1.The first record of Anopheles messeae (Diptera: Culicidae) parasitized by water mites in China
Xue-ru CHEN ; Wen-zhen YAO ; Yu-hao LI ; Gui-chang LI ; Tao MENG ; Qun-ling FENG ; Xin-hui LIU ; Li-hong QIAO ; Xiang-ting WU ; Xue-feng ZHANG ; Cheng-lin LI ; Xue-cheng DONG ; Da-wei WANG ; Xiao-yan SI ; Yu-hong GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(1):53-57
Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.
2.Incidence and Related Risk Factors of Mid-term Postoperative Cognitive Impairment After Heart Transplantation
Tixiusi XIONG ; Wai Yen YIM ; Yixuan WANG ; Guohua WANG ; Jiawei SHI ; Si CHEN ; Nianguo DONG
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(4):352-358
Objectives:To investigate the incidence and related risk factors of mid-term postoperative cognitive impairment by a single cognitive function test among heart transplant recipients.Methods:The heart transplant recipients who visited our heart transplant outpatient department from May to October of 2019 were recruited and received cognitive function test.Their heart transplantation,anesthesia,cardiopulmonary bypass and immunosuppressive therapy were performed by the same heart transplant team.Mini-mental state examination(MMSE)and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)were used to test the study population and diagnose cognitive impairment.The patients were divided into cognitive impairment group and non-cognitive impairment group,and the clinical characteristics,perioperative characteristics of heart transplantation,hospital outcomes and donor characteristics were compared between the two groups.After excluding those with missing data(n=34),48 patients in the cognitive impairment group and 50 patients in the non-cognitive impairment group were analyzed.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the potential influencing factors of cognitive impairment diagnosed by a single assessment after heart transplantation.Results:The median time of cognitive test after surgery was 2(1,4)years.The incidence of mid-term postoperative cognitive impairment by a single test among heart transplant recipients was 50.0%(66/132).Compared with the non-cognitive impairment group,patients in the cognitive impairment group were older at heart transplant([40.2±13.4]years vs.[46.4±11.0]years)and at cognitive test([42.3±13.0]years vs.[49.2±11.2]years),with a higher proportion of males(68.0%vs.87.5%),a higher proportion of those with lower education(less than high school)(31.9%vs.63.8%),and a longer postoperative hospital stay(32.0[26.0,38.8]d vs.38.0[20.3,50.0]d),and the differences between groups were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that older age at cognitive test(OR=1.067,95%CI:1.019-1.117,P=0.005),longer postoperative in-hospital stay(OR=1.051,95%CI:1.006-1.097,P=0.025)were associated with higher risk of mid-term postoperative cognitive impairment by a single test,while the education level higher than high school was an independent protective factor(OR=0.132,95%CI:0.029-0.607,P=0.009)of mid-term postoperative cognitive impairment.Conclusions:The incidence of mid-term postoperative cognitive impairment by a single test among heart transplant recipients is high.Patients with an older age,low education level,long postoperative in-hospital stay face increased risk of mid-term postoperative cognitive impairment,these patients need to be monitored for cognitive function during follow up to achieve early recognition and treatment of cognitive decline.
3.Effect of Hesperidin on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Related Depression in Rats through Gut-Brain Axis Pathway.
Hui-Qing LIANG ; Shao-Dong CHEN ; Yu-Jie WANG ; Xiao-Ting ZHENG ; Yao-Yu LIU ; Zhen-Ying GUO ; Chun-Fang ZHANG ; Hong-Li ZHUANG ; Si-Jie CHENG ; Xiao-Hong GU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(10):908-917
OBJECTIVES:
To determine the pharmacological impact of hesperidin, the main component of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, on depressive behavior and elucidate the mechanism by which hesperidin treats depression, focusing on the gut-brain axis.
METHODS:
Fifty-four Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly allocated to 6 groups using a random number table, including control, model, hesperidin, probiotics, fluoxetine, and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium groups. Except for the control group, rats in the remaining 5 groups were challenged with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 21 days and housed in single cages. The sucrose preference test (SPT), immobility time in the forced swim test (FST), and number in the open field test (OFT) were performed to measure the behavioral changes in the rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in brain tissue, and the histopathology was performed to evaluate the changes of colon tissue, together with sequencing of the V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene on feces to explore the changes of intestinal flora in the rats.
RESULTS:
Compared to the control group, the rats in the model group showed notable reductions in body weight, SPF, and number in OFT (P<0.01). Hesperidin was found to ameliorate depression induced by CUMS, as seen by improvements in body weight, SPT, immobility time in FST, and number in OFT (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Regarding neurotransmitters, it was found that at a dose of 50 mg/kg hesperidin treatment upregulated the levels of 5-HT and BDNF in depressed rats (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the colon tissue of the model group exhibited greater inflammatory cell infiltration, with markedly reduced numbers of goblet cells and crypts and were significantly improved following treatment with hesperidin. Simultaneously, the administration of hesperidin demonstrated a positive impact on the gut microbiome of rats treated with CUMS, such as Shannon index increased and Simpson index decreased (P<0.01), while the abundance of Pseudomonadota and Bacteroidota increased in the hesperidin-treated group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The mechanism responsible for the beneficial effects of hesperidin on depressive behavior in rats may be related to inhibition of the expressions of BDNF and 5-HT and preservation of the gut microbiota.
Animals
;
Hesperidin/therapeutic use*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Depression/drug therapy*
;
Male
;
Stress, Psychological/drug therapy*
;
Brain/metabolism*
;
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism*
;
Serotonin/metabolism*
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Behavior, Animal/drug effects*
;
Rats
;
Brain-Gut Axis/drug effects*
;
Chronic Disease
;
Colon/drug effects*
4.Dorsal CA1 NECTIN3 Reduction Mediates Early-Life Stress-Induced Object Recognition Memory Deficits in Adolescent Female Mice.
Yu-Nu MA ; Chen-Chen ZHANG ; Ya-Xin SUN ; Xiao LIU ; Xue-Xin LI ; Han WANG ; Ting WANG ; Xiao-Dong WANG ; Yun-Ai SU ; Ji-Tao LI ; Tian-Mei SI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(2):243-260
Early-life stress (ES) leads to cognitive dysfunction in female adolescents, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Recent evidence suggests that the cell adhesion molecules NECTIN1 and NECTIN3 play a role in cognition and ES-related cognitive deficits in male rodents. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether and how nectins contribute to ES-induced cognitive dysfunction in female adolescents. Applying the well-established limited bedding and nesting material paradigm, we found that ES impairs recognition memory, suppresses prefrontal NECTIN1 and hippocampal NECTIN3 expression, and upregulates corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) and its receptor 1 (Crhr1) mRNA levels in the hippocampus of adolescent female mice. Genetic experiments revealed that the reduction of dorsal CA1 (dCA1) NECTIN3 mediates ES-induced object recognition memory deficits, as knocking down dCA1 NECTIN3 impaired animals' performance in the novel object recognition task, while overexpression of dCA1 NECTIN3 successfully reversed the ES-induced deficits. Notably, prefrontal NECTIN1 knockdown did not result in significant cognitive impairments. Furthermore, acute systemic administration of antalarmin, a CRHR1 antagonist, upregulated hippocampal NECTIN3 levels and rescued object and spatial memory deficits in stressed mice. Our findings underscore the critical role of dCA1 NECTIN3 in mediating ES-induced object recognition memory deficits in adolescent female mice, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target for stress-related psychiatric disorders in women.
Animals
;
Female
;
Mice
;
CA1 Region, Hippocampal/metabolism*
;
Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism*
;
CRF Receptor, Type 1/metabolism*
;
Memory Disorders/etiology*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Nectins/genetics*
;
Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Recognition, Psychology/physiology*
;
Stress, Psychological/complications*
5.Application of artificial intelligence to quantitative structure-retention relationship calculations in chromatography.
Jingru XIE ; Si CHEN ; Liang ZHAO ; Xin DONG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):101155-101155
Quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) is an important tool in chromatography. QSRR examines the correlation between molecular structures and their retention behaviors during chromatographic separation. This approach involves developing models for predicting the retention time (RT) of analytes, thereby accelerating method development and facilitating compound identification. In addition, QSRR can be used to study compound retention mechanisms and support drug screening efforts. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of QSRR workflows and applications, with a special focus on the role of artificial intelligence-an area not thoroughly explored in previous reviews. Moreover, we discuss current limitations in RT prediction and propose promising solutions. Overall, this review offers a fresh perspective on future QSRR research, encouraging the development of innovative strategies that enable the diverse applications of QSRR models in chromatographic analysis.
6.Association of Dietary Preferences with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: Prospective Cohort Study of 1,160,312 Adults in China.
Wen Ru SHI ; Si Tong WEI ; Qing Mei HUANG ; Huan CHEN ; Dong SHEN ; Bo Feng ZHU ; Chen MAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1120-1128
OBJECTIVE:
Although dietary preferences influence chronic diseases, few studies have linked dietary preferences to mortality risk, particularly in large cohorts. To investigate the relationship between dietary preferences and mortality risk (all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease [CVD]) in a large adult cohort.
METHODS:
A cohort of 1,160,312 adults (mean age 62.48 ± 9.55) from the Shenzhen Healthcare Big Data Cohort (SHBDC) was analyzed. Hazard ratios ( HRs) for mortality were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model.
RESULTS:
The study identified 12,308 all-cause deaths, of which 3,865 (31.4%) were cancer-related and 3,576 (29.1%) were attributed to CVD. Compared with a mixed diet of meat and vegetables, a mainly meat-based diet (hazard ratio [ HR] = 1.13; 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.02, 1.27) associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, while mainly vegetarian ( HR = 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78, 0.97) was linked to a reduced risk. Furthermore, there was a stronger correlation between mortality risk and dietary preference in the > 65 age range.
CONCLUSION
A meat-based diet was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality, whereas a mainly vegetarian diet was linked to a reduced risk.
Humans
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Female
;
Prospective Studies
;
Aged
;
Cardiovascular Diseases/mortality*
;
Diet/statistics & numerical data*
;
Neoplasms/mortality*
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Adult
;
Cause of Death
;
Food Preferences
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Mortality
;
Cohort Studies
7.Efficacy of Plasma Beam Combined with Intense Pulsed Light on Facial Burn Scars and its Impact on Scar Score and Pain Level
Xiao-li WU ; Rong-hui YANG ; Yu-tian KANG ; Dong-sheng LIN ; Si-xiong CHEN
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(20):3269-3275
Objective:To observe the efficacy of plasma beam combined with intense pulsed light on facial burn scars and its impact on scar score and pain level.Method:This study was a prospective study,and a random number table method was used to divided 92 patients with facial burn scars who were admitted to Maoming People's Hospital from March 2024 to August 2024 into control group(received intense pulsed light treatment,46 cases)and study group(received plasma beam treatment in addition to the control group,46 cases).The efficacy,related scale scores,scar recovery and incidence of adverse reaction rates between two groups were compaerd.Result:Compared with control group after treatment,the clinical total effective rate and the chinese version of the simplified burn health scale(BSHS-B)score of the study group were higher,while vancouver scar scale(VSS),visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,scar thickness,and scar blood flow perfusion were lower(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reaction rates between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Plasma beam combined with intense pulsed light on facial burn scars,can improve clinical efficacy,improve scar thickness and blood flow perfusion,alleviate scar itching and pain,and has good safety in treating facial burn scar patients.
8.EZH2/miR-142-3p/HMGB1 axis mediates chondrocyte pyroptosis by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress in knee osteoarthritis.
Yang CHEN ; Shanshan DONG ; Xin ZENG ; Qing XU ; Mingwei LIANG ; Guangneng LIAO ; Lan LI ; Bin SHEN ; Yanrong LU ; Haibo SI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(1):79-92
BACKGROUND:
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is still challenging to prevent or treat. Enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and increased pyroptosis in chondrocytes may be responsible for cartilage degeneration. This study aims to investigate the effect of ER stress on chondrocyte pyroptosis and the upstream regulatory mechanisms, which have rarely been reported.
METHODS:
The expression of the histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), microRNA-142-3p (miR-142-3p), and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and the levels of ER stress, pyroptosis, and metabolic markers in normal and OA chondrocytes were investigated by western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, fluorescein amidite-tyrosine-valine-alanine-aspartic acid-fluoromethyl ketone (FAM-YVAD-FMK)/Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (PI) staining, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays, and cell viability assessments. The effects of EZH2, miR-142-3p, and HMGB1 on ER stress and pyroptosis and the hierarchical regulatory relationship between them were analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporters, gain/loss-of-function assays, and rescue assays in interleukin (IL)-1β-induced OA chondrocytes. The mechanistic contribution of EZH2, miR-142-3p, and HMGB1 to chondrocyte ER stress and pyroptosis and therapeutic prospects were validated radiologically, histologically, and immunohistochemically in surgically induced OA rats.
RESULTS:
Increased EZH2 and HMGB1, decreased miR-142-3p, enhanced ER stress, and activated pyroptosis in chondrocytes were associated with OA occurrence and progression. EZH2 and HMGB1 exacerbated and miR-142-3p alleviated ER stress and pyroptosis in OA chondrocytes. EZH2 transcriptionally silenced miR-142-3p via H3K27 trimethylation, and miR-142-3p posttranscriptionally silenced HMGB1 by targeting the 3'-UTR of the HMGB1 gene. Moreover, ER stress mediated the effects of EZH2, miR-142-3p, and HMGB1 on chondrocyte pyroptosis. In vivo experiments mechanistically validated the hierarchical regulatory relationship between EZH2, miR-142-3p, and HMGB1 and their effects on chondrocyte ER stress and pyroptosis.
CONCLUSIONS
A novel EZH2/miR-142-3p/HMGB1 axis mediates chondrocyte pyroptosis and cartilage degeneration by regulating ER stress in OA, contributing novel mechanistic insights into OA pathogenesis and providing potential targets for future therapeutic research.
Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein/genetics*
;
Osteoarthritis, Knee/pathology*
;
Chondrocytes/metabolism*
;
Pyroptosis/physiology*
;
HMGB1 Protein/genetics*
;
MicroRNAs/metabolism*
;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Animals
;
Rats
;
Male
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Middle Aged
9.One-year seedling cultivation technology and seed germination-promoting mechanism by warm water soaking of Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium.
Ke FU ; Jian-Qing ZHOU ; Zhi-Wei FAN ; Mei-Sen YANG ; Ya-Qun CHENG ; Yan ZHU ; Yan SHI ; Jin-Ping SI ; Dong-Hong CHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1022-1030
Polygonati Rhizoma demonstrates significant potential for addressing both chronic and hidden hunger. The supply of high-quality seedlings is a primary factor influencing the development of the Polygonati Rhizoma industry. Warm water soaking is often used in agriculture to promote the rapid germination of seeds, while its application and molecular mechanism in Polygonati Rhizoma have not been reported. To rapidly obtain high-quality seedlings, this study treated Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium seeds with sand storage at low temperatures, warm water soaking, and cultivation temperature gradients. The results showed that the culture at 25 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months rapidly broke the seed dormancy of P. kingianum var. grandifolium, while the culture at 20 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 1 month failed to break the seed dormancy. Soaking seeds in 60 ℃ warm water further increased the germination rate, germination potential, and germination index. Specifically, the seeds soaked at 60 ℃ and cultured at 25 ℃ without sand storage treatment(Aa25) achieved a germination rate of 78. 67%±1. 53% on day 42 and 83. 40%±4. 63% on day 77. The seeds pretreated with sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months, soaked in 60 ℃ water, and then cultured at 25 ℃ achieved a germination rate comparable to that of Aa25 on day 77. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that warm water soaking might promote germination by triggering reactive oxygen species( ROS), inducing the expression of heat shock factors( HSFs) and heat shock proteins( HSPs), which accelerated DNA replication, transcript maturation, translation, and processing, thereby facilitating the accumulation and turnover of genetic materials. According to the results of indoor controlled experiments and field practices, maintaining a germination and seedling cultivation environment at approximately 25 ℃ was crucial for the one-year seedling cultivation of P. kingianum var. grandifolium.
Germination
;
Seedlings/genetics*
;
Water/metabolism*
;
Seeds/metabolism*
;
Polygonatum/genetics*
;
Temperature
;
Plant Proteins/genetics*
;
Plant Dormancy
10.Research progress in key technologies for the development of Dendrobium officinale: from a rare and endangered species to a 10-billion-RMB-level industry.
Jing-Jing LIU ; Qiao-Xian YU ; Dong-Hong CHEN ; Ling-Shang WU ; Jin-Ping SI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3670-3678
Dendrobium officinale(DO) is a traditional Chinese medicinal and edible plant, while it is critically endangered worldwide. This article, primarily based on the original research findings of the author's team and available articles, provides a comprehensive overview of the factors contributing to the endangerment of DO and the key technologies for the conservation, efficient cultivation, and value-added utilization of this plant. The scarcity of wild populations, low seed-setting rates, lack of endosperm in seeds, and the need for symbiosis with endophytic fungi for seed germination under natural conditions are identified as the primary causes for the rarity and endangerment of DO. Artificial seed production and tissue culture are highlighted as key technologies for alleviating the endangered status. The physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying the adaptation of DO to epiphytic growth are explored, and it is proposed that breaking the coupling of high temperature and high humidity is essential for preventing southern blight, a devastating affliction of DO. The roles of endophytic fungi in promoting the growth, improving the quality, and enhancing the stress resistance of DO are discussed. Furthermore, the integration of variety breeding, environment selection, and co-culture with endophytic fungi is emphasized as a crucial approach for efficient cultivation. The value-added applications of DO in pharmaceuticals, health foods, food products, and daily chemicals-particularly in the food and daily chemical industries-are presented as key drivers for a 10-billion-RMB-level industry. This systematic review offers valuable insights for the further development, utilization, and industrialization of DO resources, as well as for the broader application of conservation strategies for other rare and endangered plant species.
Dendrobium/microbiology*
;
Endangered Species
;
Seeds/microbiology*
;
Fungi/physiology*


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