1.Evaluation of the performance of the artificial intelligence - enabled snail identification system for recognition of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni and Tricula
Jihua ZHOU ; Shaowen BAI ; Liang SHI ; Jianfeng ZHANG ; Chunhong DU ; Jing SONG ; Zongya ZHANG ; Jiaqi YAN ; Andong WU ; Yi DONG ; Kun YANG
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(1):55-60
Objective To evaluate the performance of the artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled snail identification system for recognition of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni and Tricula in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province. Methods Fifty O. hupensis robertsoni and 50 Tricula samples were collected from Yongbei Township, Yongsheng County, Lijiang City, a schistosomiasis-endemic area in Yunnan Province in May 2024. A total of 100 snail sample images were captured with smartphones, including front-view images of 25 O. hupensis robertsoni and 25 Tricula samples (upward shell opening) and back-view images of 25 O. hupensis robertsoni and 25 Tricula samples (downward shell opening). Snail samples were identified as O. hupensis robertsoni or Tricula by schistosomiasis control experts with a deputy senior professional title and above according to image quality and morphological characteristics. A standard dataset for snail image classification was created, and served as a gold standard for recognition of snail samples. A total of 100 snail sample images were recognized with the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system based on a WeChat mini program in smartphones. Schistosomiasis control professionals were randomly sampled from stations of schistosomisis prevention and control and centers for disease control and prevention in 18 schistosomiasis-endemic counties (districts, cities) of Yunnan Province, for artificial identification of 100 snail sample images. All professionals are assigned to two groups according the median years of snail survey experiences, and the effect of years of snail survey experiences on O. hupensis robertsoni sample image recognition was evaluated. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, Youden’s index and the area under the curve (AUC) of the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification were calculated for recognition of snail sample images. The snail sample image recognition results of AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification were compared with the gold standard, and the internal consistency of artificial identification results was evaluated with the Cronbach’s coefficient alpha. Results A total of 54 schistosomiasis control professionals were sampled for artificial identification of snail sample image recognition, with a response rate of 100% (54/54), and the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, Youden’s index, and AUC of artificial identification were 90%, 86%, 94%, 0.80 and 0.90 for recognition of snail sample images, respectively. The overall Cronbach’s coefficient alpha of artificial identification was 0.768 for recognition of snail sample images, and the Cronbach’s coefficient alpha was 0.916 for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni snail sample images and 0.925 for recognition of Tricula snail sample images. The overall accuracy of artificial identification was 90% for recognition of snail sample images, and there was no significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni (86%) and Tricula snail sample images (94%) (χ2 = 1.778, P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images with upward (88%) and downward shell openings (92%) (χ2 = 0.444, P > 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images between schistosomiasis control professionals with snail survey experiences of 6 years and less (75%) and more than 6 years (90%) (χ2 = 7.792, P < 0.05). The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and AUC of the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system were 88%, 100%, 76% and 0.88 for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni snail sample images, and there was no significant difference in the accuracy of recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni snail sample images between the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification (χ2 = 0.204, P > 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images with upward (90%) and downward shell openings (86%) (χ2 = 0.379, P > 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the accuracy of artificial identification for recognition of snail sample images between schistosomiasis control professionals with snail survey experiences of 6 years and less and more than 6 years (χ2 = 5.604, Padjusted < 0.025). Conclusions The accuracy of recognition of snail sample images is comparable between the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system and artificial identification by schistosomiasis control professionals, and the AI-enabled intelligent snail identification system is feasible for recognition of O. hupensis robertsoni and Tricula in Yunnan Province.
2.Determination of 17 types of phthalates in drinking water by solid-phase extraction coupled with multiple reaction monitoring of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
SHI Mengxing ; YANG Yan ; DU Limin
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(1):102-108
Objective:
To determine 17 types of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in drinking water using solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.
Methods:
One litre of commercially available bottled water was purified using an HLB solid-phase extraction column, and was eluted with ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and average methanol. Seventeen types of PAEs were detected using a triple quadrupole gas chromatography-mass spectrometer in MRM mode. By optimizing the temperature programming and adjusting the mass spectrometry collision energy, collection efficiency was improved and matrix interference was reduced. The precision and accuracy of this method were assessed by determining the standard curves, detection limits, quantification limits, relative standard deviations (RSD) and average spiked recovery rates for the 17 types of PAEs.
Results:
The 17 types of PAEs showed good linear relationships between mass concentration and chromatographic peak areas in the range of 0.02 to 1.0 mg/L, with correlation coefficients all greater than 0.999 1. The detection limits ranged from 0.002 9 to 0.009 7 mg/kg, the quantification limits ranged from 0.008 7 to 0.029 1 mg/kg, the RSD ranged from 0.8% to 3.0%, and the average spiked recovery rates ranged from 88.8% to 111.8%.
Conclusion
Solid-phase extraction coupled with MRM of GC-MS can better determine low concentrations of PAEs in drinking water.
3.Efficacy and safety of different daily doses of aspirin in prevention of preeclampsia:a meta-analysis
Xiaoxia SHI ; Yan BAI ; Liting RONG ; Yuanjie DU ; Lijuan YUAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(21):2733-2737
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety of different daily doses of aspirin in the prevention of preeclampsia (PE). METHODS The case-control studies and prospective randomized controlled trials on aspirin with daily dose ≥ 100 mg (trial group) vs. <100 mg (control group) in the prevention of PE were retrieved from PubMed, Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, China Biomedical Literatue Database and Wanfang Data from base-building to January 2025. After literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. RESULTS A total of 11 literatures were included, involving 3 052 pregnant women. Meta-analysis showed the incidence of PE [RR=0.63, 95%CI (0.53,0.76), P<0.000 01], gestational hypertension [RR=0.69, 95%CI (0.50,0.94),P=0.02], preterm birth [RR=0.56, 95%CI (0.47,0.66), P<0.000 01], and intrauterine growth retardation [RR=0.73,95%CI (0.61,0.87),P=0.000 5] in trial groups were significantly lower than control group. The incidence of postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups had no statistically significant difference [RR=1.17, 95%CI (0.90,1.53),P=0.25]. Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of PE in Chinese pregnant women taking 150 mg of aspirin was significantly higher than taking 100 mg of aspirin [RR=3.40, 95%CI (1.29, 8.93), P=0.01]; but there was no significant difference between the two groups in the incidences of postpartum hemorrhage, preterm birth (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Aspirin with daily dose ≥100 mg is more effective in preventing PE than daily dose <100 mg, with lower rates of gestational hypertension, preterm birth, and intrauterine growth retardation. It does not increase the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. For pregnant women in China, daily dose 100 mg of aspirin may be more effective in preventing PE than 150 mg.
4.NDRG2 Activates Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress via IRE1α-XBP1 to Reverse Tamoxifen Resistance in ER+Breast Cancer
Shou-Ying WANG ; Yan-Yan DU ; Peng CAO ; Wen-Yu LIU ; Jun-Yu QI ; Wei-Ye SHI ; Chun-Xiao ZHANG ; Xiao-Lei ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(10):1409-1416
Tamoxifen(TAM)has been widely used for the treatment of ER+breast cancer.However,the inevitable emergence of resistance to tamoxifen obstructs the successful treatment of this cancer.The tumor suppressor gene N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2(NDRG2)plays a significant role in the de-velopment of ER+breast cancer.However,it is unclear whether NDRG2 participates in mediating TAM resistance in ER+breast cancer.Here,we investigate the expression of NDRG2 mRNA and protein in TAM-sensitive and TAM-resistant ER+breast cancer cells.The results of immunoblotting experiments re-vealed a negative correlation between NDRG2 expression and TAM resistance ability in ER+breast cancer cells(P<0.001).CCK-8 cell viability assays and soft agar colony formation assays showed that NDRG2 overexpression in TAM resistant cells significantly reduced the TAM IC50 value and the soft agar colony formation rate(P<0.001).For the mechanism,the ERAD reporter protein assays showed that NDRG2 overexpression upregulated the expression of the ERAD reporter protein CD3ε-YFP and increased the lev-els of spliced XBP1s mRNA,leading to severe endoplasmic reticulum stress in TAM resistant cells(P<0.001).Immunoblot analysis confirmed that overexpression of NDRG2 significantly increased the level of phosphorylation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor IRE 1α and the expression levels of its down-stream protein factors,including ERdj4,P58IPK,EDEM and PDIA5(P<0.001).The in vivo xenograft tumor experiments in mice further verified that NDRG2 overexpression significantly inhibited the growth of resistant tumors,which enhanced the therapeutic effect of TAM(P<0.001).These findings indicate that increasing NDRG2 expression and triggering severe endoplasmic reticulum stress upon TAM treatment can reverse the resistance of ER+breast cancer cells to TAM and inhibits the growth of ER+breast canc-er tumors.Our results provide valuable new insights and potential targets for improving the clinical man-agement of TAM-resistance and prognosis in ER+breast cancer.
5.The Effects of RNF213 on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia THP-1 Cells
Xiao-Qi SHI ; Ping-Ping ZHANG ; Ya-Ning GUAN ; Zuo-Chen DU ; Yan CHEN ; Pei HUANG ; Zhi-Xu HE
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1365-1371
Objective:To discover the relationship between the RNF213 gene and acute myeloid leukemia(AML),and explore the effect of RNF213 on the proliferation and apoptosis of THP-1 cells.Methods:Analyze the expression of RNF213 gene in AML and its relationship with prognosis through the GEPIA database.Collecting 30 AML patients and non-tumor hematological patients who went to the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University from January 2017 to January 2022.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of RNF213 mRNA and protein.Perform survival of patients was analysed by Kaplan-Meier.Meanwhile,the expression levels of RNF213 mRNA and protein were detected in AML cell lines(THP-1,OCI-AML2).CRISPR-Cas9 was used to knockdown the RNF213 gene in THP-1 cells;flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis rate of cell.CCK-8 and colony formation assay were used to detect cell proliferation.Western blot was used to detect the expression level of Cleaved-Caspase 3 protein.Results:Compared with the control group,the expression level of RNF213 in AML patients was significantly increased,and patients with high expression of RNF213 have a worse prgnosis.Higher expression level of RNF213 protein in THP-1 cells.After knocking down the RNF213 gene of THP-1 cells,cell proliferation was significantly reduced,and the apoptosis rate and expression of apoptosis related protein Cleared-Caspase3 were significantly increased.Conclusion:AML patients have high expression of RNF213,and the prognosis of high expression patients is poor.The RNF213 gene affects AML cell proliferation and apoptosis,and may be a prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for AML.
6.The regulatory role of the hypothalamus in the thermogenesis of brown and beige adipose tissue
Hongli DU ; Huan YAN ; Bingyin SHI ; Yanan WANG
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2024;40(8):719-726
There are three types of adipose tissue: white adipose tissue that stores energy, brown adipose tissue that expends energy, and beige adipose tissue which results from the browning of white adipose tissue. Research has established that adipose tissue is vital for energy metabolism. However, the complex regulatory mechanisms limit the development of effective therapeutic strategies for obesity and related metabolic diseases. This review explores the characteristics and functions of adipose tissue types, emphasizing the role of central hypothalamic nuclei in regulating peripheral adipose tissue function Additionally, it provides a summary and comparison of current research on leveraging brown and beige adipose tissue thermogenesis as a treatment for metabolic diseases, offering insights for the advancement of targeted therapies for obesity and related disorders.
7.ADAMDEC1 regulates growth and migration of pancreatic carcinoma cells through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Xiaoyong HUANG ; Xinyue FAN ; Xiangrong XU ; Xiaoyin LIN ; Yusi LIU ; Hai-Yan SHI ; Juan DU ; Hongmei JING
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(8):1369-1377
AIM:To investigate the effect of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase(ADAM)domain-like decy-sin 1(ADAMDEC1)knockdown on the proliferation,migration and invasion of pancreatic carcinoma cells.METHODS:Expression levels of ADAMDEC1 in pancreatic carcinoma tissues were analyzed using the GEPIA and UALCAN online da-tabases.Western blot analysis was employed to detect the protein expression levels of ADAMDEC1 in pancreatic carcino-ma cell lines(MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1)and pancreatic ductal cell line(hTERT-HPNE).The effects of ADAMDEC1 knockdown on cell proliferation,migration and invasion were evaluated using CCK-8,colony formation,wound-healing and Transwell assays.Additionally,Western blot analysis was used to detect the effects of ADAMDEC1 knockdown on the expression levels of migration and invasion markers,as well as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins in pancre-atic carcinoma cells.Furthermore,a recovery experiment was conducted to assess the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling path-way agonist CHIR-99021 in ADAMDEC1 knockdown-induced inhibition of pancreatic carcinoma cell growth and migra-tion.RESULTS:(1)ADAMDEC1 was highly expressed in pancreatic carcinoma cells.(2)Knockdown of ADAMDEC1 led to a significant reduction in the proliferation,migration and invasion of pancreatic carcinoma cells.(3)Knockdown of ADAMDEC1 resulted in increased E-cadherin protein expression and decreased levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9,N-cadherin and vimentin proteins,alongside a reduction in the expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related pro-teins.(4)Co-treatment of pancreatic carcinoma cells with CHIR-99021 and ADAMDEC1 small interfering RNA reversed the inhibitory effects of ADAMDEC1 knockdown on cell proliferation,migration,and invasion.CONCLUSION:ADAMDEC1 is highly expressed in pancreatic carcinoma.Targeted silencing of ADAMDEC1 has the potential to inhibit the prolifera-tion,migration and invasion of pancreatic carcinoma cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
8.Fibrinolytic effect of curdione in dissolving deep vein thrombosis in rats
Hanbing SHI ; Teng ZHANG ; Shan DU ; Yuxuan GUAN ; Yan HUANG ; Quan XIA
China Pharmacist 2024;28(11):424-430
Objective To investigate whether curdione inhibits the formation of deep vein thrombosis(DVT)in rats through thrombolytic effects.Methods Twenty-five rats were randomly divided into five groups,the normal control group,the sham operation group,the model group,the low dose group of curdione(60 mg/kg)and the high dose group of curdione(120 mg/kg),with five rats in each group.Using the inferior vena cava ligation model,blood was taken from the pulmonary aorta in a sodium citrate anticoagulant tube one week after drug administration.The coagulation and fibrinolytic indexes Fibrin Degradation Products,(FDP),D-dimer(D-D),plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI)-1 and plasminogen(PLG)were detected in each group;the thrombus weight/weight-length ratio was detected;and the formation of venous thrombus in the lower limbs of rats was detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining nuclear factor;NF-κB protein expression in inferior vena cava tissues was dectected by Western Blot assay.Results There was no significant difference in plasma FDP levels among groups of rats(P>0.05);compared with the model group,the plasma FDP and D-D levels of rats in each dosing group were increased,the plasma PAI-1 and PLG levels were elevated,and the fibrinolytic effect was better in the group with high dose of curdione administration than in the group with low dose of curdione administration(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the thrombus weight/weight-length ratio,the thrombus mass and NF-κB protein expression in the curdione dosing group were decreased.Conclusion Curdione can inhibit the formation of DVT in rats by influencing the fibrinolytic regulators.
9.Study on mechanism of berberine inhibiting tumor stem cells proliferation and its in vivo safety evaluation
Jinjin XIE ; Yan CHEN ; Xin DU ; Yuke LI ; Mengnan ZHAO ; Sanjun SHI
China Pharmacy 2024;35(12):1443-1450
OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro inhibitory mechanism of berberine on the proliferation of tumor stem cells and evaluate its in vivo safety. METHODS Flow cytometry was used to select tumor stem cells from mouse skin melanoma B16F10 cells; CD44, CD133, Nanog homologous box protein (NANOG) and octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4) were used as indicators to characterize tumor stem cells. Tumor stem cells were divided into control group, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) group, and berberine group, and the CCK-8 method was used to detect the effects of berberine on the viability of tumor stem cells; flow cytometry was adopted to detect cell apoptotic rate, the proportion of CD44+/CD133+ and the positive cell rate of sex determining region Y box protein 2 (SOX2); the morphological changes of tumor balls were recorded after treatment with berberine; the morphology of cell pyroptosis in each group was recorded, and the release rate of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected; Western blot assay was adopted to detect the expressions of pyroptosis-related protein gasdermin E (GSDME), GSDME- N, caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3. Preliminary evaluation of in vivo safety of berberine was conducted by using zebrafish embryo toxicity experiments. RESULTS Compared with B16F10 cells, the proportion of CD44+/CD133+ cells in tumor stem cells and the fluorescence intensity of NANOG and OCT4 were significantly increased (P<0.000 1). The half-inhibitory concentration of berberine to tumor stem cells was 50.98 μmol/L. Compared with the control group, the apoptotic rate of cells in the berberine group was significantly increased, while the proportion of CD44+/CD133+ cells and the rate of SOX2 positive cells were reduced significantly (P<0.000 1); tumor stem cell spheroids were atrophied, with partial cell death. After treatment with berberine, tumor stem cells exhibited swelling in their outermost layer, the release rate of LDH of cells was significantly increased and the release rate of LDH increased with increasing dose; the protein expressions of GSDME-N and cleaved-caspase-3 of cells in berberine 20, 40 μmol/L groups were significantly increased, and the protein expressions of GSDME and caspase-3 were significantly reduced (except for berberine 20 μmol/L group, P<0.05). The embryonic development of zebrafish treated with berberine was almost unaffected, and the survival rate of embryo reached 100%, with no obvious abnormalities observed. CONCLUSIONS Berberine has good activity against the proliferation of tumor stem cells, and its mechanism of action may be related to activating GSDME and promoting cell pyroptosis; berberine has good in vivo safety.
10.Research status of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in mTOR pathway targeting autophagy for prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy
Shi-Rui YANG ; Ting-Ting ZHOU ; Chao-Chao MA ; Peng-Fei YANG ; Fan-Qi NIU ; Xue-Yang DU ; Feng-Zhe YAN ; Si-Nong WANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(11):1675-1678
Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is one of the most important complications of diabetes.In recent years,domestic and foreign studies have found that mammalian target protein of rapamycin(mTOR)related signaling pathway is a classic pathway involved in the regulation of autophagy,which can achieve the therapeutic effect of DKD by targeting the autophagy pathway,and plays a crucial role in the prevention and treatment of DKD.In this paper,we reviewed the mechanism of mTOR-related signaling pathway targeted autophagy in the prevention and treatment of DKD,in order to provide a new reference and basis for clinical prevention and treatment of DKD.


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