1.Skeleton Binding Protein 1 of Plasmodium berghei Influences Deformability and Cytoskeletal Ultrastructure of Infected Erythrocyte
Xin-Yue GUO ; Huan-Qi ZHAO ; Yan-Xuan ZHONG ; Ru-Meng JIANG ; Yao-Xian LI ; Lei-Ting PAN ; Qian WANG ; Xiao-Yu SHI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1015-1027
ObjectiveThe malaria parasites remodel the host erythrocyte structure by exporting parasite proteins that interact with the membrane skeleton proteins of red blood cells (RBCs), facilitating their intracellular survival and pathogenicity. Skeleton-binding protein 1 (SBP1) is a conserved exported protein across Plasmodium species. In Plasmodium falciparum, SBP1 has been reported to interact with erythrocyte membrane skeleton proteins 4.1R and spectrin, while its contribution to erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether PbSBP1 associates with the host cytoskeletal protein 4.1R and to investigate its role in the remodeling of host RBCs and the pathogenicity of Plasmodium berghei. MethodsIn Plasmodium berghei, the relationship between PbSBP1 and the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R was examined using co-immunoprecipitation. A Pbsbp1 gene knockout mutant of Plasmodium berghei (Pbsbp1∆) was generated based on the principle of double crossover homologous recombination. The deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was assessed using microfluidic methods. Microchannels with an array of cylindrical pillars were used to detect modifications in infected RBC deformability. The infected RBCs were squashed between the rows and recovered between the columns and the transit velocity (μm/s) of infected RBCs travelling through the microchannel was recorded. The component of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton junctional complex, tropomodulin (TMOD), was fluorescently labeled, and the cytoskeletal network of infected erythrocytes was imaged using super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to analyze ultrastructural changes in the cytoskeleton of wild-type (WT) and Pbsbp1∆-infected erythrocytes. Actin-based junctional complexes were displayed as individual clusters by the labeled TMOD in the STORM images, and the cluster densities and distances between adjacent clusters of infected RBCs were calculated. Additionally, rodent malaria models (BALB/c mice) and experimental cerebral malaria models (C57BL/6 mice) were employed to monitor the growth of Pbsbp1∆ and WT parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage and their capacity to induce cerebral malaria in mice. ResultsPbSBP1 may participate in the remodeling of infected erythrocytes through direct or indirect interaction with the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R. Microfluidic assays revealed that the deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was significantly enhanced compared to those infected with WT parasites. STORM imaging further demonstrated that the ultrastructure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton in Pbsbp1∆-infected cells was altered relative to that in WT-infected erythrocytes. The distances between nearest neighbors of clusters had a tendency to increase while the cluster densities were decreased in Pbsbp1∆-infected RBCs compared to WT-infected RBCs. Subsequent phenotypic analysis indicated that the growth rate of Pbsbp1∆ parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage was significantly slower than that of WT parasites, and their ability to induce cerebral malaria in mice was also attenuated. These findings suggest that PbSBP1 is involved in the remodeling of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton, likely through its direct or indirect interaction with protein 4.1R, thereby regulating the deformability of infected erythrocytes and influencing the pathogenicity of the blood-stage parasites. ConclusionThis study establishes a role for PbSBP1 in host erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence, providing new research strategies for the prevention and treatment of malaria.
2.Correlation between gallbladder stones and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Rui XIAN ; Qian LIU ; Xiao-Na LIU ; Chang-Hao DONG ; Guang-Xiang WANG ; Chao LI ; Li-Hong CUI
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(1):28-34
Objective To explore the correlation between gallbladder stones and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 393 patients who attended the Department of Gastroenterology of the Sixth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2021 to September 2023.They were divided into gallbladder stones group(n=190)and control group(n=203)based on the presence of gallbladder stones.Their general clinical data,laboratory test results,and abdominal symptoms were compared.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for gallbladder stones.Additionally,the total population was divided into SIBO-positive group(n=239)and SIBO-negative group(n=154),and their clinical characteristics were analyzed by logistic regression to explore the risk factors for SIBO.Results Univariate analysis revealed that gallbladder stones group had a higher rate of age,body mass index(BMI),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),glutaminase levels,prevalence of hypertension,diabetes,coronary heart disease,non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,gallbladder polyps,and SIBO,as well as a higher prevalence of CH4-positive and H2-positive in SIBO group than control group(P<0.05).In terms of abdominal symptoms,the incidence of bad breath(48.4%vs.35.5%),dyspepsia(38.4%vs.28.6%),abdominal pain(30.5%vs.14.8%),bloating(42.1%vs.28.6%),diarrhea(20.5%vs.7.4%),and more exhaustion(46.8%vs.34.5%)were significantly higher in gallbladder stones group than those in control group(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent positive determinants for incident gallbladder stones were age,BMI,FPG,total bilirubin(TBIL),coronary heart disease,gallbladder polyps,and SIBO.Univariate analysis revealed that age,prevalence of gallbladder stones,proportion of single stones,triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were significantly higher in SIBO-positive group than those in SIBO-negative group(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for SIBO were age,coronary heart disease,and gallbladder stones,while the protective factor for SIBO was high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C).Conclusion There is a significant correlation between gallbladder stones and small SIBO;interventions on related factors of gallbladder stones and small SIBO may help reduce their incidence.
3.Protective effect of secreted secretomes derived from three-dimensional cultured mesenchymal stem cells on mouse hippocampal neurons with seawater immersion and trauma
Xiao-Juan LAN ; Sheng-Qiang XIE ; Bing-Xian WANG ; Wen-Jing MA ; Qiao-Mi CHEN ; Gang CHENG ; Wen-Ying LYU ; Jian-Ning ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(3):324-331
Objective To investigate the protective effects of secretomes released by three-dimensional cultured mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)on neurons subjected to seawater immersion(SW)and stretch injury(SI),and to provide new insights into neuronal repair following SW combined with traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods MSCs were cultured using the hanging drop method,and the conditioned medium(CM)containing MSCs secretomes was collected.A cellular model combining SW with SI was established using mouse hippocampal neuronal cells(HT22 cells).HT22 cells were randomly assigned to five groups:control,SI,SI+SW,SI+CM,and SI+SW+CM groups.Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay,apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry,cell migration ability was evaluated by scratch assay,and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-2-associated protein(Bax),and ferroptosis-related proteins long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4(ACSL4)and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)were detected by Western blotting.Results Immersion in 15%seawater for 12 h significantly decreased HT22 cell viability(P<0.05).The CCK-8 assay indicated that cell viability in both the SI and SI+SW groups was significantly lower than that in control group after 12 h of treatment(P<0.05).Treatment with CM containing MSCs secretomes significantly increased cell viability in SI+CM group compared to SI group(P<0.0001),and in SI+SW+CM group compared to SI+SW group(P<0.001).Flow cytometry results revealed that the apoptosis rate in SI and SI+SW groups was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.05 or P<0.001),while in SI+CM group was lower than that in SI group(P<0.05),and in SI+SW+CM group was lower than that in SI+SW group(P<0.05).Western blotting showed that compared to control group,SI and SI+SW groups exhibited reduced Bcl-2 expression level(P<0.01 or P<0.0001)and increased expression levels of Bax,ACSL4,and COX-2(P<0.01 or P<0.0001).Compared to SI group,the SI+CM group displayed increased Bcl-2 expression level(P<0.05)and decreased expression levels of Bax,ACSL4,and COX-2(P<0.05).Compared to SI+SW group,SI+SW+CM group exhibited increased Bcl-2 expression level(P<0.01)and decreased expression levels of Bax,ACSL4,and COX-2(P<0.01 or P<0.001).Scratch assay results demonstrated that at both 12 h and 24 h,the cell migration rate in SI and SI+SW groups was significantly lower than that in control group(P<0.01 or P<0.0001),while the migration rate in SI+CM group was significantly higher than that in SI group(P<0.0001 or P<0.01),and the migration rate in SI+SW+CM group was significantly higher than that in SI+SW group(P<0.0001).Conclusion Secretomes derived from MSCs cultured using the hanging drop method can alleviate neuronal damage caused by SW and TBI,potentially offering a therapeutic approach for SW combined with TBI.
4.Advancements and applications in radiopharmaceutical therapy.
Shiya WANG ; Mingyi CAO ; Yifei CHEN ; Jingjing LIN ; Jiahao LI ; Xinyu WU ; Zhiyue DAI ; Yuhan PAN ; Xiao LIU ; Xian LIU ; Liang-Ting LIN ; Jianbing WU ; Ji LIU ; Qifeng ZHONG ; Zhenwei YUAN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):641-657
Radiopharmaceuticals operate by combining radionuclides with carriers. The radiation energy emitted by radionuclides is utilized to selectively irradiate diseased tissues while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. In comparison to external beam radiation therapy, radionuclide drugs demonstrate research potential due to their biological targeting capabilities and reduced normal tissue toxicity. This article reviews the applications and research progress of radiopharmaceuticals in cancer treatment. Several key radionuclides are examined, including 223Ra, 90Y, Lutetium-177 (177Lu), 212Pb, and Actinium-225 (225Ac). It also explores the current development trends of radiopharmaceuticals, encompassing the introduction of novel radionuclides, advancements in imaging technologies, integrated diagnosis and treatment approaches, and equipment-medication combinations. We review the progress in the development of new treatments, such as neutron capture therapy, proton therapy, and heavy ion therapy. Furthermore, we examine the challenges and breakthroughs associated with the clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals and provide recommendations for the research and development of novel radionuclide drugs.
Humans
;
Radiopharmaceuticals/therapeutic use*
;
Neoplasms/radiotherapy*
;
Radioisotopes/therapeutic use*
;
Animals
5.Pathogenicity and Transcriptomic Profiling Revealed Activation of Apoptosis and Pyroptosis in Brain of Mice Infected with the Beta Variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Han LI ; Bao Ying HUANG ; Gao Qian ZHANG ; Fei YE ; Li ZHAO ; Wei Bang HUO ; Zhong Xian ZHANG ; Wen WANG ; Wen Ling WANG ; Xiao Ling SHEN ; Chang Cheng WU ; Wen Jie TAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1082-1094
OBJECTIVE:
Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351).
METHODS:
K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.
RESULTS:
Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks.
CONCLUSION
These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals
;
COVID-19/genetics*
;
Mice
;
Brain/metabolism*
;
Apoptosis
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
SARS-CoV-2/physiology*
;
Pyroptosis
;
Gene Expression Profiling
;
Transcriptome
;
Male
;
Female
6.Perioperative care of a preterm infant with ABO hemolytic disease undergoing resection of a giant sacrococcygeal teratoma
Dan MENG ; Juan XIAO ; Yuling ZENG ; Liping WANG ; Xian LIU ; Peiwei CHEN
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(16):2016-2020
To summarize the perioperative nursing experience of a premature infant with ABO hemolytic disease who underwent resection of giant Altman type Ⅰ sacrococcygeal teratoma at 43 hours after birth.Key points of preoperative nursing care include the cooperative blood transfusion to correct anemia,and the protection of tumor body,the prevention of rupture and bleeding.Key points of intraoperative nursing care include the personalized postural safety management,the target-oriented fluid therapy to maintain circulation stability,and composite insulation measures to prevent hypothermia.Key points of postoperative nursing care include sequential fluid replenishment to treat neonatal capillary leakage syndrome;protective ventilation strategies to maintain effective breathing;precision wound care,prevention and control of postoperative infection;progressive mixed feeding;to empower family members and improve the quality of continuous rehabilitation.After careful treatment and nursing care,the patient was discharged 18 days after surgery.During the 7-month follow-up,the growth and development were normal.
7.Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with myogenic tumors
Lifang SONG ; Li WANG ; Daoqi MEI ; Yuan WANG ; Yanli MA ; Kaili XU ; Fan WANG ; Yixin XIAN ; Xiao FENG ; Kai LIU
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2025;58(6):632-639
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) with myogenic tumors.Methods:The clinical data of 2 children with DMD combined with myogenic tumors diagnosed in Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in July 2021 and February 2022 were collected. The relevant literature was reviewed to summarize the clinical characteristics and explore the mechanism of the dystrophin ( DMD) gene in myogenic tumors. Results:A 6-year and 10-month-old boy with DMD (deletion of exon 45) and a 12-year-old boy with DMD (deletion of exon 51) were diagnosed with tumors. They were diagnosed with DMD for delayed motor development in the Department of Neurology of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University. They presented with painless masses in the waist. Postoperative pathological diagnosis: the pathology and immunohistochemistry of case 1 showed an alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) and both myogenin and myogenic differentiation 1 positive; the pathology and immunohistochemistry of case 2 showed an alveolar soft part sarcoma(ASPS) and transcription factor enhancer 3 positive; both cases were myogenic tumors. Literature review (including this paper) showed that there were in total 14 cases with DMD combined with myogenic tumors including 13 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and 1 case of ASPS. All of them are male, and the age of onset of the tumors was 4-17 years. Pathological subtypes were described in 6 cases of ARMS and 5 cases of embryonal RMS, and were not described in 2 cases. The 9 cases described all had large deletions in the DMD gene which can change the reading frame of the DMD gene, and all gene mutations did not exceed exon 62. Conclusions:DMD gene with deletion may increase the risk of having myogenic tumors, and RMS is more common, which is manifested as painless mass in early stage. All DMD gene deletions do not exceed exon 62 and lead to change of the gene reading frame with severe clinical phenotype and degenerative changes in muscle function.
8.Association of Residual Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes and its Mechanism of Action
Li-xian ZHAO ; Jing ZHOU ; Yang WANG ; Juan LI ; Xiao-hai LI
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(16):2715-2720
Type 2 diabetes(T2DM)was a chronic metabolic disease,vascular lesions was one of the common complications of T2DM,including microvascular and macrovascular lesions,which seriously threatens the health of patients and increases the risk of disability and death.Dyslipidemia was one of the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes,the disorder of lipid metabolism was also closely related to various acute and chronic complications of diabetes,the cholesterol in the lipoproteins rich in triglycerides(TG)was known as residual cholesterol.Existing studies have shown that,residual cholesterol was closely related to the occurrence and development of vascular lesions in T2DM.Residual cholesterol may be involved in T2DM vascular lesions through mediating inflammatory response,participating in oxidative stress,lipid metabolism disorder and direct damage to vascular endothelial function.This study reviewed the association between residual cholesterol and T2DM vascular lesions and its mechanism of action in T2DM vascular lesions,aiming to provide solid theoretical support for the formulation of prevention and treatment strategies for T2DM vascular lesions.
9.A Novel Scorpion Toxin LmKTx13 Inhibits the Voltage-gated Potassium Channel Kv1.3
Jia-Xin QIN ; Xiao-Qing LUO ; Min-Juan LU ; Jun-Xian JU ; Qing ZHOU ; Wen-Xing WANG ; Zhong-Hua LIU ; Min-Zhi CHEN ; Xi ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1392-1401
Kv1.3,a voltage-gated potassium channel,is highly expressed in T lymphocytes,the nervous system,and vascular smooth muscle cells.It plays a critical role in membrane excitability and electrical signal transduction,serving as an important target for studying T-cell function and providing a promising direction for developing therapeutics against autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.Therefore,the de-velopment of specific inhibitors of Kv1.3 channel has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy for these disorders.In this study,we isolated and purified a novel Kv1.3-inhibitory peptide toxin,LmKTx13,from the venom of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chroma-tography(RP-HPLC).LmKTx13 consists of 38 amino acid residues,including six cysteines that form three disulfide bonds.Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings revealed that LmKTx13 potently inhibited Kv1.3 with an IC50 of 7.92±3.0 nmol/L.Selectivity analysis showed that 2 μmol/L LmKTx13 also in-hibited Kv1.2 and Kv1.7,but exhibited no significant effects on other potassium channel subtypes or voltage-gated sodium channels.Further investigation into the mechanism demonstrated that LmKTx13 acts as a pore-blocking inhibitor of Kv1.3.By analyzing the effects of LmKTx13 on Kv1.3 channel gating ki-netics and performing sequence alignment of the pore regions of Kv1.3 and Kv1.5,we constructed site-directed mutants and identified the pore region of Kv1.3 as the critical binding site for LmKTx13.Key residues involved in the interaction included T425,G427,and H451.In summary,we discovered a no-vel pore-blocking Kv1.3 inhibitor,LmKTx13,from L.mucronatus venom,which exhibits high affinity and selectivity for Kv1.3.These findings highlight its potential as a potential lead molecule for developing Kv1.3-targeted therapeutics.
10.American military medical support equipment system digitalizatioin and its inspiration
Xin-ying WANG ; Xian-wen WANG ; Kai-yu YAO ; Xiao-liang LI
Chinese Medical Equipment Journal 2025;46(11):71-77
American military medical support equipment system digitalization were introduced in terms of connotation and development history,the development status of digitalization of four kinds of equipment was analyzed including the ambulance,hospital ship,medical helicopter and medical shelter,and the characteristics and implementation paths of American military medical support equipment system digitalization were described.The inspiration for the military medical support equipment system of the PLA were put forward from the aspects of top-level design,standard and specification,data and modeling,technology integration,construction of independent platform tools and personnel training.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail