1.Pharmacological actions of the bioactive compounds of Epimedium on the male reproductive system: current status and future perspective.
Song-Po LIU ; Yun-Fei LI ; Dan ZHANG ; Chun-Yang LI ; Xiao-Fang DAI ; Dong-Feng LAN ; Ji CAI ; He ZHOU ; Tao SONG ; Yan-Yu ZHAO ; Zhi-Xu HE ; Jun TAN ; Ji-Dong ZHANG
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(1):20-29
Compounds isolated from Epimedium include the total flavonoids of Epimedium , icariin, and its metabolites (icaritin, icariside I, and icariside II), which have similar molecular structures. Modern pharmacological research and clinical practice have proved that Epimedium and its active components have a wide range of pharmacological effects, especially in improving sexual function, hormone regulation, anti-osteoporosis, immune function regulation, anti-oxidation, and anti-tumor activity. To date, we still need a comprehensive source of knowledge about the pharmacological effects of Epimedium and its bioactive compounds on the male reproductive system. However, their actions in other tissues have been reviewed in recent years. This review critically focuses on the Epimedium , its bioactive compounds, and the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the male reproductive system. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on the Epimedium and its bioactive compounds that protect the male reproductive system and provide some guidances for clinical treatment of related male reproductive disorders.
Male
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Epimedium/chemistry*
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Humans
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Genitalia, Male/drug effects*
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Flavonoids/therapeutic use*
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Animals
2.Longitudinal cohort study on the relationship between cystatin C and the risk of Parkinson's disease in middle-aged and elderly people in China
Xiao LIANG ; Dan WAN ; Ke DU ; Ni GUO ; Shaoying ZHANG ; Gaixia HE ; Lan YANG ; Zongfang LI
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(4):656-662
Objective To investigate the relationship between serum cystatin C(CysC)level and the risk of Parkinson's disease(PD)in middle-aged and elderly people in China.Methods Based on the baseline survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)in 2011,participants who were not diagnosed with PD at the time of the baseline survey were recruited.The onset of PD was tracked and followed up until 2020,and the participants were divided into PD group and non-PD group according to whether they were newly diagnosed with PD in 2020.Multivariable Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between serum CysC level and the risk of PD.Subgroup and interaction analyses were performed to assess effect modifications by age,gender and depression.Additionally,restricted cubic spline(RCS)was used to explore the linear or non-linear relationship between serum CysC level and the risk of PD in different subgroups.Results We included a total of 3 339 subjects in this study,who consisted of 1 495 males(44.77%)and 1 844 females(55.23%).While baseline participants were followed until 2020,32 subjects had a new PD,and the incidence of PD was 0.96%.The median age of PD group was 63.00 years.Multivariable Logistic regression analysis found that CysC was an independent risk factor for the risk of PD,and CysC was positive significantly associated with the risk of PD(OR=2.34,95% CI:1.14-4.82,P=0.021).Subgroup analysis showed that CysC was positively associated with PD in females(OR=2.70,95% CI:1.30-5.58,P=0.007)and subjects aged 60 years or older(OR=5.29,95% CI:1.69-16.53,P=0.004).RCS model indicated a linear relationship between serum CysC level and the risk of PD in females(Ptotal=0.018,Pnon-linear=0.062)and subjects aged 60 years or older(Ptotal=0.024,Pnon-linear=0.379).Conclusion High level of CysC may increase the risk of PD in middle-aged and elderly people,especially in females and those aged 60 years or older.
3.Detection of Ketamine and Norketamine Using an Aptamer-Functionalized Gra-phene Oxide Fluorescent Sensor
Li-Xia WEI ; Bo LIU ; Xiao-Yuan YANG ; Xi ZHANG ; Yi-Feng LAN ; Chao ZHANG ; Juan JIA ; Dan ZHANG ; Zhi-Wen WEI ; Ke-Ming YUN ; Zhe CHEN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(4):326-339
Objective To construct an aptamer-functionalized carboxylated graphene oxide(CGO)fluo-rescent sensor to achieve highly sensitive and specific detection of ketamine(KET)and its metabolite norketamine(NK)using an aptamer capable of simultaneously recognizing KET and NK.Methods A specific aptamer for simultaneous recognition of KET and NK was screened using graphene oxide-sys-tematic evolution of ligand by exponential enrichment(GO-SELEX)and molecular docking tech-niques.The aptamer,labeled with Cy5 fluorescence,was chemically conjugated to CGO to construct an aptamer-functionalized CGO fluorescent sensor.By optimizing detection conditions,including the mass concentration of CGO,aptamer concentration,reaction temperature,and incubation time,quantita-tive analysis of the target analytes was achieved using the ratio of fluorescence intensity changes be-fore and after target addition.The stability of the sensor in biological matrices was evaluated by moni-toring fluorescence intensity changes over incubation time in blank blood and urine,in comparison with the traditional physical adsorption-based CGO fluorescent sensor.Spiked recovery experiments in blank blood and urine were conducted to compare performance with that of HPLC-MS/MS.Results A specific aptamer A5 was selected and chemically conjugated with CGO to construct the aptamer-functionalized CGO fluorescent sensor.Under optimized conditions,the proposed fluorescent sensor ex-hibited a linear detection range of 1.0-5.0 ng/mL for KET,with a limit of detection(LOD)of 0.86 ng/mL;while for NK,the linear detection range was 1.0-5.0 ng/mL,with an LOD of 0.70 ng/mL.Com-pared with the CGO fluorescent sensor constructed via physical adsorption,this sensor demonstrated greater stability in blood and urine.The spiked recovery rates of KET and NK in blank blood and urine ranged from 81.50%to 110.03%,exhibiting detection performance comparable to that of HPLC-MS/MS.Conclusion The aptamer screening method offers a novel approach for selecting aptamers tar-geting drugs and their metabolites.The constructed aptamer-functionalized CGO fluorescent sensor pro-vides an efficient and reliable strategy for the high-performance detection of KET and NK.
4.Causal Associations between Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5), PM 2.5 Absorbance, and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Risk: Evidence from a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.
Xu ZHANG ; Zhi Meng WU ; Lu ZHANG ; Bing Long XIN ; Xiang Rui WANG ; Xin Lan LU ; Gui Fang LU ; Mu Dan REN ; Shui Xiang HE ; Ya Rui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):167-177
OBJECTIVE:
Several epidemiological observational studies have related particulate matter (PM) exposure to Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but many confounding factors make it difficult to draw causal links from observational studies. The objective of this study was to explore the causal association between PM 2.5 exposure, its absorbance, and IBD.
METHODS:
We assessed the association of PM 2.5 and PM 2.5 absorbance with the two primary forms of IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship. We conducted two-sample MR analyses with aggregated data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with PM 2.5 concentrations or their absorbance were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analytical approach and four other standard methods as supplementary analyses for quality control.
RESULTS:
The results of MR demonstrated that PM 2.5 had an adverse influence on UC risk (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.010; 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 1.001-1.019, P = 0.020). Meanwhile, the results of IVW showed that PM 2.5 absorbance was also causally associated with UC ( OR = 1.012; 95% CI = 1.004-1.019, P = 0.002). We observed no causal relationship between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and CD. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated the absence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, ensuring the reliability of MR results.
CONCLUSION
Based on two-sample MR analyses, there are potential positive causal relationships between PM 2.5, PM 2.5 absorbance, and UC.
Humans
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Mendelian Randomization Analysis
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Particulate Matter/analysis*
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Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
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Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics*
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Air Pollutants/analysis*
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Crohn Disease/genetics*
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Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics*
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Genome-Wide Association Study
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Risk Factors
;
Environmental Exposure
5.Increasing pressure ulcer burden in China:Age and gender differences based on GBD data
Zhenjia HUANG ; Li WU ; Yong TANG ; Dan LI ; Xiaodong LAN
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(20):2548-2557
Objective To analyze the burden of pressure ulcers and its changing trends among the general population(all age groups)and the elderly aged 65 years and above in China based on the global burden of disease(GBD)data from 1990 to 2021,predict the burden trends from 2022 to 2035,and address the public health issues of its unclear medium-and long-term trends and insufficient precise interventions in its prevention and control in order to provide support for formulating targeted prevention and control strategies.Methods The GBD database was used to extract the incidence,mortality and disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)of pressure ulcers in the general population and in the elderly aged 65 years and above in China from 1990 to 2021.Meanwhile,the age-standardized incidence rate(ASIR),mortality rate(ASMR),and disability-adjusted life rate(ASDR)of the general population were also extracted,and the age-standardized rate(ASRs)corresponding to the elderly population aged 65 years and above were estimated based on the GBD 2021 standard population.The average annual percentage changes(EAPCs)of ASRs were calculated to assess the trends.Bayesian age-period-cohort(BAPC)model was adopted to predict the ASRs and their changing trends of the general and elderly population from 2022 to 2035,respectively.Results From 1990 to 2021,the number of pressure ulcer cases in the general population of China increased from 163 508.67(95%CI:142 891.48~184 055.10)cases to 397 312.27(95%CI:360 058.44~444 875.78)cases,the number of deaths soared from 242.51(95%CI:125.26~702.84)cases to 3 131.54(95%CI:1 562.60~4 126.85)cases,and DALYs increased from 11 965.10(95%CI:7 820.54~21 703.78)to 61 933.91(95%CI:36 313.26~77 402.42).During the same period,the EAPCs of ASIR,ASMR and ASDR were 1.06(95%CI:0.84~1.28),3.63(95%CI:3.45~3.81),and 2.76(95%CI:2.60~2.92),respectively.In 2021,the number of male cases and DALYs were both higher than those of females,while the number of deaths was similar.The ASIR,ASMR and ASDR of the males were all higher than those of the females,and the growth rates of both genders were relatively fast.All indicators were increased significantly with age.It is predicted that by 2035,the ASIR,ASMR,and ASDR in the general Chinese population will continue to rise significantly.From 1990 to 2021,the number of pressure ulcer cases among the elderly(≥65 years old)in China increased from 42 334.95(95%CI:35 739.05~48 930.84)to 238 431.65(95%CI:212 539.53~264 323.77).The number of deaths rose from 204.97(95%CI:93.33~316.60)to 2 871.02(95%CI:2 334.39~3 407.66),and DALYs increased from 4 619.74(95%CI:2 990.73~6 248.76)to 43 968.28(95%CI:37 542.85~50 393.70).The EAPCs of ASIR,ASMR,and ASDR were 2.62(95%CI:2.44~2.80),3.54(95%CI:3.38~3.70),and 3.28(95%CI:3.14~3.42),all of which increased significantly.In 2021,the number of cases,deaths and DALYs among elderly men and women were similar,but the ASIR,ASMR and ASDR of men were all higher than those of women,and their growth rates were faster.It is projected that by 2035,the ASIR of the elderly population will significantly decline to 146.24(95%CI:140.35~152.14),with an EAPC of-0.57(95%CI:-0.64~-0.50),while the ASMR and ASDR will continue to rise and remain higher in males than in females.Conclusion From 1990 to 2021,the number of pressure ulcer cases,deaths and DALYs among the general population and the elderly in China increased significantly,and the ASRs rose rapidly.The burden of pressure ulcers increases significantly with age and is higher in men than in women.Predictions show that ASIR in the general population will continue to rise,while that in the elderly will slightly decline.However,the ASMR and ASDR will continue to increase.Countermeasures Continuously strengthen the prevention and control of pressure ulcers,implement precise intervention for the elderly,especially older men,promote standardized nursing guidelines,enhance training and resource input in primary medical care,and establish a national pressure ulcer monitoring system.
6.Microbiome, metabolome, and transcriptome analyses in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights into immune modulation by F. nucleatum.
Xue ZHANG ; Jing HAN ; Yudong WANG ; Li FENG ; Zhisong FAN ; Yu SU ; Wenya SONG ; Lan WANG ; Long WANG ; Hui JIN ; Jiayin LIU ; Dan LI ; Guiying LI ; Yan LIU ; Jing ZUO ; Zhiyu NI
Protein & Cell 2025;16(6):491-496
7.The Effect of Serum Ferritin before Transplantation on Implanta-tion in MDS and AML Patients after Unrelated Cord Blood Trans-plantation
Dan-Dan HAN ; Hui-Ru WANG ; Xiao-Ju WAN ; Juan LI ; Hui-Lan LIU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1797-1802
Objective:To analyze the effect of high serum ferritin(SF)before transplantation on erythrocyte,granulocyte and platelet implantation in unrelated cord blood transplantation(UCBT)patients with myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS)and acute myeloid leukemia(AML).Methods:The medical records of 60 patients with MDS and AML who underwent UCBT in the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected.According to the SF level before transplantation,they were divided into high SF group(SF ≥ 1 000 μg/L,n=20)and non-high SF group(SF<1 000 μg/L,n=40).The red blood cell(RBC)infusion volume before transplantation,implantation time of RBC,granulocyte and platelet,implantation risk and prognosis were analyzed and compared between the two groups.Results:There was no correlation between the level of SF before transplantation and RBC infusion.After transplantation,the median implantation time of RBC in the high SF group was 28.5(14-149)d,which was longer than 21(10-83)d in the non-high SF group(P<0.05).The median time of granulocyte engraftment in the high SF group was 16.5(12-63)d,while that in the non-high SF group was 16(12-49)d,with no statistical difference between the two groups(P>0.05).The median platelet engraftment time in the high SF group was 45(12-206)d,while that in the non-high SF group was 35.5(14-149)d,with no statistical difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Kaplan-Meier cumulative implantation probability analysis showed that the rate of erythroid implantation in the non-high SF group was higher than that in the high SF group(P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in the rates of granulocyte and platelet implantation between the two groups(P>0.05).The 1-year overall survival rates of the non-high SF group and high SF group were 95%and 90%,respectively,with no statistical difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:SF levels before cord blood transplantation in MDS and AML patients have an impact on post transplant erythroid implantation.Detecting and intervening of iron load in patients before transplant may be beneficial for improving implantation and prognosis.
8.Value of spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction technique in evaluating triplane fractures of the distal tibia
Tao ZHANG ; Lan LI ; Qian DAN ; Junhua WU ; Haiyan WU ; Yuqin LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(11):1445-1449
Objective To analyze the practical value of spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction techniquein evaluating triplane fractures of the distal tibia.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on183 patients with triplane fractures of the distal tibia admitted to Sichuan Orthopedic Hospital from January 2021 to March 2023.All patients underwent both X-ray and spiral CT examinations.Taking surgical reduction results as the gold standard for diagnosis,the diagnostic accuracies of X-ray examination and spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction technique for triplane fractures of the distal tibia were analyzed.Results Fracture classification according to the number of fracture fragments showed that among the 183 patients with triplane fractures of the distal tibial,there were 44 cases of four-part fractures,62 cases of three-part fractures,and 77 cases of two-part fractures.The classification by the location of epiphyseal injury in the distal tibia showed 175 cases of lateral type and 8 cases of medial type.According to whether the fracture line involved the articular surface,they were categorized into 94 cases of type I,60 cases of type II,and 29 cases of type III.For the classification of the number of fracture fragments,X-ray misdiagnosed 9 cases of four-part fractures as three-part or two-part fractures,and 21 cases of three-part fractures as two-part fractures,resulting in a diagnostic accuracy of 83.60%.For theclassification of fracture line and articular surface position,X-ray led to misdiagnosis or inaccurate diagnosis in 39 cases,with a diagnostic accuracy of 78.69%.When spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction technique was used to classify the number of fracture fragments,only 1 case of four-part fracture was misdiagnosed as three-part fracture,and 2 cases of three-part fractures were misdiagnosed as four-part fractures or two-part fractures,yielding a diagnostic accuracy of 98.36%.For the diagnosis of the positional relationship of the fracture line to the articular surface,spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction technique had 8 misdiagnoses,with a corresponding diagnostic accuracy of 95.63%.Conclusion Spiral CT three-dimensional reconstruction technique can stereoscopically display the spatial information of the triplane fractures of the distal tibia,such as the location,shape,type,and articular surface,exhibiting high accuracy for classification diagnosis and significant application value in the reduction and treatment of triplane fractures of the distal tibia.
9.Compound Chaijin Jieyu formula modulates TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway to suppress central oxidative stress and ameliorate hippocampal synaptic plasticity impairment in depression
Lian-mei XUE ; De-guo LIU ; Qing-ping ZHANG ; Zi-rong LI ; Qian LIU ; Yi SHU ; Xiu-wen HUANG ; Li-dan LAN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(10):1972-1981
Aim To explore the mechanism by which the compound Chaijin Jieyu formula(CCJJY)regulates the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway to inhibit central oxidative stress and improve hippocampal synaptic plasticity damage in depression.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into the control group,chronic unpredictable mild stress group,sleep deprivation group,chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with sleep deprivation group,positive drug group(venlafax-ine+melatonin),low-dose group of CCJJY,medium dose group of CCJJY,and high-dose group of CCJJY,with nine rats in each group.Except for the control group,a rat model of depression complicated with in-somnia was established using chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with sleep deprivation.Depres-sion-like and sleep behaviors in rats were evaluated through weight,food intake,water maze,and pento-barbital sodium tests.ELisa was used to detect ROS,AANAT,and HPLC-EC was used to detect 5-HT con-tent,while Western blot/RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of IL-1β,TLR4,NLRP3,PSD-95,and SYN related proteins and mRNA.HE and Golgic stai-ning were used to observe the pathological changes in the third ventricle,hippocampus,and neuronal synap-ses.Results Compared with the control group,the depression-like behaviors of the model group rats were significant.The expression of IL-1β,TLR4,and NL-RP3 in the hippocampus increased,while the expres-sion of PSD-95 and SYN decreased.Activation of NL-RP3 inflammasomes led to "sleeve like" pathological changes in the third ventricle,with hippocampal neu-rons undergoing apoptosis and significant damage to neuronal synaptic plasticity.Compared with the model group,after intervention with CCJJY,the expression of ROS,IL-1β,TLR4,and NLRP3 decreased,while the expression of AANAT,5-HT,PSD-95,and SYN in-creased.Pathological damage to the third ventricle and hippocampal neurons was repaired.Conclusion The CCJJY improves hippocampal synaptic plasticity dam-age in depression by regulating the TLR4/NLRP3 sig-naling pathway to inhibit central oxidative stress.
10.Longitudinal cohort study on the relationship between cystatin C and the risk of Parkinson's disease in middle-aged and elderly people in China
Xiao LIANG ; Dan WAN ; Ke DU ; Ni GUO ; Shaoying ZHANG ; Gaixia HE ; Lan YANG ; Zongfang LI
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(4):656-662
Objective To investigate the relationship between serum cystatin C(CysC)level and the risk of Parkinson's disease(PD)in middle-aged and elderly people in China.Methods Based on the baseline survey data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS)in 2011,participants who were not diagnosed with PD at the time of the baseline survey were recruited.The onset of PD was tracked and followed up until 2020,and the participants were divided into PD group and non-PD group according to whether they were newly diagnosed with PD in 2020.Multivariable Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between serum CysC level and the risk of PD.Subgroup and interaction analyses were performed to assess effect modifications by age,gender and depression.Additionally,restricted cubic spline(RCS)was used to explore the linear or non-linear relationship between serum CysC level and the risk of PD in different subgroups.Results We included a total of 3 339 subjects in this study,who consisted of 1 495 males(44.77%)and 1 844 females(55.23%).While baseline participants were followed until 2020,32 subjects had a new PD,and the incidence of PD was 0.96%.The median age of PD group was 63.00 years.Multivariable Logistic regression analysis found that CysC was an independent risk factor for the risk of PD,and CysC was positive significantly associated with the risk of PD(OR=2.34,95% CI:1.14-4.82,P=0.021).Subgroup analysis showed that CysC was positively associated with PD in females(OR=2.70,95% CI:1.30-5.58,P=0.007)and subjects aged 60 years or older(OR=5.29,95% CI:1.69-16.53,P=0.004).RCS model indicated a linear relationship between serum CysC level and the risk of PD in females(Ptotal=0.018,Pnon-linear=0.062)and subjects aged 60 years or older(Ptotal=0.024,Pnon-linear=0.379).Conclusion High level of CysC may increase the risk of PD in middle-aged and elderly people,especially in females and those aged 60 years or older.

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