1.Establishment and stress analysis of a finite element model for adolescent cervical disc herniation
Yuxin ZHAO ; Liang LIANG ; Feng JIN ; Yangyang XU ; Zhijie KANG ; Yuan FANG ; Yujie HE ; Xing WANG ; Haiyan WANG ; Xiaohe LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(3):448-454
BACKGROUND:Cervical disc herniation can cause pain in the neck and shoulder area,as well as radiating pain in the upper limbs.The incidence rate is increasing year by year and tends to affect younger individuals.Fully understanding the biomechanical characteristics of the cervical spine in adolescents is of great significance for preventing and delaying the onset of cervical disc herniation in this age group. OBJECTIVE:To reconstruct cervical spine models for both healthy adolescents and adolescent patients with cervical disc herniation utilizing finite element analysis techniques,to analyze the motion range of the C1-T1 cervical vertebrae as well as the biomechanical characteristics of the annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus,endplates,and the cartilage of the small joints. METHODS:A normal adolescent's cervical spine and an adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation were selected in this study.The continuous scan cervical spine CT raw image data were imported into Mimics 21.0 in DICOM format.The C1-T1 vertebrae were reconstructed separately.Subsequently,the established models were imported into the 3-Matic software for disc reconstruction.The perfected models were then imported into Hypermesh software for meshing of the vertebrae,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus,and ligaments,creating valid geometric models.After assigning material properties,the final models were imported into ABAQUS software to observe the joint motion range of the C1-C7 cervical vertebrae segments under different conditions,and to analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus,endplates,and small joint cartilage of each cervical spine segment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In six different conditions,the joint motion range of the C1 vertebra in the cervical spine models of both normal adolescent and adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation was higher than that of the other vertebrae.Additionally,the joint motion range of each cervical spine segment in normal adolescent was greater than that in adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation.(2)In the cervical spine model of normal adolescent,the maximum stress values in the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus were found on the left side during C2-3 flexion conditions(0.43 MPa and 0.17 MPa,respectively).In the cervical spine model of adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation,the maximum stress values were found on the left side during C7-T1 flexion conditions(0.54 MPa and 0.18 MPa,respectively).(3)In the cervical spine model of normal adolescent,the maximum stress value on the endplate was found on the left side of the upper endplate of C3 during flexion conditions(1.46 MPa).In the model of adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation,the maximum stress value on the endplate was found on the left side of the lower endplate of C7 during flexion conditions(1.32 MPa).(4)In the cervical spine model of normal adolescent,the maximum stress value in the small joint cartilage was found in the C2-3 left rotation conditions(0.98 MPa).In adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation,the stress in the small joint cartilage significantly increased under different conditions,especially in C1-2,with the maximum stress found during left flexion(3.50 MPa).(5)It is concluded that compared to normal adolescent,adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation exhibits altered cervical curvature and a decrease in overall joint motion range in the cervical spine.In adolescent with cervical disc herniation,there is a significant increase in stress on the annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus,and endplates in the C7-T1 segment.The stress on the left articular cartilage of the C1-2 is notable.Abnormal cervical curvature may be the primary factor causing these stress changes.
2.Effect and mechanism of compatibility of Astragali Radix-Puerariae Lobatae Radix on ferroptosis in T2DM insulin resistance rats
Shuang WEI ; Feng HAO ; Wenchun ZHANG ; Zhangyang ZHAO ; Ji LI ; Dongwei HAN ; Huan XING
China Pharmacy 2025;36(1):57-63
OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and potential mechanism of the compatibility of Astragali Radix-Puerariae Lobatae Radix on ferroptosis of liver cells in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) insulin resistance (IR) rats. METHODS Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (12 rats) and modeling group (48 rats). The modeling group was fed with a high- fat diet for 4 consecutive weeks and then given a one-time tail vein injection of 1% streptozotocin to establish T2DM IR model. The model rats were randomly divided into model group, the compatibility of Astragali Radix-Puerariae Lobatae Radix group [QG group, 4.05 g/(kg·d), intragastric administration], ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 group [Fer-1 group, 5 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, once every other day], the compatibility of Astragali Radix-Puerariae Lobatae Radix+ferroptosis inducer erastin group [QG+erastin group, 4.05 g/(kg·d) by intragastric administration+erastin 10 mg/(kg·d), intraperitoneal injection]. After 4 weeks of intervention, serum fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) were measured in each group of rats, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the natural logarithm of insulin action index(IAI) were calculated; the serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), Fe2+ and Fe content, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, NADP+/NADPH ratio and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined. The pathological morphology of its liver tissue was observed; the protein expressions of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1), long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 3 (ACSL3), ACSL4, ferritin mitochondrial (FTMT), and cystine/glutamate anti-porter (xCT) in the liver tissue of rats were detected. RESULTS Compared with control group, the liver cells in the model group of rats showed disordered arrangement, swelling, deepened nuclear staining, and more infiltration of inflammatory cells, as well as a large number of hepatocyte vacuoles and steatosis; FBG (after medication), the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, AST, ALT, FINS, MDA and ROS, HOMA-IR, Fe2+ and Fe content, NADP+/NADPH ratio and protein expression of ACSL4 were significantly increased or up-regulated, while the levels of HDL-C, GSH and SOD, IAI, protein expressions of GPX4, FTH1, ACSL3, FTMT and xCT were significantly reduced or down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, both QG group and Fer-1 group showed varying degrees of improvement in pathological damage of liver tissue and the levels of the above indicators, the differences in the changes of most indicators were statistically significant (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with QG group, the improvement of the above indexes of QG+erastin group had been reversed significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS The compatibility decoction of Astragali Radix-Puerariae Lobatae Radix can reduce the level of FBG in T2DM IR rats, and alleviate IR degree, ion overload and pathological damage of liver tissue. The above effects are related to the inhibition of ferroptosis.
3.Correlation between brain white matter lesions and insulin resistance in non-diabetic elderly individuals based on magnetic resonance imaging
Mei LI ; Fang YUAN ; Xizi XING ; Feng XIE ; Hua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(1):96-101
Objective To investigate the relationship between brain white matter lesions (WML) and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index in non-diabetic elderly individuals based on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods A total of 523 non-diabetic elderly individuals aged ≥ 60 years were selected from Jinan, Shandong Province, China from June 2018 to December 2019. According to the quartiles of TyG index, there were 133 participants in the first quartile (Q1) group, 127 in the second quartile (Q2) group, 132 in the third quartile (Q3) group, and 131 in the fourth quartile (Q4) group. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate paraventricular, deep, and total WML volumes, as well as Fazekas scores. Results Compared with Q1, Q2, and Q3 groups, Q4 group showed significant increase in periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with a Fazekas score ≥ 2 in the periventricular, deep, and total WML was higher in the Q4 group compared with the Q1 and Q2 groups (P < 0.05). The proportion of participants with a Fazekas score ≥ 2 in deep WML was higher in Q4 group than in Q3 group (P < 0.05). TyG index was significantly positively correlated with periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (r = 0.401, 0.405, and 0.445, P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, TyG index was still significantly positively correlated with periventricular, deep, and total WML volumes (P < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with Q1 group, the risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in periventricular WML was 1.950-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.154-3.294, P = 0.013) in Q3 group and 3.411-fold (95% CI: 1.984-5.863, P < 0.001) in Q4 group, the risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in total WML was 2.529-fold (95%CI: 1.444-4.430, P = 0.001) in Q3 group and 4.486-fold (95%CI: 2.314-8.696, P < 0.001) in Q4 group. The risk of Fazekas score ≥ 2 in deep WML was 2.953-fold (95%CI: 1.708-5.106, P < 0.001) in Q4 group compared with Q1 group. Conclusion Increased TyG index is an independent risk factor for WML in non-diabetic elderly individuals.
4.Lactate Transferase Function of Alanyl-transfer t-RNA Synthetase and Its Relationship With Exercise
Ying-Ying SUN ; Zheng XING ; Feng-Yi LI ; Jing ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1337-1348
Lactylation (Kla), a protein post-translational modification characterized by the covalent conjugation of lactyl groups to lysine residues in proteins, is widely present in living organisms. Since its discovery in 2019, it has attracted much attention for its role in regulating major pathological processes such as tumorigenesis, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. By mediating core biological processes such as signal transduction, epigenetic regulation, and metabolic homeostasis, lactylation contributes to disease progression. However, the lactylation donor lactyl-CoA has a low intracellular concentration, and the specific enzyme catalyzing lactylation is not yet clear, which has become an urgent issue in lactate research. A groundbreaking study in 2024 found that alanyl-transfer t-RNA synthetase 1/2 (AARS1/2), members of the aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) family, can act as protein lysine lactate transferases, modifying histones and metabolic enzymes directly with lactate as a substrate, without relying on the classical substrate lactyl-CoA, promoting a new stage in lactate research. Although exercise significantly increases lactate levels in the body and can induce changes in lactylation in multiple tissues and cells, the regulation of lactylation by exercise is not entirely consistent with lactate levels. Research has found that high-intensity exercise can induce upregulation of lactate at 37 lysine sites in 25 proteins of adipose tissue, while leading to downregulation of lactate at 27 lysine sites in 22 proteins. The level of lactate is not the only factor regulating lactylation through exercise. We speculate that the lactate transferase AARS1/2 play an important role in the process of lactylation regulated by exercise, and AARS1/2 should also be regulated by exercise. This review introduces the molecular biology characteristics, subcellular localization, and multifaceted biological functions of AARS, including its canonical roles in alanylation and editing, as well as its newly identified lactate transferase activity. We detail the discovery of AARS1/2 as lactylation catalysts and the specific process of them as lactate transferases catalyzing protein lactylation. Furthermore, we discuss the pathophysiological significance of AARS in tumorigenesis, immune dysregulation, and neuropathy, with a focus on exploring the expression regulation and possible mechanisms of AARS through exercise. The expression of AARS in skeletal muscle regulated by exercise is related to exercise time and muscle fiber type; the skeletal muscle AARS2 upregulated by long-term and high-intensity exercise catalyzes the lactylation of key metabolic enzymes such as pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 alpha subunit (PDHA1) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), reducing exercise capacity and providing exercise protection; physiological hypoxia caused by exercise significantly reduces the ubiquitination degradation of AARS2 by inhibiting its hydroxylation, thereby maintaining high levels of AARS2 protein and exerting lactate transferase function; exercise induced lactate production can promote the translocation of AARS1 cytoplasm to the nucleus, exert lactate transferase function upon nuclear entry, regulate histone lactylation, and participate in gene expression regulation; exercise induced lactate production promotes direct interactions between AARS and star molecules such as p53 and cGAS, and is widely involved in the occurrence and development of tumors and immune diseases. Elucidating the regulatory mechanism of exercise on AARS can provide new ideas for improving metabolic diseases and promote health through exercise.
5.Effect of Pien Tze Huang on emotional stress-induced influenza virus susceptibility
Rong WANG ; Xin-Xing CHEN ; Rui-Ting HUANG ; Wan-Yang SUN ; Rong-Rong HE ; Yi-Fang LI ; Feng HUANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(8):1565-1572
Aim To evaluate the effect of Pien Tze Huang(PTH)on influenza virus susceptibility in re-straint stress-induced H1N1 influenza susceptibility model in mice with emotional disorders and internal heat,guided by the theory of emotional pathogenesis.Methods Mice were infected with H1N1 influenza vi-rus following 18 h of restraint stress.The signs and weight changes of mice were recorded,and the morbid-ity of mice were analyzed.On the fourth day post viral infection,the lung tissue was collected.The pathologi-cal changes and inflammatory factors in lungs were de-tected by HE staining.The expression of NP was as-sessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The level of lipid peroxidation end products was detected u-sing a commercial kit and western blot.Redox phos-pholipidomics was analyzed in lung tissue by HPLC-MS/MS.Results PTH significantly reduced the mor-tality of influenza-susceptible mice induced by emotion-al stress,inhibited the expression of NP and the re-lease of inflammatory factors,improved inflammation in lung tissue,and alleviated the accumulation of lipid peroxidation end products.Phospholipid oxidation a-nalysis revealed the elevated levels of oxidized phos-pholipid choline and phosphatidylethanolamine in lung tissue of influenza-susceptible mice,which were signif-icantly reduced by PTH administration.Conclusions PTH exhibits promising efficacy in ameliorating influ-enza virus susceptibility induced by internal heat,and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of phospholipid peroxidation.
6.mfat-1 gene therapy prevents and ameliorates multiple sclerosis in mice
Min-Yi TANG ; Xin-Yun BI ; Shuai WANG ; Chao-Feng XING ; Xiao-Li WU ; Zi-Jian ZHAO ; Fang-Hong LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(10):1930-1936
Aim To investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of the mfat-1 gene therapy on exper-imental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.Meth-ods mfat-1 gene therapy was used to render the host endogenous capability of producing ω-3 PUFAs,con-comitantly reduce the levels of ω-6 PUFAs,and change the proportion of ω-3/ω-6 PUFAs.Then,the levels of PUFAs in blood were analyzed by gas chromatography.The neurological deficits in mice were evaluated by neurological dysfunction score.HE staining and LFB staining of mouse spinal cord slices were used to ob-serve central nervous system inflammation infiltration and demyelinating lesions.Flow cytometry microsphere microarray technology was used to detect the content of cytokines in serum.Results The mfat-1 gene therapy could significantly raise the proportion of ω-3/ω-6 PU-FAs(P<0.05),markedly delay the incubation period and peak period and reduce neurological dysfunction scores(P<0.05),and improve inflammation and de-myelination of spinal cords(P<0.05).It could also greatly increase the levels of IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-17 in serum(P<0.05).Conclusion The pro-portion of ω-3/ω-6 PUFAs in blood circulation en-hanced by mfat-1 gene therapy can effectively prevent and treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.
7.Clinical value of high frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of hip joint involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Guo-Yan XUE ; Ying-Qi LI ; Rui WANG ; Wen-Xing WANG ; Zhuang DONG ; Jian-Feng DING
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(4):374-380
Objective To analyze the correlation between hip joint musculoskeletal ultrasound score and ankylosing spondylitis(AS)disease activity,as well as to investigate the value of high frequency ultrasound in the assessment of hip joint involvement in AS.Methods The clinical data of 244 patients with AS who were treated in the rheumatology department of from March 2019 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,there 174 males and 70 females,aged from 19 to 58 years old with an average of(34.22±9.49)years old;the disease duration of AS patients ranged from 8 months to 26 years,with an average of(13.68±4.04)years.The 244 patients were divided into disease group(83 cases)and control group(161 cases)based in the presence of hip joint involuement.According to the the disease activity,patients in the disease group were further categorezed into active phase(45 cases)and stable phase(38 cases).The ultrasound scores of patients in the active and stable phases of the disease group and the control group were compared.Relevant factors of hip joint involvement in AS patients were analyzed,and analyze the correlation between ultrasound score and Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score index(BASD AI),Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index(BASFI),visual analogue score of pain(VAS),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),and the correlation between hip joint capsule score and tendon attach-ment end score and BASDAI,BASFI,VAS,CRP and ESR.Results The hip joint capsule score(3.06±1.12),femoral head score(1.45±0.43),tendon attachment end score(3.28±1.30)and total ultrasound score(6.65±2.31)of the disease group were higher than those of the control group(1.51±0.48)、(0.66±0.27)、(1.61±0.53)、(3.81±1.44)scores(P<0.05).Multifactor Logstic re-gression analysis showed that the course of disease,hip joint capsule score and total ultrasound score were independent risk factors for hip involvement in AS patients.The hip capsule score(3.65±1.22)and total ultrasound score(8.28±2.33)in the ac-tive phase of the disease group were higher than those in the stable phase(2.48±1.04)、(6.82±1.96)scores(P<0.05).The hip joint capsule score and total ultrasonic score of AS patients were positively correlated with BASDAI,BASFI,VAS,CRP,and ESR(P<0.05,P<0.01).The score of tendon attachment end was positively correlated with CRP(P<0.05).The score of joint capsule effusion in AS patients was positively correlated with BASDAI,BASFI and VAS(P<0.05,P<0.01).The synovial blood flow score was positively correlated with BASDAI,VAS,CRP and ESR(P<0.05,P<0.01).The synovial thickening score was positively correlated with BASDAI,BASFI,VAS,CRP and ESR(P<0.05,P<0.01).There was no correlation between the score of tendon attachment end and BASDAI,BASFI,VAS,CRP and ESR.Conclusion There is a correlation between hip joint ul-trasonic score of hip joint and clinical indexes in AS patients.Hip joint capsule score and total ultrasonic score were indepen-dent risk factors for hip involvement in AS patients.High frequency ultrasound exhibits clinical value in the diagnosis of hip joint involvement in AS patients.
8.Summary of best evidence for general anesthesia health education in adult patients undergoing selective surgery
Xing LIU ; Taohong MA ; Yali WANG ; Kexin FENG ; Lifan ZHANG ; Peipei LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(10):1329-1335
Objective:To retrieve, evaluate, and integrate the best evidence of general anesthesia health education for adult patients undergoing elective surgery, so as to provide a basis for clinical health education guidance.Methods:Evidence-based questions were established based on the population, intervention, professional, outcome, setting and type of evidence (PIPOST) model. All evidence on general anesthesia health education for adult patients undergoing elective surgery were retrieved from databases or professional association websites such as Cochrane Library, British Medical Journal (BMJ) Best Practice, UpToDate, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Guidelines International Network, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Clinical Guidelines Library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, Medlive, American Society of Anesthesiologists, and Society of Anesthesiology of the Chinese Medical Association. The search period was from database establishment to June 18, 2023. Two researchers screened and evaluated the quality of the included literature, extracted and integrated the evidence to form the best evidence for general anesthesia health education in adult patients undergoing selective surgery.Results:A total of 10 articles were included, including four guidelines, three clinical decision-making, and three expert consensus. A total of 41 pieces of evidence on general anesthesia health education for adult patients undergoing elective surgery were extracted, including six aspects of anesthesia overview, pre-anesthesia evaluation, pre-anesthesia preparation, anesthesia process and cooperation, anesthesia recovery period management, and postoperative management.Conclusions:The best evidence of general anesthesia health education for adult patients undergoing selective surgery summarized can provide a basis for comprehensive and systematic education of anesthesia health educators.
9.Genetic diversity of Ixodes persulcatus in parts of Inner Mongolia
Meng-Yu CUI ; Si SU ; Li-Li XING ; Lan MU ; Rui-Juan GAO ; Qi-Qi GUO ; Hong REN ; Dong-Dong QI ; Jing-Feng YU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(4):295-301
The aim of this study was to clarify the genetic diversity and population history of Ixodes persulcatus in some ar-eas of Inner Mongolia in order to provide accurate data for effective vector control programs and reveal the transmission mecha-nism.Samples were collected in 10 areas of Inner Mongolia during the active tick season(April 2021-July 2023)using the flag-dragging and manual sampling methods.The 16S rRNA and COI gene were sequenced to clarify genetic diversity of I.per-sulcatus.The positivity rates for the COI gene and 16S rRNA were 90.00%and 98.33%respectively.Overall,18 and 15 haplotypes were identified for the COI gene and 16S rRNA,respectively,with a total haplotype diversity>0.762 and total nucleotide diversity<0.005.The Tajima's values and Fu's Fs were negative for significance.A nucleotide mismatch map was shown as a single peak.The genetic differentiation index FST of the population indicates a small degree of genetic differ-entiation of the population,while analysis of molecular vari-ance indicates that the variation within populations was greater than between populations.Phylogenetic tree and haplotype network plots showed confounding distributions between hap-lotypes.I.persulcatus from the Hinggan League and Hulun-buir regions can adapt to environmental changes and possess abundant genetic diversity.Genetic differentiation is mainly concentrated within the population and no geographical isolation was observed.
10.Functional Studies on the Regulation of Flowering by PfFT3,a Member of the Perilla PEBP Gene Family
Qi-Feng WANG ; Xiao-Yan FENG ; Hui LI ; Fu-Peng HOU ; Xi GUO ; Jun-Xing LU ; Jian HU ; Tao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(8):1173-1184
Perilla frutescens,a short-day plant,is rich in biologically active substances and nutrients.Current research on Perilla frutescens focuses on agronomic traits such as yield and fatty acid accumula-tion,with limited exploration of the flowering process and floral organ development.The molecular regu-latory mechanisms underlying these aspects remain unclear.FLOWERING LOUC T(FT)is a florigen in Arabidopsis,plays critical roles in floral transition.PfFT3 is unannotated by genome but annotated by transcriptomics data to the FT-like subfamily.Its function in controlling flowering is yet to be explored.Here subcellular localization analysis showed that PfFT3 is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm.The plant over-expression vector pCAMBIAI1303-PfFT3 was constructed and transformed into wild-type(Col-0)and mutant fd-2,fd-3,and ft-10 plants by agrobacterium-mediated inflorescence infiltration as a means of obtaining genetically stable and pure overexpression and backfill transgenic lines in Arabidopsis,respectively.Analysis of the results showed that overexpression of PfFT3 significantly promoted early flowering in Arabidopsis and rescued the late-flowering phenotype of the mutants fd-2,fd-3,and ft-10,and that expression of the exogenous PfFT3 promoted the expression of the downstream endogenous flow-ering genes AtSOC1,AtAP1,AtFUL,and AtLFY.This study demonstrates the positive role of PfFT3 in promoting flowering,providing a foundation for further investigation of PfPEBP function and advancing the breeding of early-flowering Perilla frrutescens cultivars.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail