1.Inhibitory effect of safranal on proliferation,migration and phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells of rats induced by high glucose in vitro
Yixuan GAO ; Peng WANG ; Silong ZHANG ; Ruijuan GAO ; Yingfang MA ; Keke ZHANG ; Dan FENG ; Zongqi HUANG ; Ketao MA ; Li LI ; Junqiang SI
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(4):948-957
Objective:To discuss whether safranal affects the proliferation,migration,and phenotypic transformation of the vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)in a high-glucose environment and to clarify the function of safranal in the prevention and treatment of diabetic(DM)vascular complications.Methods:The SD rats were selected as experimental subjects;primary VSMCs were cultured from rat thoracic aortas and divided into control group,25 mmol·L-1 high glucose(HG)group,HG+20 μmol·L-1 safranal group,HG+40 μmol·L-1 safranal group,and HG+80 μmol·L-1 safranal group.The cells in control group received no treatment;the cells in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group were pretreated with 25 mmol·L-1 HG;the cells in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were further treated with 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal respectively for 48 h on the basis of 25 mmol·L-1 HG group.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to determine the appropriate concentration of safranal and detect the viabilities of the VSMCs in various groups;cell scratch healing assay was used to detect the scratch healing rates of the VSMCs in various groups;Transwell chamber assay was used to detect the numbers of the migration VSMCs in various groups;immunofluorescence method was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and rabbit anti-osteopontin(OPN)in the VSMCs in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of OPN,α-SMA,and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)in the VSMCs in various groups.Results:Under microscope,on the 4th day of in vitro culture,the spindle-shaped or triangular cells crawled out from the edge of the thoracic aorta tissue blocks,with long spindle being the most common morphology.On the 14th,the cells gradually covered the bottom of the dish;when cell density reached 80%-90%,the characteristic"hills and valleys"growth pattern appeared.Third-generation cells were taken for immunofluorescence identification;immunofluorescence staining with VSMC-specific marker α-SMA showed positive expression of α-SMA protein in the primarily cultured VSMCs.The CCK-8 assay results showed that compared with control group,the cell viability of the cells in 160 μmol·L-1 safranal group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),indicating toxic damage to the cells.Under the conditions of safranal concentrations at 20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 respectively,after 48 h intervention on VSMCs,no significant adverse effect on cell viability was observed;considering both the effect and toxicity of safranal,these three concentrations were used in subsequent cell experiments.After 48 h intervention,compared with control group,the activity of the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was increased(P<0.001);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the activities of the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually decreased(P<0.05).The cell scratch healing assay and Transwell assay results showed that after 48 h intervention,the scratch healing rate of the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01),and the number of transmembrane cells through the Transwell chamber was significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the scratch healing rates of the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually decreased(P<0.05),and the number of transmembrane cells was decreased(P<0.05).The immunofluorescence staining results showed that compared with control group,the fluorescence intensity of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was significantly weakened(P<0.001),while the fluorescence intensity of OPN protein was significantly enhanced(P<0.001);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the fluorescence intensities of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were gradually increased(P<0.05),and the fluorescence intensities of OPN were gradually weakened(P<0.05).The Western blotting method results showed that compared with control group,the expression level of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in 25 mmol·L-1 HG group was decreased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of PCNA and OPN proteins were increased(P<0.01);compared with 25 mmol·L-1 HG group,the expression level of α-SMA protein in the VSMCs in HG+20,40,and 80 μmol·L-1 safranal groups were increased(P<0.05),and the expression levels of PCNA and OPN proteins were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:Safranal can inhibit the proliferation,migration,and phenotypic transformation of the VSMCs induced by high glucose.
2.Research Progress of Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantitative Parameters in Diagnosis and Assessment of Breast Cancer
Mengmeng QU ; Wen FENG ; Xinran LIU ; Xingru LU ; Junqiang LEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2025;33(1):107-112
Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease that threatens the life and health of women.Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging is a novel quantitative technology,which can obtain multiple quantitative relaxation and contrast images simultaneously by one scan,providing new basis for diagnosis and evaluation of diseases.This article reviews the imaging theory of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging and its application in the comprehensive diagnosis,molecular typing and prognosis assessment of breast cancer,in order to further guide the clinical practice.
3.Effects of hypoxic exercise on Irisin secretion in obese rats and lipid-deposited L6 myoblasts
Peiyuan LI ; Junpeng FENG ; Mingyue LU ; Kaixuan CHE ; Zhihui LU ; Junqiang QIU
Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;44(10):813-820
Objective To explore the effect of hypoxic exercise on Irisin secretion of obese rats with a palmitic acid-induced lipid accumulation in L6 myotubes and a high-fat diet-induced model.Methods L6 myotubes were treated with 750 μmol/L palmitic acid to induce lipid accumulation and subsequently divided into four groups of normoxia(N),exercise(E),hypoxia(H),and hypoxic exer-cise(HE).Hypoxic conditions(1%O2)were used to simulate a low-oxygen environment,while AICAR stimulation was applied to the E and HE groups to mimic exercise.Eighty 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish an obesity model.Fifty obese rats that met the criteria were then selected and randomly assigned according to their body weight into five groups of normoxia-sedentary(NC),normoxia-exercise(NE),hypoxia-sedentary(HC),high-liv-ing high-training(HH),and low-living high-training(LH),each of 10.The hypoxic environment was set at 13.6%O2(simulating 3,500 m altitude).Then the NE,HH and LH groups performed daily one-hour treadmill training(NE:20 m/min;HH and LH:16 m/min),5 days/week for 4 weeks.After the intervention,the body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA),while Irisin concentrations in cell culture media and rat serum were determined by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Moreover,fibronectin type Ⅲ domain-containing 5(FNDC5)mRNA expression in L6 cells and rat skeletal muscle was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR),while FNDC5 and silent information regulator 1-peroxisome proliferators-activated re-ceptor γ coactivator lalpha(SIRT1-PGC-1α)pathway proteins were analyzed using Western blotting.Results(1)Cell experiments:①Compared with the N group,there were significantly higher Irisin lev-els in the culture medium of the E,H,and HE groups(P<0.01,P<0.05),as well as elevated FNDC5 mRNA and protein expression in the E and HE groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Moreover,the Iri-sin concentration and FNDC5 protein levels of group HE were significantly higher than group E(P<0.05).②Compared with group N,significantly increased SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein expression was observed in groups E and HE(P<0.05,P<0.01).(2)Animal experiments:①Compared with the NC group,body weight and fat mass were significantly lower in the NE,LH,and HH groups(P<0.01),with further reductions observed in the HH group compared with the NE group(P<0.05).② Com-pared with group NC,groups NE,LH,and HH exhibited higher serum Irisin levels and increased FNDC5 mRNA and protein expression in skeletal muscle(P<0.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,FNDC5 pro-tein expression of the HH group was significantly higher than the NE group(P<0.05).③ Compared with the NC group,SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein levels were significantly upregulated in the NE,LH,and HH groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Hypoxic exercise effectively alleviates obesity,reduces body weight and fat accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese rats,and enhances FNDC5 expres-sion and Irisin secretion,which may be mediated through activation of the SIRT1-PGC-1α signaling pathway.Moreover,among the different hypoxic exercise modalities,the"high-living high-training"protocol appears to have greater benefits in promoting FNDC5/Irisin expression and facilitating weight and fat reduction in obese rats.
4.Effects of hypoxic exercise on Irisin secretion in obese rats and lipid-deposited L6 myoblasts
Peiyuan LI ; Junpeng FENG ; Mingyue LU ; Kaixuan CHE ; Zhihui LU ; Junqiang QIU
Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;44(10):813-820
Objective To explore the effect of hypoxic exercise on Irisin secretion of obese rats with a palmitic acid-induced lipid accumulation in L6 myotubes and a high-fat diet-induced model.Methods L6 myotubes were treated with 750 μmol/L palmitic acid to induce lipid accumulation and subsequently divided into four groups of normoxia(N),exercise(E),hypoxia(H),and hypoxic exer-cise(HE).Hypoxic conditions(1%O2)were used to simulate a low-oxygen environment,while AICAR stimulation was applied to the E and HE groups to mimic exercise.Eighty 3-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish an obesity model.Fifty obese rats that met the criteria were then selected and randomly assigned according to their body weight into five groups of normoxia-sedentary(NC),normoxia-exercise(NE),hypoxia-sedentary(HC),high-liv-ing high-training(HH),and low-living high-training(LH),each of 10.The hypoxic environment was set at 13.6%O2(simulating 3,500 m altitude).Then the NE,HH and LH groups performed daily one-hour treadmill training(NE:20 m/min;HH and LH:16 m/min),5 days/week for 4 weeks.After the intervention,the body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry(DEXA),while Irisin concentrations in cell culture media and rat serum were determined by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Moreover,fibronectin type Ⅲ domain-containing 5(FNDC5)mRNA expression in L6 cells and rat skeletal muscle was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR),while FNDC5 and silent information regulator 1-peroxisome proliferators-activated re-ceptor γ coactivator lalpha(SIRT1-PGC-1α)pathway proteins were analyzed using Western blotting.Results(1)Cell experiments:①Compared with the N group,there were significantly higher Irisin lev-els in the culture medium of the E,H,and HE groups(P<0.01,P<0.05),as well as elevated FNDC5 mRNA and protein expression in the E and HE groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Moreover,the Iri-sin concentration and FNDC5 protein levels of group HE were significantly higher than group E(P<0.05).②Compared with group N,significantly increased SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein expression was observed in groups E and HE(P<0.05,P<0.01).(2)Animal experiments:①Compared with the NC group,body weight and fat mass were significantly lower in the NE,LH,and HH groups(P<0.01),with further reductions observed in the HH group compared with the NE group(P<0.05).② Com-pared with group NC,groups NE,LH,and HH exhibited higher serum Irisin levels and increased FNDC5 mRNA and protein expression in skeletal muscle(P<0.05,P<0.01).Furthermore,FNDC5 pro-tein expression of the HH group was significantly higher than the NE group(P<0.05).③ Compared with the NC group,SIRT1 and PGC-1α protein levels were significantly upregulated in the NE,LH,and HH groups(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Hypoxic exercise effectively alleviates obesity,reduces body weight and fat accumulation in high-fat diet-induced obese rats,and enhances FNDC5 expres-sion and Irisin secretion,which may be mediated through activation of the SIRT1-PGC-1α signaling pathway.Moreover,among the different hypoxic exercise modalities,the"high-living high-training"protocol appears to have greater benefits in promoting FNDC5/Irisin expression and facilitating weight and fat reduction in obese rats.
5.Research Progress of Synthetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Quantitative Parameters in Diagnosis and Assessment of Breast Cancer
Mengmeng QU ; Wen FENG ; Xinran LIU ; Xingru LU ; Junqiang LEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2025;33(1):107-112
Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease that threatens the life and health of women.Synthetic magnetic resonance imaging is a novel quantitative technology,which can obtain multiple quantitative relaxation and contrast images simultaneously by one scan,providing new basis for diagnosis and evaluation of diseases.This article reviews the imaging theory of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging and its application in the comprehensive diagnosis,molecular typing and prognosis assessment of breast cancer,in order to further guide the clinical practice.
6.Expression analysis of inflammatory factors in artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis patients
Yan REN ; Guohui LI ; Min YU ; Dan YANG ; Lingfang FENG ; Junqiang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2023;41(10):837-840
Objective:To investigate the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing.Methods:In January 2022, 10 patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis and 20 patients with common silicosis who were hospitalized and diagnosed in a hospital at Zhejiang Province from June 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively selected as the research objects, and 30 healthy people were selected as the control group during the same period. Plasma of all subjects and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of all patients were collected. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and were analyzed.Results:The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the plasma of patients with silicosis were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the plasma of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing were higher than those of common silicosis patients ( P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma of artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis patients were higher than those of common silicosis patients at the same silicon stage ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing was higher than that of patients with common silicosis ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing are higher than those in patients with common silicosis, which may be related to dust components they are exposed to.
7.Expression analysis of inflammatory factors in artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis patients
Yan REN ; Guohui LI ; Min YU ; Dan YANG ; Lingfang FENG ; Junqiang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2023;41(10):837-840
Objective:To investigate the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing.Methods:In January 2022, 10 patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis and 20 patients with common silicosis who were hospitalized and diagnosed in a hospital at Zhejiang Province from June 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively selected as the research objects, and 30 healthy people were selected as the control group during the same period. Plasma of all subjects and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of all patients were collected. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and were analyzed.Results:The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the plasma of patients with silicosis were higher than those of the control group ( P<0.05), and the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the plasma of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing were higher than those of common silicosis patients ( P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in plasma of artificial quartz stone plate processing silicosis patients were higher than those of common silicosis patients at the same silicon stage ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing was higher than that of patients with common silicosis ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in silicosis patients with artificial quartz stone plate processing are higher than those in patients with common silicosis, which may be related to dust components they are exposed to.
8.The value of lncRNA JPX in diagnosis and prognosis of mesothelioma
Mingying JIN ; Wei SHEN ; Junfei CHEN ; Lingfang FENG ; Shibo YING ; Hailing XIA ; Junqiang CHEN ; Yiqiu CHEN ; Zhaoqiang JIANG ; Jianlin LOU
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;35(3):235-238
Objective :
To examine the diagnostic and prognostic value of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) JPX in mesothelioma, so as to provide insights into diagnosis and prognosis of mesothelioma.
Methods:
Patients with clinically definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma from 2015 to 2019 that were sampled from asbestos processing plants in Zhejiang Province from 2015 to 2019 were recruited in the mesothelioma group, while healthy residents without asbestos exposure or asbestos-related diseases in the same area served as controls. Participants' demographics, pathologic diagnosis and imaging features were collected, and the expression of blood lncRNA JPX was detected using lncRNA microarrays. The diagnostic value of lncRNA JPX for mesothelioma was evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the correlation between lncRNA JPX expression and prognosis was examined among mesothelioma patients using survival analysis.
Results:
There were 17 subjects in the mesothelioma group, with a mean age of (65.71±8.36) years, and 34 subjects in the controls, with a mean age of (64.24±8.70) years. LncRNA microarray detected significantly high lncRNA JPX expression in mesothelioma patients, and higher blood lncRNA JPX expression was detected in the mesothelioma group than in the control group [median (interquartile range), 1.10 (1.31) vs. 0.89 (0.54); t'=-2.300, P=0.034]. The area under the ROC curve was 0.673 (95%CI: 0.507-0.839, P=0.046), and if the cutoff was 1.759, the sensitivity and specificity were 35.3% and 100.0%, respectively. Survival analysis showed no significant difference in the survival rate of mesothelioma patients between the high lncRNA JPX expression group and the low expression group (χ2=0.212, P=0.645).
Conclusions
LncRNA JPX overexpression is detected in the blood of patients with mesothelioma, and lncRNA JPX expression presents a diagnostic value for mesothelioma; however, it shows little prognostic value for mesothelioma.
9.Effects of transurethral en-blocresection of bladder tumor on urination function,serum chitin enzymes protein-40,bladder cancer specific antigen-1,recombinant paraoxonase-1 Levels in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
Feng LIANG ; Jun DING ; Jianming SUN ; Junqiang LIU ; Chao ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Surgery 2023;31(11):1088-1092
Objective To explore the effects of transurethral en-blocresection of bladder tumor(TeURBT)on urination function,serum chitinase protein 40(YKL-40),bladder specific nuclear matrix protein-1(BLCA-1),and p-oxyfossase-1(PON-1)levels in patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC).Methods 74 patients with NMIBC admitted to our Hospital from January 2019 to May 2022 were divided into TeURBT group and transurethral resection of bladder tumor(TURBT)group by random lottery,with 37 cases in each group.The effective tumor clearance rate,surgery and urination function indexes were compared between the two groups.Blood samples were collected before surgery,3 months,6 months and 12 months after surgery to determine the levels of serum YKL-40,BLCA-1 and PON-1,and the recurrence rate was analyzed at 12 months of follow-up.Results The effective resection rate of bladder tumor was 100.00%in both groups.The operative time in TeURBT group was significantly longer than that in TURBT group(P<0.05),and the intraoperative blood loss,catheter indwelling/bladder irrigation/hospitalization time in TeURBT group were significantly less than those in TURBT group(P<0.05).Urinary output and maximum urinary flow per second in both groups significantly increased on postoperative day 14(P<0.05),but there was no statistically significant difference in the above indexes between the two groups on postoperative day 14(P>0.05).The levels of serum YKL-40 and BLCA-1 in the two groups at 3,6 and 12 months after surgery significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the level of PON-1 significantly increased(P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in serum YKL-40 and PON-1 levels between the two groups at 3 and 6 months after surgery(P>0.05),while serum YKL-40 and BLCA-1 levels in the TeURBT group were significantly lower than those in the TURBT group at 12 months after surgery(P<0.05),and PON-1 levels were significantly higher than those in the TURBT group(P<0.05).The stages in the TeURBT group could be accurately diagnosed after operation,and the postoperative pathological stages were Ta stage in 24 cases and T1 stage in 13 cases.The total incidence of postoperative complications in TeURBT group and cumulative incidence of recurrence in 1-year follow-up were 5.40%,which was significantly lower than 24.32%and 21.62%in TURBT group(P<0.05).Conclusion The effective resection rate of TeURBT and TURBT in the treatment of NMIBC tumor is similar,which can effectively improve the urination function of patients,downregulation of serum YKL-40 and BLCA-1 levels,and up-regulation of PON-1 levels.Compared with TURBT,TeURBT has advantages of less intraoperative blood loss,fewer postoperative complications,faster recovery,and lower recurrence rate.
10.Effect of asbestos exposure on oxidative stress
XIA Hailing ; JIANG Zhaoqiang ; FENG Lingfang ; YU Min ; ZHANG Min ; CHEN Junqiang ; ZHANG Xing ; LOU Jianlin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;34(1):1-6
Objective :
To examine the effect of asbestos exposure on oxidative stress, so as to provide insights into the elucidation of pathogenesis and management of asbestos-related diseases.
Methods :
Totally 245 subjects were recruited from an asbestos manufacturing area in Zhejiang Province, and their gender, age and history of asbestos exposure were collected through a questionnaire survey. The serum levels of 8-hydroxy-2'deoxyguanosine ( 8-OHdG ), glutathione ( GSH ), malondialdehyde ( MDA ), superoxide dismutase ( SOD ) and total antioxidative capacity ( TAOC ) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ), and the levels of catalase ( CAT ), peroxiredoxin 2 ( PRX2 ), SOD1, SOD2 and thioredoxin-1 ( TRX1 ) were detected in peripheral white blood cells ( WBCs ) using a liquid-chip assay. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to identify the association between asbestos exposure and oxidative stress parameters.
Results :
There were 50 subjects without a history of asbestos exposure (unexposed group), 102 subjects with asbestos exposure for less than 10 years ( AE<10-year group ) and 93 subjects with asbestos exposure for 10 years and more ( AE≥10-year group ). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of age, gender, proportion of smokers or proportion of alcohol consumers ( P>0.05 ). Significantly higher 8-OHdG and MDA in serum, and higher PRX2 in peripheral WBCs were detected in the AE≥10-year group than in the unexposed group ( P<0.05 ); lower GSH and TAOC in serum, and lower CAT in peripheral WBCs were detected in the AE≥10-year group than in the unexposed group ( P<0.05 ); higher 8-OHdG and MDA in serum, and higher PRX2 in peripheral WBCs were detected in the AE≥10-year group than in the AE<10-year group ( P<0.05 ). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that asbestos exposure significantly correlated with 8-OHdG, MDA and TAOC in serum, and CAT and PRX2 in peripheral WBCs ( P<0.05 ).
Conclusion
Asbestos exposure may induce the oxidative stress damage, suggesting that oxidative stress may be involved in asbestos-related diseases.


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