1.Pathogenesis and treatment progress of flap ischemia-reperfusion injury
Bo HE ; Wen CHEN ; Suilu MA ; Zhijun HE ; Yuan SONG ; Jinpeng LI ; Tao LIU ; Xiaotao WEI ; Weiwei WANG ; Jing XIE
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1230-1238
BACKGROUND:Flap transplantation technique is a commonly used surgical procedure for the treatment of severe tissue defects,but postoperative flap necrosis is easily triggered by ischemia-reperfusion injury.Therefore,it is still an important research topic to improve the survival rate of transplanted flaps. OBJECTIVE:To review the pathogenesis and latest treatment progress of flap ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS:CNKI,WanFang Database and PubMed database were searched for relevant literature published from 2014 to 2024.The search terms used were"flap,ischemia-reperfusion injury,inflammatory response,oxidative stress,Ca2+overload,apoptosis,mesenchymal stem cells,platelet-rich plasma,signaling pathways,shock wave,pretreatment"in Chinese and English.After elimination of irrelevant literature,poor quality and obsolete literature,77 documents were finally included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Flap ischemia/reperfusion injury may be related to pathological factors such as inflammatory response,oxidative stress response,Ca2+overload,and apoptosis,which can cause apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells,vascular damage and microcirculation disorders in the flap,and eventually lead to flap necrosis.Studies have found that mesenchymal stem cell transplantation,platelet-rich plasma,signaling pathway modulators,shock waves,and pretreatment can alleviate flap ischemia/reperfusion injuries from different aspects and to varying degrees,and reduce the necrosis rate and necrosis area of the grafted flap.Although there are many therapeutic methods for skin flap ischemia/reperfusion injury,a unified and effective therapeutic method has not yet been developed in the clinic,and the advantages and disadvantages of various therapeutic methods have not yet been compared.Most of the studies remain in the stage of animal experiments,rarely involving clinical observations.Therefore,a lot of research is required in the future to gradually move from animal experiments to the clinic in order to better serve the clinic.
2.Mitophagy regulates bone metabolism
Hanmin ZHU ; Song WANG ; Wenlin XIAO ; Wenjing ZHANG ; Xi ZHOU ; Ye HE ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(8):1676-1683
BACKGROUND:In recent years,numerous studies have shown that autophagy and mitophagy play an important role in the regulation of bone metabolism.Under non-physiological conditions,mitophagy breaks the balance of bone metabolism and triggers metabolism disorders,which affect osteoblasts,osteoclasts,osteocytes,chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,etc. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the mechanism of mitophagy in regulating bone metabolic diseases and its application in clinical treatment. METHODS:PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI,WanFang and VIP databases were searched by computer using the keywords of"mitophagy,bone metabolism,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,osteocytes,chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells"in English and Chinese.The search time was from 2008 to 2023.According to the inclusion criteria,90 articles were finally included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mitophagy promotes the generation of osteoblasts through SIRT1,PINK1/Parkin,FOXO3 and PI3K signaling pathways,while inhibiting osteoclast function through PINK1/Parkin and SIRT1 signaling pathways.Mitophagy leads to bone loss by increasing calcium phosphate particles and tissue protein kinase K in bone tissue.Mitophagy improves the function of chondrocytes through PINK1/Parkin,PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways.Modulation of mitophagy shows great potential in the treatment of bone diseases,but there are still some issues to be further explored,such as different stages of drug-activated mitophagy,and the regulatory mechanisms of different signaling pathways.
3.Application of Bedside Hypertonic Saline-contrast Electrical Impedance Tomography of Lung Perfusion in Patients After Pulmonary Endarterectomy: Two Cases and Literature Review
Qiuyan CAI ; Wanglin LIU ; Wei CHENG ; Jingjing LIU ; Chaoji ZHANG ; Jianzhou LIU ; Yun LONG ; Huaiwu HE
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):513-518
Pulmonary electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a noninvasive, continuous, dynamic, and radiation-free bedside imaging technique for monitoring pulmonary ventilation, is now widely utilized in the diagnosis and management of critically ill patients. Beyond ventilation monitoring, hypertonic saline contrast-enhanced EIT for bedside pulmonary perfusion assessment has recently garnered significant attention. This article describes the application of hypertonic saline contrast-enhanced EIT to evaluate pulmonary perfusion in two patients following pulmonary endarterectomy, providing a reference for its perioperative application in such patients.
4.Discussion on the practice of ethical review in organ transplantation under refined management
Fang HUANG ; Xinfeng PAN ; Hui ZENG ; Qing HE ; Yong XU ; Lanlan WEI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(4):441-447
The development of organ transplantation has brought new hope to many patients with organ failure and their families, but it has also raised numerous ethical issues. How to balance the rights and interests between organ donors and recipients, as well as ensure the fairness and transparency of the transplantation process has become an urgent problem to be solved. Based on the latest Regulations on Organ Donation and Transplantation and the Working Rules of the Ethics Committee for Human Organ Transplantation, the current difficulties and challenges in organ transplantation ethics were deeply analyzed. Taking the ethical review practice of Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital as an example, this paper explored issues such as full informed consent of both donors and recipients, risk assessment of marginal donors, and the review of relationships between donors and recipients. It also explored and constructed a set of complete ethical review models for organ transplantation through refined management. This model improved the efficiency and quality of ethical review as well as enriched the related knowledge system. It is expected that the implementation of this model can provide a reference for promoting effective ethical review nationwide, advancing the improvement and development of ethical review work in organ transplantation. Meanwhile, more medical ethics experts and practitioners are called upon to focus on and engage in the research and practice of ethical review in organ transplantation, jointly promoting progress in this field.
5.Mahoniae Caulis Alkaloids Ameliorate Depression by Regulating Synaptic Plasticity via cAMP Pathway
Junhui HE ; Chunlian JIA ; Kedao LAI ; Guili ZHOU ; Rongfei ZHOU ; Yi LI ; Dongmei LI ; Jiaxiu XIE ; Guining WEI ; Juying ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):132-140
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms associated with Mahoniae Caulis alkaloids (MA) in ameliorating depression by network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. MethodsThe component targets of MA were obtained through Swiss Target Prediction and TCMIP database. The depression targets were collected through TCMIP, Genecards, HPO, DrugBank and OMIM database. The depression targets were collected through TCMIP, Genecards, HPO, DrugBank and OMIM database. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by protein interaction analysis (STRING) database. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed through Bioinformatics (DAVID) database. The docking of components and targets was performed by AGFR. The mouse model of depression was established by intraperitoneal injection of corticosterone (CORT) once a day for 35 consecutive days. Sixty mice were randomly allocated into control (0.9% normal saline), model (CORT, 20 mg·kg-1), positive control (fluoxetine hydrochloride, 3.6 mg·kg-1), and MA (10, 5, and 2.5 mg·kg-1) groups. Each group was administrated with corresponding medicine or normal saline once a day for 28 consecutive days. The depression-like behavior of mice was observed. The pathological changes of prefrontal cortex in mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl dUTP transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL) was employed to observe the apoptosis of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to assess the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE) in mice. The mRNA levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway-related factors and inflammatory factors were determined by Real-time PCR. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of cAMP pathway-related factors and connexin 43 (Cx43). ResultsA total of 434 component targets and 545 depression targets were obtained, including 84 common targets, among which 10 core targets were screened out. GO analysis predicted 34 biological processes, 15 cell components, and 11 molecular functions. The KEGG pathways were mainly related to gap junction and cAMP signaling pathway. The core components had good binding affinity with the core targets. The results of animal experiments showed that compared with the control group, CORT prolonged the immobility time of mice in forced swimming and tail suspension tests (P<0.01), lowered the serum levels of NE, BDNF, and 5-HT (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the brain tissue (P<0.05), and down-regulated the mRNA levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate effector binding protein (CREB) and BDNF (P<0.05) and the protein levels of protein kinase (PRKACA), phosphorylation (p)-CREB/CREB, BDNF, and Cx43 (P<0.05) in the brain tissue. Compared with the model group, high-dose MA reduced the immobility time of mice in forced swimming (P<0.05) and tail suspension (P<0.01) tests, raised the serum levels of NE, BDNF, and 5-HT (P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA level of NF-κB (P<0.01), and up-regulated the mRNA level of BDNF (P<0.01) and protein levels of PRKACA, p-CREB/CREB, BDNF, and Cx43 (P<0.05). ConclusionMA alleviates the CORT-induced depressive behavior of mice. It may play an antidepressant role by regulating cAMP signaling pathway and gap junction pathway, improving synaptic plasticity and gap junction function, and reducing neuroinflammation.
6.Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang in Improving Pyroptosis, Neuroinflammation, and Learning and Cognitive Functions in APP/PS1 Mice Based on NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Pathway
Wei CHENG ; Shuo YANG ; Zhangxin HE ; Wei CHEN ; Aihua TAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):11-19
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Huanglian Jiedutang (HLJDT) inhibits pyroptosis and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice via the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 (Caspase)-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathway. MethodsThirty APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly and evenly divided into the model group (model group), the positive control group (Donepezil group, 0.65 mg·kg-1), and the HLJDT treatment group (HLJDT group, 5.2 g·kg-1). Ten C57BL/6 mice were assigned to the blank control group (control group). The Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests were used to evaluate learning and memory abilities. Nissl staining was employed to observe the morphology, quantity, and distribution of neurons in the hippocampal region. Golgi staining was used to examine the morphology and density of neuronal dendritic spines in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expression of neuroinflammation-related factors and genes in the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway in the hippocampus. Western blot was used to detect the expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), amyloid precursor protein (APP), inflammatory factors including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as pyroptosis pathway-related proteins including NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited significantly decreased learning and memory abilities (P<0.01), reduced numbers of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region and dendritic spines in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.01), and significantly increased hippocampal mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.01). Protein levels of PSD95 were markedly decreased, while the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and APP were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, both the Donepezil and HLJDT groups showed significantly improved learning and memory abilities (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased numbers of hippocampal neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region and dendritic spines in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.01), and significantly decreased hippocampal mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and APP were significantly downregulated, while PSD95 expression was significantly upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in GSDMD-N levels in the Donepezil group, while GSDMD-N expression was significantly decreased in the HLJDT group (P<0.05). ConclusionThis study confirms that HLJDT can improve learning and memory abilities in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, and attenuate neuronal loss and synaptic damage, possibly through inhibition of pyroptosis via the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.
7.Mahoniae Caulis Alkaloids Ameliorate Depression by Regulating Synaptic Plasticity via cAMP Pathway
Junhui HE ; Chunlian JIA ; Kedao LAI ; Guili ZHOU ; Rongfei ZHOU ; Yi LI ; Dongmei LI ; Jiaxiu XIE ; Guining WEI ; Juying ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):132-140
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms associated with Mahoniae Caulis alkaloids (MA) in ameliorating depression by network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. MethodsThe component targets of MA were obtained through Swiss Target Prediction and TCMIP database. The depression targets were collected through TCMIP, Genecards, HPO, DrugBank and OMIM database. The depression targets were collected through TCMIP, Genecards, HPO, DrugBank and OMIM database. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by protein interaction analysis (STRING) database. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed through Bioinformatics (DAVID) database. The docking of components and targets was performed by AGFR. The mouse model of depression was established by intraperitoneal injection of corticosterone (CORT) once a day for 35 consecutive days. Sixty mice were randomly allocated into control (0.9% normal saline), model (CORT, 20 mg·kg-1), positive control (fluoxetine hydrochloride, 3.6 mg·kg-1), and MA (10, 5, and 2.5 mg·kg-1) groups. Each group was administrated with corresponding medicine or normal saline once a day for 28 consecutive days. The depression-like behavior of mice was observed. The pathological changes of prefrontal cortex in mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl dUTP transferase nick end labeling (TUNEL) was employed to observe the apoptosis of neurons in the prefrontal cortex. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to assess the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE) in mice. The mRNA levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) pathway-related factors and inflammatory factors were determined by Real-time PCR. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of cAMP pathway-related factors and connexin 43 (Cx43). ResultsA total of 434 component targets and 545 depression targets were obtained, including 84 common targets, among which 10 core targets were screened out. GO analysis predicted 34 biological processes, 15 cell components, and 11 molecular functions. The KEGG pathways were mainly related to gap junction and cAMP signaling pathway. The core components had good binding affinity with the core targets. The results of animal experiments showed that compared with the control group, CORT prolonged the immobility time of mice in forced swimming and tail suspension tests (P<0.01), lowered the serum levels of NE, BDNF, and 5-HT (P<0.05), up-regulated the mRNA levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the brain tissue (P<0.05), and down-regulated the mRNA levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate effector binding protein (CREB) and BDNF (P<0.05) and the protein levels of protein kinase (PRKACA), phosphorylation (p)-CREB/CREB, BDNF, and Cx43 (P<0.05) in the brain tissue. Compared with the model group, high-dose MA reduced the immobility time of mice in forced swimming (P<0.05) and tail suspension (P<0.01) tests, raised the serum levels of NE, BDNF, and 5-HT (P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA level of NF-κB (P<0.01), and up-regulated the mRNA level of BDNF (P<0.01) and protein levels of PRKACA, p-CREB/CREB, BDNF, and Cx43 (P<0.05). ConclusionMA alleviates the CORT-induced depressive behavior of mice. It may play an antidepressant role by regulating cAMP signaling pathway and gap junction pathway, improving synaptic plasticity and gap junction function, and reducing neuroinflammation.
8.Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedutang in Improving Pyroptosis, Neuroinflammation, and Learning and Cognitive Functions in APP/PS1 Mice Based on NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Pathway
Wei CHENG ; Shuo YANG ; Zhangxin HE ; Wei CHEN ; Aihua TAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):11-19
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Huanglian Jiedutang (HLJDT) inhibits pyroptosis and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice via the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 (Caspase)-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathway. MethodsThirty APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were randomly and evenly divided into the model group (model group), the positive control group (Donepezil group, 0.65 mg·kg-1), and the HLJDT treatment group (HLJDT group, 5.2 g·kg-1). Ten C57BL/6 mice were assigned to the blank control group (control group). The Morris water maze and novel object recognition tests were used to evaluate learning and memory abilities. Nissl staining was employed to observe the morphology, quantity, and distribution of neurons in the hippocampal region. Golgi staining was used to examine the morphology and density of neuronal dendritic spines in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expression of neuroinflammation-related factors and genes in the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway in the hippocampus. Western blot was used to detect the expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), amyloid precursor protein (APP), inflammatory factors including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as pyroptosis pathway-related proteins including NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited significantly decreased learning and memory abilities (P<0.01), reduced numbers of neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region and dendritic spines in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.01), and significantly increased hippocampal mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.01). Protein levels of PSD95 were markedly decreased, while the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and APP were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, both the Donepezil and HLJDT groups showed significantly improved learning and memory abilities (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased numbers of hippocampal neurons in the hippocampal CA3 region and dendritic spines in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0.01), and significantly decreased hippocampal mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-18 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, p-NF-κB/NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, and APP were significantly downregulated, while PSD95 expression was significantly upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in GSDMD-N levels in the Donepezil group, while GSDMD-N expression was significantly decreased in the HLJDT group (P<0.05). ConclusionThis study confirms that HLJDT can improve learning and memory abilities in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice, and attenuate neuronal loss and synaptic damage, possibly through inhibition of pyroptosis via the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway.
9.Genetic Correlation and Mendelian Randomization Analysis Revealed an Unidirectional Causal Relationship Between Left Caudal Middle Frontal Surface Area and Cigarette Consumption
Hongcheng XIE ; Anlin WANG ; Minglan YU ; Tingting WANG ; Xuemei LIANG ; Rongfang HE ; Chaohua HUANG ; Wei LEI ; Jing CHEN ; Youguo TAN ; Kezhi LIU ; Bo XIANG
Psychiatry Investigation 2025;22(3):279-286
Objective:
Previous studies have discovered a correlation between cigarette smoking and cortical thickness and surface area, but the causal relationship remains unclear. The objective of this investigation is to scrutinize the causal association between them.
Methods:
To derive summary statistics from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on cortical thickness, surface area, and four smoking behaviors: 1) age of initiation of regular smoking (AgeSmk); 2) smoking initiation (SmkInit); 3) smoking cessation (SmkCes); 4) cigarettes per day (CigDay). Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was employed to examine genetic association analysis. Furthermore, for traits with significant genetic associations, Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted.
Results:
The LDSC analysis revealed nominal genetic correlations between AgeSmk and right precentral surface area, left caudal anterior cingulate surface area, left cuneus surface area, left inferior parietal surface area, and right caudal anterior cingulate thickness, as well as between CigDay and left caudal middle frontal surface area, between SmkCes and left entorhinal thickness, and between SmkInit and left rostral anterior cingulate surface area, right rostral anterior cingulate thickness, and right superior frontal thickness (rg=-0.36–0.29, p<0.05). MR analysis showed a unidirectional causal association between left caudal middle frontal surface area and CigDay (βIVW=0.056, pBonferroni=2×10-4).
Conclusion
Left caudal middle frontal surface area has the potential to serve as a significant predictor of smoking behavior.
10.Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice
Mengjie XU ; Wei HE ; Ke YAN ; Xinru GAO ; Jun LI ; Dongyue XU ; Jiao XIAO ; Tingxu YAN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):297-310
Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches in vitro and in vivo and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.

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