1.Necrotizing sialometaplasia of the palate: a case report and literature review
BU Xiangwen ; YE Chuanjin ; CHU Zhijuan ; DUAN Ning ; WANG Xiang ; WANG Wenmei ; PENG Qiao
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(3):273-280
Objective:
To enhance the recognition of necrotizing sialometaplasia (NS) by elucidating its clinical, pathological characteristics and key diagnostic points, providing a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Methods:
This study has been reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, and informed consent has been obtained from patients. Review the data of a patient with NS occurring at the junction of the right soft and hard palate, and comprehensively analyze its diagnostic process based on its clinical manifestations, imaging, and histopathological examination results. And review the relevant literature on the disease.
Results:
This study describes a 24-year-old male patient with a documented betel nut habit (2 pieces/day for >6 months), who presented with a bone-deep, irregular crateriform ulcer (3 mm × 6 mm × 5 mm) localized to the right hard-soft palate junction. Spiral CT showed a local soft tissue defect with no apparent underlying bone destruction. Histopathology demonstrated chronic inflammation of the mucosal and minor salivary gland tissues, with no evidence of malignancy. A final diagnosis of NS was established. The ulcer healed completely three weeks after initiation of local anti-inflammatory therapy. A literature review indicates that NS is a rare, benign salivary gland disorder, typically occurring at the hard-soft palate junction in middle-aged men (40-60 years). Its etiology remains unclear, but it is widely attributed to salivary lobe infarction following mechanical trauma-induced ischemia. Due to its clinical resemblance to malignancy, it is often misdiagnosed. Treatment entails local anti-inflammatory measures and meticulous wound care aimed at promoting mucosal healing.
Conclusion
NS is a self-limiting, benign condition that poses a significant diagnostic challenge due to its close clinical simulation of malignancy. Thus, accurate diagnosis requires a combined assessment of clinical presentation, radiological features, and pathological findings. Treatment is predicated based on a conservative strategy with an emphasis on symptomatic management.
2.Correlation of daytime outdoor light exposure and moderate to vigorous physical activities with sleep quality among primary school students
WANG Ziyi, DUAN Zhihong, MAIHELIYAKEZI Tuersunniyazi, PENG Hui, ZHU Yanhong, SHI Huijing
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(3):351-354
Objective:
To analyze the independent and interaction effects of daytime outdoor light exposure and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) duration on sleep quality of primary school students, so as to provide scientific evidence for interventions on children s sleep health.
Methods:
From April to June 2024, a total of 444 students from grades 3 and 4 in 2 primary schools in Jiading District, Shanghai were selected using stratified random cluster sampling method for continuous 7 day monitoring. Wearable devices "Clouclip" were used to monitor daytime outdoor activity time (represented by time with light intensity ≥ 1 000 lx ), and accelerometers were used to monitor MVPA time and sleep quality related indicators. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the associations of daytime outdoor activity and MVPA with sleep quality.
Results:
Both daytime outdoor light exposure and MVPA duration(longer actual sleep duration per night,longer time in bed,fewer awakening and shorter post sleep awakening shic) were independently associated with multiple sleep indicators( β =0.52, 0.46, -0.83, -2.19, all P <0.05), with no significant interaction between the associations ( P >0.05). After controlling for MVPA, more daytime outdoor light exposure was significantly and independently associated with longer actual sleep time ( β =0.50, 95% CI =0.21-0.79, P <0.05). After controlling for light exposure, longer MVPA duration was independently associated with shorter post-sleep awakening duration ( β=-4.15, 95% CI = -6.33 to -1.96, P <0.05).
Conclusion
Increased daytime outdoor activity and MVPA are both associated with better sleep quality in primary school students.
3.Analysing differences in volatile organic compounds between purple-brown and yellow-brown Ziziphi Spinosae Semen based on HS-GC-IMS technology
DUAN Xiao ; KANG Bingtao ; ZHAO Fan ; YAN Yonggang ; ZHANG Gang ; PENG Liang
Drug Standards of China 2026;27(1):0028-0036
Objective: To systematically compare the types and contents of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in purplish-brown and yellow-brown Ziziphi Spinosae Semen, and to provide a scientific basis for their rapid identification and quality evaluation.
Methods: Headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) was employed to determine the VOCs in two colored samples. GC-IMS spectra and fingerprint profiles were established, and chemometric methods including principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to visualize the differences in volatile components.
Results: A total of 44 VOCs were identified, including 1 aldehyde, 9 esters, 10 ketones, 2 enals, 14 alcohols, 3 acids, 2 furans, 1 disulfide, and 2 hydrocarbons. Alcohols and esters were the main volatile components. The fingerprint profiles showed high consistency within groups but significant differences between groups. Both PCA and PLS-DA effectively distinguished the two sample types. Compounds such as pentanol, methyl butyrate, 2-ethylfuran, 2-hexanol, and 2-methylpropenal were identified as key markers for differentiation.
Conclusion: HS-GC-IMS combined with chemometrics accurately distinguishes the volatile compounds of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen with different colors. This method is rapid, sensitive, and suitable for quality control and rapid authentication of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen.
4.Role of SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Tumor Drug Resistance
Gui-Zhen ZHU ; Qiao YE ; Yuan LUO ; Jie PENG ; Lu WANG ; Zhao-Ting YANG ; Feng-Sen DUAN ; Bing-Qian GUO ; Zhu-Song MEI ; Guang-Yun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):20-31
Tumor drug resistance is an important problem in the failure of chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which is a complex process involving chromatin remodeling. SWI/SNF is one of the most studied ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in tumorigenesis, which plays an important role in the coordination of chromatin structural stability, gene expression, and post-translation modification. However, its mechanism in tumor drug resistance has not been systematically combed. SWI/SNF can be divided into 3 types according to its subunit composition: BAF, PBAF, and ncBAF. These 3 subtypes all contain two mutually exclusive ATPase catalytic subunits (SMARCA2 or SMARCA4), core subunits (SMARCC1 and SMARCD1), and regulatory subunits (ARID1A, PBRM1, and ACTB, etc.), which can control gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. The change of SWI/SNF complex subunits is one of the important factors of tumor drug resistance and progress. SMARCA4 and ARID1A are the most widely studied subunits in tumor drug resistance. Low expression of SMARCA4 can lead to the deletion of the transcription inhibitor of the BCL2L1 gene in mantle cell lymphoma, which will result in transcription up-regulation and significant resistance to the combination therapy of ibrutinib and venetoclax. Low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 can activate the FGFR1-pERK1/2 signaling pathway in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma cells, which induces the overexpression of anti-apoptosis gene BCL2 and results in carboplatin resistance. SMARCA4 deletion can up-regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating YAP1 gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. It can also reduce the expression of Ca2+ channel IP3R3 in ovarian and lung cancer, resulting in the transfer of Ca2+ needed to induce apoptosis from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria damage. Thus, these two tumors are resistant to cisplatin. It has been found that verteporfin can overcome the drug resistance induced by SMARCA4 deletion. However, this inhibitor has not been applied in clinical practice. Therefore, it is a promising research direction to develop SWI/SNF ATPase targeted drugs with high oral bioavailability to treat patients with tumor resistance induced by low expression or deletion of SMARCA4. ARID1A deletion can activate the expression of ANXA1 protein in HER2+ breast cancer cells or down-regulate the expression of progesterone receptor B protein in endometrial cancer cells. The drug resistance of these two tumor cells to trastuzumab or progesterone is induced by activating AKT pathway. ARID1A deletion in ovarian cancer can increase the expression of MRP2 protein and make it resistant to carboplatin and paclitaxel. ARID1A deletion also can up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB2, and RAF1 oncogene proteins.The ErbB and VEGF pathway are activated and EMT is increased. As a result, lung adenocarcinoma is resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Although great progress has been made in the research on the mechanism of SWI/SNF complex inducing tumor drug resistance, most of the research is still at the protein level. It is necessary to comprehensively and deeply explore the detailed mechanism of drug resistance from gene, transcription, protein, and metabolite levels by using multi-omics techniques, which can provide sufficient theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of poor tumor prognosis caused by mutation or abnormal expression of SWI/SNF subunits in clinical practice.
5.Exploring the mechanisms of Hexue Mingmu Tablets in improving diabetic retinopathy of zebrafish based on transcriptomics
Duo ZHAO ; Zilu ZHU ; Peng DUAN ; Jiaolong HUANG ; Meijuan ZHU ; Min ZHANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(7):1046-1055
AIM: To investigate the mechanism of Hexue Mingmu Tablets(HXMMT)in improving diabetic retinopathy(DR)based on transcriptomics.METHODS: Zebrafish DR models were established by 3-day glucose induction(130 mmol/L)starting at 3 days post-fertilization(dpf). Larvae were randomized into four groups: control group(CG; aquaculture water), model group(MG; 130 mmol/L glucose), low-dose HXMMT treatment group(L-HX; 130 mmol/L glucose +7.5 mg/L HXMMT), and high-dose HXMMT treatment group(H-HX; 130 mmol/L glucose +75 mg/L HXMMT), with a 3-day intervention period until 6 dpf. The area and length of eyes, and body length of zebrafish were observed by stereomicroscopy, retinal morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE), and retinal vessel diameter was observed under fluorescence microscope. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified by RNA-sequencing(RNA-seq)technology to further elucidate the molecular mechanism of HXMMT in improving DR in zebrafish, and the sequencing accuracy was validated through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).RESULTS: HE staining demonstrated that the intervention with HXMMT significantly improved the disordered cell arrangement, widened gaps, and thickened inner nuclear layer(INL)in ganglion cell layer GCL); retinal vascular diameter quantification revealed that the retinal vessel diameter of the MG significantly increased compared with the CG, and it was significantly changed after the intervention of HXMMT, with significant efficacy in the H-HX(P<0.05); transcriptomics profiling identified 1 470 reversed DEGs, predominantly enriched in the AMPK signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, retinal developmental processes, and tight junction regulation. Technical validation confirmed strong correlation between qRT-PCR and RNA-seq data(R2=0.8571, P<0.05).CONCLUSION: HXMMT may improve retinal vascular microcirculation disorders in DR by regulating core targets including vsx1, pde6c, arr3a, plk1, fbp1b, foxo1a, pcna, and cdk1, as well as synergistically modulating processes such as retinal development in camera-type eyes, visual perception, microtubule cytoskeletal organization, tight junctions, and the AMPK signaling pathway, Foxo signaling pathway.
6.Construction and immunogenicity of a recombinant adenovirus expressing a fusion protein of SARS-CoV-2 RBD and N protein
Peng ZHANG ; Tongyao MAO ; Surui JIANG ; Dandi LI ; Zhaojun DUAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(8):845-851
This study investigated the immunogenicity of type 5 replication deficient recombinant adenovirus comprising the fused receptor binding domain protein(RBD)and capsid protein(N)of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain.The overlap PCR method was used to obtain the RBDgs3N fragment.The plasmid pKAd5ES-RBDgs3N was obtained through homologous recombination,and re-combinant virus was amplifiedand harvested after transfection of HEK293 cells.Cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation was used to purify the recombinant adenovirus,and the viral titer was determined through limited dilution analysis.The fusion protein ex-pression was identified with the western blot(WB)method.Recombinant adenovirus was injected intramuscularly into BALB/c mice,and the specific immune responses of the mice were detected with indirect ELISA and enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot technology.The titer of the recombinant adenovirus pKAd5ES-RBDgs3N virus seed was 1.168×1010 IU/mL.The RBDgs3N fusion protein was suc-cessfully expressed in HEK293 cells.Single dose intramuscular immunization significantly induced production of IgG antibodies against wild type(WT)SARS-CoV-2 virus and variant(Delta and Omicron)RBDs in mice,with antibody titers of 103.677 8,103.878 5,and 104.454 9,respectively.The specific antibody titer against N protein was 104.942 2.The level of IFN-γ secretion for RBD specific cellu-lar immunity was 1 452 SFC/106 cells.The type 5 replication deficient recombinant adenovirus with RBD and N gene fusion constructed in this study elicited high levels of specific antibodies against RBD and N protein and RBD specific cellular immunity in BALB/c mice,thus providing a basis for further evaluation of the recombinant adenovirus as a potential SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
7.Mechanism of curcumin inhibiting ferroptosis and alleviating osteoarthritis through p53 signaling pathway
Jianhua HU ; Huanhuan ZHENG ; Wenwei GUO ; Cuilin KUANG ; Aifeng PENG ; Haiying DUAN
Journal of China Medical University 2025;54(9):832-837
Objective To investigate whether curcumin(CUR)can reduce chondrocyte inflammation and cartilage degradation in osteo-arthritis(OA)and the underlying mechanisms.Methods A rat model of OA was established.Rats were randomly divided into a Sham,OA,CUR+OA,and deferoxamine(DFO)+OA groups with 10 mice in each group.Chondrocytes from 5-day-old SD rats were divided into the control,interleukin-1β(IL-1β),CUR+IL-1β,and DFO+IL-1β groups.A CCK-8 assay was performed to assess the effects of CUR on cell viability alone or combined with IL-1β.Toluidine blue staining and alcian blue staining were used to observe the morphological changes of IL-1β-induced chondrocytes.The expression of inflammatory response-related proteins(COX-2 and iNOS),extracellular matrix degradation-related proteins(COL2A and MMP13),and p53,SLC7A11,and GPX4 proteins during ferroptosis were detected by Western blotting.The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 staining.Mitochondrial morphology was observed using transmission electron microscopy.Safranine O-fast green/HE staining was performed on cartilage tissues.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect COL2A and SLC7A11 expression levels.Results CUR and DFO were found to reduce IL-1β-induced inflammation,cartilage degradation,and ferroptosis,and restore mitochondrial function in chondrocytes.CUR also reversed IL-1β-induced changes in collagen Ⅱ,p53,SLC7A11,GPX4,MMP13,iNOS,and COX-2 levels.In vivo,intra-articular injection of CUR significantly improved cartilage injury in the OA rat model,and the percentages of COL2A-and SLC7A11-positive cells significantly increased in the CUR+OA and DFO+OA groups.Conclusion CUR inhibits ferroptosis and ameliorates cartilage degeneration in OA through p53 signaling pathway.
8.Research progress of transmissible gastroenteritis vaccine
Mei LIU ; Longlong WANG ; Mingqing SHAO ; Shengmei PANG ; Kaiyang ZHANG ; Peng DAI ; Guowei DING ; Qiangde DUAN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1535-1542
Transmissible gastroenteritis(TGE)is a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease of pigs caused by the transmissible gastroenteritis virus(TGEV).It results in severe diarrhea and high mortality in suckling piglets.As no specific treatment available,vaccination is considered to be one of the most cost-effective measures for preventing and controlling TGE.However,the immune protection provided by vaccines based on traditional TGEV strains is becoming inadequate due to the continuous emergence of strong and new strains of the virus,which poses a serious threat to the pig industry's health and development.Therefore,the development of new vaccines with im-proved efficiency and broad-spectrum coverage is urgently needed.This paper aims to summarize the pathogenic structural characteristics of TGEV,discuss the latest advancements in TGEV vac-cine research and development,and propose future strategies for the development of highly effec-tive TGEV vaccines.The findings of this paper can serve as a valuable reference for effectively pre-venting and controlling TGE in clinical practice.
9.Tetrahydrocurcumin protects against thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection in mice by activating the SIRT3 signaling pathway
Xiangyan PENG ; Bin ZHANG ; Xinan QIAO ; He SUN ; Liqing JIANG ; Hanzhao ZHU ; Zhenxiao JIN ; Jincheng LIU ; Weixun DUAN
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(3):311-323
Objective To investigate the protective effects and potential mechanisms of tetrahydrocurcumin(THC)on thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection(TAAD)in mice.Methods TAAD was induced in 3-week-old C57BL/6J mice by oral administration of β-aminopropionitrile(BAPN)(diluted in drinking water,1 g/(kg·d)).Eighty mice were divided randomly into Con,BAPN,BAPN+THC,and BAPN+THC+3-TYP(SIRT3 inhibitor)groups(n=20 mice per group).The survival rate of mice in each group was recorded after 4 weeks.The maximum diameter of the aorta was measured and the histomorphology and aortic wall elastin integrity were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin and elastin van Gieson staining.Macrophage infiltration was detected by immunohistochemical staining and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and osteopontin(OPN)expression were detected by immunofluorescence staining.The production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured by dihydroethidium staining and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels were determined using kits.Protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)2,MMP9,interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2),NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2),α-SMA,OPN,sirtuin 3(SIRT3),Ac-SOD2,and SOD2 were measured by Western Blot.Results Mice in the BAPN+THC group showed significantly higher survival and a lower incidence of TAAD compared with the BAPN group and the degree of aortic dilatation and morphology and structure were improved(P<0.05).Infiltration of CD68-positive macrophages and MMP2,MMP9,IL-6,and TNF-α expression levels were lower(P<0.05),ROS generation,MDA content,and NOX2 expression in aortic tissue were also significantly decreased,while SOD activity and NRF2 expression were increased(P<0.05).α-SMA expression was also increased,while OPN expression was reduced(P<0.05).SIRT3 expression was increased while the Ac-SOD2/SOD2 ratio was decreased(P<0.01).Treatment with the SIRT3-specific inhibitor and silencing of SIRT3 counteracted the ability of THC to resist TAAD via the SIRT3 signaling pathway(all P<0.05).Conclusions THC alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress in aortic tissues by activating the SIRT3 signaling pathway,thus inhibiting the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells and resisting the formation of TAAD in mice.
10.Development trajectory of sleep quality and its influencing factors in patients with insomnia after CBT-I treatment
Shuchuan ZHENG ; Yanyu HU ; Peng LAI ; Xueyi DUAN
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(7):618-624
Objective:To analyze the development trajectory of sleep quality in patients with insomnia after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I), and to explore the influencing factors of different development trajectories.Methods:A total of 418 patients with insomnia who received CBT-I at the Sleep Medicine Center of Xiamen Xianyue Hospital from February 2019 to June 2023 were recruited using convenience sampling. All patients completed the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) at five time points: before CBT-I initiation (T1), at the end of treatment (T2), and at 3 months (T3), 6 months (T4), and 12 months (T5) post-treatment. At T1, all patients were evaluated by the insomnia severity index (ISI), Flinders fatigue scale (FFS), Beck depression inventory-Ⅱ (BDI-Ⅱ), Beck anxiety inventory (BAI), and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep scale (DBAS). Latent class growth modeling (LCGM) was constructed and employed to analyze the development trajectories of sleep quality post-CBT-I using Mplus 8.0 software. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis were conducted by SPSS 26.0 software to explore influencing factors of the sleep quality trajectories.Results:The PSQI scores of insomnia patients at T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 were 15(12, 18), 8(6, 11), 5(3, 7), 5(3, 7) and 5(2, 7), respectively. Three distinct development trajectories were identified. Based on these trajectories, 418 patients were categorized into fluctuating development group ( n=44, 10.53%), slow improvement group ( n=193, 46.17%), and sustained improvement group ( n=181, 43.30%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that depressive symptom severity, anxiety symptom severity, family history of insomnia, and use of hypnotic medications were significant influencing factors for the sleep quality trajectories after CBT-I treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The sleep quality of insomnia patients after CBT-I treatment shows different development trajectories, and its influencing factors are depression, anxiety, family history of insomnia and the use of hypnotic medications.


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