1.tRF Prospect: tRNA-derived Fragment Target Prediction Based on Neural Network Learning
Dai-Xi REN ; Jian-Yong YI ; Yong-Zhen MO ; Mei YANG ; Wei XIONG ; Zhao-Yang ZENG ; Lei SHI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2428-2438
ObjectiveTransfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are a recently characterized and rapidly expanding class of small non-coding RNAs, typically ranging from 13 to 50 nucleotides in length. They are derived from mature or precursor tRNA molecules through specific cleavage events and have been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes. Increasing evidence indicates that tRFs play important regulatory roles in gene expression, primarily by interacting with target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to induce transcript degradation, in a manner partially analogous to microRNAs (miRNAs). However, despite their emerging biological relevance and potential roles in disease mechanisms, there remains a significant lack of computational tools capable of systematically predicting the interaction landscape between tRFs and their target mRNAs. Existing databases often rely on limited interaction features and lack the flexibility to accommodate novel or user-defined tRF sequences. The primary goal of this study was to develop a machine learning based prediction algorithm that enables high-throughput, accurate identification of tRF:mRNA binding events, thereby facilitating the functional analysis of tRF regulatory networks. MethodsWe began by assembling a manually curated dataset of 38 687 experimentally verified tRF:mRNA interaction pairs and extracting seven biologically informed features for each pair: (1) AU content of the binding site, (2) site pairing status, (3) binding region location, (4) number of binding sites per mRNA, (5) length of the longest consecutive complementary stretch, (6) total binding region length, and (7) seed sequence complementarity. Using this dataset and feature set, we trained 4 distinct machine learning classifiers—logistic regression, random forest, decision tree, and a multilayer perceptron (MLP)—to compare their ability to discriminate true interactions from non-interactions. Each model’s performance was evaluated using overall accuracy, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the corresponding area under the ROC curve (AUC). The MLP consistently achieved the highest AUC among the four, and was therefore selected as the backbone of our prediction framework, which we named tRF Prospect. For biological validation, we retrieved 3 high-throughput RNA-seq datasets from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) in which individual tRFs were overexpressed: AS-tDR-007333 (GSE184690), tRF-3004b (GSE197091), and tRF-20-S998LO9D (GSE208381). Differential expression analysis of each dataset identified genes downregulated upon tRF overexpression, which we designated as putative targets. We then compared the predictions generated by tRF Prospect against those from three established tools—tRFTar, tRForest, and tRFTarget—by quantifying the number of predicted targets for each tRF and assessing concordance with the experimentally derived gene sets. ResultsThe proposed algorithm achieved high predictive accuracy, with an AUC of 0.934. Functional validation was conducted using transcriptome-wide RNA-seq datasets from cells overexpressing specific tRFs, confirming the model’s ability to accurately predict biologically relevant downregulation of mRNA targets. When benchmarked against established tools such as tRFTar, tRForest, and tRFTarget, tRF Prospect consistently demonstrated superior performance, both in terms of predictive precision and sensitivity, as well as in identifying a higher number of true-positive interactions. Moreover, unlike static databases that are limited to precomputed results, tRF Prospect supports real-time prediction for any user-defined tRF sequence, enhancing its applicability in exploratory and hypothesis-driven research. ConclusionThis study introduces tRF Prospect as a powerful and flexible computational tool for investigating tRF:mRNA interactions. By leveraging the predictive strength of deep learning and incorporating a broad spectrum of interaction-relevant features, it addresses key limitations of existing platforms. Specifically, tRF Prospect: (1) expands the range of detectable tRF and target types; (2) improves prediction accuracy through multilayer perceptron model; and (3) allows for dynamic, user-driven analysis beyond database constraints. Although the current version emphasizes miRNA-like repression mechanisms and faces challenges in accurately capturing 5'UTR-associated binding events, it nonetheless provides a critical foundation for future studies aiming to unravel the complex roles of tRFs in gene regulation, cellular function, and disease pathogenesis.
2.Research progress on the role of dopamine system in regulating hippocampal related brain functions.
Jing REN ; Wei-Yi MO ; Ling WANG ; Guang-Jian NI ; Jia-Jia YANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(5):893-904
Dopamine, as a catecholamine neurotransmitter widely distributed in the central nervous system, is involved in physiological functions such as motivation, arousal, reinforcement, and movement through various dopamine signaling pathways. The hippocampus receives dopaminergic neuron projections from regions such as the ventral tegmental area, locus coeruleus, and substantia nigra. Through D1-like and D2-like receptors, dopamine exerts significant regulatory effects such as spatial navigation, episodic memory, fear, anxiety, and reward. This review mainly summarizes the research progress on the functions of dopamine in the hippocampus from aspects including the sources of dopamine, receptor distribution and function, and the association of hippocampal dopamine system dysregulation with neurodegenerative diseases. The aim is to provide insights into the involvement of the dopamine system in hippocampal functions and the diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.
Hippocampus/physiology*
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Dopamine/physiology*
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Humans
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Animals
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Receptors, Dopamine D2/physiology*
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Memory/physiology*
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Signal Transduction/physiology*
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Neurodegenerative Diseases/physiopathology*
3.Dimethyloxalylglycine improves functional recovery through inhibiting cell apoptosis and enhancing blood-spinal cord barrier repair after spinal cord injury.
Wen HAN ; Chao-Chao DING ; Jie WEI ; Dan-Dan DAI ; Nan WANG ; Jian-Min REN ; Hai-Lin CHEN ; Ling XIE
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(5):361-369
PURPOSE:
The secondary damage of spinal cord injury (SCI) starts from the collapse of the blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) to chronic and devastating neurological deficits. Thereby, the retention of the integrity and permeability of BSCB is well-recognized as one of the major therapies to promote functional recovery after SCI. Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) provides anti-apoptosis and neuroprotection in SCI. Endogenous HIF-1α, rapidly degraded by prolylhydroxylase, is insufficient for promoting functional recovery. Dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG), a highly selective inhibitor of prolylhydroxylase, has been reported to have a positive effect on axon regeneration. However, the roles and underlying mechanisms of DMOG in BSCB restoration remain unclear. Herein, we aim to investigate pathological changes of BSCB restoration in rats with SCI treated by DOMG and evaluate the therapeutic effects of DMOG.
METHODS:
The work was performed from 2022 to 2023. In this study, Allen's impact model and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were employed to explore the mechanism of DMOG. In the phenotypic validation experiment, the rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group, SCI group, and SCI + DMOG group (10 rats for each). Histological analysis via Nissl staining, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale, and footprint analysis was used to evaluate the functional recovery after SCI. Western blotting, TUNEL assay, and immunofluorescence staining were employed to exhibit levels of tight junction and adhesion junction of BSCB, HIF-1α, cell apoptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The one-way ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. The difference was considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
In this study, we observed the expression of HIF-1α reduced in the SCI model. DMOG treatment remarkably augmented HIF-1α level, alleviated endothelial cells apoptosis and disruption of BSCB, and enhanced functional recovery post-SCI. Besides, the administration of DMOG offset the activation of ER stress induced by SCI, but this phenomenon was blocked by tunicamycin (an ER stress activator). Finally, we disclosed that DMOG maintained the integrity and permeability of BSCB by inhibiting ER stress, and inhibition of HIF-1α erased the protection from DMOG.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings illustrate that the administration of DMOG alleviates the devastation of BSCB and HIF-1α-induced inhibition of ER stress.
Spinal Cord Injuries/pathology*
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Animals
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Amino Acids, Dicarboxylic/therapeutic use*
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Recovery of Function/drug effects*
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism*
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Male
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Spinal Cord/blood supply*
4.Independent and Interactive Effects of Air Pollutants, Meteorological Factors, and Green Space on Tuberculosis Incidence in Shanghai.
Qi YE ; Jing CHEN ; Ya Ting JI ; Xiao Yu LU ; Jia le DENG ; Nan LI ; Wei WEI ; Ren Jie HOU ; Zhi Yuan LI ; Jian Bang XIANG ; Xu GAO ; Xin SHEN ; Chong Guang YANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):792-809
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the independent and combined effects of air pollutants, meteorological factors, and greenspace exposure on new tuberculosis (TB) cases.
METHODS:
TB case data from Shanghai (2013-2018) were obtained from the Shanghai Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Environmental data on air pollutants, meteorological variables, and greenspace exposure were obtained from the National Tibetan Plateau Data Center. We employed a distributed-lag nonlinear model to assess the effects of these environmental factors on TB cases.
RESULTS:
Increased TB risk was linked to PM 2.5, PM 10, and rainfall, whereas NO 2, SO 2, and air pressure were associated with a reduced risk. Specifically, the strongest cumulative effects occurred at various lags: PM 2.5 ( RR = 1.166, 95% CI: 1.026-1.325) at 0-19 weeks; PM 10 ( RR = 1.167, 95% CI: 1.028-1.324) at 0-18 weeks; NO 2 ( RR = 0.968, 95% CI: 0.938-0.999) at 0-1 weeks; SO 2 ( RR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.894-0.999) at 0-2 weeks; air pressure ( RR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.447-0.816) at 0-8 weeks; and rainfall ( RR = 1.404, 95% CI: 1.076-1.833) at 0-22 weeks. Green space exposure did not significantly impact TB cases. Additionally, low temperatures amplified the effect of PM 2.5 on TB.
CONCLUSION
Exposure to PM 2.5, PM 10, and rainfall increased the risk of TB, highlighting the need to address air pollutants for the prevention of TB in Shanghai.
China/epidemiology*
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Humans
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Air Pollutants/analysis*
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Tuberculosis/epidemiology*
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Incidence
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Meteorological Concepts
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Particulate Matter/adverse effects*
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Environmental Exposure
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Male
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Female
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Adult
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Air Pollution
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Middle Aged
5.Associations of Genetic Risk and Physical Activity with Incident Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.
Jin YANG ; Xiao Lin WANG ; Wen Fang ZHONG ; Jian GAO ; Huan CHEN ; Pei Liang CHEN ; Qing Mei HUANG ; Yi Xin ZHANG ; Fang Fei YOU ; Chuan LI ; Wei Qi SONG ; Dong SHEN ; Jiao Jiao REN ; Dan LIU ; Zhi Hao LI ; Chen MAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(10):1194-1204
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
METHODS:
This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used.
RESULTS:
During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity.
CONCLUSION
Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans
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Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology*
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Exercise
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Male
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Prospective Studies
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Aged
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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Risk Factors
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United Kingdom/epidemiology*
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Incidence
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Adult
6.Expert consensus on the rational application of the biological clock in stomatology research
Kai YANG ; Moyi SUN ; Longjiang LI ; Zhangui TANG ; Guoxin REN ; Wei GUO ; Songsong ZHU ; Jia-Wei ZHENG ; Jie ZHANG ; Zhijun SUN ; Jie REN ; Jiawen ZHENG ; Xiaoqiang LV ; Hong TANG ; Dan CHEN ; Qing XI ; Xin HUANG ; Heming WU ; Hong MA ; Wei SHANG ; Jian MENG ; Jichen LI ; Chunjie LI ; Yi LI ; Ningbo ZHAO ; Xuemei TAN ; Yixin YANG ; Yadong WU ; Shilin YIN ; Zhiwei ZHANG
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2024;40(4):455-460
The biological clock(also known as the circadian rhythm)is the fundamental reliance for all organisms on Earth to adapt and survive in the Earth's rotation environment.Circadian rhythm is the most basic regulatory mechanism of life activities,and plays a key role in maintaining normal physiological and biochemical homeostasis,disease occurrence and treatment.Recent studies have shown that the biologi-cal clock plays an important role in the development of oral tissues and in the occurrence and treatment of oral diseases.Since there is cur-rently no guiding literature on the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,researchers mainly conduct research based on pub-lished references,which has led to controversy about the research methods of biological clock in stomatology,and there are many confusions about how to rationally apply the research methods of circadia rhythms.In view of this,this expert consensus summarizes the characteristics of the biological clock and analyzes the shortcomings of the current biological clock research in stomatology,and organizes relevant experts to summarize and recommend 10 principles as a reference for the rational implementation of the biological clock in stomatology research.
7.Expert consensus on the evaluation and rehabilitation management of shoulder syndrome after neek dissection for oral and maxillofacial malignancies
Jiacun LI ; Moyi SUN ; Jiaojie REN ; Wei GUO ; Longjiang LI ; Zhangui TANG ; Guoxin REN ; Zhijun SUN ; Jian MENG ; Wei SHANG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Jie ZHANG ; Jicheng LI ; Yue HE ; Chunjie LI ; Kai YANG ; Zhongcheng GONG ; Qing XI ; Bing HAN ; Huaming MAI ; Yanping CHEN ; Jie ZHANG ; Yadong WU ; Chao LI ; Changming AN ; Chuanzheng SUN ; Hua YUAN ; Fan YANG ; Haiguang YUAN ; Dandong WU ; Shuai FAN ; Fei LI ; Chao XU ; Wei WEI
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2024;40(5):597-607
Neck dissection(ND)is one of the main treatment methods for oral and maxillofacial malignancies.Although ND type is in con-stant improvement,but intraoperative peal-pull-push injury of the accessory nerve,muscle,muscle membrane,fascia and ligament induced shoulder syndrome(SS)is still a common postoperative complication,combined with the influence of radiochemotherapy,not only can cause pain,stiffness,numbness,limited dysfunction of shoulder neck and arm,but also may have serious impact on patient's life quality and phys-ical and mental health.At present,there is still a lack of a systematic evaluation and rehabilitation management program for postoperative SS of oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors.Based on the previous clinical practice and the current available evidence,refer to the relevant lit-erature at home and abroad,the experts in the field of maxillofacial tumor surgery and rehabilitation were invited to discuss,modify and reach a consenusus on the etiology,assessment diagnosis,differential diagnosis,rehabilitation strategy and prevention of SS,in order to provide clinical reference.
8.Discovery of a normal-tension glaucoma-suspect rhesus macaque with craniocerebral injury: Hints of elevated translaminar cribrosa pressure difference.
Jian WU ; Qi ZHANG ; Xu JIA ; Yingting ZHU ; Zhidong LI ; Shu TU ; Ling ZHAO ; Yifan DU ; Wei LIU ; Jiaoyan REN ; Liangzhi XU ; Hanxiang YU ; Fagao LUO ; Wenru SU ; Ningli WANG ; Yehong ZHUO
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(4):484-486
9.The Genetic Polymorphism and Structural Analysis of 47 Microhaplotypes in a Jiangsu Changshu Chinese Han Population
Kun-Peng PAN ; Yao-Sen FENG ; Wen-Shuai YU ; Zong-Wei LIU ; Yi-Ren YAO ; Jie ZHAO ; Ke-Lai KANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Le WANG ; Jian WU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(2):423-434
ObjectiveTo investigate the genetic polymorphism and structure of 47 autosomal microhaplotypes in the Han population in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province, and to evaluate the forensic efficiencies and forensic parameters. MethodsThe DNA library of unrelated individual samples was prepared according to MHSeqTyper47 kit manual and sequenced on the MiSeq FGx platform. Microhaplotype genotyping and sequencing depth statistics were processed using MHTyper. The genetic information of samples was then evaluated. The fixation index and genetic distance between the Jiangsu Changshu population and the reference populations in the 1000 Genomes Project phase 3 (1KG) were calculated, and forensic parameters were evaluated. ResultsThe fixation index and genetic distance between the Han population in Changshu, Jiangsu, and the CHB (Han Chinese in Beijing, China) reference population in 1KG were the lowest. The effective allele number (Ae) of each locus is also the closest between the two populations. The combined matching probability (CMP) of the Changshu Han population is close to the 5 populations of the East Asian reference super-population in 1KG, which is 1.25×10-36, and the combined probability of exclusion reached 0.999 999 999 964 1. ConclusionThis study reported the genetic polymorphism and allele frequency of 47 microhaplotypes in a Han population in Changshu City, Jiangsu Province. This information provides a data basis for 47 microhaplotypes in forensic applications. In addition, the polymorphism differences between the 1KG reference population and the Han population in Changshu, Jiangsu were compared, and the genetic structure of 47 microhaplotypes in the Han population in Changshu, Jiangsu was revealed. In general, the reference data of the East Asian super-population in 1KG is more in line with the genetic characteristics of Han population in Changshu, Jiangsu.
10.Expert consensus on the evaluation and management of dysphagia after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery
Xiaoying LI ; Moyi SUN ; Wei GUO ; Guiqing LIAO ; Zhangui TANG ; Longjiang LI ; Wei RAN ; Guoxin REN ; Zhijun SUN ; Jian MENG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Wei SHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Yue HE ; Chunjie LI ; Kai YANG ; Zhongcheng GONG ; Jichen LI ; Qing XI ; Gang LI ; Bing HAN ; Yanping CHEN ; Qun'an CHANG ; Yadong WU ; Huaming MAI ; Jie ZHANG ; Weidong LENG ; Lingyun XIA ; Wei WU ; Xiangming YANG ; Chunyi ZHANG ; Fan YANG ; Yanping WANG ; Tiantian CAO
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2024;40(1):5-14
Surgical operation is the main treatment of oral and maxillofacial tumors.Dysphagia is a common postoperative complication.Swal-lowing disorder can not only lead to mis-aspiration,malnutrition,aspiration pneumonia and other serious consequences,but also may cause psychological problems and social communication barriers,affecting the quality of life of the patients.At present,there is no systematic evalua-tion and rehabilitation management plan for the problem of swallowing disorder after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery in China.Combining the characteristics of postoperative swallowing disorder in patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors,summarizing the clinical experience of ex-perts in the field of tumor and rehabilitation,reviewing and summarizing relevant literature at home and abroad,and through joint discussion and modification,a group of national experts reached this consensus including the core contents of the screening of swallowing disorders,the phased assessment of prognosis and complications,and the implementation plan of comprehensive management such as nutrition management,respiratory management,swallowing function recovery,psychology and nursing during rehabilitation treatment,in order to improve the evalua-tion and rehabilitation of swallowing disorder after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery in clinic.

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