1.Arsenic Concentrations and Risk Assessment in Children from Low-Arsenic Exposure Areas
Qi MAI ; Jiahao LI ; Miaomiao YAN
Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2025;54(5):672-678
Objective To investigate internal arsenic exposure levels and influencing factors in infants and young children from low-arsenic regions.Methods A total of 390 urine samples from 130 children aged 0-7 years in Wuhan(central China)and Shenzhen(southern China)were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spec-trometry.A linear mixed model was applied to assess factors influencing arsenic exposure levels,and risk evaluation was conduc-ted based on biomonitoring equivalents.Results The average urinary total arsenic level in children was 15.6 μg/L.The concen-trations of these species increased with age,except for arsenate(AsⅤ).Children in Shenzhen had higher level of arsenobetaine(AsB)than in Wuhan(P<0.05).The urinary levels of monomethyl arsenic acid(MMA)and dimethyl arsenic acid(DMA)were significantly higher in winter than in autumn(P<0.05).Total urinary arsenic levels in 72%of the children exceeded the bio-monitoring equivalent.Conclusion Arsenic exposure among children shows an increasing trend with age,and there are regional and seasonal differences.More than half of the children may suffer potential health risks of As exposure,highlighting the urgent need for improved monitoring and preventive measures.
2.Qualitative study on the psychological acceptance mechanism of appropriate Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques among patients with abnormal uterine bleeding
Miaomiao CUI ; Wei WEI ; Yingzi LIANG ; Guotian LIN ; Qi WANG ; Lihua LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(24):3319-3323
Objective:To explore the psychological acceptance mechanism of appropriate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques among patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) .Methods:Using purposive sampling, AUB patients experiencing menstruation but not yet menopausal were recruited from Zhumadian City, Henan Province, and Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, between November 2022 and January 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the collected data were analyzed using content analysis.Results:A total of four main themes were identified: individualized disease perception and treatment experience; awareness and treatment experience of appropriate TCM techniques; cultural identity and influence of traditional beliefs; and the need for science communication and safety regarding TCM techniques.Conclusions:While AUB patients show a generally high level of acceptance toward appropriate TCM techniques, their understanding of both AUB and the relevant TCM therapies remains limited. Multiple factors influence patients' choices, and some concerns and doubts still persist during the decision-making process.
3.Arsenic Concentrations and Risk Assessment in Children from Low-Arsenic Exposure Areas
Qi MAI ; Jiahao LI ; Miaomiao YAN
Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2025;54(5):672-678
Objective To investigate internal arsenic exposure levels and influencing factors in infants and young children from low-arsenic regions.Methods A total of 390 urine samples from 130 children aged 0-7 years in Wuhan(central China)and Shenzhen(southern China)were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spec-trometry.A linear mixed model was applied to assess factors influencing arsenic exposure levels,and risk evaluation was conduc-ted based on biomonitoring equivalents.Results The average urinary total arsenic level in children was 15.6 μg/L.The concen-trations of these species increased with age,except for arsenate(AsⅤ).Children in Shenzhen had higher level of arsenobetaine(AsB)than in Wuhan(P<0.05).The urinary levels of monomethyl arsenic acid(MMA)and dimethyl arsenic acid(DMA)were significantly higher in winter than in autumn(P<0.05).Total urinary arsenic levels in 72%of the children exceeded the bio-monitoring equivalent.Conclusion Arsenic exposure among children shows an increasing trend with age,and there are regional and seasonal differences.More than half of the children may suffer potential health risks of As exposure,highlighting the urgent need for improved monitoring and preventive measures.
4.Qualitative study on the psychological acceptance mechanism of appropriate Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques among patients with abnormal uterine bleeding
Miaomiao CUI ; Wei WEI ; Yingzi LIANG ; Guotian LIN ; Qi WANG ; Lihua LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(24):3319-3323
Objective:To explore the psychological acceptance mechanism of appropriate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) techniques among patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) .Methods:Using purposive sampling, AUB patients experiencing menstruation but not yet menopausal were recruited from Zhumadian City, Henan Province, and Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, between November 2022 and January 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the collected data were analyzed using content analysis.Results:A total of four main themes were identified: individualized disease perception and treatment experience; awareness and treatment experience of appropriate TCM techniques; cultural identity and influence of traditional beliefs; and the need for science communication and safety regarding TCM techniques.Conclusions:While AUB patients show a generally high level of acceptance toward appropriate TCM techniques, their understanding of both AUB and the relevant TCM therapies remains limited. Multiple factors influence patients' choices, and some concerns and doubts still persist during the decision-making process.
5.Maggot alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation
Hong YAO ; Kedi LIU ; Chengzhao LIU ; Weihong LI ; Qi DAI ; Shi ZHAO ; Ziheng DING ; Hefei WANG ; Xiaojing GE ; Peifeng WEI ; Jialin DUAN ; Miaomiao XI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(11):2121-2130
Objective To explore the therapeutic mechanism of maggot for psoriasis-like lesions in mice from the perspective of immune stress and complement activation regulation.Methods Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,maggot(1.25%,2.5%,and 5%)groups,and Benvitimod(1%)group.Psoriasis-like lesions were induced by application of imiquimod cream,and the severity of skin lesions was assessed using the modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index(MPASI)score.Auricular swelling of the mice was observed,and histopathological changes of the skin lesions were examined with HE staining.Scratching behavior of the mice was observed and the spleen index was calculated.Toluidine blue staining was used to detect mast cells in the skin lesions,and serum levels of IgG,IgM,the complements CH50,C1s,C3,C3a,C5 and C5a,and the inflammatory factors IL-23,IL-17A and TNF-α were determined with ELISA.Results In mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions,treatment with the maggot at the 3 doses significantly decreased MPASI score,alleviated auricular swelling and pathologies in the skin lesions,reduced scratching behaviors,spleen index,and the number of mast cells in the lesions.Treatment with high-dose maggot significantly lowered serum levels of IgG,C1s,C3a,C5a,IL-23,IL-17A and TNF-α and the levels of C1s,C3,C3a,C5 and C5a in the lesion tissue,and increased serum levels of CH50,C3,and C5.The therapeutic effect of maggot showed a dose-effect dependence.Conclusion Maggot can alleviate psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation.
6.Reflection on general and innovative education of palliative care in China
Xiaona QI ; Qiang YAO ; Qinming YU ; Miaomiao ZHAO ; Yan WANG ; Menglan ZHONG ; Lijuan YU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2024;37(3):332-338
With the process of China’s aging population intensifying, palliative care, as an important guarantee for improving the quality of life of terminally ill patients, is receiving more and more social attention, and the demand is constantly increasing. Palliative care needs versatile professionals, and general education can enhance people’s awareness and understanding of it, enabling more people to understand, accept, and participate in palliative care. With the advancement of knowledge and technology in palliative care, the traditional cramming education models are no longer able to meet the actual needs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to innovate palliative care education strategies. By analyzing the current problems in the general education of palliative care in China, this paper proposed thoughts and suggestions for general and innovative education of palliative care in several aspects, such as establishing general and innovative education systems and evaluation systems of palliative care, diversifying educational contents and methods, strengthening medical staffs training, promoting diversified student groups, and strengthening the popularization of palliative care knowledge among the public.
7.Erastin induces ferroptosis in lung fibroblasts through MAPK mediated oxidative stress signaling pathway
Yiran WANG ; Shijie ZHANG ; Yubo GUAN ; Miaomiao LI ; Ruyi CAI ; Qi WU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(5):820-825
Objective To investigate the mechanism by which Erastin affects ferroptosis in lung fibroblasts.Meth-ods Mouse lung fibroblasts (C57/B6-L) were treated with varying concentrations of the iron death inducer Eras-tin.Cell viability was assessed using the cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.Oxidative stress levels were visualized using a fluorescence microscope, and the expression of proteins related to the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was analyzed using Western blot.Additionally, the p38 and extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) inhibitors SB203580 and U0126 were employed to further elucidate the mechanism by which Erastin induces iron death in lung fibroblasts.Results At a concentration of 100 μmol/L, Erastin effectively in-duced ferroptosis in lung fibroblasts, leading to an upregulation of oxidative stress.Furthermore, the phosphoryla-tion levels of p38 and ERK proteins in the MAPK pathway were elevated (P<0.05) .The addition of SB203580 and U0126 inhibitors resulted in a significant reduction in oxidative stress levels and a notable increased in cell ac-tivity in lung fibroblasts (P<0.05).Conclusion It can be concluded that Erastin induces ferroptosis in lung fi-broblasts, potentially through the mediation of oxidative stress via the MAPK signaling pathway.
8.Maggot alleviates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation
Hong YAO ; Kedi LIU ; Chengzhao LIU ; Weihong LI ; Qi DAI ; Shi ZHAO ; Ziheng DING ; Hefei WANG ; Xiaojing GE ; Peifeng WEI ; Jialin DUAN ; Miaomiao XI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(11):2121-2130
Objective To explore the therapeutic mechanism of maggot for psoriasis-like lesions in mice from the perspective of immune stress and complement activation regulation.Methods Thirty-six male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,maggot(1.25%,2.5%,and 5%)groups,and Benvitimod(1%)group.Psoriasis-like lesions were induced by application of imiquimod cream,and the severity of skin lesions was assessed using the modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index(MPASI)score.Auricular swelling of the mice was observed,and histopathological changes of the skin lesions were examined with HE staining.Scratching behavior of the mice was observed and the spleen index was calculated.Toluidine blue staining was used to detect mast cells in the skin lesions,and serum levels of IgG,IgM,the complements CH50,C1s,C3,C3a,C5 and C5a,and the inflammatory factors IL-23,IL-17A and TNF-α were determined with ELISA.Results In mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin lesions,treatment with the maggot at the 3 doses significantly decreased MPASI score,alleviated auricular swelling and pathologies in the skin lesions,reduced scratching behaviors,spleen index,and the number of mast cells in the lesions.Treatment with high-dose maggot significantly lowered serum levels of IgG,C1s,C3a,C5a,IL-23,IL-17A and TNF-α and the levels of C1s,C3,C3a,C5 and C5a in the lesion tissue,and increased serum levels of CH50,C3,and C5.The therapeutic effect of maggot showed a dose-effect dependence.Conclusion Maggot can alleviate psoriasis-like skin lesions in mice by inhibiting immune stress and complement activation.
9.Clinical features of KCNB1 gene variation related developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
Qi ZENG ; Ying YANG ; Miaomiao CHENG ; Ting WANG ; Quanzhen TAN ; Changhao LIU ; Xiaoling YANG ; Jianxiang LIAO ; Yuehua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(11):1064-1070
Objective:To summarize the clinical features of epilepsy and (or) developmental delay associated with KCNB1 gene variants in children.Methods:A case series study was conducted on 24 children with KCNB1 gene variants associated with epilepsy and (or) developmental delay who were treated at the Children′s Medical Center of Peking University First Hospital and the Department of Neurology of Shenzhen Children′s Hospital from July 2015 to June 2024. The manifestations of seizures, electroencephalogram (EEG) and genetic test results of those children were analyzed.Results:All the KCNB1 gene variants were de novo, involving 20 different variation, including 15 missense variations, 3 frameshift variations and 2 nonsense variations. There were 7 novel variations. Among the 24 developmental and epileptic encephalopathy children, there were 14 boys and 10 girls. The last follow-up age ranged from 9 months to 13 years and 9 months. Seizures were present in 21 children (88%), with onset ranging from 1 month to 7 years, and 76% (16/21) began before 2 years of age. The seizure types included focal seizures in 15 children (71%), epileptic spasms, myoclonic seizures, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 6 children respectively, atypical absence seizures in 4 children, and myoclonic atonic seizures in 1 child. Seventeen children (81%) had a cluster of seizures and 5 had a history of focal status epilepticus with impaired consciousness. All 24 children had varying degrees of developmental delay, with 3 presenting solely developmental delay. EEG abnormalities were present in all the 21 children with seizures, including focal or multifocal discharges in 20 children, generalized discharges in 10 children, hypsarrhythmia in 2 children, and electrical status epilepticus during sleep in 3 children. Magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were found in 5 of the 24 children. Among the 21 children with seizures, 57% (12/21) achieved seizure control.Conclusions:KCNB1 gene variants are predominantly de novo missense variation. Most affected children present with epilepsy, though some may exhibit only developmental delay. Epilepsy often begins before 2 years of age, with focal seizures being the most common type. About 80% of patients experience clustered seizures. Although most patients achieve seizure control, they still exhibit varying degrees of developmental delay, consistent with developmental epileptic encephalopathy.
10.Lysosomal membrane protein Sidt2 knockout induces apoptosis of human hepatocytes in vitro independent of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway.
Jiating XU ; Mengya GENG ; Haijun LIU ; Wenjun PEI ; Jing GU ; Mengxiang QI ; Yao ZHANG ; Kun LÜ ; Yingying SONG ; Miaomiao LIU ; Xin HU ; Cui YU ; Chunling HE ; Lizhuo WANG ; Jialin GAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2023;43(4):637-643
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the regulatory mechanism of human hepatocyte apoptosis induced by lysosomal membrane protein Sidt2 knockout.
METHODS:
The Sidt2 knockout (Sidt2-/-) cell model was constructed in human hepatocyte HL7702 cells using Crispr-Cas9 technology.The protein levels of Sidt2 and key autophagy proteins LC3-II/I and P62 in the cell model were detected using Western blotting, and the formation of autophagosomes was observed with MDC staining.EdU incorporation assay and flow cytometry were performed to observe the effect of Sidt2 knockout on cell proliferation and apoptosis.The effect of chloroquine at the saturating concentration on autophagic flux, proliferation and apoptosis of Sidt2 knockout cells were observed.
RESULTS:
Sidt2-/- HL7702 cells were successfully constructed.Sidt2 knockout significantly inhibited the proliferation and increased apoptosis of the cells, causing also increased protein expressions of LC3-II/I and P62(P < 0.05) and increased number of autophagosomes.Autophagy of the cells reached a saturated state following treatment with 50 μmol/L chloroquine, and at this concentration, chloroquine significantly increased the expressions of LC3B and P62 in Sidt2-/- HL7702 cells.
CONCLUSION
Sidt2 gene knockout causes dysregulation of the autophagy pathway and induces apoptosis of HL7702 cells, and the latter effect is not mediated by inhibiting the autophagy-lysosomal pathway.
Humans
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Lysosome-Associated Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism*
;
Autophagy
;
Apoptosis
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Hepatocytes
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Lysosomes/metabolism*
;
Chloroquine/pharmacology*
;
Nucleotide Transport Proteins/metabolism*


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