1.Constructing rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration models by different methods under X-ray guidance:a comparative study
Zhili DING ; Jie HUANG ; Qiang JIANG ; Tusheng LI ; Jiang LIU ; Yu DING
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(5):995-1002
BACKGROUND:Scholars at home and abroad consider New Zealand rabbits to be an ideal model animal because of the similar anatomical morphology of the lumbar spine to that of the human lumbar spine.There is a lack of systematic comparison of different ways to establish rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration models under X-ray guidance. OBJECTIVE:To establish a rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration using X-ray guided acupuncture,end-plate injection and combined method,and to compare the modeling effects of these three methods. METHODS:Eighteen 6-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were randomly selected and divided into four groups:acupuncture group,endplate injection group,combined group and blank control group.In the acupuncture group,three consecutive segments of the intervertebral discs(L2/3,L3/4,L4/5)were needled and modeled;in the endplate injection group,50 μL of anhydrous ethanol was injected at a single point on the endplates of the three consecutive segmental discs;in the combined group,three consecutive segmental intervertebral discs were needled and injected with 50 μL of anhydrous ethanol at four azimuthal points on the endplates of the corresponding segmental discs;and the blank control group received no interventions.X-ray examination was performed to measure the disc height index at 2,4,and 8 weeks after surgery.The intervertebral disc tissues were then taken for anatomical observation and pathological examination. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Anatomical examination showed that fibrous annulus rupture,nucleus pulposus degeneration,and total disc structure disorder were the main manifestation in the acupuncture group,endplate injection group,and combined group,respectively.(2)X-ray examination showed that the disc height index showed the most obvious reduction in the acupuncture group at 2 weeks after operation,significant reductions in the endplate injection group at 2 and 4 weeks after operation,and significant reductions in the combined group at 2,4,and 8 weeks after operation.(3)Pathological examination showed that the fibrous ring structure was damaged and the inner annulus fibrosus protruded inward in the acupuncture group;endplate fissure,disordered arrangement and nucleus loss were observed in the endplate injection group;total disc structure disorder with the nucleus pulposus losing water and shrinking and no obvious border with the broken annulus fibrosus was found in the combined group.To conclude,acupuncture,endplate injection and the modified endplate injection method can establish the rabbit intervertebral disc degeneration model.Compared with the single method,the modified endplate injection method can greatly accelerate and aggravate the degeneration of the intervertebral disc,and can effectively shorten the experiment period.
2.Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing neuregulin-1 promote skin wound healing in mice
Taotao HU ; Bing LIU ; Cheng CHEN ; Zongyin YIN ; Daohong KAN ; Jie NI ; Lingxiao YE ; Xiangbing ZHENG ; Min YAN ; Yong ZOU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(7):1343-1349
BACKGROUND:Neuregulin 1 has been shown to be characterized in cell proliferation,differentiation,and vascular growth.Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells are important seed cells in the field of tissue engineering,and have been shown to be involved in tissue repair and regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To construct human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing neuregulin 1 and investigate their proliferation and migration abilities,as well as their effects on wound healing. METHODS:(1)Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells were in vitro isolated and cultured and identified.(2)A lentivirus overexpressing neuregulin 1 was constructed.Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells were divided into empty group,neuregulin 1 group,and control group,and transfected with empty lentivirus and lentivirus overexpressing neuregulin 1,or not transfected,respectively.(3)Edu assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of the cells of each group,and Transwell assay was used to detect the migration ability of the cells.(4)The C57 BL/6 mouse trauma models were constructed and randomly divided into control group,empty group,neuregulin 1 group,with 8 mice in each group.Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells transfected with empty lentivirus or lentivirus overexpressing neuregulin-1 were uniformly injected with 1 mL at multiple local wound sites.The control group was injected with an equal amount of saline.(5)The healing of the trauma was observed at 1,7,and 14 days after model establishment.Histological changes of the healing of the trauma were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The expression of CD31 on the trauma was observed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing neuregulin-1 were successfully constructed.The mRNA and protein expression of intracellular neuregulin 1 was significantly up-regulated compared with the empty group(P<0.05).(2)The overexpression of neuregulin 1 promoted the migratory ability(P<0.01)and proliferative ability of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells(P<0.05).(3)Human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing neuregulin 1 promoted wound healing in mice(P<0.05)and wound angiogenesis(P<0.05).The results showed that overexpression of neuregulin 1 resulted in an increase in the proliferative and migratory capacities of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells,significantly promoting wound healing and angiogenesis.
3.Status of Clinical Practice Guideline Information Platforms
Xueqin ZHANG ; Yun ZHAO ; Jie LIU ; Long GE ; Ying XING ; Simeng REN ; Yifei WANG ; Wenzheng ZHANG ; Di ZHANG ; Shihua WANG ; Yao SUN ; Min WU ; Lin FENG ; Tiancai WEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):462-471
Clinical practice guidelines represent the best recommendations for patient care. They are developed through systematically reviewing currently available clinical evidence and weighing the relative benefits and risks of various interventions. However, clinical practice guidelines have to go through a long translation cycle from development and revision to clinical promotion and application, facing problems such as scattered distribution, high duplication rate, and low actual utilization. At present, the clinical practice guideline information platform can directly or indirectly solve the problems related to the lengthy revision cycles, decentralized dissemination and limited application of clinical practice guidelines. Therefore, this paper systematically examines different types of clinical practice guideline information platforms and investigates their corresponding challenges and emerging trends in platform design, data integration, and practical implementation, with the aim of clarifying the current status of this field and providing valuable reference for future research on clinical practice guideline information platforms.
4.An empirical analysis on the association between sarcopenia and all-cause mortality in Chinese elderly residents
Jie KONG ; Shutie LI ; Pandeng HUANG ; Meihong LIU ; Dongjing REN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(2):148-155
ObjectiveTo investigate the association between variant degree of sarcopenia and all-cause mortality in Chinese elderly residents, and to provide insights into the prevention and control of sarcopenia in the elderly population. MethodsData from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) from 2011 and 2020 were analyzed, and a total of 2 792 subjects aged 65 years or older were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were performed to explore the potential factors influencing all-cause mortality among the elderly in China, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to visualize the survival of elderly people with variant degree of sarcopenia. Finally, a multiple-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to control the confounding factors and explore the association between sarcopenia and all-cause mortality. ResultsBefore adjusting potential covariates, univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that 10-year all-cause mortality was significantly associated with variant degree of sarcopenia, namely possible sarcopenia (HR=1.40, 95%CI: 1.1‒1.68, P<0.001), mild-to-moderate sarcopenia (HR=1.49, 95%CI:1.20‒1.86, P<0.001), and severe sarcopenia (HR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.29‒2.19, P<0.001); after adjusting all confounders, 10-year all-cause mortality remained to be significantly associated with variant degree of sarcopenia, including probable sarcopenia (HR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.15‒1.66, P<0.001), mild-to-moderate sarcopenia (HR=1.48, 95%CI: 1.19‒1.84, P<0.001) and severe sarcopenia (HR=1.71, 95%CI: 1.31‒2.23, P<0.001). ConclusionIn Chinese elderly residents, sarcopenia is positively associated with an increased risk of 10-year all-cause mortality, and the progression of sarcopenia is positively associated with an increased risk of death.
5.Causal relationship between gout and Alzheimer's disease: a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Chuijia KONG ; Ying ZHANG ; Zhenkun TAN ; Junjiao PING ; Haibo ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Jiali LUO ; Xinxia LIU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(2):115-122
BackgroundDementia seriously affects the quality of life and lifespan of elderly people, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common type of dementia. Previous studies have suggested that gout may reduce the risk of developing AD, but the causal relationship between the two still requires further research. ObjectiveTo investigate the potential causal relationship between gout and AD through a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, so as to provide references for the prevention and treatment of AD. MethodsData from Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) extracted in 2024 were analyzed, using pooled data on gout (6 810 cases in the case group and 477 788 cases in the control group) published by UK Biobank in 2021 as the exposure variable, and data on AD (3 899 cases in the case group and 214 893 cases in the control group) published by FinnGen in the same year as the outcome variable. The inverse-variance weighted, MR-Egger regression, weighted median estimation, simple model and weighted model were used to analyze the potential causal relationship between gout and AD. Pleiotropic effects were assessed using MR-Egger regression. Heterogeneity assessment was conducted using Cochran's Q test. The leave-one-out analysis was carried out for sensitivity analysis. And a funnel plot was drawn to detect potential publication bias. ResultsThe inverse-variance weighted analysis demonstrated a negative causal relationship between gout and AD (OR=0.004, 95% CI: 0~0.700, P<0.05). The plot resembled a symmetrical inversed funnel, indicating the absence of publication bias. No heterogeneity was detected by Cochran's Q test. The MR-Egger regression indicated no significant horizontal pleiotropy. Concerning the reverse directions, no significant associations between AD and gout were noted. ConclusionThere is a negative causal relationship between gout and AD, with gout potentially reducing the risk of developing AD. [Funded by The Third Batch of Social Welfare and Basic Research Projects (Medical and Health) of Zhongshan City in 2022 (number, 2022B3017)]
6.Terms Related to The Study of Biomacromolecular Condensates
Ke RUAN ; Xiao-Feng FANG ; Dan LI ; Pi-Long LI ; Yi LIN ; Zheng WANG ; Yun-Yu SHI ; Ming-Jie ZHANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Cong LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):1027-1035
Biomolecular condensates are formed through phase separation of biomacromolecules such as proteins and RNAs. These condensates exhibit liquid-like properties that can futher transition into more stable material states. They form complex internal structures via multivalent weak interactions, enabling precise spatiotemporal regulations. However, the use of inconsistent and non-standardized terminology has become increasingly problematic, hindering academic exchange and the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the terminology related to biomolecular condensates in order to clarify concepts, promote interdisciplinary cooperation, enhance research efficiency, and support the healthy development of this field.
7.Determination of multi-component content and analysis of differential components in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins
Qianying WU ; Dehong LIU ; Weikang CHEN ; Xi CHEN ; Yanyan ZHU ; Jie WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1071-1075
OBJECTIVE To determine the contents of 15 components in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins (Citrus aurantium, C. junos, C. aurantium Linn., C. sinensis Osb., C. sinensis), screen differential components, and provide references for the quality evaluation of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus. METHODS HPLC method was adopted to determine the contents of synephrine, N-methyltyramine, 5,7-dihydroxychromone-7-neohesperidoside, neoponcirin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringenin, hesperetin, sinensetin, nobiletin, tangeretin, 5-demethylnobiletin, and auraptene in 46 batches of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins. The determination was performed on Waters Symmetry C18 column with mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid (gradient elution) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min; column temperature was set at 40 ℃ , detection wavelength was 284 nm, and sample injection volume was 5 μL. The differences between different origins of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus were analyzed by cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and differential components were screened. RESULTS The linear relationships of the aforementioned 15 components were all good within the tested mass concentration ranges (all r>0.999 0). The RSDs for precision, stability (24 h), and repeatability tests were all less than 2.00%. The average recovery rate ranged from 91.1% to 103.9% (all RSDs<3.10%). Cluster analysis, PCA, and OPLS-DA revealed that C. sinensis Osb. and C. sinensis were clustered into one category, while C. aurantium,C. junos and C. aurantium Linn. were clustered into another category. The variable importance projection values for neohesperidin, auraptene, naringin, neoponcirin, tangeretin, hesperidin, sinensetin, and 5,7-dihydroxychromone-7-neohesperidoside were all greater than 1. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the contents of 15 components in Aurantii Fructus Immaturus from different origins are determined, and 8 differential components, including neohesperidin, auraptene, naringin, and neoponcirin, are screened out.
8.Correlation between the health literacy of reducing salt,oil and sugar on overweight and obesity among fourthgrade elementary school students and their parents
HAO Ying, LIU Danru, CHEN Xianxian, REN Jie, XU Cong, DU Fengjun, GUO Xiaolei, DONG Jing, MA Jixiang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(4):489-493
Objective:
To analyze the effects of health literacy on overweight and obesity among primary school students and their parents in terms of salt, oil and sugar reduction (referred to as the "three reductions"), so as to provide a theoretical basis for the development of obesity control measures.
Methods:
From March to April 2024, a total of 1 022 fourthgrade primary school students and 913 parents were surveyed in 24 classes in six counties in Shandong Province using multistage cluster random sampling, and physical measurements of primary school students were conducted. Pearsons correlation analysis and ordered multivariate Logistic regression were used to investigate the associations between health literacy of primary school students and their parents with overweight and obesity among children.
Results:
The detection rates of overweight and obesity primary school students in Shandong Province were 14.87% and 24.66%, respectively, with significant sex difference in obesity rate (29.46% for boys and 19.76% for girls) (χ2=12.93, P<0.01). In addition to students reducing oil scores, parental reducing salt,reducing oil,reducing sugar, comprehensive health literacy scores and students reducing salt,reducing sugar and comprehensive health literacy scores showed a negative relationship with students overweight and obesity (r=-0.10, -0.08, -0.07, -0.10, -0.04, -0.07, -0.03, P<0.05). The overweight and obesity rates among primary school students with high parental reducing salt,reducing oil,reducing sugar and composite health literacy scores were lower (OR=0.69, 0.69, 0.71, 0.63, P<0.05); and the overweight and obesity rate among students with high parental and low parental and high and low parental health literacy scores were lower (OR=0.68, 0.57, P<0.05).
Conclusion
Improving health literacy regarding "three reductions" for parents and children, especially parents, can effectively reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity.
9.Objective characteristics of tongue manifestation in different stages of damp-heat syndrome in diabetic kidney disease
Zhaoxi DONG ; Yang SHI ; Jiaming SU ; Yaxuan WEN ; Zheyu XU ; Xinhui YU ; Jie MEI ; Fengyi CAI ; Xinyue ZANG ; Yan GUO ; Chengdong PENG ; Hongfang LIU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(3):398-411
Objective:
To investigate the objective characteristics of tongue manifestation in different stages of damp-heat syndrome in diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
Methods:
A cross-sectional study enrolled 134 patients with DKD G3-5 stages who met the diagnostic criteria for damp-heat syndrome in DKD. The patients were treated at Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, from May 2023 to January 2024. The patients were divided into three groups: DKD G3, DKD G4, and DKD G5 stage, with 53, 33, and 48 patients in each group, respectively. Clinical general data (gender, age, and body mass index) and damp-heat syndrome scores were collected from the patients. The YZAI-02 traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) AI Tongue Image Acquisition Device was used to capture tongue images from these patients. The accompanying AI Open Platform for TCM Tongue Diagnosis of the device was used to analyze and extract tongue manifestation features, including objective data on tongue color, tongue quality, coating color, and coating texture. Clinical data and objective tongue manifestation characteristics were compared among patients with DKD G3-5 based on their DKD damp-heat syndrome status.
Results:
No statistically significant difference in gender or body mass index was observed among the three patient groups. The DKD G3 stage group had the highest age (P<0.05). The DKD G3 stage group had a lower score for symptoms of poor appetite and anorexia(P<0.05) than the DKD G5 group. No statistically significant difference was observed in damp-heat syndrome scores among the three groups. Compared with the DKD G5 stage group, the DKD G3 stage group showed a decreased proportion of pale color at the tip and edges of the tongue (P<0.05). The DKD G4 stage group exhibited an increased proportion of crimson at the root of the tongue, a decreased proportion of thick white tongue coating at the root, a decreased proportion of pale color at the tip and edges of the tongue, an increased hue value (indicating color tone) of the tongue color in the middle, an increased brightness value (indicating color lightness) of the tongue coating color in the middle, and an increased thickness of the tongue coating (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in other tongue color proportions, color chroma values, body characteristics, coating color proportions, coating color chroma values, and coating texture characteristics among the three groups.
Conclusion
Tongue features differ in different stages of DKD damp-heat syndrome in multiple dimensions, enabling the inference that during the DKD G5 stage, the degree of qi and blood deficiency in the kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and stomach is prominent. Dampness is more likely to accumulate in the lower jiao, particularly in the kidneys, whereas heat evil in the spleen and stomach is the most severe. These insights provide novel ideas for the clinical treatment of DKD.
10.Study on Brain Functional Network Characteristics of Parkinson’s Disease Patients Based on Beta Burst Period
Yu-Jie HAO ; Shuo YANG ; Shuo LIU ; Xu LOU ; Lei WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1279-1289
ObjectiveThe central symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is impaired motor function. Beta-band electrical activity in the motor network of the basal ganglia is closely related to motor function. In this study, we combined scalp electroencephalography (EEG), brain functional network, and clinical scales to investigate the effects of beta burst-period neural electrical activity on brain functional network characteristics, which may serve as a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThirteen PD patients were included in the PD group, and 13 healthy subjects were included in the healthy control group. Resting-state EEG data were collected from both groups, and beta burst and non-burst periods were extracted. A phase synchronization network was constructed using weighted phase lag indices, and the topological feature parameters of phase synchronization network were compared between the two groups across different periods and four frequency bands. Additionally, the correlation between changes in network characteristics and clinical symptoms was analyzed. ResultsDuring the beta burst period, the topological characteristic parameters of phase synchronization network in all four frequency bands were significantly higher in PD patients compared to healthy controls. The average clustering coefficient of the phase synchronization network in the beta band during the beta burst period was negatively correlated with UPDRS-III scores. In the low gamma band during the non-burst period, the average clustering coefficient of phase synchronization network was positively correlated with UPDRS and UPDRS-III scores, while UPDRS-III scores were positively correlated with global efficiency and average degree. ConclusionThe brain functional network features of PD patients were significantly enhanced during the beta burst period. Moreover, the beta-band brain functional network characteristics during the beta burst period were negatively correlated with clinical scale scores, whereas low gamma-band functional network features during the non-burst period were positively correlated with clinical scale scores. These findings indicate that motor function impairment in PD patients is associated with the beta burst period. This study provides valuable insights for the diagnosis of PD.


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