1.Regulation of osteogenic effects by bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway:revealing molecular mechanisms of bone formation and remodeling
Haowen LIU ; Weiping QIAO ; Zhicheng MENG ; Kaijie LI ; Xuan HAN ; Pengbo SHI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(3):563-571
BACKGROUND:Osteoblasts are the main cell types responsible for bone formation and remodeling,and the normal performance of their function is precisely regulated by various signaling pathways.Among them,the bone morphogenetic protein and Wnt signaling pathways play a key role in osteogenesis. OBJECTIVE:To review the role of bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway in the regulation of osteoblast function and analyze its changes in different physiological and pathological conditions in order to further reveal the molecular mechanism of bone formation and remodeling. METHODS:The Chinese and English search terms"BMP signaling pathway,Wnt signaling pathway,and osteogenesis"were searched in CNKI,Wanfang,and PubMed databases for original researches published from the inception to June 2023.Totally 61 articles were finally selected for analysis and summary.Using the method of the literature review,the studies of the bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway in regulating osteogenesis were sorted out and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Bone morphogenetic protein and Wnt signaling pathways play important roles in the differentiation,proliferation,and maturation of osteoblasts.Bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathway mainly regulates the expression of osteogenesis-related genes through the activation of Smad protein.Smad protein enters the nucleus and regulates the expression of genes related to osteogenesis.Different Wnt signaling pathway from bone morphogenetic protein mainly depends on the activation of β-catenin to exert its biological effects.(2)The regulatory effect of bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway will be affected by many factors in different physiological and pathological states.Growth factors,hormones,and mechanical stress can affect the activity of bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway to some extent.(3)Bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway interacts with other signaling pathways in the regulation of osteogenesis,and they together constitute a complex regulatory network.(4)Chinese medicine and natural compounds can promote bone health by regulating signaling pathways,providing new possibilities for treating bone diseases.(5)Future studies can further explore the interaction of bone morphogenetic protein/Wnt signaling pathway and other signaling pathways and its changes in different physiological and pathological conditions,resolve the key nodes and regulation mechanism in the complex network,to provide more precise targets for the treatment of bone-related diseases,and also provide new ideas to reveal the molecular mechanism of bone formation and remodeling.
2.Insights on Peripheral Blood Biomarkers for Parkinson’s Disease
Yu-Meng LI ; Jing-Kai LIU ; Zi-Xuan CHEN ; Yu-Lin DENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):72-87
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder with profound impact on patients’ quality of life and long-term health, and early detection and intervention are particularly critical. In recent years, the search for precise and reliable biomarkers has become one of the key strategies to effectively address the clinical challenges of PD. In this paper, we systematically evaluated potential biomarkers, including proteins, metabolites, epigenetic markers, and exosomes, in the peripheral blood of PD patients. Protein markers are one of the main directions of biomarker research in PD. In particular, α‑synuclein and its phosphorylated form play a key role in the pathological process of PD. It has been shown that aggregation of α-synuclein may be associated with pathologic protein deposition in PD and may be a potential marker for early diagnosis of PD. In terms of metabolites, uric acid, as a metabolite, plays an important role in oxidative stress and neuroprotection in PD. It has been found that changes in uric acid levels may be associated with the onset and progression of PD, showing its potential as an early diagnostic marker. Epigenetic markers, such as DNA methylation modifications and miRNAs, have also attracted much attention in Parkinson’s disease research. Changes in these markers may affect the expression of PD-related genes and have an important impact on the onset and progression of the disease, providing new research perspectives for the early diagnosis of PD. In addition, exosomes, as a potential biomarker carrier for PD, are able to carry a variety of biomolecules involved in intercellular communication and pathological regulation. Studies have shown that exosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, and their detection in blood may provide a new breakthrough for early diagnosis. It has been shown that exosomes may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD, and their detection in blood may provide new breakthroughs in early diagnosis. In summary, through in-depth evaluation of biomarkers in the peripheral blood of PD patients, this paper demonstrates the important potential of these markers in the early diagnosis of PD and in the study of pathological mechanisms. Future studies will continue to explore the clinical application value of these biomarkers to promote the early detection of PD and individualized treatment strategies.
3.Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography
Meng-Meng MIAO ; Yu-Xuan REN ; Wen-Wei WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Xiang-Hong LIN ; Hui-Dan LIN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):244-257
ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
4.Analysis of the effect of dosimeter wearing position on effective dose estimation among interventional radiology workers
Xuanrong ZHANG ; Wen GUO ; Xian XUE ; Pin GAO ; Kaiyi WANG ; Xuan ZHANG ; Yanqiu DING ; Xiao LUO ; Wenfang MENG ; Jun CHAO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(5):687-694
Objective To evaluate the influence of the wearing position of dosimeters outside lead aprons on effective dose estimation for interventional radiology workers, analyze the differences between single and double dosimeter methods in effective dose estimation, and provide a reference for the personal dose monitoring of interventional radiology workers. Methods This study employed a combined approach of on-site monitoring and Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the impact of the wearing position of dosimeters outside lead aprons on effective dose estimation, as well as the differences between effective doses measured using single and double dosimeters. Interventional radiology workers wore dosimeters at three positions: the neck outside the lead collar, the left chest outside the lead apron, and inside the lead apron. Effective doses were estimated using the single and double dosimeter methods specified in GBZ 128-2019 Specifications for individual monitoring of occupational external exposure, and the impact of different wearing positions on the estimation results was compared. Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations were used to model dose distributions at the neck outside the lead collar and at the left chest outside the lead apron for operators performing cardiovascular interventions under tube voltages of 70, 80, 90, and 100 kVp and exposure angles of posteroanterior (PA), anteroposterior (AP), and left anterior oblique 45° (LAO45°) positions. The study assessed the impact of dosimeter wearing position on effective dose estimation. Results Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that neck doses consistently exceeded left chest doses across different tube voltages and exposure angles, with neck-to-chest dose ratios of 0.80-0.90. Under identical tube voltage conditions, AP showed the highest doses, followed by LAO45°, and PA demonstrated the lowest doses. The single and double dosimeter methods exhibited consistent patterns in effective dose estimation. Single dosimeter method generally yielded higher effective doses with relative deviations of 9.9% to 83%, though these deviations decreased under high tube voltages. Field monitoring data indicated that most interventional radiology workers maintained relative deviations between single and double dosimeter calculations below 6%, with neck-to-chest dose ratios of 0.95-1.1. The estimation patterns remained consistent across both methods, though single dosimeter method showed slightly higher results. Conclusion Under PA, AP, or LAO45°, the doses at the neck consistently exceeded those at the left chest. Therefore, when wearing lead protective equipment, the dosimeter should be properly positioned at the neck outside the lead collar to accurately reflect the radiation doses of surgeons. Some interventional radiology workers improperly positioned the dosimeter (intended at the neck outside the lead collar) at the left chest outside the lead apron, and this may result in an underestimation of the effective dose.
5.Research of medication rules and multi-pathway mechanism of action in the treatment of vitiligo by traditional Chinese medicine compound patent
Xiaoyi DONG ; Deyou JIANG ; Zeyun WANG ; Yuxi MENG ; Zongfu MIN ; Xuan ZHANG ; Shaoying WANG ; Yuanhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2024;33(9):993-1005
Objective To explore the medication rules and mechanism of action of traditional Chinese medicine compound patent formulas for vitiligo,and provide ideas for the development and the patent declaration work of new Chinese medicines for vitiligo.Methods China Patent Publication Bulletin website,National Knowledge Infrastructure Database,Patent Information Service Platform of China Intellectual Property Right Net(CNIPR),and Baiten Patent Platform were used to search for the patents of traditional Chinese medicine compound formulas for vitiligo from the establishment of the databases to 30th September,2023.Excel software and Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Computing Platform(TCMICS V3.0)were used to establish a database of compound formulas,and carry out the statistics of frequency,association rules and clustering analysis of the formulas for internal and external prescriptions.The target and mechanism of action of the internal prescriptions of core high-frequency Traditional Chinese Medicine group for the treatment of vitiligo were further explored by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),Symptom Mapping(Symmap),The Human Gene Database(Genecards),UniversalProtein(UniProt),STRING,Pharmaceutical DataBase(PDB)and other databases as well as software such as R Studio 4.2.2 and Cytoscape 3.9.1,and AutoDock Vina was used for molecular docking validation.Results The internal formulas included 335 patents and the external formulas included 189 patents.The rules of internal and external use are similar.The high-frequency traditional Chinese medicines are Tribuli Fructus,Psoraleae Fructus,Angelicae sinensis,Radix Polygoni Multiflori,Carthami Flos,Angelica dahurica,etc.;the key efficacies of the medicines are based on tonifying the deficiency,activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis;and the properties of the Chinese medicines are the nature of warmth,coldness and flatness,sweetness,bitterness,pungency and attribution to the liver,the spleen,the heart and the kidneys.Commonly used oral medicine pairs are Chuanxiong rhizome-Angelica,Astragalus-Angelica,etc.,high-frequency pairs of external medicines are Fructus mume-Psoraleae fructus,cuscuta-Psoraleae fructus,etc.;internal and external clustering of the core drugs are Psoraleae fructus,Tribuli Fructus,Angelica,Polygonum multiflorum,Angelica dahurica,Safflower,and other high-frequency medicines.The key targets of internal patents for the treatment of vitiligo are genes such as albumin,protein kinase B1,cystatinase 3,etc.The main active ingredients of the internal grouping for the treatment of vitiligo may be quercetin,kaempferol,luteolin,etc.,and the therapeutic mechanism may be related to the end products of glycosylation/receptor for glycosylation end products,tumour necrosis factor signalling pathway,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B and other signalling pathways,and involved in the process of blood lipids and atherosclerosis,human cytomegalovirus infection.The molecular docking results confirmed the docking activity of the herbal components with key receptor proteins.Conclusion This study reveals the similarity between the internal and external patented formulas of vitiligo in terms of medication,flavour,and meridian,suggesting that the pathways and indexes such as albumin,interleukin,and tumour necrosis factor of vitiligo patients can be improved by tonifying the liver and kidney,activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis,which also provides a reference for the research and development of new medicines for vitiligo,patent protection,and the use of clinical prescriptions.
6.Instructional design and exploration on the experiment teaching of forensic science and biological evidence based on post competency cultivation
Xiaoni ZHAN ; Gehua WEN ; Jiaxin XING ; Jinfeng XUAN ; Jun YAO ; Jinghua MENG ; Jingchun BAO ; Xu WU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2024;23(6):782-786
The traditional experimental teaching mode of forensic science and biological evidence is mostly confined to experimental operation, which is not capable of cultivating students' comprehensive quality and post competency. Therefore, it is urgent to seek an innovative teaching and training mode. At present, the experimental teaching of forensic science and biological evidence is dominated by teachers. There are some problems, such as insufficient training of students' scientific thinking and innovation ability, single teaching and evaluation model, and disconnection from the practical application. This paper proposes an experimental teaching design scheme of forensic science and biological evidence based on post competency training. The course is implanted in the framework of simulated cases, and the virtual simulation experiment platform and group discussion learning method are used to achieve a training model oriented by social needs and centered on students. In the preliminary study on the students who were trained in this mode of selected sections, we found that, compared with traditional teaching, the time for students to complete the prescribed experimental operation in this teaching mode was shortened by 4 minutes on average, and the average score of theoretical course test case analysis questions was increased by 1.5 points. In conclusion, the instructional design of the experiment teaching forensic science and biological evidence can effectively improve students' post-competency, and it deserves further exploration and application.
7.Study on inhibitory effect of alisol B on non-small cell lung cancer based on network pharmacology and its mechanism
Liu-Yan XIANG ; Wen-Xuan WANG ; Si-Meng GU ; Xiao-Qian ZHANG ; Lu-Yao LI ; Yu-Qian LI ; Yuan-Ru WANG ; Qi-Qi LEI ; Xue YANG ; Ya-Jun CAO ; Xue-Jun LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(12):2375-2384
Aim To explore the potential genes and mechanism of alisol B in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells were detected by CCK-8 and Transwell.Genes of NSCLC and alisol B were col-lected through TCGA and compound gene prediction database,and their intersection genes were obtained.The network of protein-protein interaction(PPI)was constructed by using String database,and the top 20 key nodes were screened out,and the prognosis-related proteins related to the prognosis of NSCLC were screened out by using R language,and the intersection of them was obtained.The potential mechanism of ali-sol B on NSCLC was explored by KEGG and GO en-richment analysis and the relationship between related genes and immune cells,which was verified by cell-lev-el experiments.Results Alisol B inhibited the cell activity and migration ability of NSCLC cells.Five im-portant genes were identified by network pharmacologi-cal analysis:CCNE1,CDK1,COL1A1,COL1A2 and COL3A1.The results of cell experiment showed that al-isol B down-regulated the expression of Cyclin E1,CDK1 and COL1A2 in NSCLC cells.In addition,alisol B could inhibit the expression of COL1A2 and M2 macrophage marker CD206 in macrophages.Conclu-sions Alisol B may inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells by down-regulating CDK1 and Cyclin E1,and may affect the function of macrophages by inhibiting COL1A2,thus regulating the tumor immune microenvi-ronment and inhibiting NSCLC.
8.Anatomic study of pedicled buccal fat pad for temporomandibular joint ankylosis
Zhao-Rong ZONG ; Zi-Xuan MENG ; Jia-Xin QIU ; Yi-Wen LI ; Hou-Wen CHENG ; Ai-She DUN
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(6):467-471
Objective To investigate the feasibility of translocation of pedicled buccal fat pad in the treatment of the temporomandibular joint ankylosis(TMJA)by measuring the diameter of buccal fat pad and related anatomical structures of the transverse blood vessels,nerves and temporomandibular joint.Methods A total of 40 adult head and neck specimens were randomly divided into group A and group B,with 20 cases in each group.The morphology of the buccal fat pad in group A was observed,and its size and compression diameter through blood vessels and nerves were measured.The anatomical structures of the temporomandibular joint in group B were observed and measured.Results The volume of buccal fat pad in group A was(10.10±1.10)mL on the left side and(9.70±1.50)mL on the right side.The longitudinal axis length of buccal fat pad was(28.18±1.35)mm on the left side and(29.47±1.12)mm on the right side;Transverse axis length of buccal fat pad was(18.56±1.67)mm on the left side and(18.97±1.73)mm on the right side;There are facial artery,facial vein,maxillary artery branch,facial nerve buccal branch and so on through the buccal fat pad.In group B,the sagittal section of the temporomandibular joint disc presented S-type in 15 cases(75.0%),L-type in 3 cases(15.0%),and transitional type in 2 cases(10.0%).Anterior and posterior diameter of the articular disc was(14.42±1.94)mm on the left side and(15.34±1.37)mm on the right side;inside and outside diameter of the articular disc was(20.18±1.77)mm on the left side and(19.57±1.32)mm on the right side.Branches of maxillary artery and superficial temporal artery were respectively distributed within and outside the joint.Conclusion The pedicled buccal fat pad has a constant anatomical position,abundant blood supply,strong tissue repair,anti-infection ability and"buffer pad"function,which can reduce the formation of scar after surgery for TMJA,reduce the postoperative recurrence rate,and contribute to the recovery of joint function after surgery.
9.Genomic characteristics of the Vibrio cholerae O1 group isolated from humans in Fujian Province,2008 to 2022
Zi-Li KE ; Xiao-Xuan ZHANG ; Hai-Bin XU ; Ya-Dong GAO ; Chao-Chen LUO ; Meng-Ying HUANG ; Yu-Feng QIU ; Jin-Song YANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(8):708-715
This study was aimed at understanding the genomic characteristics of the Vibrio cholerae O1 group isolated from humans in Fujian Province,to provide essential data for the molecular epidemiological study of cholera.From 2008 to 2022,16 strains of the V.cholerae O1 group from patients and carriers were collected,and antibiotic sensitivity was determined accord-ing to the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC).The whole genome sequences obtained through second generation sequen-cing were analyzed in open source software,including snippy,Roary,and Prokka,as well as online analysis websites,inclu-ding NCBI and BacWGSTdb,for core-genome multilocus sequence typing(cgMLST),core-genome single nucleotide polymor-phism analysis(cgSNP),virulence gene analysis,drug resistance gene prediction,and pan-genomic diversity analysis.The whole genome sequences of V.cholerae were divided into five sequence types(STs),among which the newly discovered ST182 and ST1480 were the evolutionary branches of the current dominant clonal group ST75 in China,and were highly related to two strains isolated from Taiwan in 2010 and 2013,respectively.Both toxigenic strains and non-toxigenic strains carried a variety of virulence factors and showed gene variation to varying degrees.Thirteen drug resistance genes in seven categories were predicted,among which the distribution of colistin and tetracycline resistance genes was consistent with the drug resistance phenotype.Pan-ge-nomic analysis indicated that V.cholerae had an open pan-genome,and Roary cluster analysis showed higher resolution than cgMLST.In summary,V.cholerae O1 group isolates from humans in Fujian Province have polymorphisms in genome structure and function,and the newly discovered ST1480 clone group has epidemic potential.Therefore,the monitoring of such strains must be strengthened.
10.Effect of CD8+CD28-T Cells on Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease after Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
An-Di ZHANG ; Xiao-Xuan WEI ; Jia-Yuan GUO ; Xiang-Shu JIN ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Fei LI ; ZHEN-Yang GU ; Jian BO ; Li-Ping DOU ; Dai-Hong LIU ; Meng LI ; Chun-Ji GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(3):896-905
Objective:To investigate the effect of CD8+CD28-T cells on acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(haplo-HSCT).Methods:The relationship between absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells and aGVHD in 60 patients with malignant hematological diseases was retrospectively analyzed after haplo-HSCT,and the differences in the incidence rate of chronic graft-versus host disease(cGVHD),infection and prognosis between different CD8+CD28-T absolute cells count groups were compared.Results:aGVHD occurred in 40 of 60 patients after haplo-HSCT,with an incidence rate of 66.67%.The median occurrence time of aGVHD was 32.5(20-100)days.At 30 days after the transplantation,the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells of aGVHD group was significantly lower than that of non-aGVHD group(P=0.03).Thus the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells at 30 days after transplantation can be used to predict the occurrence of aGVHD to some extent.At 30 days after transplantation,the incidence rate of aGVHD in the low cell count group(CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count<0.06/μl)was significantly higher than that in the high cell count group(CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count ≥0.06/μl,P=0.011).Multivariate Cox regression analysis further confirmed that the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells at 30 days after transplantation was an independent risk factor for aGVHD,and the risk of aGVHD in the low cell count group was 2.222 times higher than that in the high cell count group(P=0.015).The incidence of cGVHD,fungal infection,EBV infection and CMV infection were not significantly different between the two groups with different CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count.The overall survival,non-recurrent mortality and relapse rates were not significantly different between different CD8+CD28-T cells absolute count groups.Conclusion:Patients with delayed CD8+CD28-T cells reconstitution after haplo-HSCT are more likely to develop aGVHD,and the absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells can be used to predict the incidence of aGVHD to some extent.The absolute count of CD8+CD28-T cells after haplo-HSCT was not associated with cGVHD,fungal infection,EBV infection,and CMV infection,and was also not significantly associated with the prognosis after transplantation.

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