1.Effects of androgens on cognitive function in castration male mice
Yaqi ZHANG ; Cancan HUI ; Fang REN ; Min XU ; Zilong JIANG ; Datong DENG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):455-461
ObjectiveTo establish a castrated male mouse model and to preliminarily investigate the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on behavior, serum indices, and histopathological changes in castrated mice, as well as to explore the role of androgens in cognitive function. MethodsForty 6-month-old male C57/BL6J mice were randomly divided into sham operation group, castration group, testosterone propionate (0.5,1.0 mg/kg) treated group, with 10 mice in each group. Following castration and subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate at different doses (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) for TRT, learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) test and the passive avoidance test. Serum testosterone and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured by ELISA, and histopathological changes in the hippocampus were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. ResultsRoutine observations: there were no statistically significant differences in body weight among groups at any time point. MWM test: compared with castration group, sham operation group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) showed significantly reduced escape latency on days 4 and 5 (P0.05), while the number of platform crossings and the time spent in the target quadrant significantly increased (P0.05). Passive avoidance test: the number of passive avoidance errors significantly decreased in sham operation group and testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg)-treated group (P0.05), and the passive avoidance latency was significantly prolonged in sham-operated group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) (P0.05). Serum testosterone and serum BDNF assays: serum testosterone levels and serum BDNF concentrations significantly increased in sham operation group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) (P0.01). HE staining: compared with sham operation group, neuronal density in all hippocampal subregions was slightly reduced in castration group; in the testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg)-treated group, neuronal arrangement in the CA1 and CA3 regions was improved and apoptotic cells were reduced compared with castration group; in testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg)-treated group, the pyramidal cell layer in the CA3 region was more compactly arranged, with fewer apoptotic cells than in castration group. ConclusionTRT improves learning and memory performance in castration male mice, potentially through modulation of hippocampal BDNF signaling pathways.
2.Differences in deltamethrin resistance and kdr gene mutation in Culex tritaeniorhynchus population in and outside the Yellow Sea wetland
Xiao-er ZHANG ; Zhi-ming WU ; Ye TIAN ; Qian CUI ; Yu-qian JI ; Huan WANG ; Shu-juan YANG ; Yi-chao ZHAO ; Yu WANG ; Hua-yu YIN ; Yu DING ; Guo-jin YAN ; Min-sen ZHAO ; Shou-gang ZHANG ; Bing-dong SONG ; Hong-na CHEN ; Jian GAO ; Wei-fang YANG ; Yu-fu ZHANG ; Hui LIU ; Hong-liang CHU
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):101-107
Objective To gain insights into the biological characteristics of different populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus within and around the Yellow Sea wetland from the perspective of the occurrence of resistance, we investigated the levels of resistance to deltamethrin and kdr gene mutation in the wetland and its peripheral areas. Methods Specimens were collected from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations at two monitoring sites in the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area, and also from two populations in Yancheng City and the Liuhe District of Nanjing, and the resistance of these mosquitoes to deltamethrin was determined using the CDC biotest bottle method. For each concentration of deltamethrin assessed, a random subset of exposed specimens was selected for amplification of the kdr gene fragment, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify and analyze resistance-associated mutations. Results The LC50 levels of deltamethrin among mosquitoes from the four populations in Luhe, Yancheng, the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and the Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area were 2.048 5, 7.798 2, 3.473 3, and 17.695 5 mg/mL, respectively, with corresponding concentrations of deltamethrin ranging from 0.005 to 5.000,0.050 to 50.000,0.050 to 25.000 and 0.050 to 50.000 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ranges of the KT50 values were 11.76-107.43, 67.05-216.30,29.77-107.43 and 28.40-329.51 min; the 1-h knockdown rates were 34.58%-99.15%, 9.52%-43.80%, 55.09%-73.01%, and 10.09%-68.07%; and the 24-h mortality rates were 12.15%-67.52%,9.52%-79.56%,13.17%-82.21%, and 11.01%-78.99%, respectively. With respect to kdr gene mutation, we assayed a total of 63,70,59, and 57 mosquitoes for the four populations, for which we detected L1014F mutation frequencies of 14.29%, 35.00%, 20.34%, and 31.58%, respectively, with a majority of these mutations being heterozygous for resistance. In addition, five adult mosquitoes were identified has having synonymous mutations at site 1011[i. e. , AAT(asparagine)mutation to AAC(asparagine)]. Conclusions Our findings revealed the clear resistance of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus to deltamethrin in the Yancheng region of the Yellow Sea wetland, and the resistance phenotype and kdr frequency of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment were comparable to those of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment, thereby indicating that the resistance of different populations of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was homogeneous under the pressure of different insecticide selection within and around the wetland. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be further studied.
3.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 152 HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases
Xiaqing WANG ; Yi HU ; Min HUANG ; Fan YU ; Naisu CAO ; Mengjie ZHANG ; Siqi WU ; Muping FANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(13):1954-1958
OBJECTIVE To explore the epidemiological characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/ac-quired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)complicated with anorectal diseases and analyze the clinical character-istics of the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess.METHODS Totally 152 HIV/AIDS patients who were complicated with anorectal diseases and were treated in The Eighth Hospital of Wuhan from Jan.2020 to Dec.2023 were recruited as the research subjects,36 of whom had perianal abscess.The manifestations of anorec-tal diseases,treatment status and incidence rates of the diseases among the patients with different clinical charac-teristics in the different years were statistically analyzed.The clinical characteristics of the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess were observed.RESULTS Of the 152 HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal disea-ses,51.97%had mixed hemorrhoid,and 23.68%had perianal abscess.The number of patients with HIV/AIDS complicated with anorectal diseases gradually increased from 2020 to 2023;while the incidence rate of male,aged between 30 and 40 years old,married individuals,those with primary school education or below and famers were relatively high.Among the HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases,139 underwent surgical pro-cedures,and 23 did not.Among the 36 HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess,97.22%were male,50.00%were aged between 20 and 30 years old,and 44.44%were married.CONCLUSIONS The number of HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases is gradually increased from 2020 to 2023;the incidence rates are rela-tively high among the patients who are male,aged between 30 and 40 years old,married,with primary school edu-cation or below and famers.Perianal abscess and mixed hemorrhoid are the major types of anorectal diseases.Sur-gical procedures are recommended for HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases,while the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess are dominated by the population of male,aged between 20 and 30 years old and married.It is necessary to attach great importance to the detection of pathological characteristics of the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess so as to take appropriate treatment measures to improve the therapeutic effect.
4.Genetic evolution characteristics and their influence on disease transmission in sandflies in various environments in China
Lei CUI ; Ya-qi HE ; Zheng-bin ZHOU ; Yuan FANG ; Zhong-qiu LI ; Yuan-yuan LI ; Li-min YANG ; Yi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(5):501-507
This study analyzed the genetic evolutionary characteristics of sandflies and their effects on the spread of kala-azar in various environments in endemic provinces in China,to provide a scientific basis for kala-azar disease prevention and control.Sand-flies were collected in kala-azar endemic areas such as southern Xinjiang,the large hilly areas of southern Gansu,the northern Sich-uan and Taihang Mountains,and surrounding small hills.The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b gene fragments of mito-chondrial DNA were amplified to identify sandfly species.The COI and Cytb gene sequences of sandflies from southern Xinjiang and Si-chuan recorded in NCBI were also collected.The intraspecific and interspecific genetic differences of sandflies were calculated in MEGA11.0,and a phylogenetic tree was constructed through the neighbor-joining method,for analysis of the genetic and evolutionary characteristics of sandfly populations and their effects on disease transmission.A total of 155 sandflies were collected from nine sam-pling sites in seven provinces of China;the species included Phlebotomus chinensis,Phlebotomus wui,and Sergentomyia squamirostris.Five sandfly species belonging to two genera were collected:P.chinensis,P.wui,and Phlebotomus alexandri in the genus Phleboto-mus,and S.squamirostris in the genus Sergentomyia.Genetic evolution analysis based on COI and Cytb gene sequences indicated intra-specific genetic distances of 0-0.062 and 0-0.056,respectively,and interspecific genetic distances of 0.126-0.176 and 0.110-0.171,respectively.The phylogenetic tree indicated that P.wui,P.alexandri,Phlebotomus longiductus,and S.squamirostris clus-tered into one branch.The sequences of P.chinensis in the large and small hilly areas clustered into two geographical clades.In the small hilly areas,the sequences of P.chinensis aggregates showed small genetic differences,the pathogen infection was consistent,and the cases showed an epidemic spread trend.Large genetic differences at the molecular level were observed among sandflies in dif-ferent ecological regions,thus indicating key effects on leishmaniasis transmission.On the basis of these findings,prevention and con-trol strategies should be adapted to local conditions,and precise and effective prevention and control measures should be formulated according to the genetic evolution characteristics of sandflies in different regions,to better control the transmission of Kala-azar.
5.Mechanism of quercetin regulating CTRP6 mediated myocardial cell pyroptosis on myocardial injury in rats with acute myocardial infarction
Yue GUO ; Fang LIU ; He-min ZHOU ; Peng ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(2):297-305
Aim To explore the effect of C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 6(CTRP6)on cardio-myocyte pyroptosis in rats with acute myocardial infarc-tion(AMI)inhibited by quercetin(Que)and the un-derlying mechanism.Methods A rat model of AMI was established by ligation of the left anterior descend-ing coronary artery.Firstly,the rats were divided into the sham operation group(Sham),AMI group,low-dose quercetin group(Que-L,25 mg·kg-1),high-dose quercetin group(Que-H,100 mg·kg-1),fosino-pril sodium tablet group(fosinopril,4 mg·kg-1),with 10 rats in each group.Each group was orally ad-ministered with the corresponding drug dose or physio-logical saline once a day for 14 consecutive days.Doppler ultrasonography was used to detect the changes of cardiac function,the pathological changes of rat myo-cardial tissue were observed,and Western blot was used to detect the myocardial tissue pyroptosis-related proteins and CTRP6 expression.The optimal dosage of Que was determined through the screening of the above experimental indicators.Subsequently,the experiment was divided into the Sham,AMI,Que(100 mg·kg-1),Que+si-NC group,Que+si-CTRP6,with 10 rats in each group.After 14 days of intervention,myo-cardial infarction,myocardial injury indicators,pyropto-sis,CTRP6,and PI3K/Akt pathway protein expression were detected.Results Compared with the Sham group,the LVEDV and LVESV significantly increased,the EF and FS significantly decreased(P<0.05),the myocardial tissue had obvious pathological damage,the degree of fibrosis increased,the myocardial infarction area,LDH,CK-MB,cTnI levels,TUNEL positive cell ratio increased,NLRP3,cleaved caspase-1,GSDMD-N,IL-1 β,IL-18 expression increased,and CTRP6 expres-sion,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-Akt/Akt ratio decreased in the AMI group(P<0.05).Compared with the AMI group,Que-L and Que-H rats showed reduced cardiac function indicators and pathological damage to myocar-dial tissue,decreased myocardial infarction area,LDH,CK-MB,cTnI levels,decreased TUNEL positivity rate(P<0.05),decreased expression of pyroptosis related proteins,and increased expression of CTRP6 and PI3K/Akt pathway proteins(P<0.05),all of which were dose-dependent.Compared with the Que group,the changes in the above indicators in the Que+si-CTRP6 group rats were significantly reversed.Conclu-sions Que can inhibit cardiomyocyte pyroptosis and improve myocardial infarction in AMI rats,and its mechanism is related to up-regulating CTRP6 expres-sion and promoting the activation of PI3 K/Akt signa-ling pathway.
6.Development of the Motivation for Bedtime Procrastination Questionnaire for College Students
Yifan ZHANG ; Meijiao HUANG ; Min LI ; Xuan WANG ; Zhijun YU ; Haihui CHEN ; Runtong JIA ; Fang FAN
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2025;39(5):471-476
Objective:To develop the Motivation for Bedtime Procrastination Questionnaire for College Students(CS-MBPQ)and evaluate its validity and reliability.Methods:Based on literature analysis,interviews with severe bedtime procrastinators,and open-ended surveys with college students,the initial questionnaire was formed.A total of 389 college students were recruited to conduct item analysis and exploratory factor analysis.Additionally,691 college students were selected for confirmatory factor analysis,criterion validity testing,and internal consistency reliability analysis,and 132 of them were retested two weeks later.The subscale of behav-ioral intention from the Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire(TPBQ),Bedtime Procrastination Scale(BPS),and a self-made question for the frequency of bedtime procrastination were used as criterion tools.Results:The CS-MBPQ consists of 10 items,encompassing three factors:emotional need,external influence,and behavioral attitude,explaining 63.31%of the variance.Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the three-factor structure model of CS-MBPQ fitted well(x2/df=4.90,RMSEA=0.07,CFI=0.96,TLI=0.94).The CS-MBPQ total scores and scores for each factor were positively associated with the score of intentions to sleep on time,BPS scores,and bed-time procrastination frequency(ICC=0.14-0.53,Ps<0.05).The internal consistency reliabilities for CS-MBPQ and the three factors were 0.87,0.89,0.74,and 0.66,respectively,and the test-retest reliabilities(ICC)were 0.74,0.66,0.69,and 0.58,respectively.Conclusion:The Motivation for Bedtime Procrastination Questionnaire for College Students(CS-MBPQ)demonstrates good validity and reliability,which could be used as a tool to evaluate motivations for bedtime procrastination among Chinese college students.
7.Effects of key molecules in m6A methylation modification on the replication and proliferation of Japanese encephalitis virus
Zhi-rong CHENG ; Min YAO ; Xue-yun LI ; Chao-jie CHAI ; Pin-xiang DANG ; Si-yu WANG ; Fang-lin ZHANG ; Xin LYU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(2):150-157
This study was aimed at investigating the effects of demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)and methyltransferase methyltransferase like protein 3(METTL3),key molecules in N6-methyladenosine(m6A)modification,on the replication and proliferation of Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV).Recombinant lentiviruses were generated by packaging the FTO and green fluorescent protein into lentiviral vectors.Neuro2a cells,a mouse neuroblastoma cell line,were infected with the lentivirus,and stable FTO-expressing cell lines were obtained through puromycin selection.Successful overexpression of FTO was confirmed through fluorescence microscopy,real-time quantitative PCR,and western blot analysis.When Neuro2a cells overexpressing FTO were infected with JEV,the overexpression of FTO decreased JEV replication in the cells,and increased the expression of interferon(IFN)and related molecules.Additionally,treatment of JEV-infected Neuro2a cells with the METTL3-specific inhibitor STM2457 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in JEV replication and viral protein expression.These findings suggested that lowering m6A methylation levels inhibits JEV replication,thus shedding light on the regulatory role of methylation modification in JEV replication.
8.Long-chain acylcoenzyme A synthase 4 regulates effects of fatty acid synthase on malignant biological behavior of esophageal cancer cells and resistance of gefitinib
Qian-hua ZHOU ; Lei JIANG ; Zhang-gui WANG ; Chao RUI ; Yi-min SHI ; Yan-xin FANG ; Qiu-shui JIN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(6):1108-1115
Aim To investigate the effect of ACSL4 on the malignant biological behavior of esophageal cancer cells and gefitinib resistance by regulating FASN,and to explore the related mechanism.Methods Thirty-five fresh esophageal cancer tissues and adjacent nor-mal tissues,and 30 esophageal cancer tissues with ge-fitinib resistance were collected.The expressions of ACSL4 and FASN were detected by qRT-PCR and im-munohistochemistry.The expression levels of ACSL4 and FASN in human normal esophageal cells HET-1 A,esophageal cancer cell lines ECA109,EC9706,TE-1 and TE-1/GR were detected by qRT-PCR.Cells in each group were constructed by liposome transfection technique,and the drug resistance and proliferation a-bility of cells were detected by cloning and CCK-8 as-say,cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry,cell invasion ability was detected by Transwell,and EMT pathway protein expression was detected by Western blot.Results Compared with adjacent normal tis-sues,the expression of ACSL4 and FASN genes in cancer tissues increased,and there was a positive corre-lation.The expression of ACSL4 significantly increased in ECA109,EC9706 and TE-1 cells compared with HET-1 A cells.With the increase of gefitinib concen-tration,the expression of ACSL4 in TE-1 cells gradually increased,and the expression of ACSL4 in TE-1/GR cells was higher than that of TE-1.Compared with the control group and the si-NC group,the cell proliferation and invasion ability of si-ACSL4 group decreased,the number of apoptosis increased,the expression of E-Cadherin increased,and the expression of N-Cadherin,Vimentin and β-catenin decreased.The response ex-periment showed that compared with the si-ACSL4 group and the si-ACSL4+oe-NC group,the cells in the si-ACSL4+oe-FASN group increased drug resistance,increased proliferation and invasion ability,decreased apoptosis number and decreased expression of E-Cad-herin.The expressions of N-Cadherin,Vimentin and β-catenin increased.Conclusions By down-regulating the expression of FASN,ACSL4 reverses the resistance of esophageal cancer TE-1/GR cells to gefitinib and in-hibits the proliferation,invasion and accelerates apopto-sis of TE-1/GR cells,which may be related to the regu-lation of EMT signaling pathway.
9.Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 152 HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases
Xiaqing WANG ; Yi HU ; Min HUANG ; Fan YU ; Naisu CAO ; Mengjie ZHANG ; Siqi WU ; Muping FANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(13):1954-1958
OBJECTIVE To explore the epidemiological characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/ac-quired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)complicated with anorectal diseases and analyze the clinical character-istics of the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess.METHODS Totally 152 HIV/AIDS patients who were complicated with anorectal diseases and were treated in The Eighth Hospital of Wuhan from Jan.2020 to Dec.2023 were recruited as the research subjects,36 of whom had perianal abscess.The manifestations of anorec-tal diseases,treatment status and incidence rates of the diseases among the patients with different clinical charac-teristics in the different years were statistically analyzed.The clinical characteristics of the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess were observed.RESULTS Of the 152 HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal disea-ses,51.97%had mixed hemorrhoid,and 23.68%had perianal abscess.The number of patients with HIV/AIDS complicated with anorectal diseases gradually increased from 2020 to 2023;while the incidence rate of male,aged between 30 and 40 years old,married individuals,those with primary school education or below and famers were relatively high.Among the HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases,139 underwent surgical pro-cedures,and 23 did not.Among the 36 HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess,97.22%were male,50.00%were aged between 20 and 30 years old,and 44.44%were married.CONCLUSIONS The number of HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases is gradually increased from 2020 to 2023;the incidence rates are rela-tively high among the patients who are male,aged between 30 and 40 years old,married,with primary school edu-cation or below and famers.Perianal abscess and mixed hemorrhoid are the major types of anorectal diseases.Sur-gical procedures are recommended for HIV/AIDS patients complicated with anorectal diseases,while the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess are dominated by the population of male,aged between 20 and 30 years old and married.It is necessary to attach great importance to the detection of pathological characteristics of the HIV-positive patients with perianal abscess so as to take appropriate treatment measures to improve the therapeutic effect.
10.Serotyping and drug resistance analysis of Salmonella from waterfowl in the Guangdong Region,2013-2023
Wan-jia LI ; Yin-sheng LIN ; Min-fang LIU ; Wen-chang XUE ; Wan-jun ZHU ; Ji-dang CHEN ; Ji-pei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):297-303
This study was aimed at understanding the prevalence and drug resistance status of Salmonella of waterfowl ori-gin in the Guangdong region in the past decade,to guide prevention and control efforts.The drug-sensitive paper slide method was used to conduct drug susceptibility testing on 314 waterfowl-originating Salmonella strains isolated from 238 waterfowl farms in the Guangdong region from 2013 to 2023.The isolated Salmonella strains were most resistant to penicillin,amoxicil-lin,cefradine,and cefazolin in the β-lactam group;sulphadoxine dimethylpyrimidine in the sulphonamide group;and tetracy-cline in the tetracycline group.The resistance rates ranged from 73.57%to 89.49%.The highest sensitivity was observed to amikacin,gentamicin,and kanamycin in the aminoglycoside group,and norfloxacin in the quinolone group,with susceptibility rates all exceeding 50%.The 280 strains of Salmonella showed multi-drug resistance to six classes of antimicrobial drugs and high resistance(as much as 60.83%)to five drug classes.Correlation analysis revealed the highest correlations for florfenicol with gentamicin,and for amoxicillin with penicillin(r=0.650 for both),followed by gentamicin with kanamycin(r=0.620).Salmonella resistance in waterfowl in Guangdong Province was generally severe and showed a complex pattern of drug resist-ance.Detection of waterfowl pathogens should be strengthened to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria and support ra-tional use of antibiotics.This work provides a reference for Salmonella prevention and control in waterfowl farms.


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