1.Dipsacus asper Treats Alzheimer's Disease in Caenorhabditis elegans by Regulating PPARα/TFEB Pathway
Mengmeng WANG ; Jianping ZHAO ; Limin WU ; Shuang CHU ; Yanli HUANG ; Zhenghao CUI ; Yiran SUN ; Pan WANG ; Hui WANG ; Zhenqiang ZHANG ; Zhishen XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):104-114
ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) effect of Dipsacus asper(DA) in the Caenorhabditis elegans model, and decipher the underlying mechanism via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)/transcription factor EB (TFEB) pathway. MethodsFirst, transgenic AD C. elegans individuals were assigned into the blank control, model, positive control (WY14643, 20 µmol·L-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (100, 200, and 400 mg·L-1, respectively) DA groups. The amyloid β-42 (Aβ42) formation in the muscle cells, the paralysis time, and the deposition of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) in the head were detected. The lysosomal autophagy in the BV2 cell model was examined by Rluc-LC3wt/G120A. The expression levels of lysosomal autophagy-related proteins LC3Ⅱ, LC3I, LAMP2, and TFEB were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA levels of autophagy-related genes beclin1 and Atg5 and lysosome-related genes LAMP2 and CLN2 downstream of PPARα/TFEB. A reporter gene assay was used to detect the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence intensity of PPARα, and the active components of the ethanol extract of DA were identified by UPLC-MS. RCSB PDB, Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), and Autodock were used to analyze the binding between the active components and PPARα-ligand-binding domain (LBD). ResultsCompared with the model group, the positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L-1 DA groups showed prolonged paralysis time (P<0.05), and all the treatment groups showed decreased Aβ deposition in the head (P<0.01). DA within the concentration range of 50-500 mg·L-1 did not affect the viability of BV2 cells. In addition, DA enhanced the autophagy flux (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA levels of beclin1, Atg5, LAMP2, and CLN2 (P<0.05, P<0.01), promoted the nuclear translocation of TFEB (P<0.05), increased LAMP2 expression and autophagy flux (P<0.05, P<0.01), and enhanced the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB (P<0.01). The positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L-1 DA groups showed enhanced fluorescence intensity of PPARα in the BV2 nucleus (P<0.01). UPLC-MS detected nine known compounds of DA, from which 8 active components of DA were screened out. The docking results suggested that a variety of components in DA could bind to PPARα-LBD and form stable hydrogen bonds. ConclusionDA may reduce the pathological changes in AD by regulating the PPARα-TFEB pathway.
2.Precise detection of weak partial D type 15 in the Chinese population: evaluation of their potential impact on blood transfusion safety and development of appropriate response strategies
Xu ZHANG ; Zhuren ZHOU ; Xuying HUANG ; Lichun LI ; Weiwei LI ; Ping HOU ; Xiaofeng LI ; Jianping LI
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(8):1030-1034
Objective: To investigate the precise detection methods for weak partial D type 15 and evaluate their implications for blood transfusion safety, along with the development of corresponding strategies. Methods: A combination of serological methods, including the microplate method, indirect antiglobulin tube method, and microcolumn gel card method, was employed to identify RhD-negative and RhD variant samples. RhD-negative samples were screened for the presence of RHD genes using whole-blood direct PCR amplification. Subsequently, RhD variant samples and RhD-negative samples containing RHD genes underwent full-coding-region sequencing of the RHD gene to confirm their genotypes. The genotyping results were further correlated with the serological test findings for comprehensive analysis. Results: Among 615 549 first-time healthy blood donors, 3 401 samples with an RhD-negative phenotype and 156 samples with RhD variant were identified. Of the 3 401 RhD-negative samples, 1 054 were found to harbor RHD genes. Gene sequencing analysis of the 156 RhD variants and the 1 054 serological negative samples revealed that 89 samples contained the RHD
15 (c. 845G>A) allele. Conclusion: The integration of serological testing methods and genotyping technologies for the precise determination of RhD blood type plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and compatibility of blood transfusions.
3.Acupuncture at "pelvic floor six needles" combined with Kegel exercise for mild to moderate female stress urinary incontinence: a randomized controlled trial.
Qianqian LI ; Xianghong HUANG ; Jiali ZHANG ; Zhonghui ZHAO ; Jianping CHENG
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(3):317-321
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the effect of acupuncture at "pelvic floor six needles" for mild to moderate female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
METHODS:
A total of 60 patients with mild to moderate female SUI were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases each group. The control group received Kegel exercise. The observation group received acupuncture at "pelvic floor six needles" on the basis of the treatment as the control group, bilateral Zhongliao (BL33), Zhibian (BL54), Huiyang (BL35), Shuidao (ST28), Dahe (KI12) and Guanyuan (CV4) were selected, once every other day, 3 times a week, 4 weeks as a course of treatment, a total of 2 courses were required. Before treatment and after 4, 8 weeks of treatment, urine leakage in 1 hour, International Consultation on Incontinence questionnaire short form (ICI-Q-SF) score, and incontinence quality of life questionnaire (I-QOL) score were observed in the two groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.
RESULTS:
After 8 weeks of treatment, urine leakage in 1 hour and ICI-Q-SF scores in both groups were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and urine leakage in 1 hour and ICI-Q-SF score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 4, 8 weeks of treatment, I-QOL scores were increased compared with those before treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the I-QOL scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01, P<0.001). The total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3% (28/30), which was higher than 73.3% (22/30) in the control group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture at "pelvic floor six needles" could improve the clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with mild to moderate female SUI to a certain degree.
Humans
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Female
;
Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation*
;
Urinary Incontinence, Stress/physiopathology*
;
Middle Aged
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Adult
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Exercise Therapy
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Pelvic Floor/physiopathology*
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Aged
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Treatment Outcome
;
Quality of Life
4.Advances in Principle of Electrical Impedance Tomography and Its Application in Diagnosis and Treatment of Pulmonary Diseases.
Quchao ZOU ; Jinjiang JIN ; Jianping YE ; Lijian WANG ; Yiwen WANG ; Tianhai HUANG ; Jucheng ZHANG ; Yonghua CHU
Chinese Journal of Medical Instrumentation 2025;49(1):35-41
Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a technique that uses an array of electrodes to deliver safe stimulating currents and measures the boundary voltages between adjacent electrode pairs in the array in sequence. Subsequently, it reconstructs the impedance distribution in all or part of the tissue using reconstruction algorithms to achieve structural and functional imaging. Lung EIT technology features continuity, being radiation-free and non-invasive, and it can be used for real-time dynamic monitoring of the lungs in critically ill patients. This paper introduces the basic principles of lung EIT, analyzes the research progress and existing problems of the technology from the perspectives of hardware systems, imaging algorithms, and clinical applications (such as lung ventilation, lung perfusion, and lung function assessment), and discusses the development direction to provide ideas for expanding the clinical application of lung EIT.
Electric Impedance
;
Humans
;
Tomography/methods*
;
Lung Diseases/therapy*
;
Algorithms
5.Structurally diverse sesquiterpenoids with anti-MDR cancer activity from Penicillium roqueforti.
Shuyuan MO ; Nanjin DING ; Zhihong HUANG ; Jun YAO ; Weiguang SUN ; Jianping WANG ; Yonghui ZHANG ; Zhengxi HU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):504-512
Five novel nor-eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, peniroqueforins E-H and J (1-4 and 7), two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, peniroqueforins I and K (5 and 8), and a new eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoid, peniroqueforin L (9), along with four known compounds (6 and 10-12), were isolated and characterized from fungus Penicillium roqueforti (P. roqueforti). The structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined through comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The anti-multi-drug resistance (MDR) cancer activity of these compounds was evaluated using SW620/Ad300 cells. Notably, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of paclitaxel (PTX) combined with 1 in SW620/Ad300 cells was 50.36 nmol·L-1, which was 65-fold more potent than PTX alone (IC50 3.26 μmol·L-1). Subsequent molecular docking studies revealed an affinity between compound 1 and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), suggesting that this nor-eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoid (1) could serve as a potential lead for MDR reversal in cancer cells through P-gp inhibition.
Penicillium/chemistry*
;
Humans
;
Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Molecular Structure
;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*
;
Drug Resistance, Multiple/drug effects*
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
6.Non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ): physiological function in Mycobacterium and application in gene editing.
Shasha XIANG ; Yu HUANG ; Jianping XIE
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(4):1280-1290
DNA double-strand breaks represent a common type of serious DNA damage in living organisms, causing instability of the genome and leading to cell death. Homologous recombination and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) are the two main ways to repair DNA double-strand breaks. The core components involved in the NHEJ pathway are highly conserved in both yeast and humans. A few bacteria such as Mycobacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus subtilis also have the NHEJ mechanism. NHEJ plays a key role in the double strand repair of Mycobacterium in latency. This paper summarizes the mechanism and important components of NHEJ in Mycobacterium, introduces the application of NHEJ in gene editing, and reviews the research progress of the NHEJ pathway in Mycobacterium. We hope to bring new insights into the molecular mechanism and provide clues for the application of NHEJ in Mycobacterium.
DNA End-Joining Repair/physiology*
;
Gene Editing/methods*
;
Mycobacterium/physiology*
;
DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
;
Humans
7.Mechanism of Qizhu Kang'ai Prescription for Inhibiting Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating Tumor Metabolic Reprogramming via PCK1/Akt/p21 Signal Axis
Xin ZHONG ; Rui HU ; Jing LI ; Lanfen PENG ; Xingning LIU ; Qi HUANG ; Jialing SUN ; Xinfeng SUN ; Jianping CHEN ; Benqiang CAI ; Xiaozhou ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(3):26-36
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Qizhu Kang'ai prescription (QZAP) on the gluconeogenesis enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) in the liver of mouse model of liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) combined with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and Huh7 cells of human liver cancer, so as to explore the mechanism on regulating metabolic reprogramming and inhibiting cell proliferation of liver cancer cells. MethodDEN combined with CCl4 was used to construct a mouse model of liver cancer via intraperitoneal injection. A normal group, a model group, and a QZAP group were set up, in which QZAP (3.51 g·kg-1) or an equal volume of normal saline was administered daily by gavage, respectively. Serum and liver samples were collected after eight weeks of intervention. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in mice were detected to evaluate liver function changes of mice in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe pathological changes in liver tissue. In the cell experiment, Huh7 cells were divided into blank group, QZAP low, medium, and high dose groups and/or PCK1 inhibitor (SKF-34288 hydrochloride) group, and Sorafenib group. The corresponding drug-containing serum and drug treatment were given, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, colony formation experiment, Edu fluorescent labeling detection, intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content detection, and cell cycle flow cytometry detection were used to evaluate the proliferation ability, energy metabolism changes, and change in the cell cycle of Huh7 cells in each group. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PCK1, serine/threonine kinase (Akt), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and cell cycle-dependent protein kinase inhibitor 1A (p21). ResultCompared with the model group, the pathological changes such as cell atypia, necrosis, and collagen fiber deposition in liver cancer tissue of mice in the QZAP group were alleviated, and the number of liver tumors was reduced (P<0.01). The serum ALT, AST, γ-GT, and AFP levels were reduced (P<0.01). At the cell level, compared with the blank group, low, medium, and high-dose groups of QZAP-containing serum and the Sorafenib group could significantly reduce the survival rate of Huh7 cells (P<0.01) and the number of positive cells with Edu labeling (P<0.01) and inhibit clonal proliferation ability (P<0.01). The QZAP groups could also reduce the intracellular ATP content (P<0.05) and increase the distribution ratio of the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group and blank group, PCK1 and p21 protein levels of mouse liver cancer tissue and Huh7 cells in the QZAP groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the p-Akt protein level was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the ATP content and cell survival rate of Huh7 cells in the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group were significantly increased (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the ratio of Edu-positive cells and the proportion of G0/G1 phase distribution. Compared with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group, the QZAP combined with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group significantly reduced the ATP content, cell survival rate, and Edu-positive cell ratio of Huh7 cells (P<0.05) and significantly increased the G0/G1 phase distribution proportion (P<0.05). ConclusionQZAP may induce the metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer cells by activating PCK1 to promote Akt/p21-mediated tumor suppression, thereby exerting an anti-hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation mechanism.
8.Finite element analysis of the influence of lateral collateral ligament injury on ankle stability and talar trochlear cartilage stress in a marathon runner
Jie HUANG ; Wanzhen YAO ; Lihua DING ; Zhenmei HUANG ; Shangben LIN ; Jianping DING
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2024;58(4):416-421
Objective:A three-dimensional (3D) finite element model of the ankle joint of marathon runners was constructed to simulate the changes of the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury on the stability of the ankle joint and the force distribution of talar talus cartilage during exercise.Methods:The 3D MRI images of the right ankle joint of one marathon runner were acquired and imported into Mimics software in DICOM format for preliminary 3D model reconstruction of the images. The boundary conditions and loads were loaded on the model using Ansys Workbench software, and the ankle joint forces were analyzed by Ansys Workbench for marathon runners in the sports condition, and four kinds of ankle LCL injury finite element models were established, i.e., the normal model of LCL, the injury model of anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL), the injury model of AFTL merged with the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL), and the injury model of AFTL merged with the CFL and the posterior talofibular ligament (PTFL). The peak talus slide cartilage stress and its distribution were observed under the four models, and one-way ANOVA was used to compare the values of talus advancement, and the SNK- q test was used for two-by-two comparisons. Results:In the LCL normal model, the maximum stress peak of the talar slide was 0.21 MPa, which was mainly distributed in the junction area of the anterior medial (MA) and anterior lateral (LA) parts and part of the LA region. In ATFL injury, the peak stress of talar cartilage increased compared with the normal model, with a maximum value of 0.65 MPa, which was mainly distributed in the MA region. In ATFL combined with CFL injury, the peak stress increased, and the peak was mainly distributed in the MA region, and was shifted from the MA to the LA region. In ATFL combined with CFL and PTFL injuries, the peak cartilage stress in the talus slide was up to 2.29 MPa, and the maximum stress was mainly distributed in MA and LA, which had a comparable range of distribution. The anterior talar displacement values were (3.2±0.4), (3.4±0.4), (3.7±0.5), and (6.5±0.7) mm for normal LCL, AFTL injury, AFTL combined with CFL injury, ATFL combined with CFL, PTFL injuries, respectively, with a statistically significant difference ( F=109.08, P<0.001). The anterior talar displacement of ATFL combined with CFL, PTFL injuries was larger than those of normal LCL, AFTL injury, and AFTL combined with CFL injury ( P<0.05). Conclusions:A 3D finite element model is successfully constructed based on 3D MRI of the ankle joint in marathon runners. The peak and range of cartilage stresses in the talar glide change during LCL injury, and the talar glide displaces anteriorly.
9.Clinical outcomes of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation in the elderly
Yu SUN ; Jinhuan HUANG ; Peng XIE ; Jianping GUO ; Hongtao YUAN ; Xiangmin SHI ; Hongyang GUO ; Ya HUANG ; Zhaoliang SHAN
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2024;26(3):267-270
Objective To analyze the outcomes of catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation(AF)and the independent risk factors for its recurrence in the elderly.Methods A total of 194 patients with persistent AF who underwent catheter ablation at our department from January 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled in this study.They were divided into elderly group(≥60 years old,99 cases)and non-elderly group(<60 years old,95 cases).Their surgical characteris-tics,postoperative complications and recurrence were compared between the two groups,and the independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence were analyzed in the elderly group.Results Advanced age,higher B-type natriuretic peptide,larger proportions of hypertension and coronary heart disease,and increased CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores,while lower male ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate were observed in the elderly group than the non-elderly group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The elderly group had a higher proportion of left atrial fibrosis than the non-elderly group(30.3%vs 8.4%,P=0.001).Postoperative complications in the elderly group in-cluded 1 case of pericardial effusion and 2 cases of hematoma at the puncture site,and all of these were improved after treatment.There were no significant differences in the 1-year success rate(71.7%vs 69.5%,P=0.763)or recurrence rate during blanking period(21.2%vs 21.1%,P=0.981)between the elderly and non-elderly groups.AF duration(HR=1.020,95%CI:1.007-1.032,P=0.002)and recurrence during blanking period(HR=6.781,95%CI:3.078-14.935,P=0.001)were independent risk factors for postoperative recurrence in the elderly group.Conclu-sion Catheter ablation is safe and effective in the treatment of persistent AF in the elderly.The elderly patients with long duration of AF and recurrences during blanking period are more likely to experience recurrences within 1 year after ablation.
10.Role and mechanism of BRCA2 gene in immune killing of lung cancer cells
Qungui ZHANG ; Jianping LAI ; Xiaojing LI ; Li HUANG
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(1):134-137
Objective:To study the effect and molecular mechanism of BRCA2 gene on the killing of lung cancer by immune cells.Methods:siRNA was designed to reduce BRCA2 gene in lung cancer cells;BRCA2 expression was detected by qPCR and Western blot;cell growth was detected by MTT and CCK-8 methods;peripheral blood mononuclear cells were co-cultured with lung cancer cells,and GFP fluorescence was detected by enzyme labeling method.Killing efficiency of lung cancer cells was evaluated.Results:BRCA2 gene was expressed in moderate abundance in lung cancer cells A549 and H1299,and there was no significant differ-ence compared with lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B(P>0.05).When the BRCA2 gene in A549 and H1299 cells was successfully knocked down,the cell proliferation rate was significantly increased compared with control group;the killing efficiency of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to lung cancer cells A549 and H1299 were significantly higher than that of the control group;the expression of ATM,RAD51 and RAD50 were significantly reduced,while the expression of P53 protein was 7.2 times of the control group.Con-clusion:After knockdown of BRCA2 gene,peripheral blood monocytes are more effective in killing lung cancer cells.Intervention of BRCA2 and monocytes can synergistically inhibit lung cancer and regulate the expression of ATM signaling pathway molecules.

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