1.Effects of Electroacupuncture with "Tonifying the Kidney and Dispelling Stasis" Acupoint Prescription on Sexual Function and Penile Vascular Endothelial Function in Diabetic Erectile Dysfunction Model Rats
Mingxi YAN ; Mengze LI ; Pingyu GE ; Chunxia LU ; Caihong XIAO ; Jin CUI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(12):1265-1272
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of electroacupuncture with "tonifying the kidney and dispelling stasis" acupoint prescription on sexual function in diabetic erectile dysfunction (DMED)model rats, and to explore its possible mechanism of action. MethodsSPF male SD rats were randomly divided into 10 each in blank group, model group, Tadalafil group, and electroacupuncture group. DMED rat model was prepared by high glucose and high fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. After successful modelling, rats in the electroacupuncture group were given electroacupuncture intervention of "tonifying the kidney and dispelling stasis" acupoint prescription once every other day; Tadalafil group was given Tadalafil solution 0.5 mg/kg·d by gavage, and the blank group, model group and electroacupuncture group were given 10 ml/kg pure water by gavage once a day. Each group was intervened for 30 days. The body mass and blood glucose level of the rats were detected on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd days and at the end of the intervention, respectively. At the end of the intervention, the penile erection of the rats was observed by using the apomorphine test; the level of plasma endothelial cell microparticles (EMPs)was detected by flow cytometry; the histopathological morphology of the penile cavernous body was observed by HE staining, and the pathological morphology of the endothelial cells of the penile vasculature was observed by electron microscopy. Serum sex hormones including testosterone (T), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH) and vascular endothelial function-related factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured by ELISA method. ResultsCompared with blank group, the model group, Tadalafil group, and electroacupuncture group all had lower body mass and higher blood glucose levels at each time of testing (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the number of penile erections reduced in the model group, the level of CD31+ EMPs increased, the levels of serum T, FSH, LH, and VEGF reduced, and the levels of serum ET-1, LOX-1, sE-selectin, and sICAM-1 increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Tadalafil group and the electroacupuncture group showed an increased number of penile erections decreased level of CD31+ EMPs, increased levels of serum T, FSH, LH, and VEGF, and decreased levels of serum ET-1, LOX-1, sE-selectin, and sICAM-1 (P<0.01). Compared with the Tadalafil group, serum T, FSH, LH, VEGF levels increased and ET-1, LOX-1 levels decreased in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining and electron microscopic observation revealed that there was severe pathological damage to the cavernous tissue of the penis and vascular endothelial cells of the rat in the model group, which was ameliorated to a certain degree in both Tadalafil group and electroacupuncture group. ConclusionThe electroacupuncture prescription of "tonifying the kidney and dispelling stasis" can improve the erectile dysfunction of DMED rats, which is comparable to the effect of Tadalafi. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of vascular endothelial function.
2.Metallic nanomedicine in cancer immunotherapy.
Shixuan LI ; Xiaohu WANG ; Huiyun HAN ; Shuting XIANG ; Mingxi LI ; Guangyu LONG ; Yanming XIA ; Qiang ZHANG ; Suxin LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4614-4643
Immunotherapy has become a pivotal modality in clinical cancer treatment. However, its effectiveness is limited to a small subset of patients due to the low antigenicity, impaired innate response, and various adaptive immune resistance mechanisms of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Accumulating evidence reveals the critical roles of metal elements in shaping immunity against tumor progression and metastasis. The marriage of metalloimmunotherapy and nanotechnology further presents new opportunities to optimize the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of metal ions in a precise spatiotemporal control manner. Several metallodrugs have demonstrated encouraging immunotherapeutic potential in preliminary studies and are currently undergoing clinical trials at different stages, yet challenges persist in scaling up production and addressing long-term biosafety concerns. This review delineates how metal materials modulate biological activities across diverse cell types to orchestrate antitumor immunity. Moreover, it summarizes recent progress in smart drug delivery-release systems integrating metal elements, either as cargo or vehicles, to enhance antitumor immune responses. Finally, the review introduces current clinical applications of nanomedicines in metalloimmunotherapy and discusses potential challenges that impede its widespread translation into clinical practice.
3.Salidroside Attenuates High Phosphate-induced Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Via Inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB Pathway
Fang LIU ; Mingxi LI ; Jianyun YAN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(6):883-890
[Objective]To investigate the effect of salidroside on calcification of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and explore its underlying mechanism.[Methods]VSMCs were cultured in high-phosphate media to induce vascular calcification and treated with different concentrations of salidroside. Cell calcification was tested by alizarin red staining and calcium content assay. qRT-PCR and western blotting were used to determine the expression levels of osteogenic proteins including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2),toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4),nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65),phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (p-NF-κB p65),inflammatory factors including Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6). We transfected VSMCs with TLR4 small interfering RNA (si-TLR4) and examined whether TLR4 mediated the inhibitory effect of salidroside on calcification of VSMCs.[Results]Alizarin red staining and calcium content assay revealed that different concentrations of salidroside ameliorated high phosphate-induced calcification of human VSMCs (P<0.05). Salidroside at concentrations of 250 and 500 μmol/L decreased the expression levels of RUNX2,BMP2,TLR4,p-NF-κB p65,IL-1β and IL-6 (all P<0.05),but did not affect NF-κB p65 expression (P>0.05). The examination of VSMCs transfected with si-TLR4 showed that salidroside enhanced the inhibitory effect of TLR4 knockdown on calcification of VSMCs (P<0.05).[Conclusions]Salidroside attenuates high phosphate-induced calcification of VSMCs via inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB pathway.
4.A retrospective study of 96 cases of adrenal metastases
Dan CAI ; Xiaojiao LI ; Lu TAN ; Mingxi ZOU ; Jia SHEN ; Ying CHEN ; Hong GUO ; Yan REN ; Haoming TIAN ; Tao CHEN
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2024;63(9):855-860
Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, etiological composition, imaging features, and prognosis of adrenal metastases.Methods:This study is a retrospective case series that included 96 patients with pathologically confirmed adrenal metastases who were treated at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, from 2007 to 2017. Clinical features such as sex, age, tumor size, biochemical tests, imaging characteristics, postoperative pathology, treatment methods, and prognosis were collected and analyzed. The prognosis of patients and its influencing factors were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve and single-factor Cox risk proportional model.Results:Among the 96 included patients, 64 were male and 32 were female, with a median age of 60 years. There were 89 cases of unilateral adrenal metastases, five cases of bilateral metastases, and two cases with unspecified laterality. The median diameter of the metastases was 3.5 cm×2.9 cm, with an average CT value of 31 HU. Thirty-four cases of adrenal hormones were evaluated, and no abnormality was found.The primary tumor sites were as follows: lung ( n=36), kidney ( n=19), liver ( n=12), pancreas ( n=7), rectum ( n=3), stomach ( n=2), and one case each of tumor in the esophagus, skin, thyroid, left maxillary muscle, breast, bladder, cervix, chest wall, and gastrointestinal tract. There were three cases with unknown primary tumors. The most common pathological type was lung adenocarcinoma (20.8%, 20/96), followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (9.4%, 9/96) and high-grade invasive urothelial carcinoma of the kidney (8.3%, 8/96). Thirty-nine cases were diagnosed concurrently with the primary tumor, while 37 cases were diagnosed after the primary tumor, with a median interval of 15 months (range: 2-144 months). There was no significant correlation between the death risk of adrenal metastatic tumor patients and gender, age, and the size of the metastatic tumor (all P>0.05). There were 4 patients with radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone, 19 patients with surgery alone, and 6 patients with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The median overall survival was 1, 3, and 7 years, respectively. Conclusions:Adrenal metastases were mostly diagnosed at the same time as the primary tumor or within 15 months after the diagnosis of the primary tumor. Unilateral metastasis is common. The lungs are the most common primary lesion, followed by the kidney and liver. CT is the preferred method for the diagnosis of adrenal metastases, and the plain CT value is more than 30 HU. The overall prognosis of adrenal metastases is poor. The prognosis was better for patients who underwent surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy than those who received only surgery or radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone.
5.Interpretation of Nursing Standards for Clinical Operation Techniques in Critical Care Ultrasound
Mingxi ZHAO ; Jianhua SUN ; Hongbo LUO ; Zunzhu LI ; Xin LI ; Jie JING ; Qing ZHANG ; Xinjuan WU ; Xiaoting WANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(5):584-588
This paper interprets the background, content overview and characteristics, clinical practice significance and disciplinary development of Nursing Standards for Clinical Operation Techniques in Critical Care Ultrasound (hereinafter referred to as the Standards) and puts forward reflections on the clinical application of the Standards, aiming to improve the critical care ultrasound techniques of clinical nursing staff, solve nursing challenges and make clinical nursing ultrasound techniques more scientific, standardized and homogenized.
6.Construction of a practical training course system for critical ultrasound nursing
Jianhua SUN ; Mingxi ZHAO ; Hongbo LUO ; Zunzhu LI ; Jie JING ; Xin LI ; Jinbang LIU ; Xiaoting WANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(23):3117-3122
Objective:To comprehensively search and summarize the evidence on critical ultrasound nursing practice training courses, with the aim of providing a basis for critical ultrasound nursing practice training.Methods:Taking the evidence-based clinical translation model of Fudan University Centre for Evidence-based Nursing as the theoretical framework, the evidence was retrieved, evaluated, and summarized to determine the evidence to be introduced into clinical practice, forming a training program for critical ultrasound nursing practice. From July to August 2023, 25 experts from 10 provinces/municipalities across the country were selected for two rounds of consultation to determine the practical training course system for critical ultrasound nursing.Results:A total of 14 articles were included, including one clinical decision, nine expert consensus, and four systematic reviews. In the two rounds of consultation, the positive coefficients of experts were 90.0% (27/30) and 92.6% (25/27), the authority coefficients of experts were 0.956 and 0.964, and the coefficients of Kendall's harmony were 0.303 and 0.350 ( P<0.01), respectively. The final practical training course system for critical ultrasound nursing included five first-level indicators, 25 second-level indicators, and 67 third-level indicators. Conclusions:Ultrasound examination is a complex skill. The construction method of the practical training course system for critical ultrasound nursing is scientific, reasonable, with strong practicality in content, which can provide reference for the development and evaluation of critical ultrasound nursing training courses.
7.Epidemiological characteristics of influenza in Yuhang District
WANG Lifei ; SUN Mingxi ; LU Yanqing ; LI Sen ; SHOU Jun ; MENG Xiangjie
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(7):626-629
Objective:
To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of influenza in Yuhang District, Hangzhou City from 2019 to 2023, so as to provide the reference for formulating influenza prevention and control measures.
Methods:
Influenza case data with current address in Yuhang District was collected through the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System from 2019 to 2023. Influenza-like illness data was collected through the Hangzhou Epidemiological Investigation System. Time distribution, population distribution and pathogen detection of influenza-like illness were descriptively analyzed.
Results:
There were 118 319 influenza cases reported in Yuhang District from 2019 to 2023, with an average annual reported incidence rate of 2 316.80/105. The highest incidence rate was seen in 2023, with a reported incidence rate of 5 736.82/105. The peak incidence of influenza occurred from November to March of the following year, presenting the winter and spring epidemic. The cases were mainly distributed in the age groups of 7 to 14 years and 25 to 59 years, with 31 310 and 34 470 cases, accounting for 26.46% and 29.13%, respectively. Influenza cases were reported in all 12 towns (streets) in Yuhang District, with the top two being Wuchang Street and Liangzhu Street, with the average annual incidence rates of 17 346.08/105 and 14 945.80/105, respectively. From 2019 to 2023, there were 103 868 cases of influenza-like illness, and 1 482 throat swab samples were collected. Among them, 260 positive samples of influenza virus were detected, with a positive rate of 17.54%. The peak detection period for positive specimens was from November to March of the following year, with 222 influenza virus positive specimens detected. The influenza virus types included H1N1, H3N2, and Victoria B, accounting for 25.77%, 38.85% and 35.38%, respectively.
Conclusions
The peak of influenza outbreak in Yuhang District from 2019 to 2023 was in winter and spring, with children and adolescents being the main affected objectives. H1N1, H3N2 and Victoria B were alternately prevalent. Prevention and control measures such as influenza vaccination should be strengthened.
8.Enhanced MR features of central chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism and the clinical application value
Zejun YANG ; Mingxi LIU ; Juanni GONG ; Wenhuan LI ; Zhanhong MA ; Yuanhua YANG ; Ran MIAO ; Xiaojuan GUO
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2023;57(3):266-273
Objective:To explore the relationship between the imaging features of enhanced MRI in patients with central chronic pulmonary artery thromboembolism (CPTE) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR).Methods:Thirty-nine patients with CPTE who had contrast-enhanced MRI examination were retrospectively enrolled this study from January 2018 to December 2020. And 33 patients who received right heart catheterization were divided into two groups based on PVR=1 000 dyn·s·cm -5. The differences of imaging features of CPTE in enhanced MRI between the two groups were compared. The relationship between gender, duration of disease, age, pleural thickening, bilateral bronchial artery dilation, number of the involved vascular segments, number of thrombosis, number of the thrombus-related delayed enhancement of artery wall and PVR was analyzed by binary logistic regression. Results:In 39 patients with central CPTE, the dilated lumen (168, 43.30%) and delayed enhancement of wall (122, 31.52%) were found in most of pulmonary arteries. The rate of the lumen dilatation associated with thrombus was the highest among that of the lumen abnormality (66, 52.80%). There were more thrombi in PVR<1 000 dyn·s·cm -5 group than those in PVR≥1 000 dyn·s·cm -5 group (χ 2=9.55, P=0.002). There was no significant difference in the incidence of wall delayed enhancement associated the thrombus between the two groups (χ 2=0.90, P=0.344). The incidence of bilateral bronchial arterial dilatation in PVR<1 000 dyn·s·cm -5 group was higher than that in PVR≥1 000 dyn·s·cm -5 group ( P=0.019). Logistic regression analysis showed that female, the less number of involved vascular segments and bilateral bronchial artery dilation were correlated with the lower PVR. Conclusions:Enhanced MRI is helpful to accurately evaluate the lumen abnormality of pulmonary artery and wall remodeling in central CPTE, which is of great value for the assessment of patients′ conditions and treatment effect.
9.Impaired myocardial structure and function assessment by cardiac MR in Takayasu arteritis with pulmonary artery involvement
Mingxi LIU ; Wenhuan LI ; Xiaojuan GUO ; Min LIU ; Juanni GONG ; Zhanhong MA ; Yuanhua YANG ; Tao JIANG ; Qi YANG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2023;57(6):653-660
Objective:To analyze the late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) manifestations, cardiac function, and myocardial strain by feature tracking (FT) in Takayasu arteritis (TA) with pulmonary artery involvement (PTA) using cardiac MR (CMR), and then to investigate manifestations of the impaired myocardial structure and function.Methods:A retrospective study was performed on 32 patients with PTA and 21 healthy subjects without cardiopulmonary diseases from January 2017 to December 2020. All of them underwent CMR examinations. According to the presence of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH),PTA patients were divided into two groups including PAH group (11 cases) and non-PAH group (21 cases). LGE manifestations were observed and Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis between the two groups. Cardiac function parameters and FT values including global peak strain of the left and right ventricle were calculated separately in PAH, non-PAH group of patients and healthy controls, using One-way ANOVA or non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test for statistical analysis including a pairwise comparison between groups. The correlations between FT values of the PAH group and parameters measured by right heart catheterization test (RHC) and transthoracic echocardiography were analyzed using Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis.Results:There were 23 PTA patients (71.9%) with LGE. LGE in the interventricular insertion points (IPs)(11/11), and in the mid-wall (11/11) or epicardial (10/11) myocardium was more common ( P values were 0.006,<0.001 and 0.011, respectively) in PAH group, compared with LGE in the IPs (11/21), and in the mid-wall (7/21) or epicardial (9/21) myocardium in non-PAH group. The absolute values of left ventricular global peak circumferential strain (LVGPCS), left ventricular global peak longitudinal strain (LVGPLS) and right ventricular global peak longitudinal strain in PAH group were smaller than those in healthy subjects ( P<0.05). The absolute values of LVGPCS and LVGPLS in non-PAH group were smaller than those in healthy subjects ( P<0.05). In PAH group, mean pulmonary artery pressure of RHC was correlated with several FT parameters ( P<0.05), especially left ventricular global peak radial strain ( r=-0.807, P=0.009) and LVGPCS ( r s=0.817, P=0.007). Conclusions:Myocardial injury can be seen in PTA patients. And LGE in the IPs and LGE in the mid-wall or epicardial myocardium is more common in PTA patients with PAH. LVGPCS and LVGPLS can early indicate left heart dysfunction in PTA patients without PAH.
10.Nursing standards of clinical practice of critical care ultrasonography
Jianhua SUN ; Qing ZHANG ; Xin LI ; Tingting ZHANG ; Meishan LU ; Lan CAO ; Qianrong DING ; Weiqing ZHANG ; Na GUO ; Xiaohui LIN ; Mingxi ZHAO ; Wei HE ; Yangong CHAO ; Yufen MA ; Xiaoting WANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2023;29(16):2101-2112
Objective:To formulate the Nursing standards of clinical practice of critical care ultrasonography (referred to as the Standards), so as to provide recommendations for the application of ultrasound in intensive care nursing practice. Methods:Based on the experience of intensive care ultrasound nursing practice and literature research, combined with the consensus recommendations of intensive care ultrasound, the critical care ultrasound study group formed the first draft of the Standards. After expert interview, consensus discussion, two rounds of Delphi expert letter consultation and other methods, the content of the Standards was revised and improved, and the final draft of the Standards was formed. Results:The Standards included four parts, such as basic application of intensive care ultrasound, nursing evaluation standard of intensive care ultrasound guidance, nursing operation process guided by ultrasound and intensive care ultrasound training. Conclusions:The establishment of Standards is scientific and practical, which can provide guidance for nursing practice of clinical operation technology of critical care ultrasonography.


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