1.Mechanisms of Antidepressant Effect of Zhizi Houpotang and Its Herbal Pairs Based on NLRP3/GSDMD Signaling Pathway
Chang CHEN ; Ziwen GUO ; Tingyu SONG ; Yan WANG ; Baomei XIA ; Weiwei TAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):72-80
ObjectiveTaking classical herbal pair compatibility research as the entry point, this study aimed to deeply investigate the material basis and compatibility rules underlying the antidepressant effects of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Zhizi Houpotang, and to elucidate its antidepressant mechanism, with a particular focus on its regulation of neuroinflammatory responses mediated by the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/gasdermin D (GSDMD) signaling pathway and the consequent improvement of neuronal synaptic plasticity. MethodsC57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a blank control group, a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) depression model group, a Zhizi Houpotang full-formula group (6 g·kg-1·d-1), a Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex (MOC)-Aurantii Fructus Immaturus (AFI) herbal pair group (4.2 g·kg-1·d-1), a Gardeniae Fructus (GF)-MOC herbal pair group (4.2 g·kg-1·d-1), a GF-AFI herbal pair group (3.6 g·kg-1·d-1), and a positive drug group (fluoxetine, 12 mg·kg-1·d-1). Depressive-like behaviors in mice were evaluated using behavioral tests. Immunofluorescence staining was used to label and quantify the expression of the microglial marker ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Ibal) and the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2RX7) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in serum and PFC tissues. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of pannexin 1 (Panx1), P2RX7, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), Caspase-1, GSDMD, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), and the presynaptic protein Synapsin 1 in PFC tissues. Golgi staining was used to assess dendritic spine density of neurons in the PFC. ResultsCompared with the blank control group, the depression model group exhibited significant depressive-like behaviors. In addition, the immunofluorescence areas of Ibal and P2RX7 in the PFC were significantly increased (P<0.01), the levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum and the PFC were significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of Panx1, P2RX7, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in the PFC were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). In contrast, the protein expression levels of PSD95 and Synapsin 1 were significantly downregulated (P<0.01), and neuronal dendritic spine density was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Zhizi Houpotang full-formula group and the GF-MOC herbal pair group showed significant improvement in all the above indicators (P<0.01). The GF-AFI herbal pair group improved all the above indicators except P2RX7, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and PSD95 (P<0.05, P<0.01). In contrast, the MOC-AFI herbal pair group showed no statistically significant improvement in any of the above indicators compared with the model group. ConclusionZhizi Houpotang and its key herbal pair, GF-MOC, can effectively ameliorate CUMS-induced depressive-like behaviors in mice. Its core antidepressant mechanism may involve inhibition of P2RX7/Panx1 signaling, thereby blocking the NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis pathway and significantly reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Simultaneously, it upregulates the expression of synapse-related proteins PSD95 and Synapsin 1 and increases dendritic spine density, promoting the recovery of synaptic plasticity. These results suggest that GF plays a key role in the antidepressant effects of this formula, and that the compatibility of GF with MOC may represent the principal herbal pair combination responsible for its core therapeutic action.
2.Research on the framework construction and promotion strategy of medical care capability based on the core literacy of palliative care
Shenghua DING ; Yongmei LIU ; Hongjuan CHEN ; Weiwei WANG ; Shengnan ZHAO
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(7):943-948
This paper aims to discuss the construction and promotion strategy of medical care capacity framework based on the core literacy of palliative care, combining domestic and foreign research and clinical status. The research results show that it is particularly important to construct a framework of medical care competence based on palliative care. The core competencies required for palliative care include the ability to comprehensively evaluate and formulate personalized programs, effective communication skills, interdisciplinary teamwork skills, and the ability to continuously learn and improve themselves. The quality of care can be further improved if the above abilities are incorporated into the framework of medical care ability based on palliative care. However, there are a series of problems in the process of constructing the framework of palliative medical care capacity, such as difficult implementation of policy support, poor professionalism of talent team, single and irregular service model, low social acceptance, and difficult interdisciplinary cooperation and resource integration. After a detailed analysis of the problems, this paper puts forward the countermeasures to construct the framework of caring ability literacy based on palliative care. Effective countermeasures such as increasing policy support, cultivating comprehensive talents, developing diversified palliative care models, improving social recognition, and strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation and resource integration can effectively improve the core literacy and professional ability of medical care personnel, and then promote the development and improvement of palliative care services. In-depth discussion of the above contents can provide scientific reference for building a care model and literacy framework with palliative care as the core.
3.Effect analysis of trihalomethane reduction in the raw water from Qingcaosha reservoir using various water treatment processes
Jingyu WU ; Weiguo WANG ; Hui REN ; Weiwei ZHENG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(5):421-424
ObjectiveTo investigate the content of trihalomethanes (THMs) in treated water after different water treatment processes and their correlations with premanganate index, so as to provide data support for the renovation of water production process and optimization of water quality improvement. MethodsFrom 2022 to 2023, seven centralized water supply units using raw water from Qingcaosha reservoir were selected as the testing sites, among which three units with the conventional treatment process, two units with the advanced treatment process, and two units with the advanced treatment process combined CO2 treatment. Monthly water quality testing data were collected, focusing on testing the concentration variations of THMs, trichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane, bromoform, and permanganate index. ResultsThe comparison between conventional treatment process and advanced treatment process demonstrated that the conventional treatment process exhibited significantly higher concentrations of trihalomethanes, trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane, and permanganate index in water samples (all P<0.05). When comparing conventional treatment process with advanced treatment process combined with carbon dioxide treatment, the conventional treatment process showed significantly elevated levels of trihalomethanes, dibromochloromethane, bromodichloromethane, and permanganate index (all P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the comparison of various indicators between advanced treatment process and advanced treatment process combined with carbon dioxide treatment for any of the measured parameters (all P>0.05). Analysis of seasonal variations revealed that finished water during the high-temperature period (May to November) contained significantly higher concentrations of trihalomethanes, trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane, and tribromomethane compared to the low-temperature period (December to April of the following year) (all P<0.05). Significant positive correlations were identified between permanganate index and trihalomethanes (r=0.213, P=0.007), permanganate index and dibromochloromethane (r=0.186, P=0.019), permanganate index and bromodichloromethane (r=0.243, P=0.002), permanganate index and tribromomethane (r=0.193, P=0.014). ConclusionCompared to the conventional water treatment process, advanced treatment process and advanced treatment combined with CO2 injection process can significantly reduce the concentrations of THMs in the treated effluent water. Besides, the generation of THMs is affected by seasonal temperatures, with higher concentrations of THMs, trichloromethane, bromodichloromethane, and bromoform being observed in the high-temperature season. Additionally, the permanganate index shows a significant positive correlation with THMs concentrations, indicating that the content of organic matter in the source of raw water contributes to the generation of THMs in the treated water.
4.Basal temporal lobe: Anatomy, physiology, and epilepsy
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2025;42(8):693-696
Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common type of focal medically intractable epilepsy. Seizures with involvement of the basal temporal region are extremely rare, and there is still a lack of understanding of their characteristics. The basal temporal region is divided into the olfactory cortex (including the perirhinal cortex and the entorhinal cortex), the parahippocampal gyrus, and the fusiform gyrus. The ictal symptoms of basal temporal lobe epilepsy include naming dysfunction, comprehension deficit, spontaneous speech, vocal automatism, and dé jà vu. Anterior temporal lobectomy is recommended due to extensive epileptogenic areas.
5.Compilation Instructions for Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Yifei Zhike Capsules
Xin LI ; Hongchun ZHANG ; Xuefeng YU ; Weiwei GUO ; Chengjun BAN ; Zhifei WANG ; Yuanyuan LI ; Yingjie ZHI ; Xin CUI ; Yanming XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):143-148
The compilation instructions for the Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Yifei Zhike Capsules systematically expound the development background, methodological framework, and core achievements of this consensus. In view of the problems existing in the clinical application of Yifei Zhike Capsules, such as insufficient efficacy evidence and lack of standardized syndrome differentiation, the Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences took the lead and collaborated with 21 tertiary grade-A hospitals and research institutions across China to form a multidisciplinary expert group (comprising 30 experts in clinical medicine, pharmacy, and methodology). The compilation work was carried out in strict accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the GB/T 1.1-2020 standard, and the writing specifications for the explanatory notes of expert consensus on clinical application of Chinese patent medicines. Through systematic literature retrieval (including 32 studies, with 24 clinical studies), Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE)-based evidence grading, and multiple rounds of discussions using the nominal group method (25 experts voted to determine 17 clinical questions), 5 evidence-based recommendations and 11 expert consensus suggestions were formed. It is clarified that this medicine (Yifei Zhike Capsules) is applicable to the treatment of expectoration/hemoptysis in acute and chronic bronchitis and the adjuvant treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. It is recommended that it can be used alone or in combination with anti-tuberculosis drugs. The safety evaluation shows that this medicine mainly induces the following adverse reactions: mild gastrointestinal reactions (such as nausea and abdominal pain) and rashes. The contraindicated populations include pregnant women and women during menstruation. The compilation process of the consensus underwent three rounds of expert letter reviews, two rounds of peer reviews, and quality control assessments to ensure methodological rigor and clinical applicability. In addition, through policy alignment, academic promotion, and a dynamic revision mechanism, the standardization of clinical application was promoted, providing a demonstration for the evidence-based transformation of characteristic therapies of Miao medicine.
6.Application of artificial intelligence and automated scripts in3D printing brachytherapy
Wentai LI ; Jiandong ZHANG ; Zhihe WANG ; Xiaozhen QI ; Yan DING ; Baile ZHANG ; Wenjun MA ; Yao ZHAI ; Weiwei ZHOU ; Yanan SUN ; Xin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(3):419-425
Objective To explore the efficiency improvement in segmenting neural network with the application of Transformer + U-Net artificial intelligence (AI) and modeling with the application of Python scripts in three-dimensional (3D) printing brachytherapy. Methods A Transformer + U-Net AI neural network model was constructed, and Adam optimizer was used to ensure rapid gradient descent. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging data of patients were standardized and processed as self-made data sets. The training set was used to train AI and the optimal result weight parameters were saved. The test set was used to evaluate the AI ability. Python programming language was used to write an automated script to obtain the output segmentation image and convert it to the STL file for import. The source applicator and needle could be automatically modeled. The time of automatic segmentation and modeling and the time of manual segmentation and modeling were entered by two people, and the difference was verified by paired t-test. Results Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), mean intersection over union (MIOU), and Hausdorff distance (HD95) were used for evaluation. DSC was
7.Characteristics of HIV primary drug resistance and molecular transmission clusters in newly reported men who had sex with men in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province
Shanling WANG ; Xuanhe WU ; Guixia LI ; Tingting WANG ; Yating WANG ; Tailin CHEN ; Weiwei SHEN ; Yali XIE ; Haijiang LIN ; Na HE ; Xiaoxiao CHEN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(6):496-502
ObjectivesTo investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of HIV-1 infection among men who had sex with men (MSM) in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, and to provide a scientific reference for acquired immune deficiency syndrome prevention and control efforts. MethodsThe research subjects were all newly reported MSM population in Taizhou City from 2020 to 2023. Blood samples without antiviral therapy were collected. The HIV-1 pol gene was amplified and sequenced, and the sequences were submitted to the Stanford University drug resistance database to identify the mutation sites and drug resistance. MEGA 11.0 software was used to analyze the nucleic acid sequences, construct phylogenetic tree, and calculate genetic distance of gene sequences. The molecular transmission network diagram of HIV-1 was constructed using Cytoscape_v3.10.1, and the influencing factors of network entry were analyzed by logistic regression. ResultsA total of 363 newly reported HIV-infected MSM patients were included, with a median age [M (P25, P75)] of 34 (26,47) years old. The majority had an educational level of junior high school or below (55.65%). A total of eight subtypes were found, mainly CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE. The primary drug resistance rate was 10.47% (38/363). The optimal molecular network gene distance was 0.019, with a network access rate of 42.70% (155/363), and a total of 47 molecular clusters were formed. Multivariate logistic analyses showed that compared with the CRF01_AE subtype, the clustering risk of CRF07_BC subtype was higher (OR=1.916, 95%CI: 1.191‒3.109), cases with drug resistance had a higher risk of cluster formation than those without drug resistance (OR=2.011, 95%CI: 1.006‒4.080), and recent infected patients had a lower risk of entering the largest molecular cluster than long-term infected patients (OR=0.376, 95%CI: 0.137‒0.928). ConclusionThe newly diagnosed infections among the MSM population are active in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, with a high level of primary drug resistance. Individuals carrying drug-resistant strains are more likely to cluster. Drug resistance monitoring should be strengthened to prevent further spread of drug-resistant strains in the network.
8.Disease burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021
ZHOU Xiaoyan ; GONG Weiwei ; PAN Jin ; DAI Pinyuan ; GUAN Yunqi ; WANG Hao ; LI Na ; LU Feng ; ZHONG Jieming
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(8):757-761
Objective:
To analyze the disease burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and changes in its risk factors among residents in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021, so as to identify key priorities for COPD prevention and control.
Methods:
Data on COPD mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) for residents in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database. Standardized mortality and standardized DALY rate were calculated using the GBD 2021 world population standard structure. Premature mortality was computed via the life table method. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was applied to analyze trends in COPD mortality, DALY rate, and premature mortality. Changes in deaths of COPD risk factors were evaluated using population attributable fraction (PAF).
Results:
From 1990 to 2021, the standardized COPD mortality in Zhejiang Province decreased from 272.40/100 000 to 70.56/100 000 (AAPC=-4.395%), and the standardized DALY rate declined from 4 167.37/100 000 to 1 071.89/100 000 (AAPC=-4.396%). Similar downward trends were observed in both males (AAPC=-3.933%, -4.173%) and females (AAPC=-4.785%, -4.480%), all P<0.05. Crude mortality and DALY rates increased with age, and the crude mortality and DALY rates of various age groups in Zhejiang Province showed decreasing trends from 1990 to 2021 (all P<0.05). The premature mortality declined from 4.37% to 0.60% from 1990 to 2021 (AAPC=- 6.206%), with consistent trends across males and females (AAPC=- 6.144%, - 6.379%, all P<0.05). From 1990 to 2021, particulate matter pollution showed the largest reduction in PAF (- 56.76%), while ambient ozone pollution had the largest increase (103.07%) in Zhejiang Province. By 2021, smoking became the leading risk factor for deaths of COPD (PAF=43.32%).
Conclusions
The standardized mortality, standardized DALY rate, and premature mortality for COPD show consistent declining trends in Zhejiang Province from 1990 to 2021. However, risk factors such as smoking and ambient ozone pollution require intensified focus to further reduce disease burden of COPD.
9.Epidemiological characteristics and immunization history of pertussis cases in Yichang City 2018 - 2023
Weiwei WANG ; Xiaojun LIU ; Yi YAN ; Jing JIANG ; Qiujing YU ; Wei JIANG ; Li GUO ; Jialian YU ; Guiwen LI ; Qiwei WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(6):86-89
Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and immunization history of pertussis cases in Yichang City, Hubei Province from 2018 to 2023. Methods Data on the incidence and immunization history of pertussis cases were collected in Yichang City from 2018 to 2023, and the epidemiological characteristics was analyzed and described. Results A total of 109 cases of pertussis were reported in Yichang from 2018 to 2023, and the annual average reported incidence rate was 0.45/100,000. The incidence rate reported in each year was between 0~1.58/100,000. The area with the highest annual reported incidence rate was Xiling District (1.19/100,000). There was a statistically significant difference in the incidence rate between different years (χ2=208.26, P < 0.001). The annual reported incidence rate showed a significant increasing trend (χ2 trend =125.71, P < 0.001). The ratio of male to female cases was 1.22. There was no significant difference in the annual reported incidence rates between males and females (χ2=0.85, P=0.36). Children aged 3-9 years accounted for 60.55%. Students and scattered children accounted for 45.87% and 36.70%, respectively. Before the onset of the disease, 72.48% had a history of immunization with pertussis-containing vaccine, and 27.52% had no history of immunization. The shortest interval between the last dose of pertussis-containing vaccine and the onset of the disease was 8 days, the longest was 4057 days, and the median was 1882 days. Conclusion From 2018 to 2023, the reported incidence of pertussis in Yichang City has been on the rise, with the majority of cases occurring in children and students under the age of 9. It is recommended to strengthen pertussis disease monitoring.
10.Effect of the plus power ring zone area on myopia control with orthokeratology lenses
Weiwei HAO ; Yuru WANG ; Ding JIA
International Eye Science 2025;25(12):1899-1905
AIM:To observe the effect of the plus power ring zone(PPRZ)area and distribution on myopia progression.METHODS:This retrospective study enrolled 137 pre-teens aged 8-12 at Taiyuan Aier Eye Hospital between 2019 and 2021. They were fitted with Ortho-K lenses for the first time due to refractive error, with a one-year follow-up period. To indicate the peripheral plus ring zone overlapping with the pupil zone(PPROPZ)accompanying PPRZ, participants were divided based on the PPROPZ to PPRZ ratio. The experimental group had 103 eyes with a PPROPZ to PPRZ ratio of ≥0.2, and the control group had 103 eyes with a ratio of <0.2. Participants had a spherical diopter in the range of -6.00 D to -0.75 D, against-the-rule astigmatism less than 1.00 D, with-the-rule astigmatism less than 1.50 D, and corneal curvatures of 39.00 D to 46.00 D. They had a stable best corrected visual acuity of 0.10 LogMAR(20/25)or better when wearing orthokeratology(Ortho-K)lenses. PPRZ and PPROPZ were measured using ImageJ; corneal topography assessed corneal-related parameters, and an optical biometer measured the axial length of the eyes pre and post-one years of lens wear.RESULTS: Changes in axial length elongation were found to decrease when either the PPRZ(P<0.01)or PPROPZ(P<0.001)was increased significantly. The axial length growth was faster in the control group(0.37±0.2 mm)than in the experimental group(0.21±0.11 mm). Furthermore, we found that a larger horizontal visible iris diameter(HVID)corresponded to slower axial growth of the eye. In contrast, axial length growth showed no correlation with surface regularity index(SRI), surface asymmetry index(SAI), flat keratometry value(Kf), steep keratometry value(Ks).CONCLUSION:For orthokeratology, wearers with larger PPROPZ to PPRZ ratio usually experiences a reduction in axial length growth. The PPRZ and PPROPZ are negatively correlated with the axial length. Our findings provide a recommendation and methods for studying the myopia control mechanism through Ortho-K lenses.


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