1.Clinical observation of pramipexole combined with levodopa-benserazide in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease
Heng XU ; Chengrong YE ; Chunming XIE
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):584-588
OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical efficacy of pramipexole combined with levodopa-benserazide in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). METHODS A total of 108 PD patients treated at the Fifth People’s Hospital of Wuhu City from January 1, 2021, to February 28, 2023, were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 54 cases in each group. Patients in the control group were administered levodopa-benserazide (initial dose of 62.5 mg per dose), three times daily; after one month, the dose was increased to 250 mg per dose, four times daily. Patients in the observation group received the same treatment as the control group, with the addition of pramipexole (initial dose of 0.25 mg per dose) orally twice daily on an empty stomach; after 14 days, the dose was increased to 0.25 mg per dose, three times daily. Both groups were treated for 3 months. The short-term efficacy, safety and long-term prognosis of the two groups were compared. RESULTS After treatment, the observation group had significantly lower scores on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39( PDQ- 39) compared to the control group; in contrast, the observation group had higher scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale, the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scale, the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS), and the Quality of Life (QOL) scale (P<0.05). Both groups showed a significant reduction in UPDRS-Ⅲ and PDQ-39 scores, and a significant increase in DRS scores compared to baseline (P<0.05). However, only the observation group showed a significant increase in MoCA scale, MMSE scale, and QOL scores, and a significant decrease in HAMD and HAMA scores compared to baseline (P< 0.05). The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in both groups was not significantly different (P>0.05). The 12 months follow-up results showed that the incidence of dementia and mortality rates in the observation group were significantly lower than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pramipexole combined with levodopa-benserazide significantly improves motor function, cognitive function, quality of life and symptoms of depression and anxiety in PD patients, and may reduce the long-term risk of dementia and mortality in these patients.
2.Production of GTKO pigs and kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques
Yan WANG ; Yue CHANG ; Chang YANG ; Taiyun WEI ; Xiaoying HUO ; Bowei CHEN ; Jiaoxiang WANG ; Heng ZHAO ; Jianxiong GUO ; Hongfang ZHAO ; Xiong ZHANG ; Feiyan ZHU ; Wenmin CHENG ; Hongye ZHAO ; Kaixiang XU ; Ameen Jamal MUHAMMAD ; Zhendi WANG ; Hongjiang WEI
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(4):526-537
Objective To explore the construction of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene-knockout (GTKO) Diannan miniature pigs and the kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques, and to assess the effectiveness of GTKO pigs. Methods The GTKO Diannan miniature pigs were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system and somatic cell cloning technology. The phenotype of GTKO pigs was verified through polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect antigen-antibody (IgM) binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Kidney xenotransplantation was performed from GTKO pigs to rhesus macaques. The humoral immunity, cellular immunity, coagulation and physiological indicators of the recipient monkeys were monitored. The function and pathological changes of the transplanted kidneys were analyzed using ultrasonography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining. Results Single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting exon 4 of the GGTA1 gene in Diannan miniature pigs was designed. The pGL3-GGTA1-sgRNA1-GFP vector was transfected into fetal fibroblasts of Diannan miniature pigs. After puromycin selection, two cell clones, C59# and C89#, were identified as GGTA1 gene-knockout clones. These clones were expanded to form cell lines, which were used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. The reconstructed embryos were transferred into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, resulting in 13 fetal pigs. Among them, fetuses F04 and F11 exhibited biallelic mutations in the GGTA1 gene, and F04 had a normal karyotype. Using this GTKO fetal pig for recloning and transferring the reconstructed embryos into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, seven surviving piglets were obtained, all of which did not express α-Gal epitope. The binding of IgM from the serum of rhesus monkey 20# to GTKO pig PBMC was reduced, and the survival rate of GTKO pig PBMC in the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay was higher than that of wild-type pig. GTKO pig kidneys were harvested and perfused until completely white. After the left kidney of the recipient monkey was removed, the pig kidney was heterotopically transplanted. Following vascular anastomosis and blood flow restoration, the pig kidney rapidly turned pink without hyperacute rejection (HAR). Urine appeared in the ureter 6 minutes later, indicating successful kidney transplantation. The right kidney of the recipient was then removed. Seven days after transplantation, the transplanted kidney had good blood flow, the recipient monkey's serum creatinine level was stable, and serum potassium and cystatin C levels were effectively controlled, although they increased 10 days after transplantation. Seven days after transplantation, the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in the recipient monkey increased, while platelet count and fibrinogen levels decreased. The activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and prothrombin time remained relatively stable but later showed an upward trend. The recipient monkey survived for 10 days. At autopsy, the transplanted kidney was found to be congested, swollen and necrotic, with a small amount of IgG deposition in the renal tissue, and a large amount of IgM, complement C3c and C4d deposition, as well as CD68+ macrophage infiltration. Conclusions The kidneys of GTKO Diannan miniature pigs may maintain normal renal function for a certain period in rhesus macaques and effectively overcome HAR, confirming the effectiveness of GTKO pigs for xenotransplantation.
3.Construction and Functional Validation of GTKO/hCD55 Gene-Edited Xenotransplant Donor Pigs
Jiaoxiang WANG ; Lu ZHANG ; Shuhan CHEN ; Deling JIAO ; Heng ZHAO ; Taiyun WEI ; Jianxiong GUO ; Kaixiang XU ; Hongjiang WEI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):379-392
Objective To develop GTKO (α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout, GTKO)/hCD55 (human CD55) gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs and verify their function. Methods In this study, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9), PiggyBac transposon technology and somatic cell nuclear transfer technology were used to construct GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited Diannan miniature pigs. The phenotype and function of GTKO/hCD55 pigs were analyzed by Sanger sequencing, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, bisulfite sequencing, antigen-antibody binding assays, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays. Results After transfection of PX458 and PiggyBac gene editing vectors into wild-type fetal pig fibroblasts, 48 single-cell colonies were obtained through puromycin drug screening. Two single-cell colonies were selected for somatic cell nuclear transfer, resulting in two fetal pigs at 33 days of gestation. The GGTA1(α-1,3-galactosyltransferase) genotypes of fetal pig F01 were -17 bp and wild type (WT), while the GGTA1 genotypes of fetal pig F02 were -26 bp/+2 bp and -3 bp. The hCD55 mRNA expression levels of both fetal pigs were significantly higher than those of WT pigs (P<0.01). The fetal pig F02 was selected as the donor cell source for recloning, 11 surviving piglets were obtained, all identified as GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pigs. These pigs showed absence of α-Gal antigen expression, but weak or no expression of hCD55 was observed. Methylation analysis of the hCD55 gene's CpG island showed hypermethylation in kidney tissue lacking hCD55 expression, whereas it was not methylated or partially methylated in kidney tissue expressing hCD55. Moreover, codon optimization of the CpG island of the hCD55 gene to reduce CG content could achieve stable expression of the hCD55 gene. In addition, antigen-antibody binding experiment showed that the amount of human IgM binding to GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pig fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of WT pigs (P<0.01). Complement-dependent cytotoxicity experiment showed that the survival rate of fibroblasts in GTKO/hCD55 pigs was significantly higher than that in WT pigs (P<0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates the successful generation of GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs. Methylation-induced gene silencing of the hCD55 gene can be effectively avoided by reducing the CG content of the CpG island through codon optimization. This study provides a reference for the development of xenotransplant donor pigs and guides subsequent research on xenotransplantation.
4.Impact of sports participation on suicide risk among adolescents and countermeasures
SHI Peng ,XU Heng,HUANG Meirong
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(8):1212-1216
Abstract
To clarify the relationship between sports participation and adolescent suicide risk, as well as its underlying mechanisms for preventing suicidal behaviors, the study employs a literature review approach to analyze, synthesize, and summarize relevant research. The findings reveal that physical exercise can reduce suicide rates among middle school students, with high intensity aerobic exercise performed 5-7 days per week demonstrating the most significant effect. However, daily physical activity and muscle strengthening exercises show no significant correlation with suicide related behaviors. The mechanisms through which physical activity reduces the risk of suicide among adolescents include emotional release leading to self help skills, helping adolescents build social connections, and improving physical and brain function. It is recommended that families and schools help adolescents discover the joy of participating in sports, assist in forming sports teams, and ensure at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily to reduce the risk of suicidal behavior among adolescents.
5.Investigation and multivariate analysis of humanistic care experience among patients visiting traditional Chinese medicine outpatient clinics
Hongxia WANG ; Xu CHE ; Haiying CAO ; Haixin ZHANG ; Shujie GUO ; Yilan LIU ; Heng ZHANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(11):1498-1509
ObjectiveTo explore the current situation and influencing factors of humanistic care experience among patients visiting traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) outpatient clinics in China, and to provide a basis for optimizing TCM-characterized services in both TCM and Western medicine hospitals. MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to select 35 hospitals across 13 provinces in China (including 3 TCM hospitals and 32 TCM outpatient clinics in general hospitals). A total of 3,430 patients were surveyed using the general information questionnaire and the Outpatient Humanistic Care Experience Questionnaire, with data collected via Questionnaire Star. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression were employed to examine the impacts of patient characteristics, visit characteristics, hospital type (TCM hospital/general hospital), and geographic region (eastern/central/western) on humanistic care experience. ResultsThe total score of humanistic care experience was 194 (188, 233). Univariate analysis showed that gender, educational level, current residence, per capita monthly household income, location attribute of medical institutions, number of previous visits to this hospital, payment method of medical expenses, previous hospitalization history in this hospital, frequency of outpatient visits within the past 12 months, self-rated disease severity, familiarity with the outpatient procedures, implementation of the follow-up service provided by the hospital, satisfaction with follow-up services, the grade of the hospital visited, geographical region of the hospital visited, and the department visited had an impact on the humanistic care experience during outpatient visits (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that educational level (β=0.609, P=0.011), self-rated disease severity (β=-0.646, P=0.047), familiarity with outpatient procedures (β=4.784, P<0.001), satisfaction with follow-up services (β=6.365, P<0.001), and the grade of the hospital visited (β=-5.487, P<0.001) affected the humanistic care experience in outpatient medical treatment, explaining 24.4% of the total variation. ConclusionHumanistic care experience in TCM outpatient clinics is influenced by multiple factors. It is recommended to optimize the medical treatment process, strengthen doctor-patient communication training, and establish a precise follow-up mechanism, with a focus on improving care perceptions among patients with lower education levels and those attending primary-level hospitals, to refine the TCM-characterized service system.
6.Research status on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis
Qiong CHEN ; Xian-Min SHEN ; Fei WANG ; Heng XU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(3):459-463
Objective Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has precise traits and advantages in the scientific prevention and remedy practice of diabetic gastroparesis(DGP).The review gathered and reviewed the research on the therapy of DGP with TCM in current years.It was once located that it performed an essential function by regulating Cajal interstitial cells,enteric nervous system,gastrointestinal hormones and gut microbiota.The research development of the mechanism and effect of TCM in the treatment of DGP were respectively reviewed from the above factors,providing thoughts and scientific foundation for the prevention and treatment of DGP.
7.Research progress of large-scale brain network of Alzheimer's disease based on MRI analysis
Ying-Mei HAN ; Yijie LI ; Heng ZHANG ; Jing LV ; Yi ZHANG ; Yingbo QIAO ; Nan LIN ; Huiyong XU ; Feng WANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(4):575-579
With the advent of an aging society,Alzheimer's disease(AD)has gradually become a major ailment affecting the elderly.AD is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive impairments.In AD patients,brain network connections are disrupted,and their topological properties are also affected,leading to the disintegration of anatomical and functional connections.Anatomical connections can be tracked and evaluated using structural magnetic imaging(MRI)and diffusion tensor imaging(DTI),while functional connections are detected through functional MRI to assess their connectivity status.This review incorporates the findings of previous scholars and summarizes the current research of AD.It mainly discusses the imaging characteristics of large-scale brain network changes in AD patients,so as to provide researchers with scientific and objective imaging markers for AD prediction and early diagnosis,as well as future research.
8.Efficacy and safety of different applications of tranexamic acid in high tibial osteotomy
Changling DU ; Hui SHI ; Shoutao ZHANG ; Tao MENG ; Dong LIU ; Jian LI ; Heng CAO ; Chuang XU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(9):1409-1413
BACKGROUND:High tibial osteotomy results in massive blood loss during the perioperative period.Tranexamic acid can effectively reduce perioperative blood loss.However,the method of tranexamic acid application has not been unified. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and safety of different methods of tranexamic acid on perioperative blood loss in the high tibial osteotomy. METHODS:A total of 160 patients who underwent primary unilateral high tibial osteotomy in the Binzhou Medical University Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021,including 69 males and 91 females,were randomly divided into four groups(n=40 per group).Among them,40 patients were given an intravenous infusion of saline containing 2 g tranexamic acid 10 minutes before tourniquet release(venous group);40 patients were given an intravenous infusion of 1 g tranexamic acid and 1 g tranexamic acid was injected through a drainage tube after the closure of the incision(combined group);40 patients were given 2 g tranexamic acid infusion into drainage tube after the closure of the incision(perfusion group);an additional 40 patients were given an intravenous infusion of the same amount of normal saline(blank group).The general information was compared among the four groups of patients.The hemoglobin,hematocrit,intraoperative blood loss,drainage volume,blood transfusion rate,incision complication,and the incidence of deep vein thrombosis were recorded on days 1,3 and 5 after operation in the four groups.The total blood loss and hidden blood loss were calculated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistically significant difference in general information among the four groups.(2)No significant difference was found in intraoperative blood loss among the four groups.(3)The maximum decreased values of hemoglobin and hematocrit on days 1,3 and 5 after operation,drainage volume,total blood loss and hidden blood loss were all ranked as the combined group
9.Design and test of proportional counter for measurement of tritium in air
Yang LYU ; Baoji ZHU ; Yuanqiao LI ; Xiaoxia LYU ; Heng ZHU ; Lijun XU ; Min LIN
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2024;33(6):626-630
Objective Ionization chamber detector is commonly used for direct and continuous measurement of tritium concentration in the air. However, the measurement sensitivity is low due to the limitations of weak current measurement technology. It is necessary to develop a proportional counter for measuring tritium in the air. Methods This study involved the design of a proportional counter, considering various factors such as materials and structure. The stability, plateau curve, detection efficiency, and energy spectrum of the counter were tested. Results The coefficient of variation of the proportional counter was 3.14%, which met the standard requirement of being less than 15%. The plateau length was 260 V and the plateau slope was 0.80%/100V, which met the requirement of being less than 1%/100V. The tritium detection efficiency reached 68.02%. The energy spectrum measurement indicated a significant difference between tritium signal generated by the proportional counter and background signal, and the distribution of tritium in the energy spectrum was more concentrated. The background counting rate during tritium gas activity measurement could be reduced through energy spectrum measurement. Conclusion The proportional counter can provide a reference for the direct and continuous measurement of tritium in the air.
10.Effect of Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation on Spatial Working Memory-related Neural Oscillations and Their Synchronicity
Miao-Miao GUO ; Biao ZHANG ; Tian-Heng ZHANG ; Tian WANG ; Hao-Di ZHAI ; Gui-Zhi XU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(9):2222-2239
ObjectiveSpatial working memory (SWM) is an important function in cognitive behavior, and working memory impairment can seriously affect the patient’s life and cause great stress to the patient. Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) has been shown to regulate working memory function by entrainment of neural oscillations in different frequencies of the brain, but its regulation of working memory-related neural oscillations and their synchronization is not clear. The purpose of this study was to study the effect of iTBS on neural oscillation and synchronization in local and transbrain regions of rats, and to explore the mechanism of iTBS in regulating working memory. MethodsTwenty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups according to their age and whether they received iTBS stimulation (AS: adult stimulation group, AC: adult control group, ES: elderly stimulation group, EC: elderly control group). Using the methods of time-frequency distribution, phase synchronization and phase-amplitude coupling analysis, the changes of local field potential signal neural oscillations in the prefrontal and hippocampal brain regions of theta and gamma bands in the process of spatial working memory behavioral tasks in each group of rats were compared and analyzed, and the relationship between the changes of neural oscillations in the two brain regions and the changes in spatial working memory ability of rats was judged based on the Pearson correlation coefficient. ResultsWith the increase of age, the time taken by the elderly rats to learn the spatial working memory task rules increased significantly (P=0.005 6), and the time taken by iTBS stimulation to learn the SWM task rules in adult rats (P=0.001 1) and elderly rats(P=0.009 0) was shortened. At the same time, compared with adult rats, the time-frequency energy of theta and gamma band neural oscillations in the prefrontal and hippocampal brain regions of elderly rats (theta: P<0.000 1; gamma: P<0.000 1) and phase-amplitude coupling across brain regions (PFC-HPC: P=0.000 2; HPC-PFC:P=0.027 7) decreased to a certain extent, and iTBS stimulation could increase the time-frequency energy of neural oscillations of adult rats (theta: P<0.000 1; gamma: P<0.000 1) and elderly rats (theta: P=0.014 4; gamma:P=0.000 6) and the phase-amplitude coupling effect across brain regions in elderly rats (PFC-HPC: P=0.018 0; HPC-PFC: P=0.022 1). In addition, the time-frequency energy and phase-amplitude coupling of signals in each frequency band of the two brain regions were positively correlated with the behavioral accuracy of rats, while the phase synchronization of theta band and gamma band neural oscillations in the two brain regions during working memory was not correlated with the behavioral accuracy. ConclusioniTBS can enhance SWM ability and cognitive function in elderly rats, and this improvement is associated with increased coupling of time-frequency energy and cross-brain phase amplitude of neural oscillations across theta and gamma bands during SWM tasks. Similarly, in adult rats, iTBS enhances SWM ability and cognitive function by increasing the time-frequency energy of theta and gamma band neural oscillations in both brain regions during SWM tasks. Furthermore, in addition to the main findings, this study provides evidence supporting the state-dependent effects of iTBS stimulation to some extent.


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