1.Effect of Oral Sodium Butyrate on Skeletal Muscle Atrophy via The Gut-muscle Axis in Antibiotic-pretreated CT26 Tumor-bearing Mice and Its Mechanism
Shu-Ling ZHANG ; Jun-Wei WANG ; Shi-Liang HU ; Tu-Tu WANG ; Shun-Chang LI ; Jia FAN ; Jun-Zhi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):724-739
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of oral sodium butyrate on skeletal muscle atrophy in CT26 tumor mice through the gut microbiota-skeletal muscle axis and its potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF BALB/c male mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into a normal control group (NC, n=18) and a ABX-depleted group (ABX, n=42). The ABX mice were pretreated with a quadruple antibiotic cocktail via oral gavage (0.2 ml per administration, once daily, 6 d per week, for 2 weeks), whereas NC received an equal volume of sterile water. The quadruple antibiotic cocktail consisted of metronidazole (1 g/L), vancomycin (0.5 g/L), ampicillin (1 g/L), and gentamicin (1 g/L). Following successful pretreatment, six mice from each group were randomly selected for gut microbiota sequencing analysis and designated as the Abx group and the NC0 group, respectively. Theremaining mice in ABX were subcutaneously inoculated in the dorsum with 0.2 ml of CT26 cell suspension (at a cell density of 1×107/ml). Then these mice were randomly allocated into three subgroups: a control tumor bearing model group (0_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving low-dose oral sodium butyrate (L_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving high-dose oral sodium butyrate (H_NaB, n=12). And mice in NC were inoculated at the same site with 0.2 ml of normal saline. The administration dose for L_NaB was 0.3 g/(kg·d), that for H_NaB was 0.5 g/(kg·d), while NC and 0_NaB were given the same volume of normal saline (0.2ml per time, once daily, 6 d per week, for 4 weeks). The general condition of mice was monitored, and forelimb grip strength gastrocnemius muscle mass and its muscle fiber cross-sectional area were measured for each group. The structural changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents. Pathological alterations in the intestinal wall were examined via HE staining. Serum and gastrocnemius muscle levels of TNF‑α, IL-6, IL-1β, and LPS were quantified using ELISA. The protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the small intestine, as well as proteins associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastrocnemius muscle, were detected by Western blot analysis. Results(1) The alpha-diversity in Abx was significantly lower than that in NC0 (P<0.01), a significant decrease of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius (P<0.01), with the majority of gut microbiota being effectively depleted. (2) Compared with NC, the subcutaneous tumors of mice in 0_NaB were prominent, a significant increase of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius, accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight at the end of the 3th and 4th week (P<0.05), and a significant weakening of the forelimb grasping strength at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.01). Compared with 0_NaB, the tumor mass of mice in L_NaB and H_NaB showed a significant decreasing trend, and the grip strength of the forelimbs significantly increased at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.05, P<0.01). (3) Compared with 0_NaB, the Shannon and Observed species indices in α diversity of L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with 0_NaB, L_NaB exhibited a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Parasutterella (P< 0.01), while H_NaB showed significant reductions in the relative abundances of both Escherichia-Shigella and Parasutterella (P < 0.01). (4) Compared with 0_NaB, the small intestinal tissue structure in L_NaB and H_NaB was more intact, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, and the capillaries were slightly dilated. The expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin proteins in L_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.01). (5) The LPS concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and the protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF‑κB p65 in L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05). The serum TNF‑α concentration in H_NaB and TNF-α concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle of the L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). ConclusionOral administration of NaB can improve gut microbiota α diversity, adjusting its composition, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, reducing the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response, and delaying skeletal muscle atrophy. The underlying mechanism may involve down regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in skeletal muscle.
2.Construction and Evaluation of Animal Model with "Phlegm-dampness" Syndrome
Xiaoqin LIU ; Qingzhi LIANG ; Wei JIANG ; Ling DENG ; Haoyue FENG ; Rensong YUE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):26-39
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, impaired spleen transportation function disrupts nutrient distribution, causing metabolic accumulation of lipids that transform into pathogenic phlegm-dampness. These pathological factors disseminate through the San Jiao and obstruct meridian pathways, ultimately forming the pathogenesis described as "all disorders involve phlegm". Phlegm and dampness share common pathogenic origins but manifest distinct clinical manifestations. Dampness, as the precursor, may congeal into phlegm, while existing phlegm accumulation can further exacerbate dampness stagnation, thereby establishing a self-perpetuating pathological cycle. Modern medical research has confirmed that the essence of "phlegm-dampness" syndrome is closely associated with energy metabolism disorders, serving as a common pathological basis for metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and other major chronic diseases. As a crucial vehicle for medical experimental research, disease-syndrome combination animal models serve as an indispensable means to advance the modernization of TCM. Currently, based on classical theories such as "rich and greasy foods produce phlegm" and "physical coldness combined with cold consumption causes external pathogens to invade the skin and hair, thereby generating internal dampness", researchers primarily employ two paradigms to construct animal models of phlegm-turbidity, dampness obstruction, and phlegm-dampness syndromes: the first involves simulating TCM etiological factors (through methods like dietary irregularities, imblanace between work and rest, and combined internal-external dampness exposure), while the second combines disease with syndrome differentiation (inducing pathological changes through physical, chemical, or biological interventions). Through comprehensive evaluation incorporating macroscopic observation and microscopic index detection, model animals undergo systematic biological and pathological assessment, with further syndrome type verification achieved via the "prescription-based syndrome detection" approach. However, existing models still exhibit significant deficiencies in both the standardization of modeling methodologies and the systematization of evaluation criteria. This paper reviews the strategies for constructing "phlegm-dampness" syndrome animal models and their corresponding evaluation indices, focusing on the pathological correlations among different modeling approaches. The aim is to provide methodological guidance for research on TCM syndromes related to "phlegm-dampness" syndrome and to support the development of TCM therapies for resolving phlegm and eliminating dampness. This study not only contributes to advancing the standardization of TCM syndrome research but also provides crucial technical support for the modernization of TCM.
3.Inverse Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Parkinson’s Disease Risk and Identification of RIT2 as a Linked Biomarker
Wei LU ; Xiu-Li CHENG ; Xiao-Yun PAN ; Dan-Dan YANG ; Hui-Ling ZOU ; Li-Guo DONG ; Yi-Liang WEI ; Gui-Yun CUI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1723-1733
ObjectiveAs a common lifestyle habit, alcohol consumption has a controversial association with the onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD). To demonstrate the correlation between alcohol consumption and PD and to identify associated genes, we integrated findings from clinical surveys, genomics, transcriptomics, and animal experiments. MethodsWe investigated the alcohol consumption rates (including both before and after disease onset) among 244 PD patients in China and 177 PD patients from the U.S. NHANES database. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data for three alcohol-related traits and seven PD-related datasets from the MRC IEU OpenGWAS database. Transcriptomic data from the substantia nigra of PD patients were obtained from three GEO datasets (GSE7621, GSE20141, and GSE49036) to analyze RIT2 gene transcription. Finally, three groups of animal experiments (water/20% ethanol/20% liquor, with 4 C57BL/6J mice per group) were conducted to examine changes in brain RIT2 gene expression and transcriptomic profiles following alcohol consumption. ResultsThe alcohol consumption rates among PD patients in China and the U.S. (9%-18.87%) were significantly lower than the general population rates of 15%-45% in their respective regions (P<0.001), suggesting a possible negative association between alcohol consumption and PD. Subsequently, in 21 bidirectional MR analyses using 3 alcohol-related GWAS datasets and 7 PD-related GWAS datasets, the forward MR analyses (alcohol intake as exposure, PD as outcome) yielded 12 negative associations (ORIVW<1) and 9 positive associations (ORIVW>1). Among these, only two negative associations reached statistical significance: alcohol intake frequency (ORIVW=0.75, 95% CI: 0.60-0.93, P=0.010) and alcohol consumption (ORIVW=0.20, 95% CI: 0.05-0.83, P=0.026). The forward MR analysis (alcohol intake→PD) identified 235 SNPs, annotated to 316 genes, while the reverse MR analyses (PD→alcohol intake) identified 37 SNPs, annotated to 53 genes. Notably, only the RIT2 gene appeared in both the forward and reverse MR analyses (alcohol intake→PD: rs28597806, rs8083110; PD→alcohol intake: rs4588066). RIT2 is selectively expressed in the human brain (FPKM: 5.259±2.103), with low or no expression in peripheral tissues (FPKM: <1). Analysis of three human substantia nigra transcriptomic datasets revealed a decreasing trend in RIT2 gene expression in PD patients (GSE20141 array signal: 3.49±1.23 vs. 2.33±0.87, P=0.044). Animal experiments demonstrated that administration of 20% ethanol or 20% liquor (approximately 8% ethanol) stimulated a >2-fold upregulation of RIT2 gene expression in the mouse brain. Furthermore, transcriptomic sequencing revealed that the two alcohol-treated groups exhibited 96 (20% ethanol vs. water control) and 4 (20% liquor vs. water control) differentially expressed genes, respectively, indicating that low-dose alcohol consumption can achieve RIT2 upregulation while minimizing impact on other brain genes. In addition to its anti-infective effects, low-dose alcohol consumption primarily influences signaling pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases such as PD and Prion diseases. ConclusionAlcohol consumption is generally considered as a harmful lifestyle habit. However, some studies have also shown a lower risk of mortality among individuals who consume low doses of alcohol (100 g/week of ethanol) or drink occasionally. Currently, one of the research focuses on alcohol consumption is whether the human body can benefit from low-dose alcohol intake. This study provides new evidence supporting a negative association between alcohol consumption and PD, and for the first time, through MR analysis, identifies the RIT2 gene as a potential mediator of the effect of alcohol consumption on PD. RIT2 is selectively expressed in the human brain. Building upon existing evidence indicating downregulated RIT2 gene expression in PD pathogenesis, our experiments confirm that low-dose alcohol consumption can upregulate RIT2 expression in the brain. In brief, alcohol consumption may suppress the pathogenesis of PD by upregulating RIT2 expression in the substantia nigra. China is facing a serious problem of population aging. This study offers important insights for long-term PD prevention and treatment strategies, with the aim of benefiting more potential PD patients through lifestyle modifications, thereby improving the quality of life of the aging population and reducing the economic burden on healthcare.
4.Recurrent Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Predictors and Clinical Outcomes in a 24-Year Retrospective Cohort
Liang Wei Wong ; Lisa Mohamed Nor ; Raja Nurazni binti Raja Azwan ; Adilah Zulaikha binti Abd Latib ; Hidayatil Alimi bin Keya Nordin ; Qin Zhi Lee ; Kean Heng Lim ; Jia Ling Low ; Mohd Fyzal bin Bahrudin ; Syaza binti Izhar Hisham ; Jia Whey Jacelyn Ong ; Chin Voon Tong
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):33-34
Introduction:
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication associated with significant morbidity and healthcare
burden. Despite advances in diabetes care, recurrent
DKA remains common, often reflecting gaps in treatment
adherence and patient education. Identifying predictors
of recurrence is crucial for risk stratification and targeted
intervention.
Methodology:
We conducted a retrospective observational study of all
adult DKA admissions to a tertiary centre between 2001
and 2025. Electronic medical records were reviewed for
demographic data, biochemical parameters, precipitating
factors, and clinical outcomes. DKA was defined using standard biochemical criteria. Recurrent DKA was defined as ≥2 admissions during the study period. Factors associated
with recurrent DKA admissions were analyzed. Patients
under the age of 18 years and those with missing vital
information were excluded.
Results:
A total of 667 DKA admissions, comprising 566 patients,
were identified, of which 101 admissions (15.1%) were
recurrent, involving 65 patients. Among recurrent DKA
episodes, the most common precipitating factors were
infection (64.4%) and insulin omission (62.4%). After
multivariate analyses, patients with type 1 diabetes
mellitus (T1DM) were more likely to develop recurrent
DKA compared to those with type 2 diabetes mellitus
(aOR 4.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.58–6.70; p <0.001).
Insulin omission was strongly associated with recurrent
DKA (aOR 2.29; 95% CI 1.46–3.60; p <0.001). In contrast,
baseline glycated hemoglobin and chronic kidney disease
were not significantly associated with recurrence. Diabetic
counseling during the first DKA admission did not reduce
recurrent DKA. There were no significant differences in
mortality (3.9% vs 6.2%, p = 0.524) or critical care admission
rates (40.6% vs 38.7%, p = 0.718) between recurrent and first
DKA episodes.
Conclusion
Recurrent DKA accounts for a substantial proportion of
DKA admissions and is strongly associated with insulin
omission and T1DM. Our findings suggest that recurrent
DKA is driven predominantly by behavioral and adherencerelated factors, indicating the need for multidisciplinary
interventions beyond standard inpatient counseling.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
;
Retrospective Studies
5.Clinical and Biochemical Characteristics of Adult Diabetic Ketoacidosis: T1DM vs. T2DM
Mohd Fyzal Bahrudin ; Chin Voon Tong ; Raja Nurazni Raja Azwan ; Adilah Zulaikha Abd Latib ; idayatil Alimi Keya Nordin ; Qin Zhi Lee ; Kean Heng Lim ; Jia Ling Low ; Syaza Izhar Hisham ; Liang Wei Wong ; Jia Whey Jacelyn Ong ; Lisa Mohamed Nor ; Zanariah Hussein
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):39-40
Introduction:
The rising incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in type 2
diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a paradigm shift from
its traditional recognition as a hallmark complication of
type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, contemporary
data comparing clinical presentation, precipitating factors,
and outcomes between these two populations remain
limited.
Methodology:
In this retrospective observational study, all adult DKA
admissions with T1DM or T2DM at a tertiary centre between
2001 and 2025 were studied. DKA was defined according
to standard biochemical criteria. Electronic medical records were reviewed to extract demographic data, biochemical
parameters, precipitating factors, management details, and
clinical outcomes of all adult DKA admission in T1DM and
T2DM. Patients aged <18 years or those with incomplete
data were excluded.
Results:
A total of 601 DKA episodes were analyzed, comprising
130 (21.6%) in patients with T1DM and 471 (78.4%) in those
with T2DM. Mean age was 26.9 ± 0.71 years for T1DM and
52.1 ± 0.7 years for T2DM. Gender distribution was balanced
(male 48.3%, female 51.7%). Mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
was 11.3 ± 0.3% in T1DM and 12.1 ± 0.2% in T2DM. Infection
was the most common precipitating factor overall (69.0%),
occurring more frequently in T2DM than in T1DM (74.7%
vs. 56.2%), followed by medication non-adherence (62.4%
vs. 43.8%). Significant differences were observed between
groups in admission pH, bicarbonate (both p <0.001), blood
ketones (p = 0.028), and HbA1c (p = 0.010), whereas anion
gap (p = 0.056) and blood glucose levels (p = 0.755) did not
differ significantly. Clinical outcomes were comparable
with respect to intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates
(40.0% in T1DM vs. 39.0% in T2DM, p = 0.779) and median
resolution time (p = 0.462). However, the median length of
hospital stay was significantly longer in T2DM (8.2 ± 0.32
vs. 5.4 ± 0.4 days; p <0.001). Overall mortality was 6.0%,
with substantially higher mortality in T2DM compared to
T1DM (7.4% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.013).
Conclusion
In this large regional series of adult DKA, most episodes
occurred in T2DM. Despite similar ICU admission rates
and time to resolution, T2DM was associated with more
frequent infection-related precipitants, longer hospital
stays, and higher mortality, underscoring the need for
targeted preventive strategies in this population.
Adult
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
;
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
6.Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Pregnancy: Clinical Triggers, Outcomes, and Missed Opportunities—A Case Series
Jia Whey Jacelyn Ong ; Chin Voon Tong ; Raja Nurazni binti Raja Azwan ; Adilah Zulaikha binti Abd Latib ; Hidayatil Alimi bin Keya Nordin ; Qin Zhi Lee ; Kean Heng Lim ; Jia Ling Low ; Mohd Fyzal bin Bahrudin ; Syaza binti Izhar Hisham ; Liang Wei Wong ; Lisa Mohamed Nor ; Nurain Mohd Noorr
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):48-49
Introduction:
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pregnancy is an uncommon
yet life-threatening emergency, with disproportionate risks
to both mother and fetus. Pregnancy-specific physiological changes predispose patients to rapid metabolic decompensation, often with atypical presentations. Despite
this, local data remain limited. We describe the clinical
profile, precipitating factors, and outcomes of DKA in
pregnancy in a tertiary centre, with emphasis on potentially
preventable triggers.
Cases:
Nine pregnant patients with DKA were identified from a
retrospective review of all cases admitted for DKA from
2002 to 2025. Mean age was 31.67 ± 5.20 years; all were
Malay. The majority had type 2 diabetes mellitus (55.6%),
followed by type 1 diabetes (33.3%) and latent autoimmune
diabetes in adults (11.1%). The mean period of amenorrhea
was 19.67 ± 12.62 weeks.
Infection was the leading precipitant (44.4%), with
additional triggers including insulin omission (22.2%),
hyperemesis gravidarum, preterm labor, steroid exposure,
and perioperative fasting. Most diagnoses were made in
the emergency department (55.6%).
Biochemical parameters reflected significant severity (mean
bicarbonate 7.89 ± 2.98 mmol/L; anion gap 25.00 ± 5.81),
with 88.9% classified as severe DKA. Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) care was required in 77.8% of cases. The majority
(77.8%) were admitted to the ICU unit, with a median time
to resolution of 13.00 ± 12.00 hours (interquartile range
[IQR]), and the median hospital length of stay was 7.00 ±
5.00 days (IQR).
Complications during treatment included hypokalemia
(33.3%), acute kidney injury (22.2%), and hypoglycemia
(11.1%). Rebound DKA occurred in one-third of patients.
All patients were discharged clinically stable. Outcome
data demonstrated pregnancy loss in three cases and one
preterm birth.
Conclusion
DKA in pregnancy remains a severe and resource-intensive
condition. This series highlights missed opportunities in
prevention, with modifiable precipitants such as infection
and insulin omission commonly identified. The high
severity at presentation suggests delays in recognition.
Early detection, optimized metabolic care, and targeted
preventive strategies are crucial to improving maternal
and fetal outcomes.
Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
7.Exploration on the Effect Mechanism of Electroacupuncture in Treating Urinary Incontinence Rats after Suprasacral Spinal Cord Injury Based on EP3-HCN1 Signaling Pathway
Jing ZHANG ; Tong LIANG ; Runxia HAN ; Ling WEI
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(7):73-80
Objective To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating rats with urinary incontinence after suprasacral spinal cord injury based on EP3-HCN1 signaling pathway.Methods Totally 48 female SD rats were divided into sham-operation group(12 rats)and modeling group(36 rats,prepared as urinary incontinence model rats after suprasacral spinal cord injury)according to the random number table method.The molded rats were randomly divided into the model group,electroacupuncture group and electroacupuncture+EP3 agonist group after successful modeling,with 11 rats in each group.The electroacupuncture group stimulated"Guanyuan","Zhongji"and"Sanyinjiao"acupoints,and the electroacupuncture+EP3 agonist group injected EP3 agonist sulprostone into the tail vein before electroacupuncture treatment once a day for 7 days.The urodynamic indexes of rats were detected,the morphology of the bladder tissues were observed by HE staining,Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and hyperpolarized activated cyclic nucleotide gated channel protein(HCN)1 in bladder tissue,respectively.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the positive expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the model group rats showed an increase in bladder basal pressure and leak point pressure(P<0.01),and a decrease in bladder maximum capacity and compliance(P<0.01);the arrangement of epithelial cells in bladder tissue was disordered,leading to pathological phenomena such as inflammatory cell infiltration,tissue edema and bleeding;the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group showed a decrease in bladder basal pressure and leak point pressure(P<0.01),while the bladder maximum capacity and compliance increased(P<0.05,P<0.01);the morphology of bladder tissue was relatively normal;the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue were all decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the electroacupuncture group,the electroacupuncture+EP3 agonist group showed an increase in bladder basal pressure and leak point pressure(P<0.05,P<0.01),a decrease in bladder maximum capacity and compliance(P<0.05,P<0.01);aggravated pathological damage to bladder tissue;the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture of"Zhongji","Guanyuan"and"Sanyinjiao"alleviates excessive contraction of the bladder detrusor muscle by inhibiting the activation of the EP3-HCN1 pathway,thereby improving urinary incontinence symptoms after suprasacral spinal cord injury in rats.
8.Exploration on the Effect Mechanism of Electroacupuncture in Treating Urinary Incontinence Rats after Suprasacral Spinal Cord Injury Based on EP3-HCN1 Signaling Pathway
Jing ZHANG ; Tong LIANG ; Runxia HAN ; Ling WEI
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(7):73-80
Objective To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in treating rats with urinary incontinence after suprasacral spinal cord injury based on EP3-HCN1 signaling pathway.Methods Totally 48 female SD rats were divided into sham-operation group(12 rats)and modeling group(36 rats,prepared as urinary incontinence model rats after suprasacral spinal cord injury)according to the random number table method.The molded rats were randomly divided into the model group,electroacupuncture group and electroacupuncture+EP3 agonist group after successful modeling,with 11 rats in each group.The electroacupuncture group stimulated"Guanyuan","Zhongji"and"Sanyinjiao"acupoints,and the electroacupuncture+EP3 agonist group injected EP3 agonist sulprostone into the tail vein before electroacupuncture treatment once a day for 7 days.The urodynamic indexes of rats were detected,the morphology of the bladder tissues were observed by HE staining,Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and hyperpolarized activated cyclic nucleotide gated channel protein(HCN)1 in bladder tissue,respectively.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the positive expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the model group rats showed an increase in bladder basal pressure and leak point pressure(P<0.01),and a decrease in bladder maximum capacity and compliance(P<0.01);the arrangement of epithelial cells in bladder tissue was disordered,leading to pathological phenomena such as inflammatory cell infiltration,tissue edema and bleeding;the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group showed a decrease in bladder basal pressure and leak point pressure(P<0.01),while the bladder maximum capacity and compliance increased(P<0.05,P<0.01);the morphology of bladder tissue was relatively normal;the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue were all decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the electroacupuncture group,the electroacupuncture+EP3 agonist group showed an increase in bladder basal pressure and leak point pressure(P<0.05,P<0.01),a decrease in bladder maximum capacity and compliance(P<0.05,P<0.01);aggravated pathological damage to bladder tissue;the protein and mRNA expressions of c-Kit,EP3 and HCN1 in bladder tissue increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture of"Zhongji","Guanyuan"and"Sanyinjiao"alleviates excessive contraction of the bladder detrusor muscle by inhibiting the activation of the EP3-HCN1 pathway,thereby improving urinary incontinence symptoms after suprasacral spinal cord injury in rats.
9.A Rubric System for Evaluating the TCA-based Ideological and Political Teaching Model:Its Construction and Application
Ying WANG ; Ling-Hui LV ; Ren-Ji WEI ; Xiang ZHANG ; Yi RU ; Bo YAN ; Lan SHEN ; Mao SUN ; Liang LIANG ; Jing ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(1):53-67
The success of"New Medical Sciences"in higher education requires effective tools in evalua-ting students'performance in courses.Previously,we reported a teamwork(T),critique(C)and ap-preciation(A)(TCA)ideological and political model,a teaching model widely applied in Basic Medical courses.TCA is an abbreviation derived from Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle in Biochemistry as an analogy for nurturing the abilities of thinking and teamwork(T),critique(C)and appreciation(A),which hope-fully could provide students with moral norms for cognition,science and life.This paper further explores the tools to assess the educational outcomes of the TCA model,by which teachers can collect feedback and reflect on teaching quality and effectiveness.Addressing the challenges of individual differences in large classes,fragmented learning feedback,and the difficulty of measuring meta-cognition in educational evaluation,this study employs strategies of value-added assessment,matrix assessment and norm-transfer-able assessment to evaluate the TCA abilities from the aspects of thinking quality,thinking creativity,co-operation ability,iterative thinking,dialectical thinking and job responsibility.By modifying/using 18 e-valuation tools in Education and Psychology,we have established a rubric system composed of 30 primary indicators(with 11 newly designed,10 partly modified and 9 directly adopted),along with 49 secondary indicators and 98 tertiary indicators to enhance the feasibility of the evaluation process.This rubric sys-tem was applied to Biochemistry teaching among the five-year-program undergraduates at Air Force Medi-cal University.Specifically,thinking and teamwork are evaluated by creative works from"the magic bio-chemical-circle",while critiques are assessed in large classes under the guidance of basic and clinical teachers,coupled with appreciation measured by job responsibility in a task-driven virtual reality(VR)project.The results indicate that Biochemistry teaching not only accumulates knowledge in students,but also achieves the goals in nurturing values and cognition.The inclusion of creative performance evalua-tion,cooperative learning and clinical case studies,can enhance students'interpersonal skills,coopera-tion,quality of thinking,creative thinking,iterative thinking and dialectical thinking to varying degrees.TCA-based Biochemistry teaching has a long-lasting impact on character education,and is capable of in-ducing positive long-term changes in students'cognition and lifestyle.Taken together,with the help of this rubric system,teachers can promptly acknowledge the effectiveness of their teaching,thereby facilita-ting their teaching strategies.
10.Engineering CHO Cell Lines to Stably Express B4GALT1,ST6GAL1,and GnTⅢ with Site-directed Integration
Xian-Hong LI ; Run-Qing JIA ; You-Liang WANG ; Wei-Ling MAN ; Tian-Hao ZHU ; Xin-Long YAN ; Yan-Li LIN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(4):576-585
Glycoengineering was carried out in the mammalian cell line CHO for the production of pro-tein-based drugs.Firstly,the genome sequence of the Rosa26 locus of CHO cells was determined,the gRNA sequences were designed,and the landing pad was integrated into the Rosa26 locus of CHO cells by CRISPR/Cas9 technology.Three targeting vectors co-expressed by glycosyltransferases,which are β-1,4 galactosyltransferase(B4GALT1),α-2,6-sialyltransferase 1(ST6GAL1)and N-acetaminoglycosyl-transferase Ⅲ(GnT Ⅲ),were constructed by overlapping PCR and seamless ligation technology,and the three glycosyltransferase genes were integrated into the CHO Rosa26 locus by Cre enzyme-mediated cassette exchange technology.PCR confirmed that three glycosyltransferases had been successfully site-directed integrated into the Rosa26 site.The mRNA expression levels of the three glycosyltransferases were more than 50 000-fold by qRT-PCR,and the protein expression levels of the three glycosyltrans-ferases were more than 4-fold via western blotting(P<0.001).A CHO-engineered cell line with three glycosyltransferases integrated into Rosa26 site was successfully constructed.


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