1.Construction of a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated VEGFA gene knockout vector and its effects on ARPE-19 cells
Wenhua ZHANG ; Jingxuan XU ; Keying CAO ; Chunmei WANG ; Zongming SONG ; Xiaoli LI
International Eye Science 2026;26(7):1127-1132
AIM: To develop a novel gene-delivery therapeutic based on CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology capable of specifically targeting and knocking out the VEGFA gene, thereby achieving sustained suppression of VEGFA expression in retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cells and providing a new strategy for gene therapy in retinal neovascular diseases.METHODS:Single guide RNAs targeting the human VEGFA gene for knockout were designed, and corresponding recombinant plasmids were constructed. A novel polymer(PTEE)was used to encapsulate the plasmids to prepare a PTEE-loaded anti-VEGFA plasmid(PLAP)gene delivery system. PTEE materials at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μg/μL were co-incubated with ARPE-19 cells, and the biocompatibility of PTEE was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay. Recombinant plasmids expressing green fluorescent protein(GFP)were constructed. Lipofectamine 3000 and jetOPTIMUS®DNA transfection reagents were used as control groups, and PTEE nanomaterials were used as the experimental group to encapsulate the plasmids. When the cell confluence reached 80%, the formulations were transfected into ARPE-19 and 293T cells. GFP expression was observed under light microscopy, and the transfection efficiencies of each group were compared. ARPE-19 cells were induced under hypoxia, and PLAP was transfected into the cells. The expression level of VEGFA was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)to evaluate the efficacy of this novel gene delivery system.RESULTS: After co-incubation of ARPE-19 cells with different concentrations of PTEE for 24 h and 48 h, no significant effect on cell viability was observed in any group. The transfection efficiency of PLAP in ARPE-19 cells was higher than that in the Lipo3000 and jetOPTIMUS groups, with statistically significant differences(P<0.01). Hypoxia for 6 h significantly induced the upregulation of VEGFA mRNA expression in ARPE-19 cells, and under hypoxic conditions, the PTEE group exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on VEGFA expression(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:PLAP exhibits favorable biocompatibility and prominent VEGFA inhibitory effects in vitro, making it a potential candidate drug for gene therapy of retinal neovascular diseases.
2.Ethical exploration of medical academic conferences based on field theory
Lei ZHANG ; Wenhua WANG ; Xue WANG ; Yi LUO ; Xiaoxiao YUAN
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(9):1254-1258
Medical academic conferences represent one of the important carriers of scientific and technological exchanges, promoting the progress of medical science and technology and the dissemination of knowledge. However, the surge in the number of conferences has not been matched by a corresponding improvement in academic quality, leading to widespread doubts about their academic nature. The standardization of medical academic conferences urgently requires clarifying the core value standards of high-quality medical academic conferences from the perspective of academic ethics. Based on the perspective of academic ethics and employing Bourdieu’s field theory, this study systematically analyzed the functional positioning and value norms of medical academic conferences. It argued that they were committed to “pursuing truth” in knowledge production at the individual level, focused on “pursuing goodness” in communication and dissemination at the academic community level, and strove for “pursuing innovation” in innovative influence at the social level. Taking a professional annual conference as a typical case, this study further delved into the operational processes and internal mechanisms of academic annual conferences in the medical field. On this basis, optimization recommendations were proposed, including strengthening the principle of academic priority, promoting equal participation mechanisms, fostering innovative development models, and other aspects, with a view to providing a theoretical basis and practical guidance for the high-quality development of medical academic conferences.
3.Clinical diagnostic value of serum sTREM2 in patients with cerebral small vessel disease and its correlation analysis with depressive symptoms
Yuwei WANG ; Wenhua DING ; Jingjing QIU ; Tuluhong KARAJE ; Qiong YANG ; Yurong GENG
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2025;27(7):910-914
Objective To investigate the clinical diagnostic value of serum sTREM2 level in patients with cerebral small vessel disease(CSVD)and its correlation with depression and its severity.Methods A total of 208 CSVD inpatients admitted in Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University from December 2023 to November 2024 were en-rolled,and according to their score of HAMD,they were divided into a depression group(CSVD+D group,112 cases)and a non-depression group(CSVD—D group,96 cases).According to the 17-item HAMD,the depression group(CSVD+D group)was further divided into mild(8-17,n=80),moderate(18-24,n=27)and severe depression(≥25,n=5)subgroups.Another 208 healthy individuals who taking health checkups in the same period were selected and served as the control group.The general clinical data were compared among the groups and subgroups,and mul-tivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the risk factors for the occurrence of depression and the relationship between sTREM2 and depression severity in the CSVD patients.ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the predicative performance of serum sTREM2 level for the occurrence of depression in the CSVD patients.Results The serum sTREM2 level was remark-ably higher in the CSVD patients than the control group(5.95±3.82 μg/L vs 1.40±1.21 μg/L,P<0.01).ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC value of serum sTREM2 level in predicting CSVD was 0.917,with a sensitivity of 87.52%and a specificity of 85.64%,and an optimal cut-ff value of 2.272 μg/L.The CSVD+D group also had significantly higher serum sTREM2 level than the CSVD—D group(6.40±3.93 μg/L vs 5.01±2.87 μg/L,P<0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum sTREM2 level was an independent influencing factor for occurrence of depression in the CSVD patients(OR=1.115,95%CI:1.019-1.220,P=0.018).Statistical difference was also observed in the patients without and with mild,moderate and severe depression(P<0.05).Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that serum sTREM2 level was an independent influencing factor for mild,moderate and severe depression(OR=1.113,95%CI:1.013-1.223,P=0.026;OR=1.135,95%CI:1.004-1.284,P=0.043).The AUC value of serum sTREM2 level in predicting depressive symptoms in CSVD patients was 0.603.Conclusion Serum sTREM2 is closely associated with CSVD patients.Its level may provide certain reference value for clinical diagnosis of CSVD,and has potentially predictive value for the occurrence of depression in the CSVD patients.
4.Correlation between remnant cholesterol and contrast-induced acute kidney injury in elderly diabetes patients with ACS after PCI
Jingkun JIN ; Xishen ZHANG ; Jiahui DING ; Linsheng WANG ; Xudong ZHANG ; Ruoshui LI ; Tongda XU ; Wenhua LI
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2025;27(7):841-846
Objective To explore the correlation between remnant cholesterol level and CI-AKI in elderly patients with ACS and concomitant T2DM following PCI.Methods A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 759 elderly T2DM patients with ACS undergoing PCI in the Affi-liated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between January 2020 and December 2023.The pa-tients were randomly allocated into a training group(n=608)and a validation group(n=151)in a ratio of 8∶2.Based on CI-AKI diagnostic criteria,the training group was further stratified into a CI-AKI subgroup(n=95)and a non-CI-AKI subgroup(n=513).Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for CI-AKI.Results The remnant cho-lesterol level was significantly higher in the CI-AKI subgroup than the non-CI-AKI subgroup[0.78(0.51,1.07)mmol/L vs 0.57(0.40,0.81)mmol/L,P<0.01].Red blood cell count,remnant cholesterol,age,uric acid,log-transformed systemic immune-inflammatory(SII)index,and cysta-tin C were identified as independent predictors for CI-AKI in T2DM patients with ACS after PCI(P<0.01).ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the model combining remnant cholesterol with other independent predictors exhibited superior discriminative performance in both the training group(AUC=0.818,95%CI:0.773-0.863)and validation group(AUC=0.787,95%CI:0.686-0.889)when compared to the models excluding remnant cholesterol(P<0.01).Conclusion Rem-nant cholesterol is an independent predictor of CI-AKI in elderly patients with ACS and T2DM af-ter PCI.A risk prediction model based on remnant cholesterol and other independent risk factors demonstrates enhanced predictive performance for postoperative CI-AKI in the patients.
5.Meta-analysis of Buzzy? device in alleviating puncture-related pain and anxiety of children
Xiaoyan LI ; Faguang JIN ; Xiaofang WANG ; Mingjing DU ; Wenhua ZHANG ; Yongfeng ZHANG
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(3):88-96
Objective:To assess the effectiveness of Buzzy? device in alleviating pain and anxiety in children during puncture-related operation,and to provide more comprehensive intervention option for puncture-related management of children.Methods:Randomized controlled trials(RCTs)about the application of Buzzy? device in puncture-related pain and anxiety of children were searched from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang,VIP,PubMed,Embase and Web of Science(WOS)databases.The retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to July 2023.In the interventions measures,the control groups used different methods that included standard care group,ShotBlocker device group and distraction card group.The obtained 528 relevant literatures were implemented literature selection and data extraction by two independent reviewers according to the established inclusion and exclusion criteria.RevMan5.4 and Stata17.0 software were adopted to conduct Meta-analysis for the pain and anxiety of main outcome indicators,and the success rate of the first puncture,parents'satisfaction and adverse events of secondary outcome indicators in the literatures.Results:A total of 20 eligible studies that could meet the conditions were included,involving 2 876 children,including 1 110 children in the Buzzy? device group and 1 766 children in the control group.The Buzzy? device group was better than the standard care group and the distraction card group in alleviating puncture-related operation pain in children,and the differences of that among them were statistical significance(Z=7.18,2.13,P<0.05),and was better than the standard care group in anxiety,and the difference was statistical significance(Z=5.00,P<0.05).The Buzzy? device group and the distraction card group were better than standard care group and Shotblocker device group in satisfaction,and the difference was significant(x2=63.236,P<0.05).The interventions in the Buzzy? device group and other groups did not have effect on the success rate of the first puncture and incidence of adverse event.Conclusion:The Buzzy? device can alleviate pain and anxiety of children during puncture operation,and improve children's satisfaction for puncture operation.It does not affect the success rate of puncture,and there is not adverse events in its operation.
6.Prevalence and risk factors of food allergies among children in North China grassland: a cross-sectional study based on Zhangbei County, Hebei Province
Yang LIU ; Yanlei CHEN ; Yaojun PANG ; Ruijuan ZHANG ; Haiyun SHI ; Weiting JIN ; Wenhua MING ; Ye WANG ; Zilu CHENG ; Tingting MA ; Xueyan WANG
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(10):1725-1733
Objective:To determine the prevalence of self-reported food allergies among children in the grasslands of North China and to analyze its associated risk factors.Methods:In this study, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey method was used to select children under 14 years old by multi-stage, stratified and random cluster sampling in the grassland ecological area of Zhangbei County, Hebei Province, China from May to July 2018. Face-to-face questionnaires were administered to gather food allergy-related information from the participants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors associated with self-reported food allergy.Results:A total of 2 086 children completed the survey. The prevalence of self-reported food allergies was 22.0%(459/2 086). The prevalence of multiple food allergies (≥3 types) was 3.1%(64/2 086) versus 16.3% (341/2 086) for a single food allergy among all children. Mango allergy (6.1%, 127/2 086) was the most common, followed by peach allergy (4.1%, 85/2 086). Children who reported food allergies had a significantly higher prevalence of all 4 atopic disorders (eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis than those without food allergies(35.73% vs. 20.65%, 5.88% vs. 2.77%, 17.86% vs. 7.38%, 16.78% vs. 10.45%, χ2 =44.663 1, 10.434 3, 45.038 3, 13.728 4, all P<0.001).Significantly associated risk factors of food allergy were found to be pollen allergy ( OR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.80-2.92) and drug allergy ( OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.12-2.09). Conclusions:The prevalence of self-reported food allergies among children in the Zhangbei County area of the North China Grassland was relatively high. Pollen allergy and drug allergy are major risk factors.
7.Analysis of current cardiac critical care development in Henan Province
Qi CUI ; Wenhua WANG ; Dan YU ; Jing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(11):1096-1101
Objective:To investigate the establishment, staffing, equipment allocation, and technological capabilities of cardiac intensive care units in public secondary and tertiary hospitals in Henan Province, and to provide a reference for promoting the development of nationwide cardiac critical care.Methods:In September 2023, supported by the Henan Provincial Health Commission, Cardiac Critical Care Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association conducted the first comprehensive survey on the construction of cardiac intensive care units in Henan Province. A Chi-square test was used to compare the findings between secondary and tertiary hospitals.Results:A total of 171 hospitals reported 1 602 cardiac intensive care unit beds, 1 091 physicians (physician-to-bed ratio: 0.68), and 2 298 nurses (nurse-to-bed ratio: 1.43). Tertiary hospitals had a significantly higher proportion of full-time physicians and physicians with a master′s degree or above compared to secondary hospitals. Furthermore, tertiary hospitals had more nurses and a higher proportion of nurses with a bachelor′s degree (all P<0.05). Regarding equipment, tertiary hospitals demonstrated higher availability of activated clotting time (ACT) analyzers, temporary pacemakers, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines, intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), and pulse index continuous cardiac output (Picco) monitors (all P<0.05). Among the hospitals surveyed, 123 could independently perform coronary interventional procedures, 93 could independently use an IABP, 26 could independently perform ECMO, and 53 offered continuous renal replacement therapy at the bedside. Conclusions:This study provides a preliminary understanding of the current state of cardiac critical care in Henan Province. Tertiary hospitals demonstrated advantages over secondary hospitals regarding medical staffing, the proportion of highly educated personnel, the availability of advanced equipment, such as ACT analyzers, temporary pacemakers, IABP, and Picco monitors, as well as in the performance of advanced procedures, including IABP and ECMO.
8.Application effect of combined traction methods in endoscopic submucosal dissection for early intestinal lesions
Chengcheng ZHU ; Yalong HE ; Jing TIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Min XU ; Zhihua WANG ; Ping CHEN ; Wenhua ZHANG
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(6):1307-1311,1318
Objective To investigate the application effect of postural gravity traction combined with floss and titanium clip pulley external traction in endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for early intestinal lesions.Methods A total of 100 patients with early colorectal lesions admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2022 to September 2024 were selected as the research subjects and divided in-to the observation group and the control group,with 50 cases in each group.The control group underwent con-ventional intestinal ESD treatment,while the observation group used positional gravity traction combined with dental floss and titanium clips to form pulley external traction in ESD treatment.Clinical data including opera-tion time,number of submucosal injections,intraoperative blood loss,lesion resection effect,complication inci-dence,and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.Results The total operation time in the ob-servation group was shorter than that in the control group,and the total number of submucosal injections was less than that in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There were no signifi-cant differences in intraoperative blood loss,complete resection rate,complication incidence,en bloc resection rate,and hospital stay between the two groups(P>0.05).For lesions≤1 cm or>5 cm in size,there were no significant differences in operation time,complete resection rate and en bloc resection rate between the two groups(P>0.05).For lesions>1-3 cm or>3-5 cm in size and laterally spreading lesions,significant differences were observed in operation time,number of submucosal injections,complete resection rate,and en bloc resection rate between the two groups(P<0.05).For pedunculated polyps,there were no significant differences in the number of submucosal injections,complete resection rate and en bloc resection rate between the two groups(P>0.05),but the operation time differed significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Postural gravity traction combined with dental floss and titanium clip to form pulley external traction is simple to oper-ate in ESD for early intestinal lesions.It can maintain a clear field of view,shorten operation time,reduce the incidence of complications,and is safe and effective.
9.Diagnostic value of MS score in macrophage activation syndrome associated with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Lingling GENG ; Yue PENG ; Duomei SHI ; Li WANG ; Xianyan TANG ; Xinran WEN ; Wenhua ZHANG ; Xiaoqing LI
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(7):476-480
Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of the macrophage activation syndrome/systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis(MS)score in macrophage activation syndrome(MAS)associated with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis(sJIA),and to provide a reference for clinical work.Methods:This study was a retrospective case-control analysis,conducted on the patients initially diagnosed as sJIA-associated with MAS and admitted into the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xi 'an Jiaotong University from July 1st,2016 to June 30th,2023. All of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for patients with MAS associated with sJIA according to the 2016 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology(EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology(ACR)/Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization(PRINTO)standards. The basic information at baseline,clinical manifestations,and auxiliary examination results were collected. The MS score was applied to re-evaluate the children diagnosed as sJIA-associated with MAS. When the MS score ≥-2.1,the possibility of sJIA with MAS was high. Thirty cases of sJIA without MAS were randomly selected as the control group.Results:There were 28 cases in the MAS group,including 13 males(46.43%)and 15 females(53.57%),with an average age of(7.51±4.01)years. Compared with the control group,the MAS group were significantly more likely to have high fever( χ2=8.539, P=0.003),hepatomegaly( χ2=11.621, P<0.001),splenomegaly( χ2=11.710, P<0.001)and neurological involvement( χ2=27.619, P<0.001),with the differences being statistically significant. Meanwhile,there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of white blood cell count( Z=-4.001, P<0.001),neutrophil count( Z=-3.659, P<0.001),platelet count( Z=-4.687, P<0.001),albumin level( Z=-4.018, P<0.001),alanine aminotransferase( Z=-3.846, P<0.001),aspartate aminotransferase( Z=-5.932, P<0.001),lactate dehydrogenase( Z=-6.150, P<0.001),triglycerides( Z=-5.874, P<0.001),fibrinogen( Z=-5.808, P<0.001),ferritin( Z=-5.280, P<0.001),erythrocyte sedimentation rate( Z=-3.971, P<0.001),ferritin/erythrocyte sedimentation rate( Z=-5.433, P<0.001),reduction of two-line cells in blood( χ2=11.408, P<0.001)and the presence of hemophagocytosis in bone marrow smears( χ2=28.260, P<0.001). Moreover,there was a statistically significant difference in MS scores between the two groups( Z=-6.148, P<0.001),with higher MS scores in the MAS group. Nevertheless,this study showed the median MS scores of both groups ≥-2.1. Conclusion:The MS score was significant to a certain degree as reference for the diagnosis of MAS,and this study showed that the MS score in the MAS group was significantly higher than the control group. However,the median MS scores in both groups were no less than -2.1. This might be related to the influence of factors during the assessment,which made it necessary to optimize the cutoff values of the MS score. Therefore,prospective studies should be carried out on the role of MS score in early identification of MAS.
10.Promoting myogenesis based on the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway:a new perspective on improving skeletal muscle health through exercise
Wenhua ZHANG ; Xun LI ; Weichao ZHANG ; Xinying LI ; Guoao MA ; Xiaoqiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1265-1275
BACKGROUND:In recent years,improving the health of skeletal muscles through exercise has become an important research concern for scholars.Appropriate exercise has a positive effect on skeletal muscles.Among them,how to activate the sphingosine kinase1(SphK1)/sphingosine-1-phase(S1P)/sphingosine-1-phase receptor2(S1PR2)signaling pathway during exercise so as to improve the health of skeletal muscles is receiving attention from researchers. OBJECTIVE:To investigate how exercise improves the health of skeletal muscles through the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway,and to explore new methods for treating related muscle diseases in order to improve human skeletal muscle health. METHODS:The first author searched for relevant literature from the establishment of the database to the present in the Web of Science,PubMed,CNKI,WanFang,and VIP databases.The search terms were"signaling pathway,SphK1,S1P,S1PR2,skeletal muscle,satellite cell,myogenesis,exercise"in Chinese and English.Finally,69 articles were included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway is a complex regulatory network that triggers downstream signal transduction processes by SphK1 to catalyze the interaction between S1P and receptors such as S1PR2,thereby regulating multiple biological functions of cells,tissues,organs,and systems.The SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway can regulate satellite cell proliferation and myoblast differentiation,improving myogenesis.The physiological basis of the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway and the potential impact of exercise on it were analyzed through literature research.Acute aerobic exercise can increase the expression of SphK1 in skeletal muscle.Both human and animal studies have confirmed that acute and long-term exercise can increase the expression of S1P in skeletal muscle.In addition,studies have shown that long-term resistance exercise can increase the expression of S1PR2 in skeletal muscle.Some experimental results indicate that acute and long-term exercise have no significant effect on muscle or blood S1P levels,and the reason for different results may be due to different research subjects,methods,intensities,and frequencies selected,while the specific mechanism is not yet clear.Research suggests that exercise can promote the expression of the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway in skeletal muscle and regulate downstream related signaling pathways.Research on this signaling pathway may provide new strategies and methods for the treatment of skeletal muscle diseases,thereby improving skeletal muscle health.In the future,we should deepen the research on the association between SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway and skeletal muscle health,further reveal its regulatory relationship with satellite cells and myoblasts as well as its interactions with the upstream and downstream pathways,explore its clinical application value,take into account the changes of this pathway when formulating the rehabilitation program,explore the specific mechanisms by which different types of exercise affect the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway in skeletal muscles,and use the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for diseases.Further development and application of human muscle models should be developed to improve research depth and accuracy.

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