1.Structural and Functional Abnormalities of White-matter Tracts in Male College Smokers
Xiao-Jiao LI ; Da-Hua YU ; Ting XUE ; Kai YUAN ; Zhen-Zhen MAI ; Xu-Wen WANG ; Fang DONG ; Juan WANG ; Yu-Xin MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1770-1779
ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate alterations in white matter microstructure and spontaneous neural activity in male college smokers, and to further explore their associations with nicotine dependence. Given that adolescence and early adulthood represent critical periods for brain maturation, particularly for white matter development, understanding the neural correlates of smoking behavior during this stage is of substantial importance for both neuroscience and public health. MethodsA total of 115 male undergraduate students were initially recruited for this study. After quality control and exclusion procedures, 52 male college smokers and 42 demographically matched healthy non-smokers were included in the final analysis. All participants underwent multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). White matter fiber tracts were reconstructed using the automated fiber quantification (AFQ) method, which enables precise identification and quantification of major fiber bundles. Eighteen major white matter tracts were segmented for each participant. Along the core trajectory of each tract, 100 equidistant nodes were sampled. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was calculated at each node to assess white matter microstructural integrity, while amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was computed to evaluate spontaneous neural activity within white matter tracts. Between-group differences in FA and ALFF were assessed using two-sample t-tests, with appropriate corrections applied for multiple comparisons. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between imaging-derived metrics (FA and ALFF values in regions showing significant group differences) and nicotine dependence severity, as measured by the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND). ResultsCompared with healthy non-smokers, male college smokers exhibited significantly increased FA values in several white matter tracts, including the left thalamic radiation, right corticospinal tract, forceps major of the corpus callosum, left uncinate fasciculus, and right arcuate fasciculus. These findings suggest altered microstructural organization or increased directional coherence within these pathways. In addition, smokers demonstrated significantly elevated ALFF values in the forceps major, right uncinate fasciculus, and left arcuate fasciculus, indicating enhanced spontaneous neural activity in these white matter regions. Correlation analyses revealed that FA values in the left thalamic radiation and right corticospinal tract were negatively correlated with FTND scores, suggesting that higher levels of nicotine dependence were associated with reduced microstructural integrity or altered fiber organization in these regions. In contrast, ALFF values in the forceps major and right uncinate fasciculus were positively correlated with FTND scores, indicating that greater nicotine dependence was associated with increased spontaneous neural activity in specific white matter pathways. ConclusionThe present study provides evidence that male college smokers exhibit distinct alterations in both white matter microstructure and functional activity. These abnormalities are not uniformly distributed but rather localized to specific fiber tracts implicated in sensorimotor processing, interhemispheric communication, and higher-order cognitive and emotional regulation. Importantly, the observed associations between imaging metrics and nicotine dependence severity suggest that these structural and functional alterations may reflect neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction. The combination of AFQ-based tract profiling and multimodal MRI offers a sensitive approach for detecting subtle changes along white matter pathways, highlighting its potential utility in identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of nicotine dependence. Overall, these findings indicate that smoking during early adulthood may disrupt ongoing white matter maturation, potentially leading to long-term consequences for brain function. This study provides novel insights into the neural basis of nicotine dependence and underscores the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies targeting young smokers.
2.Application effect of esketamine pretreatment in laparoscopic high ligation of hernia sac in children
Qiao-lin ZHOU ; Xiao-yan XU ; Feng-yu TAO ; Jiao-hui SHI ; Qi-fei ZHU ; Tao WANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(11):977-980
Objective To determine the application effect of esketamine pretreatment in laparoscopic high ligation of hernia sac in children.Methods A total of 70 children who received laparoscopic high ligation of hernia sac under general anesthesia were selected and divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table method,with 35 cases in each group.The control group received conventional general anesthesia,while the observation group was intravenously injected with 0.5 mg/kg of esketamine 15 minutes before the induction of general anesthesia.The preoperative anxiety score,respiratory mechanics indexes,lung injury status,anesthesia recovery,and adverse reactions during the awakening period were compared between the two groups.Results The anxiety scores of the observation group 10 minutes before anesthesia and immediately before anesthesia were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).The peak airway pressure and mean airway pressure of the observation group 30 minutes after establishing pneumoperitoneum and at the end of the operation were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).The levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)at the end of the operation in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the time of spontaneous breathing recovery,time to regain consciousness,tracheal extubation time,or post-anesthesia care unit(PACU)stay time between the two groups(P>0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions during the anesthetic awakening period in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Esketamine pretreatment can significantly alleviate preoperative separation anxiety for children undergoing laparoscopic high ligation of hernia sac,reduce lung injury,and decrease airway pressure,which is beneficial to lung protection and postoperative anesthetic recovery,and has few adverse reactions.
3.Clinical characteristics of 103 children with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome: a retrospective study
Lei JIAO ; Yuan LIANG ; Yang WANG ; Chunping SHEN ; Xin XIANG ; Zhe XU ; Yuanyuan XIAO ; Li LI ; Ying LIU ; Bin ZHANG ; Zigang XU ; Lin MA
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(10):936-942
Objective:To investigate clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and prognosis of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data from pediatric inpatients with DIHS in Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children's Hospital from 2009 to 2023. The clinical data included demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment regimens, and outcomes.Results:A total of 103 children with DIHS were included, comprising 54 males (52.4%) and 49 females (47.6%), with ages ( M [ Q1, Q3]) of 2.3 (1.2, 4.5) years. Primary causative drugs were antibiotics (52 cases, 45.2%), antiepileptic drugs (41 cases, 35.7%), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (19 cases, 16.5%), with a median latency period of 12 days. All patients presented with rashes, including 72 (69.9%) with maculopapular rashes, 69 (67.0%) with edema (including 46 with facial edema). Lip involvement occurred in 25 cases (24.3%), and mucosal involvement was noted in 11 cases (10.7%). Additionally, 102 (99.0%) patients had fever, and 79 (76.7%) presented with lymphadenectasis. Eosinophilia was present in 64 cases (62.1%). Among 84 patients tested for atypical lymphocytes, 51 (60.7%) showed elevated percentages of atypical lymphocytes. Liver involvement was noted in 94 cases (91.3%), followed by pulmonary involvement in 31 (30.1%), gastrointestinal symptoms in 25 (24.3%), cardiac involvement in 14 (13.6%), renal involvement in 10 (9.7%), and pancreatic involvement in 7 cases (6.8%). Among 82 patients tested for blood immunocytes, 49 (59.8%) showed decreased percentages of B lymphocytes, and 69 (84.1%) showed decreased percentages of natural killer cells. Of 88 patients tested for serum immunoglobulins, 40 (45.5%) showed decreased IgA levels. Among 20 patients tested for serum cytokines, 15 (75.0%), 15 (75.0%), 13 (65.0%), and 12 (60.0%) showed elevated levels of interleukin (IL) -5, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-γ, respectively. All patients received systemic glucocorticoid therapy, among whom 86 additionally received intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, 4 received Janus kinase inhibitors, and 3 received dupilumab. Five patients died, 9 developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, 6 developed bronchiolitis obliterans, and 5 experienced long-term immune-related sequelae. Conclusions:Among these children with DIHS, antibiotics were the most common causative drugs, and the latency period could be shorter than 2 weeks. In addition to the common involvement of the liver and lungs, gastrointestinal and cardiac impairments were relatively frequent, while renal involvement was rare. Immunological features included decreased percentages of B lymphocytes and natural killer cells, reduced IgA levels, and elevated levels of cytokines such as IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-γ.
4.Calumenin knockdown inhibits cell migration,invasion,and epithelial-mesenchy-mal transition in gastric cancer
Jiao LIU ; Shan XU ; Shuyao XIAO ; Qiong LUO ; Qian FU ; Hui LING
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(10):1338-1344
Purpose To explore the effect of Calumenin(CALU)on migration and invasion ability of gastric cancer cells,as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT).Methods The immunohistochemical experiments and Western blot were applied to evaluate the protein level of CALU in gastric cancer.After constructing a gastric canc-er cell line with low expression of CALU,CCK8 assay,wound-healing analysis and Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to determine cell proliferation,Migration and invasion ability.Western blot was performed to an-alyse the effect of CALU knockdown on EMT molecules.Results CALU expression was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues compared to normal gastric tissues(P<0.05),and high CALU expression was significantly associated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis(P<0.05).Compared with GES-1 cells,the protein expression of CALU upregulated in gastric cancer cells(P<0.05).CALU knockdown suppressed the proliferation,migration,invasion of BGC823 cells and SGC7901 cells(P<0.05).Rescue experimental evidence showed that synonymous mutations of CALU could reverse the inhibitory effect of CALU knockdown on the proliferation,migration,and invasion ability of gastric cancer cells(P<0.05).Knockdown of CALU resulted in the downregulation of vimentin and Snail expression,while E-cadherin and β-catenin expression were upregulated in human gastric cancer cells(P<0.05).Conclusion CALU knockdown inhibits the proliferation,migration,invasion,and EMT of human gastric cancer cells.
5.Clinical research of Zhuangdan Yanshi Decoction combined with dapoxetine hydrochloride in the treatment of premature ejaculation with cholestasis and phlegm disturbance syndrome
Xing-yun PENG ; Jian-guo LIU ; Jiao-jiao LI ; Xiao-guang MIAO ; Xu ZHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(8):732-736
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of Zhuangdan Yanshi Decoction combined with dapoxetine hydrochlo-ride in the treatment of premature ejaculation with cholestasis and phlegm disturbance.Methods:A total of 120 patients diagnosed with premature ejaculation and treated in the Andrology Outpatient Department of Shaanxi Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March to December in 2022 were selected and randomly divided into treatment group and control group,with 60 cases in each group.The incubation period of intravaginal ejaculation(IELT),the Diagnostic Scale of Premature Ejaculation(PEDT),the Premature Ejaculation Assessment Scale(PEP),the 5-item Sexual Function Evaluation of Chinese Premature Ejaculation Patients(CIPE-5)and the improvement of traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores were compared before and after the treatment.And the adverse reactions were recorded as well.Results:A total of 105 cases were ultimately included,with 55 cases in the treatment group and 50 cases in the control group.Measurable improvements in IELT,PEDT scores,PEP scores,CIPE scores and TCM symptom scores had been found after treatment in both of two groups(P<0.05).Moreover,the improvement in the treatment group was superi-or to that in the control group(P<0.05).The total effective rate in the treatment group was 89.1%,which was higher than that(84%)in the control group,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment group was 9.1%,which was 24%in the control group.There was significantly difference between two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion:The combination therapy with Zhuangdan Yanshi Decoction and dapoxetine hydrochloride for premature ejaculation associated with cholestasis and phlegm disturbance syndrome is definite,and it can reduce the side effects of drugs,which is better than oral dapoxetine hydrochloride alone.
6.Construction of a Competency Evaluation Model for Forensic Practitioners
Jing-Chun BAO ; Jing-Jing ZHAO ; Jiao-Yong LI ; Jing-Hua MENG ; Xiao-Long WANG ; Xiao-Ni ZHAN ; Jun YAO ; Xu WU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(4):371-379
Objective To construct a competency evaluation model for forensic practitioners,providing a reference for their training and assessment.Methods Based on the iceberg and onion models of com-petency,and with reference to Spencer's Competency Dictionary,literature research was conducted and focus group interviews were employed to preliminarily construct core indices and measurement items for evaluating the competency of forensic practitioners.The Delphi method was applied for two rounds of expert consultation to further refine the competency evaluation index system.The analytic hierarchy process(AHP)was used to calculate the weights of the indices.Results A competency evaluation model for forensic practitioners was constructed,consisting of 7 core indices,encompassing forensic skills,identification service capabilities,and the ability to apply relevant legal knowledge and 49 mea-surement items.The weights of the core indices and measurement items were determined.Conclusion The constructed competency evaluation model for forensic practitioners is scientifically sound and inno-vative,and has unique characteristics of forensic medicine compared with other medical models.
7.Clinical characteristics of 103 children with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome: a retrospective study
Lei JIAO ; Yuan LIANG ; Yang WANG ; Chunping SHEN ; Xin XIANG ; Zhe XU ; Yuanyuan XIAO ; Li LI ; Ying LIU ; Bin ZHANG ; Zigang XU ; Lin MA
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(10):936-942
Objective:To investigate clinical characteristics, treatment approaches, and prognosis of drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS) in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data from pediatric inpatients with DIHS in Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children's Hospital from 2009 to 2023. The clinical data included demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment regimens, and outcomes.Results:A total of 103 children with DIHS were included, comprising 54 males (52.4%) and 49 females (47.6%), with ages ( M [ Q1, Q3]) of 2.3 (1.2, 4.5) years. Primary causative drugs were antibiotics (52 cases, 45.2%), antiepileptic drugs (41 cases, 35.7%), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (19 cases, 16.5%), with a median latency period of 12 days. All patients presented with rashes, including 72 (69.9%) with maculopapular rashes, 69 (67.0%) with edema (including 46 with facial edema). Lip involvement occurred in 25 cases (24.3%), and mucosal involvement was noted in 11 cases (10.7%). Additionally, 102 (99.0%) patients had fever, and 79 (76.7%) presented with lymphadenectasis. Eosinophilia was present in 64 cases (62.1%). Among 84 patients tested for atypical lymphocytes, 51 (60.7%) showed elevated percentages of atypical lymphocytes. Liver involvement was noted in 94 cases (91.3%), followed by pulmonary involvement in 31 (30.1%), gastrointestinal symptoms in 25 (24.3%), cardiac involvement in 14 (13.6%), renal involvement in 10 (9.7%), and pancreatic involvement in 7 cases (6.8%). Among 82 patients tested for blood immunocytes, 49 (59.8%) showed decreased percentages of B lymphocytes, and 69 (84.1%) showed decreased percentages of natural killer cells. Of 88 patients tested for serum immunoglobulins, 40 (45.5%) showed decreased IgA levels. Among 20 patients tested for serum cytokines, 15 (75.0%), 15 (75.0%), 13 (65.0%), and 12 (60.0%) showed elevated levels of interleukin (IL) -5, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-γ, respectively. All patients received systemic glucocorticoid therapy, among whom 86 additionally received intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, 4 received Janus kinase inhibitors, and 3 received dupilumab. Five patients died, 9 developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, 6 developed bronchiolitis obliterans, and 5 experienced long-term immune-related sequelae. Conclusions:Among these children with DIHS, antibiotics were the most common causative drugs, and the latency period could be shorter than 2 weeks. In addition to the common involvement of the liver and lungs, gastrointestinal and cardiac impairments were relatively frequent, while renal involvement was rare. Immunological features included decreased percentages of B lymphocytes and natural killer cells, reduced IgA levels, and elevated levels of cytokines such as IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and interferon-γ.
8.Predictive value and related mechanism of serum sialic acid on microvascular invasion in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Jiao WEI ; Jun JI ; Yueping ZHAN ; Linlin WU ; Xuewen XU ; Chenjun HUANG ; Peicheng FANG ; Xiao XIAO ; Min XU ; Chunfang GAO
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(1):56-64
Objective:To explore the value and related mechanism of preoperative serum sialic acid (SA) on evaluating microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).Methods:A total of 91 patients who underwent surgical resection and were pathologically diagnosed with ICC from December 2020 to September 2024 at the Oriental Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital affiliated to the Naval Medical University were included in this retrospective analysis. The patients were divided into non-MVI (41 cases) and MVI groups (50 cases). The general data and laboratory examination indexes were collected and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for predicting MVI. The predictive value of serum indicators for MVI was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves. The correlation between MVI and SA was analyzed by point-biserial correlation. ICC cells stably overexpressing β-galactoside α2, 6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) were generated through lentiviral transfection. ST6GAL1 protein expression and mRNA expression were detected by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Sambucus nigra (SNA) lectin fluorescence staining was used to detect α2, 6-sialylation levels on cells. Cell migration ability was assessed by wound healing and Transwell assays, and cell proliferation was evaluated by colony formation assays.Results:Compared with the non-MVI group, patients in the MVI group exhibited significantly higher levels of fibrinogen, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, SA and 5′-nucleotidase (5′-NT) (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SA ( OR=1.01,95% CI 1.01-1.02, P=0.023) was the only independent predictor for MVI. The area under curve of SA in predicting MVI was 0.757 (95% CI 0.640-0.870), sensitivity 67.65%, specificity 77.78%. SA was positively correlated with MVI ( r=0.443, P<0.001). ICC cells overexpressing ST6GAL1 were featured with increased mean fluorescence intensity of SNA lectin, and increased level of α2, 6-sialylation on the cell surface (both P<0.05). The number of colonies formed by hypersialylated ICC cells was also increased ( P<0.05), and both the migration rate and the number of migrating cells were significantly higher ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Serum SA is an independent predictor for MVI in ICC patients. Hypersialylation in ICC cells is associated with higher malignancy.
9.Application of cognitive interview in cultural adaptation of the prenatal physical activity dual screening questionnaire
Fang-ping XU ; Zhi-zhen LI ; Hua TAO ; Li-ping SUN ; Xiao-jiao WANG ; Xin-li ZHU ; Chun-yi GU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(2):297-300,304
To explore the understanding of the target population regarding the Get Active Questionnaire for Pregnancy(GAQ-P)and the Companion Health Care Provider Consultation Form for Prenatal Physical Activity(cHCP-CF-PPA)in the Chinese context,and to verify the consistency of the Chinese version of the prenatal physical activity dual screening questionnaire with the original version in terms of language expression,27 pregnant women and 12 healthcare providers were selected from Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital,Fudan University during Aug and Oct 2023,and were interviewed using purposive sampling.Two rounds of cognitive interviews were conducted.The first round revealed that some respondents experienced ambiguities in understanding the meanings of 5 items in the questionnaire.Following modifications,the second round indicated that the revised items were consistent in meaning with the original questionnaire.Cognitive interviews can facilitate the adaptation of the prenatal physical activity dual screening questionnaire to the Chinese cultural context,improve the understanding of the questionnaire items among the target population,and promote the localization of the screening tool.
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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