1.The epidemiological characteristics and spatial aggregation of typhus in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2023
Lu-qian ZHANG ; Shao-qi NING ; Yun-peng NIAN ; Shu WANG ; Xin-xin LI
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(1):19-24
Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and changing trend of typhus in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2023 to provide a scientific basis for its prevention and control. Methods Excel 2007, SPSS 25.0, Joinpoint 4.9.1.0, and Geoda 1.6 were used for data collection and statistical analysis. Super Map was used for data visualization to describe the changing characteristics of the disease. Results A total of 394 typhus cases were reported in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2023. The average annual incidence of typhus was 0.054/100 000, showing a dynamic fluctuation trend(AAPC=-3.3, t=-0.3, P>0.05). The cases were mainly concentrated in Baoji, Hanzhong and Xi′an, accounting for 78.68%. The incidence peak was from May to October, accounting for 64.21% of annual incidence. The epidemic season was from May to October and December. The incidence of the disease was concentrated in the 40-69 age group, accounting for 58.88%, and the sex was 1.07:1. The main occupation was farmers, accounting for 72.08%. The median time from onset to diagnosis was 7 days. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that there were significant spatial autocorrelations in 11 years from 2005 to 2023(P<0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis detected a total of 43“high-high”clustering areas, mainly concentrated in Baoji City. Conclusions The overall incidence of typhus in Shaanxi Province showed a dynamic fluctuation trend, with notable seasonal and regional aggregation. The incidence of typhus was higher in middle-aged and elderly people in rural areas. Surveillance should be strengthened in typhus endemic areas in summer and autumn, and health education should be conducted for key population to form good health habits and reduce the incidence of typhus.
2.Timing selection for the treatment of vitreous hemorrhage after panretinal photocoagulation in proliferative diabetic retinopathy
Hongru MA ; Xinyi HOU ; Chenglin FU ; Chunhua DAI ; Jing ZHANG ; Meng XIN ; Shu LIU
International Eye Science 2026;26(9):1578-1584
Panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)is the first-line treatment for severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).Its therapeutic efficacy varies due to multiple patient-specific systemic and ocular factors. Despite standardized PRP, some patients fail to show adequate regression of neovascularization and subsequently develop vitreous hemorrhage(VH). In such cases, pars plana vitrectomy(PPV)effectively clears the hemorrhage, restores transparency of the ocular media, supplement PRP, and delays the progression of PDR, thus becoming a critical intervention. With recent advances in surgical techniques, concepts, and equipment, early PPV intervention for VH following PRP has emerged as a growing research focus. Nevertheless, consensus remains lacking regarding its indications, optimal timing, and surgical protocols. This article systematically reviews relevant domestic and international studies, summarizing the surgical timing, approaches, and prognoses of PPV for VH in PDR patients after PRP, aiming to provide evidence-based reference for clinical decision-making and reduce the risk of PDR-related blindness.
3.The effect of rutaecarpine on improving fatty liver and osteoporosis in MAFLD mice
Yu-hao ZHANG ; Yi-ning LI ; Xin-hai JIANG ; Wei-zhi WANG ; Shun-wang LI ; Ren SHENG ; Li-juan LEI ; Yu-yan ZHANG ; Jing-rui WANG ; Xin-wei WEI ; Yan-ni XU ; Yan LIN ; Lin TANG ; Shu-yi SI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):141-149
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and osteoporosis (OP) are two very common metabolic diseases. A growing body of experimental evidence supports a pathophysiological link between MAFLD and OP. MAFLD is often associated with the development of OP. Rutaecarpine (RUT) is one of the main active components of Chinese medicine Euodiae Fructus. Our previous studies have demonstrated that RUT has lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic effects, and can improve the OP of rats. However, whether RUT can improve both fatty liver and OP symptoms of MAFLD mice at the same time remains to be investigated. In this study, we used C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 months to construct a MAFLD model, and gave the mice a low dose (5 mg·kg-1) and a high dose (15 mg·kg-1) of RUT by gavage for 4 weeks. The effects of RUT on liver steatosis and bone metabolism were then evaluated at the end of the experiment [this experiment was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (approval number: IMB-20190124D303)]. The results showed that RUT treatment significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and lipid accumulation, and significantly reduced bone loss and promoted bone formation. In summary, this study shows that RUT has an effect of improving fatty liver and OP in MAFLD mice.
4.Structure and Function of GPR126/ADGRG6
Ting-Ting WU ; Si-Qi JIA ; Shu-Zhu CAO ; De-Xin ZHU ; Guo-Chao TANG ; Zhi-Hua SUN ; Xing-Mei DENG ; Hui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):299-309
GPR126, also known as ADGRG6, is one of the most deeply studied aGPCRs. Initially, GPR126 was thought to be a receptor associated with muscle development and was primarily expressed in the muscular and skeletal systems. With the deepening of research, it was found that GPR126 is expressed in multiple mammalian tissues and organs, and is involved in many biological processes such as embryonic development, nervous system development, and extracellular matrix interactions. Compared with other aGPCRs proteins, GPR126 has a longer N-terminal domain, which can bind to ligands one-to-one and one-to-many. Its N-terminus contains five domains, a CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1) domain, a PTX (Pentraxin) domain, a SEA (Sperm protein, Enterokinase, and Agrin) domain, a hormone binding (HormR) domain, and a conserved GAIN domain. The GAIN domain has a self-shearing function, which is essential for the maturation, stability, transport and function of aGPCRs. Different SEA domains constitute different GPR126 isomers, which can regulate the activation and closure of downstream signaling pathways through conformational changes. GPR126 has a typical aGPCRs seven-transmembrane helical structure, which can be coupled to Gs and Gi, causing cAMP to up- or down-regulation, mediating transmembrane signaling and participating in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. GPR126 is activated in a tethered-stalk peptide agonism or orthosteric agonism, which is mainly manifested by self-proteolysis or conformational changes in the GAIN domain, which mediates the rapid activation or closure of downstream pathways by tethered agonists. In addition to the tethered short stem peptide activation mode, GPR126 also has another allosteric agonism or tunable agonism mode, which is specifically expressed as the GAIN domain does not have self-shearing function in the physiological state, NTF and CTF always maintain the binding state, and the NTF binds to the ligand to cause conformational changes of the receptor, which somehow transmits signals to the GAIN domain in a spatial structure. The GAIN domain can cause the 7TM domain to produce an activated or inhibited signal for signal transduction, For example, type IV collagen interacts with the CUB and PTX domains of GPR126 to activate GPR126 downstream signal transduction. GPR126 has homology of 51.6%-86.9% among different species, with 10 conserved regions between different species, which can be traced back to the oldest metazoans as well as unicellular animals.In terms of diseases, GPR126 dysfunction involves the pathological process of bone, myelin, embryo and other related diseases, and is also closely related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors such as breast cancer and colon cancer. However, the biological function of GPR126 in various diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target still needs further research. This paper focuses on the structure, interspecies differences and conservatism, signal transduction and biological functions of GPR126, which provides ideas and references for future research on GPR126.
5.Pseudolaric Acid B Alleviates Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Targeting PPARα to Regulate Lipid Metabolism and Promote Mitochondrial Biogenesis.
Shu-Yan LIU ; Xiao-Wei ZHANG ; Gai GAO ; Chang-Xin LIU ; Hui CHEN ; Zhong-Xue FU ; Jiang-Yan XU ; Zhen-Zhen WANG ; Zhen-Qiang ZHANG ; Zhi-Shen XIE
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(10):877-888
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the therapeutic potential of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo.
METHODS:
Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. The HFD mice were divided into 3 groups according to a simple random method, including HFD, PAB low-dose [10 mg/(kg·d), PAB-L], and PAB high-dose [20 mg/(kg·d), PAB-H] groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance were assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Biochemical assays were used to measure the serum and cellular levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). White adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver tissue were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining or Oil Red O staining to observe the alterations in adipose tissue and liver injury. PharmMapper and DisGeNet were used to predict the NAFLD-related PAB targets. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) pathway involvement was suggested by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and search tool Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) analyses. Luciferase reporter assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) were conducted to confirm direct binding of PAB with PPARα. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to further validate target engagement. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to assess the downstream genes and proteins expression, and validated by PPARα inhibitor MK886.
RESULTS:
PAB significantly reduced serum TC, TG, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, and increased HDL-C level in HFD mice (P<0.01). Target prediction analysis indicated a significant correlation between PAB and PPARα pathway. PAB direct target binding with PPARα was confirmed through luciferase reporter assay, CETSA, and DARTS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The target engagement between PAB and PPARα protein was further confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and the top 3 amino acid residues, LEU321, MET355, and PHE273 showed the most significant changes in mutational energy. Subsequently, PAB upregulated the genes expressions involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis downstream of PPARα (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Significantly, the PPARα inhibitor MK886 effectively reversed the lipid-lowering and PPARα activation properties of PAB (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
PAB mitigates lipid accumulation, ameliorates liver damage, and improves mitochondrial biogenesis by binding with PPARα, thus presenting a potential candidate for pharmaceutical development in the treatment of NAFLD.
Animals
;
PPAR alpha/metabolism*
;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology*
;
Male
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*
;
Diterpenes/therapeutic use*
;
Organelle Biogenesis
;
Diet, High-Fat
;
Humans
;
Mice
;
Liver/metabolism*
;
Insulin Resistance
;
Mitochondria/metabolism*
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
6.Salvianolic Acid B Exerts Antiphotoaging Effect on Ultraviolet B-Irradiated Human Keratinocytes by Alleviating Oxidative Stress via SIRT1 Protein.
Qiao-Ju ZHANG ; Xi LUO ; Yu-Wen ZHENG ; Jun-Qiao ZHENG ; Xin-Ying WU ; Shu-Mei WANG ; Jun SHI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(11):1021-1028
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the anti-photoaging properties of salvianolic acid B (Sal B).
METHODS:
The optimal photoaging model of human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were constructed by expose to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation. The cells were divided into control, model and different concentrations of Sal B groups. Cell viability was measured via cell counting kit-8. Subsequently, the levels of oxidative stress, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroxyproline (Hyp), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using the relevant kits. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) protein level was detected using Western blot. The binding pattern of Sal B and SIRT1 was determined via molecular docking.
RESULTS:
Sal B significantly increased the viability of UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Sal B effectively scavenged the accumulation of ROS induced by UVB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, Sal B modulated oxidative stress by increasing the intracellular concentrations of Hyp and CAT and the activity of GSH-Px (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The Western blot results revealed a substantial increase in SIRT1 protein levels following Sal B administration (P<0.05). Moreover, Sal B exhibited good binding affinity toward SIRT1, with a docking energy of -7.5 kCal/mol.
CONCLUSION
Sal B could improve the repair of photodamaged cells by alleviating cellular oxidative stress and regulating the expression of SIRT1 protein.
Humans
;
Sirtuin 1/metabolism*
;
Ultraviolet Rays
;
Oxidative Stress/radiation effects*
;
Keratinocytes/metabolism*
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
;
Benzofurans/pharmacology*
;
Skin Aging/radiation effects*
;
Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
;
Cell Survival/radiation effects*
;
HaCaT Cells
;
Hydroxyproline/metabolism*
;
Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism*
;
Catalase/metabolism*
;
Depsides
7.Efficacy and prognostic factors of open surgical repair and endovascular repair in patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Lei ZHANG ; Dexiang XIA ; Pengcheng GUO ; Xin LI ; Chang SHU
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(7):1158-1166
OBJECTIVES:
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency with extremely high in-hospital mortality. Open surgical repair (OSR) was historically the only treatment option but is associated with substantial trauma and perioperative risk. In recent years, endovascular repair (EVAR) has gained widespread use due to its minimally invasive nature and faster recovery, becoming the preferred option for anatomically suitable patients in many centers. However, controversy remains regarding the long-term survival benefits of EVAR compared with OSR and key prognostic factors affecting outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of OSR and EVAR for rAAA and identify independent predictors of postoperative survival to guide clinical decision-making.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 83 patients diagnosed with rAAA and treated surgically in the Department of Vascular Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, between January 2013 and December 2022. Patients were divided into an OSR group and an EVAR group based on surgical approach. Baseline clinical characteristics, perioperative data, and follow-up outcomes were compared between groups. Long-term survival was analyzed, and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to determine independent prognostic factors.
RESULTS:
Among the 83 patients, 32 (38.6%) underwent OSR and 51 (61.4%) received EVAR, with the proportion of EVAR steadily increasing to nearly 80% in the most recent 5 years. Patients in the EVAR group were older [(68.76±8.57) years vs (60.59±13.24) years, P=0.012], and had a lower proportion of males (76.5% vs 96.9%, P=0.013). EVAR significantly reduced operating time [(181.86±69.87) min vs (291.09±60.33) min] and hospital stay [(12.14±6.31) days vs (16.22±7.89) days (P<0.05)], but total hospitalization costs were markedly higher [(208 735.84±101 394.19) yuan vs (84 893.35±40 668.56) yuan, P<0.001]. There were no significant differences between groups in 30-day mortality (15.6% vs 15.7%), aneurysm-related mortality (9.4% vs 11.7%), overall mortality (28.1% vs 29.4%), or re-intervention rate (0 vs 5.9%) (P>0.05). The median follow-up time was 54.6 months (range, 12-144 months). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed comparable cumulative survival rates between OSR and EVAR (82.7% vs 76.2%, P=0.420). Cox regression identified hyperlipidemia [hazard ratio (HR)=2.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.28 to 4.19, P=0.005] and elevated preoperative serum creatinine (HR=3.33, 95% CI 1.69 to 6.55, P<0.001) as significant predictors of poor prognosis. Both factors remained independently associated with mortality in the multivariate model (hyperlipidemia: HR=2.02, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.70; elevated serum creatinine: HR=2.77, 95% CI 1.40 to 5.47; P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
EVAR offeres advantages in operative and recovery times, though its long-term survival outcomes are comparable to OSR. A history of hyperlipidemia and elevated preoperative creatinine levels are independent predictors of poor prognosis. Surgical approach should be chosen based on anatomical feasibility and patient condition, with close management of lipid levels and renal function to improve outcomes.
Humans
;
Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/mortality*
;
Endovascular Procedures/methods*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Male
;
Female
;
Prognosis
;
Aged
;
Aortic Rupture/mortality*
;
Middle Aged
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Aged, 80 and over
8.Application advances of fractional flow reserve in endovascular treatment of lower-extremity arterial disease.
Lei ZHANG ; Jian QIU ; Dingxiao LIU ; Pengcheng GUO ; Dexiang XIA ; Chang SHU ; Xin LI
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(7):1255-1262
Fractional flow reserve (FFR), an established modality for functionally assessing coronary artery disease, is increasingly applied to diagnose and manage lower extremity arterial disease. By incorporating functional parameters, FFR enhances revascularization precision by quantifying the hemodynamic impact of stenotic lesions, thereby overcoming limitations of conventional imaging. Key clinical applications in lower extremity disease include functional assessment in moderate intermittent claudication, post-vascular preparation strategy optimization, and predicting revascularization outcomes and complications. Advances in pressure wire and microcatheter systems, alongside non-invasive imaging-derived FFR techniques, are improving its feasibility and applicability. However, widespread adoption is challenged by the complex anatomy of the lower extremity arterial system, frequent severe calcification and diffuse disease, and a current lack of standardized FFR cutoff values. Promoting the standardized use of FFR is crucial for shifting the clinical management paradigm from anatomy-based repair toward functional reconstruction.
Humans
;
Lower Extremity/blood supply*
;
Peripheral Arterial Disease/diagnosis*
;
Fractional Flow Reserve, Myocardial
;
Endovascular Procedures/methods*
;
Intermittent Claudication/physiopathology*
9.Research progress of Faricimab in the treatment of macular edema associated with retinal vascular diseases
Xinyi HOU ; Haoran WANG ; Chunhua DAI ; Jing ZHANG ; Meng XIN ; Zhixin GUAN ; Shu LIU
International Eye Science 2025;25(8):1267-1273
Intravitreal injection of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)agents has become the primary treatment for macular edema associated with retinal vascular disease such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion, but there are limitations such as variable treatment efficacy and insufficient durability of therapeutic effects. As the first bispecific antibody applied in ophthalmic treatment, Faricimab achieves favorable outcomes by simultaneously targeting both VEGF-A and angiopoietin-2(Ang-2)pathways. Based on evidence from recent clinical trials and real-world studies, this article reviews the research progress on Faricimab for the treatment of diabetic macular edema(DME), retinal vein occlusion-associated macular edema(RVO-ME)and refractory macular edema compared to the therapeutic effects of other agents. Additionally, based on Faricimab's safety characteristics and future potential, its therapeutic prospects for macular edema associated with retinal vascular diseases are discussed. This review aims to provide evidence-based references for optimizing clinical treatment strategies, thereby contributing to mitigating the risk of vision loss due to macular edema.
10.Effect of dysbindin-1 deletion on exosomes derived from mouse testicular tissue
Shu ZHANG ; Pan-Pan ZHANG ; Xin SUN ; Hai-Yan LI ; Hui YAN ; Ya-Qin FENG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(5):585-593
Objective To compare the differences in exosomes derived from testicular tissue between WT(wild type)mice and sdy mice with dysbindin-1(dystrobrevin binding protein 1)deletion mutations,and identify their protein components to explore the possible role of dysbindin-1 in the formation of exosomes derived from mouse testicular tissue.Methods The exosomes derived from mouse testicular tissue of WT and sdy mice were isolated by sucrose ultracentrifugation method.The expression of exosomes proteins was analyzed by Western blotting,the morphology of exosomes was observed by negative staining under transmission electron microscope(TEM),the particle size and distribution were analyzed by dynamic light scattering particle size analyzer,and the protein contents of exosomes were detected by mass spectrometry analysis.CD63+exosomes were obtained by immunoprecipitation with magnetic beads.Krt5(keratin5)protein was selected for validation.Results Dysbindin-1 deletion did not affect the morphology and quantity of exosomes,but decreased the expression of CD63,a marker of exosomes.Compared with the WT mice,there were 159 proteins that were highly expressed,209 proteins that were lowly expressed,and 184 proteins that were specifically expressed in the exosomes derived from sdy mice testicular tissue.In this experiment,CD63+exosomes from testicular tissue were obtained and 12 proteins were screened.There was indeed an interaction between krt5 protein and dysbindin-1.Interestingly,it was found that the expression of krt5 in the exosomes derived from sdy mice testicular tissue decreased after dysbindin-1 deletion.Conclusion After dysbindin-1 deletion,the morphology and quantity of exosomes derived from mouse testicular tissue are not affected,but dysbindin-1 may affect the types and content of exosomal proteins,by affecting the transport of exosome proteins through protein interactions.


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