRNA expression levels of both fetal pigs were significantly higher than those of WT pigs (P<0.01). The fetal pig F02 was selected as the donor cell source for recloning, 11 surviving piglets were obtained, all identified as GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pigs. These pigs showed absence of α-Gal antigen expression, but weak or no expression of hCD55 was observed. Methylation analysis of the hCD55 gene's CpG island showed hypermethylation in kidney tissue lacking hCD55 expression, whereas it was not methylated or partially methylated in kidney tissue expressing hCD55. Moreover, codon optimization of the CpG island of the hCD55 gene to reduce CG content could achieve stable expression of the hCD55 gene. In addition, antigen-antibody binding experiment showed that the amount of human IgM binding to GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pig fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of WT pigs (P<0.01). Complement-dependent cytotoxicity experiment showed that the survival rate of fibroblasts in GTKO/hCD55 pigs was significantly higher than that in WT pigs (P<0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates the successful generation of GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs. Methylation-induced gene silencing of the hCD55 gene can be effectively avoided by reducing the CG content of the CpG island through codon optimization. This study provides a reference for the development of xenotransplant donor pigs and guides subsequent research on xenotransplantation.
4.Impact of sports participation on suicide risk among adolescents and countermeasures
SHI Peng ,XU Heng,HUANG Meirong
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(8):1212-1216
Abstract
To clarify the relationship between sports participation and adolescent suicide risk, as well as its underlying mechanisms for preventing suicidal behaviors, the study employs a literature review approach to analyze, synthesize, and summarize relevant research. The findings reveal that physical exercise can reduce suicide rates among middle school students, with high intensity aerobic exercise performed 5-7 days per week demonstrating the most significant effect. However, daily physical activity and muscle strengthening exercises show no significant correlation with suicide related behaviors. The mechanisms through which physical activity reduces the risk of suicide among adolescents include emotional release leading to self help skills, helping adolescents build social connections, and improving physical and brain function. It is recommended that families and schools help adolescents discover the joy of participating in sports, assist in forming sports teams, and ensure at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily to reduce the risk of suicidal behavior among adolescents.
5.Investigation and multivariate analysis of humanistic care experience among patients visiting traditional Chinese medicine outpatient clinics
Hongxia WANG ; Xu CHE ; Haiying CAO ; Haixin ZHANG ; Shujie GUO ; Yilan LIU ; Heng ZHANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(11):1498-1509
ObjectiveTo explore the current situation and influencing factors of humanistic care experience among patients visiting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outpatient clinics in China, and to provide a basis for optimizing TCM-characterized services in both TCM and Western medicine hospitals. MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to select 35 hospitals across 13 provinces in China (including 3 TCM hospitals and 32 TCM outpatient clinics in general hospitals). A total of 3,430 patients were surveyed using the general information questionnaire and the Outpatient Humanistic Care Experience Questionnaire, with data collected via Questionnaire Star. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were employed to examine the impacts of patient characteristics, visit characteristics, hospital type (TCM hospital/general hospital), and geographic region (eastern/central/western) on humanistic care experience. ResultsThe total score of humanistic care experience was 194 (188, 233). Univariate analysis showed that gender, educational level, current residence, per capita monthly household income, location attribute of medical institutions, number of previous visits to this hospital, payment method of medical expenses, previous hospitalization history in this hospital, frequency of outpatient visits within the past 12 months, self-rated disease severity, familiarity with the outpatient procedures, implementation of the follow-up service provided by the hospital, satisfaction with follow-up services, the grade of the hospital visited, geographical region of the hospital visited, and the department visited had an impact on the humanistic care experience during outpatient visits (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that educational level (β=0.609, P=0.011), self-rated disease severity (β=-0.646, P=0.047), familiarity with outpatient procedures (β=4.784, P<0.001), satisfaction with follow-up services (β=6.365, P<0.001), and the grade of the hospital visited (β=-5.487, P<0.001) affected the humanistic care experience in outpatient medical treatment, explaining 24.4% of the total variation. ConclusionHumanistic care experience in TCM outpatient clinics is influenced by multiple factors. It is recommended to optimize the medical treatment process, strengthen doctor-patient communication training, and establish a precise follow-up mechanism, with a focus on improving care perceptions among patients with lower education levels and those attending primary-level hospitals, to refine the TCM-characterized service system.
6.Buqi-Tongluo Decoction inhibits osteoclastogenesis and alleviates bone loss in ovariectomized rats by attenuating NFATc1, MAPK, NF-κB signaling.
Yongxian LI ; Jinbo YUAN ; Wei DENG ; Haishan LI ; Yuewei LIN ; Jiamin YANG ; Kai CHEN ; Heng QIU ; Ziyi WANG ; Vincent KUEK ; Dongping WANG ; Zhen ZHANG ; Bin MAI ; Yang SHAO ; Pan KANG ; Qiuli QIN ; Jinglan LI ; Huizhi GUO ; Yanhuai MA ; Danqing GUO ; Guoye MO ; Yijing FANG ; Renxiang TAN ; Chenguang ZHAN ; Teng LIU ; Guoning GU ; Kai YUAN ; Yongchao TANG ; De LIANG ; Liangliang XU ; Jiake XU ; Shuncong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(1):90-101
Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals
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NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Ovariectomy
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Osteoclasts/metabolism*
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Female
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Osteogenesis/drug effects*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Rats
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NF-kappa B/genetics*
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Osteoporosis/genetics*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Bone Resorption/genetics*
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Cell Differentiation/drug effects*
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Humans
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RANK Ligand/metabolism*
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics*
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Transcription Factors
7.Spatial-temporal Dynamics of Tuberculosis and Its Association with Meteorological Factors and Air Pollution in Shaanxi Province, China.
Heng Liang LYU ; Xi Hao LIU ; Hui CHEN ; Xue Li ZHANG ; Feng LIU ; Zi Tong ZHENG ; Hong Wei ZHANG ; Yuan Yong XU ; Wen Yi ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):867-872
8.Integrating Internet Search Data and Surveillance Data to Construct Influenza Epidemic Thresholds in Hubei Province: A Moving Epidemic Method Approach.
Cai Xia DANG ; Feng LIU ; Heng Liang LYU ; Zi Qian ZHAO ; Si Jin ZHU ; Yang WANG ; Yuan Yong XU ; Ye Qing TONG ; Hui CHEN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1150-1154
9.Progress of chimeric antigen receptor T cell combined with bcl-2 inhibitors for hematological malignancies
Qiaolin LIU ; Jia XU ; Chenggong LI ; Heng MEI
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2025;34(2):114-117
Chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy has achieved remarkable efficacies in the treatment of B-cell leukemia/lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM). Nevertheless, how to maintain a sustainable remission remains a significant concern. One of the underlying factors for the recurrence after CAR-T cell therapy is the acquired resistance in tumor cells to apoptosis. bcl-2 protein belongs to the anti-apoptotic protein family and plays a key role in regulating endogenous apoptosis. The overexpression of bcl-2 indicates a poor prognosis in hematological malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and MM. BH3 is a key protein domain involved in the process of programmed cell death, and bcl-2 inhibitors promote tumor cell apoptosis by competitively binding to BH3. bcl-2 inhibitors have been previously verified to sensitize tumor cells to the cytotoxicity of CAR-T cell. This paper reviews the preclinical and clinical results of CAR-T cell in combination with bcl-2 inhibitors for treatment of hematologic malignancies, aiming to intricate molecular mechanisms of the synergistic effect of CAR-T cell combined with bcl-2 inhibitors and further to improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy.
10.Fast Screening of 10 Kinds of Illegal Aphrodisiac Drugs in Foods by Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Xi ZENG ; Yu WANG ; Ying-Li CHEN ; Tian-Tian ZHAO ; Zhen-Lin XU ; Heng-Xin ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(3):441-450,中插3-中插5
A matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS)method was developed for simultaneous analysis of 10 kinds of aphrodisiac drugs,including sildenafil,acetildenafil,nor-acetildenafil,homosildenafil,lodenafil carbonate,sildlenafil dimer impurity,vardenafil dimer,hydroxyacetildenafil,N-desmethylsildenafil and udenafil.By using different matrices(α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid(HCCA)and sinapic acid(SA)),the effects of solvents,amount of matrices,laser intensity and spotting methods on the peak strength and signal intensity of MALDI-TOF MS for the aphrodisiac drugs were investigated.As a result,SA was chosen as the matrix,and then dispersed in methanol-water(50∶50,V/V),and spotted by matrix firstly and sample secondly approach with the reflect linear positive mode and laser power of 60%.Under optimal conditions,the proposed MALDI-TOF MS method could obtain stable signal,high intensity and well-repeated mass spectrometric results.The results of method validation showed a linear range from 10 to 100 ng/mL,and the regression coefficients(r)were all above 0.985.The limits of detection(LOD)were 0.1-1.0 ng/mL,and the recoveries were in the range of 72.9%-109.9%for health wine,soft capsule and instant coffee samples,while the relative standard deviations(RSDs)ranged from 0.7%to 11.3%(n=3).The test results of 10 kinds of aphrodisiac drugs by MALDI-TOF MS were in accordance with the results of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.This method exhibited high sensitivity,high accuracy,good anti-interference ability,low chemical solvents consumption and environmentally friendliness,and could be used to detect drugs without standards.The developed MALDI-TOF MS method could realize the non-target screening and detection of 10 kinds of illegally added aphrodisiac drugs in foods.


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