1.Zuogui Wan Improve Ovarian Inflammatory Microenvironment and Stemness of Ovarian Germline Stem Cells in Ovarian Aging via cGAS/STING Signaling Pathway
Yunling ZHENG ; Xinyi PAN ; Zuang LI ; Yixuan WANG ; Junyi AN ; Yuxin ZOU ; Mengting XIAO ; Zheng CHEN ; Ling ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):1-10
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Zuogui Wan (ZGW) in improving ovarian inflammatory microenvironment and stemness of ovarian germline stem cells (OSCs) for treating ovarian aging via the cyclic guanosine monophosphate/adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. MethodsForty C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a low-dose ZGW group (2.7 g·kg-1), a high-dose ZGW group (5.4 g·kg-1), and an estradiol valerate group (0.15 mg·kg-1), with 8 mice in each group. Except the blank group, all other groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide at 120 mg·kg-1 to establish an ovarian aging mouse model. After successful modeling, each group was continuously administered for 4 weeks, once daily. The physiological status of the mice was observed, and the ovarian index was calculated. The estrus cycle of the mice was monitored. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in ovarian tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum sex hormone levels. Serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and mouse interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were detected using kits. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of ovarian cGAS, STING, p-STING, TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), p-TBK1, interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (Fragilis), and Vasa homolog protein (MVH). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in ovarian tissue. Immunofluorescence double labeling was performed to locate OSCs in ovarian tissues, and fluorescence intensities of OSCs markers MVH and octamer binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) were calculated. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed reduced body weight, ovarian wet weight, and ovarian index (P<0.01) and a disordered estrus cycle (P<0.01). In addition, the levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were increased (P<0.01), while anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and estradiol (E2) levels were decreased (P<0.01). The protein expression of cGAS, p-STING/STING, and p-TBK1/TBK1 in ovarian tissue was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while that of OSCs stemness factors MVH and Fragilis was reduced (P<0.01). Immunofluorescence indicated a reduction in MVH and Oct4 expression in OSCs (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in ovarian tissue was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the treatment groups exhibited improved body weight, ovarian wet weight, and ovarian index (P<0.05) and a reduced rate of estrus cycle disorder (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of serum FSH, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while AMH and E2 levels were increased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of cGAS, p-STING/STING, and p-TBK1/TBK1 in ovarian tissue were decreased (P<0.05), while the protein expression of MVH and Fragilis was increased (P<0.05), and the fluorescence intensities of MVH and Oct4 were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA expression of inflammatory factors in ovarian tissue was decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionZGW alleviate ovarian inflammatory response, regulate ovarian microenvironment homeostasis, and maintain stemness of OSCs in ovarian aging mice probably by modulating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, thereby improving ovarian function and delaying ovarian aging.
2.Advances in diffuse optical technology lenses for myopia control
Kun HE ; Bingxin PAN ; Suyun YANG ; Zhiyang HE ; Mengting ZHENG ; Meiling SHU ; Pengfei JIANG ; Shan XU ; Pengfei TIAN
International Eye Science 2025;25(9):1476-1483
Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in myopia control research through the application of diffuse optical technology(DOT)spectacle lenses. Myopia has emerged as a global public health challenge, affecting nearly half of the world's population, with childhood and adolescent myopia rates continuing to rise. DOT lenses represent an innovative myopia control intervention based on retinal contrast signal theory. These lenses incorporate micro-light scattering dots distributed across the lens surface to reduce retinal imaging contrast and modulate the influence of visual input on axial elongation, thereby slowing myopia progression. The core mechanism operates through refractive index differences between the lens substrate(1.53)and scattering dots(1.50), which generate optical scattering effects. This design maintains clear vision through a central 5 mm optical zone while effectively reducing contrast signal intensity in the peripheral retina. Large-scale randomized controlled trials, including the CYPRESS study, have demonstrated significant myopia control efficacy in children aged 6-10 years: 12-month follow-up data revealed a 74% reduction in myopia progression and a 50% reduction in axial elongation, with sustained safety and visual quality maintained over 4-year long-term follow-up. However, several aspects of DOT technology remain contentious and require further clinical validation, including its applicability across different age groups, optimal scattering dot density configurations, combined application effects with other myopia control methods, and long-term visual adaptation during extended use. This review systematically examines the theoretical foundations, design characteristics, clinical application progress, and future development directions of DOT technology, providing scientific evidence for clinical myopia prevention and control strategy formulation.
3.High-throughput single-microbe RNA sequencing reveals adaptive state heterogeneity and host-phage activity associations in human gut microbiome.
Yifei SHEN ; Qinghong QIAN ; Liguo DING ; Wenxin QU ; Tianyu ZHANG ; Mengdi SONG ; Yingjuan HUANG ; Mengting WANG ; Ziye XU ; Jiaye CHEN ; Ling DONG ; Hongyu CHEN ; Enhui SHEN ; Shufa ZHENG ; Yu CHEN ; Jiong LIU ; Longjiang FAN ; Yongcheng WANG
Protein & Cell 2025;16(3):211-226
Microbial communities such as those residing in the human gut are highly diverse and complex, and many with important implications for health and diseases. The effects and functions of these microbial communities are determined not only by their species compositions and diversities but also by the dynamic intra- and inter-cellular states at the transcriptional level. Powerful and scalable technologies capable of acquiring single-microbe-resolution RNA sequencing information in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of complex microbial communities together with their hosts are therefore utterly needed. Here we report the development and utilization of a droplet-based smRNA-seq (single-microbe RNA sequencing) method capable of identifying large species varieties in human samples, which we name smRandom-seq2. Together with a triple-module computational pipeline designed for the bacteria and bacteriophage sequencing data by smRandom-seq2 in four human gut samples, we established a single-cell level bacterial transcriptional landscape of human gut microbiome, which included 29,742 single microbes and 329 unique species. Distinct adaptive response states among species in Prevotella and Roseburia genera and intrinsic adaptive strategy heterogeneity in Phascolarctobacterium succinatutens were uncovered. Additionally, we identified hundreds of novel host-phage transcriptional activity associations in the human gut microbiome. Our results indicated that smRandom-seq2 is a high-throughput and high-resolution smRNA-seq technique that is highly adaptable to complex microbial communities in real-world situations and promises new perspectives in the understanding of human microbiomes.
Humans
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics*
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Bacteriophages/physiology*
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High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
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Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods*
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Bacteria/virology*
4.Characterization of vaginal flora in pregnant women during the second trimester using 16S rRNA full-length gene sequencing
Yanmin CAO ; Haiyan LIU ; Yao DONG ; Zongguang LI ; Baixue HAN ; Mengting CAO ; Longnan PAN ; Hui KAN ; Yaxin LI ; Qing LI ; Anqun HU ; Yingjie ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(10):869-880
Objective:To characterize the vaginal flora of pregnant women during the second trimester using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.Methods:A total of 142 pregnant women were systematically sampled from a pregnancy cohort. Vaginal swabs were collected for full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing,and bioinformatics analysis was performed to characterize the vaginal microbiota and identify associated influencing factors.Results:Among the 142 pregnant women,the most frequently detected species were Lactobacillus iners(83.10%,118/142)and Lactobacillus crispatus(49.30%,70/142). The majority of samples(90.85%,129/142)were classified as Lactobacillus-dominant vagitypes,with the Lactobacillus iners vagitype accounting for 48.59%(69/142)and the Lactobacillus crispatus vagitype accounting for 38.73%(55/142). The vaginal microbiota was clustered into five community state types(CSTs):Ⅰa,Ⅰb,Ⅲa,Ⅲb,and Ⅳ. The most prevalent CSTs were Lactobacillus iners-dominated CST-Ⅲ(51.41%,73/142)and Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated CST-Ⅰ(24.65%,35/142). No samples were classified as CST-Ⅱ or CST-Ⅴ. A significant negative correlation was observed between Lactobacill and vaginosis-associated bacteria. Age,alcohol consumption,smoking,and vaginal treatments showed significant associations or trends toward significance with various Alpha diversity indices. Vaginal douching was associated with CST clustering,while obstetric history(primiparity,previous miscarriage history)was associated with vagitype classification. However,no significant associations were identified between maternal baseline characteristics and Beta diversity indices. Conclusions:Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals that the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women is dominated by Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus. Maternal age,lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption,and obstetric history are significantly associated with variations in vaginal microbiota composition.
5.Analysis of the clinical features of postnatal cytomegalovirus infection in very preterm infants or very low birth weight infants
Mengting JIANG ; Taixiang LIU ; Shanshan XU ; Hongfang MEI ; Tian XIE ; Xiaolu MA ; Zheng CHEN ; Yanping XU
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(3):259-265
Objective:To analyze the clinical features of postnatal cytomegalovirus (pCMV) infection in very preterm infants or very low birth weight infants.Methods:This was a case-control study. A total of 50 very preterm or very low birth weight infants who were hospitalized and diagnosed with pCMV infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2019 to June 2024, were enrolled as the pCMV group. Meanwhile, through propensity score matching, each infant in the pCMV group was paired with a very preterm or very low birth weight infant without cytomegalovirus infection during the same period, constituting the control group, also consisting of 50 cases. Subsequently, the pCMV group was divided into a treated subgroup and an untreated subgroup according to antiviral treatment. Clinical data of all enrolled infants, including clinical features, laboratory test results, and clinical outcomes were collected. Differences in relevant parameters were analyzed using with χ2 test or continuity-corrected χ2 test or Fisher′s exact test, independent-samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the risk factors, and Spearman correlation analysis was applied for non-normal distribution data or ordinal data. Results:There were no significant differences between the pCMV group and the control group in terms of gestational age, birth weight, proportion of male infants, Apgar score at the 1 st minute and 5 th minute and days of breastfeeding during the first 3 weeks of life (all P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the duration of hospital stay and invasive mechanical ventilation were both longer in the pCMV group (both P<0.05). The risks of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, and hearing impairment were all higher in the pCMV group when compared with the control group(all P<0.05). The body weight and body length of the infants in the pCMV group were both lower than those of in the control group at the corrected gestational age of 36 weeks (both P<0.05). pCMV infections were associated with the increased incidence of both necrotizing enterocolitis ( OR=11.50, 95% CI 1.94-68.30, P=0.007) and severe intraventricular hemorrhage ( OR=6.82, 95% CI 1.19-38.97, P=0.031) in very preterm infants or very low birth weight infants. In the treated group, the platelet count was significantly improved after 6-8 weeks of antiviral treatment compared with that before treatment ((245±19)×10 9/L vs. (119±14)×10 9/L, t=5.37, P<0.001). Conclusions:Very preterm infants or very low birth weight infants with postnatal cytomegalovirus infection have longer hospital stay and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, and are highly susceptible to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, hearing impairment, and growth restriction. Antiviral treatment can effectively ameliorate thrombocytopenia in these infants.
6.Differences of cortical responses to unilateral upper limb training in subacute stroke patients with different motor-evoked potentials: an fNIRS study
Mengting LAO ; Rongwei DU ; Zhouxue ZHENG ; Shaohang XIE ; Zhen MIAO ; Xianglong WANG ; Wen WU
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(5):472-480
Objective:To explore the differences of cortical responses to unilateral upper limb training (UULT) in subacute stroke patients with different motor-evoked potentials (MEPs).Methods:A cross-sectional study was performed; 33 subacute stroke patients accepted UULT were recruited from Center of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University from August 2023 to August 2024. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess MEPs, and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to record hemodynamic changes in bilateral primary motor cortex (M1), pre-motor cortex/supplementary motor area (PMC/SMA), and posterior parietal cortex (PPC) during the resting state and UULT task state. Wavelet coherence analysis and Granger causality analysis were used to determine the strengths of functional connectivity (FC) and effective connectivity (EC) between brain regions.Results:Among the 33 patients, 16 were assigned to an absent MEP (MEP -) group and 17 into a present MEP (MEP +) group (MEP amplitude: [310±200] μV). In the MEP - group, compared with those during the resting state, FC of ipsilesional M1 with contralesional PPC, contralesional M1, ipsilesional PPC, contralesional PMC/SMA and ipsilesional PMC/SMA during the task state (0.64±0.14 vs. 0.48±0.12, 0.63±0.14 vs. 0.45±0.10, 0.70±0.14 vs. 0.56±0.12, 0.56±0.13 vs. 0.39±0.15, 0.61±0.13 vs. 0.44±0.14), and FC between the ipsilesional PMC/SMA and ipsilesional PPC during the task state (0.71±0.12 vs. 0.61±0.09) were significantly decreased ( P<0.0033); compared with that during the resting state, EC from the ipsilesional PPC to the ipsilesional PMC/SMA during the task state (0.15±0.07 vs. 0.25±0.18) was significantly increased ( P<0.05). In the MEP + group, compared with that during the resting state, FC of the ipsilesional M1 with contralesional M1 and ipsilesional PPC during the task state (0.81±0.08 vs. 0.70±0.14, 0.78±0.08 vs. 0.68±0.13) was significantly decreased ( P<0.0033); compared with that during the resting state, EC from contralesional M1 to ipsilesional M1 during the task state (0.11±0.10 vs. 0.15±0.10) was significantly increased ( P<0.05). No significant differences were noted in changes of FC strength between resting state and UULT task state across brain regions when comparing the MEP - and MEP + groups ( P>0.0033). Conclusion:MEP - subacute stroke patients exhibit extensive bilateral cortical response during the UULT task state, whereas MEP + patients show limited cortical response, which indicate that rehabilitation training strategy in MEP + patients needs to be adjusted.
7.Proton beam range verification algorithm for pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector
Liwang YANG ; Haifeng OU ; Jinlong WANG ; Xiaoguang WU ; Ziyang HE ; Jian'an ZOU ; Yun ZHENG ; Congbo LI ; Shaoxiong GUAN ; Jing SHI ; Jinze LI ; Yunqiu LI ; Rui HONG ; Hao'en CHANG ; Mengting WANG ; Kaijie WEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(3):281-287
In proton therapy,prompt gamma-ray imaging is considered as one of the most promising methods for assessing proton beam range.Prompt gamma-ray imaging detector evaluates the proton beam range based on the prompt gamma-ray distribution obtained by the prompt gamma-ray imaging system,which enables high-precision measurement of the proton beam range.Herein a proton beam range verification algorithm is designed for the newly developed prototype of the range verification detector(pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector),which verifies the range estimation accuracy of the prototype for different phantoms and different energies of homogeneous media through Monte Carlo simulation.The results show that the accuracy of the proton beam range verification algorithm is within 0.5 mm of the safety margin error of the Bragg peak,and the measurement accuracy is significantly improved with the increase of the number of protons,indicating that the prototype algorithm is feasible for proton beam range verification.
8.The Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Food Accumulation and Stagnation in Chinese Medicine
Xia ZHAO ; Mengting QIU ; Siyuan HU ; Yanhong QIN ; Zheng XUE ; Liqun WU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):531-537
Following the evidence-based diagnosis and treatment guideline development method for common pediatric diseases,the The Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Food Accumulation and Stagnation in Chinese Medicine was formed through literature retrieval,expert questionnaire survey,expert discussion meeting,and solicitation of opinions.The revised content includes the scope of the guideline,normative reference documents,terms and definitions,diagnosis,syndrome differentiation,treatment,pre-vention and nursing suggestions,etc.,aiming to update the clinical diagnosis and treatment plan of Chinese medicine for accumulation and provide important clinical decision-making references for clinical physicians to rationally apply the diagnosis and treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of accumulation and stagnation in Children.
9.The Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Food Accumulation and Stagnation in Chinese Medicine
Xia ZHAO ; Mengting QIU ; Siyuan HU ; Yanhong QIN ; Zheng XUE ; Liqun WU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(4):531-537
Following the evidence-based diagnosis and treatment guideline development method for common pediatric diseases,the The Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Food Accumulation and Stagnation in Chinese Medicine was formed through literature retrieval,expert questionnaire survey,expert discussion meeting,and solicitation of opinions.The revised content includes the scope of the guideline,normative reference documents,terms and definitions,diagnosis,syndrome differentiation,treatment,pre-vention and nursing suggestions,etc.,aiming to update the clinical diagnosis and treatment plan of Chinese medicine for accumulation and provide important clinical decision-making references for clinical physicians to rationally apply the diagnosis and treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of accumulation and stagnation in Children.
10.Proton beam range verification algorithm for pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector
Liwang YANG ; Haifeng OU ; Jinlong WANG ; Xiaoguang WU ; Ziyang HE ; Jian'an ZOU ; Yun ZHENG ; Congbo LI ; Shaoxiong GUAN ; Jing SHI ; Jinze LI ; Yunqiu LI ; Rui HONG ; Hao'en CHANG ; Mengting WANG ; Kaijie WEI
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(3):281-287
In proton therapy,prompt gamma-ray imaging is considered as one of the most promising methods for assessing proton beam range.Prompt gamma-ray imaging detector evaluates the proton beam range based on the prompt gamma-ray distribution obtained by the prompt gamma-ray imaging system,which enables high-precision measurement of the proton beam range.Herein a proton beam range verification algorithm is designed for the newly developed prototype of the range verification detector(pixelated prompt gamma-ray imaging detector),which verifies the range estimation accuracy of the prototype for different phantoms and different energies of homogeneous media through Monte Carlo simulation.The results show that the accuracy of the proton beam range verification algorithm is within 0.5 mm of the safety margin error of the Bragg peak,and the measurement accuracy is significantly improved with the increase of the number of protons,indicating that the prototype algorithm is feasible for proton beam range verification.

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