1.Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 cooperatively contributes to vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction and drives aortic aneurysm and dissection.
Xiu LIU ; Li ZHAO ; Deshen LIU ; Lingna ZHAO ; Yonghua TUO ; Qinbao PENG ; Fangze HUANG ; Zhengkun SONG ; Chuanjie NIU ; Xiaoxia HE ; Yu XU ; Jun WAN ; Peng ZHU ; Zhengyang JIAN ; Jiawei GUO ; Yingying LIU ; Jun LU ; Sijia LIANG ; Shaoyi ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3663-3684
This study investigated the role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells c3 (NFATc3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 levels were elevated in human and mouse AAD. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced thoracic AAD (TAAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression in mice, contrary to VSMC-NFATc3 overexpression. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and maintained the VSMC contractile phenotype. Nuclear NFATc3 targeted and transcriptionally upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and MMP2, promoting ECM degradation and AAD development. NFATc3 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching by binding to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and inhibiting its phosphorylation in the VSMC cytoplasm. Restoring eEF2 reversed the beneficial effects in VSMC-specific NFATc3-knockout mice. Cabamiquine-targets eEF2 and inhibits protein synthesis-inhibited AAD development and progression in VSMC-NFATc3-overexpressing mice. VSMC-NFATc3 promoted VSMC switch and ECM degradation while exacerbating AAD development, making it a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating AAD.
2.Clinical epidemiological study of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy based on Shenzhen birth cohort
Yixuan CHEN ; Linlin WU ; Kan LIU ; Xiaoxia WU ; Jianmin NIU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(3):281-286
Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and morbidity trends of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Shenzhen, China.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Data were based on the Shenzhen Birth Cohort. Pregnant women who gave birth from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023 were included. Incidence and change trends of HDP and its different pathological types were analyzed. The enrolled pregnant women were divided into the HDP group and the non-HDP group according to whether HDP occurred. General clinical data and pregnancy outcomes were collected from both groups. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with different pathological types of HDP was analyzed, and subgroup analyses were performed based on age and body mass index (BMI).Results:A total of 90 117 pregnant women were enrolled, aged (31.6±4.4) years. There were 4 117 cases in the HDP group and 86 000 in the non-HDP group. The overall incidence of HDP in the whole study population was 4.57% (4 117/90 117). From 2018—2023, the incidence of HDP in Shenzhen showed an increasing trend year by year, from 2.88% (523/18 155) to 7.04% (271/3 851). Specifically, the incidence of gestational hypertension increased from 0.93% (168/18 155) to 3.09% (119/3 851), the incidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia increased from 1.78% (323/18 155) to 3.17% (122/3 851), the incidence of chronic hypertension increased from 0.01% (1/18 155) to 0.42% (16/3 851), and the incidence of chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia increased from 0.17% (31/18 155) to 0.36% (14/3 851). The age ((32.8±4.8) years vs. (31.5±4.3) years, P<0.05) and BMI in the first trimester ((23.37±3.77) kg/m 2 vs. (21.35±2.91) kg/m 2, P<0.05) of HDP group were higher than those of the non-HDP group. Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of HDP in pregnant women aged≥50.0 years was the highest in all age subgroups (42.86% (6/14)). The incidence of HDP in pregnant women with BMI≥30.0 kg/m 2 in the first trimester was the highest among all BMI subgroups (20.44% (241/1 179)). The proportions of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age, placental abruption, and late abortion in HDP group were 30.82% (1 269/4 117), 30.46% (1 254/4 117), 6.80% (280/4 117), 4.86% (200/4 117), 3.59% (148/4 117), and 0.80% (33/4 117), respectively. Conclusions:The incidence of HDP among pregnant women has been increased year by year in Shenzhen, China. With the increase in age and BMI during early pregnancy, the incidence of HDP showed an overall upward trend.
3.Two-dimensional black phosphorus materials for bone tissue engineering
Jiahan CHEN ; Chao FENG ; Xiaoxia HUANG ; Minghui NIU ; Xin WANG ; Yong TENG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(10):2124-2131
BACKGROUND:Black phosphorus has a high degree of homology with human bone,so it has been extensively studied in the field of bone tissue engineering in recent years.Since 2014,two-dimensional black phosphorus materials have garned significant attention in the field of biomedicine due to their excellent exceptional physical,chemical,and biological properties. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the advancements made in black phosphorus-based nanomaterials for bone tissue engineering,focus on the synthesis methods,osteogenic characteristics,and applications in biomaterials pertaining to two-dimensional black phosphorus nanomaterials. METHODS:Chinese and English key words were"black phosphorus,bone tissue engineering,bone defect,bone regeneration,osteogenesis."Relevant articles in PubMed and CNKI databases from January 2014 to December 2023 were searched.After exclusion and screening,96 articles were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Black phosphorus nanomaterials play an important role in bone tissue engineering due to their good biocompatibility,biodegradability,photothermal action,antibacterial ability,drug loading performance,and special osteogenic effect,and are ideal candidate materials for promoting bone regeneration.The preparation of black phosphorus nanomaterials is mainly a top-down top-layer stripping method.The main principle is to weaken the van der Waals force between the black phosphorus layers by physical or chemical means to obtain a single or less layer of phosphanse,that is,black phosphorus nanosheets or quantum dots.Black phosphate-based nanocomposites are mainly divided into hydrogels,3D printing scaffolds,composite scaffolds,electrospinning,bionic periosteum,microspheres,and bionic coatings.The research of nano-black phosphorus in bone tissue engineering is in its infancy,and still faces many challenges:the behavior of black phosphorus in vivo and the interaction mechanism with various biomolecules need to be further studied.The long-term potential toxicity of black phosphorus is unknown.The manufacturing process for black phosphorus is difficult to control.Therefore,how to develop uniform size,safe,reliable,and efficient nano black phosphorus and transform it into clinical application requires interdisciplinary research on modern biomedical technology,physicochemical technology,and precision manufacturing technology.
4.Exploration of radiation dose and diagnostic reference level for adult CT scans in Beijing
Zongrui ZHANG ; Tianliang KANG ; Zhentao LI ; Yongxian ZHANG ; Dandan LIU ; Xiaoxia QU ; Yantao NIU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(3):229-236
Objective:To investigate the status and diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) of adult CT radiation dose based on survey result from some hospitals in Beijing.Methods:From September to December 2023, the survey results for 50 hospitals were collected in Beijing, including 47 tertiary hospitals and 3 second grade general hospitals. The CT data sets in total of 20 items including head (sequential scanning), head (spiral scanning), head perfusion, sinus, neck, chest, chest (low dose scanning), abdomen, pelvis, abdomen-pelvis, chest-abdomen-pelvis, lumbar spine, CT urography, coronary CTA (retrospective), coronary CTA (prospective), head CTA, neck CTA, aorta CTA, leg CTA and knee were collected on clinical commonly used CT scanners with annual qualified state inspection. For each item, radiation dose data was collected continuously and randomly for up to 50 cases for every CT scanner. Using the volume CT dose index (CTDI vol) and dose length product (DLP) as dose parameters, the median value of each item in each hospital was obtained. The median CTDI vol and DLP values of all hospitals were arranged, and the local DRL of each item was set as the 75th percentile of the median values. The obtained DRLs were compared with the DRLs issued by domestic and international radiological protection organizations. Results:A total of 26 031 dose values of adult patients were collected and 25 996 dose values were left while 35 invalid values removed.For different CT users, CTDl vol, DLP and scanning phases were different for the same item. The five items with the highest CTDI were head perfusion, head sequential scanning, head spiral scanning, coronary CTA (retrospective mode), and sinus. The five items with the highest DLP were CTU, head perfusion, leg CTA, chest-abdomen-pelvis and aortic CTA. The CTDI vol of CTU was only 16.9 mGy (75th percentile), while the DLP was as high as 2 394.9 mGy·cm (75th percentile). The survey showed that the DRLs of most items in Beijing was lower than the national DRLs of domestic and foreign standards, and the DRLs of a small number of items were slightly higher. Conclusion:The current CT dose level in Beijing is not consistent with national DRLs released at home and abroad, so it is necessary to establish local DRLs according to the clinical status in Beijing.
5.Exploration of radiation dose and diagnostic reference level for adult CT scans in Beijing
Zongrui ZHANG ; Tianliang KANG ; Zhentao LI ; Yongxian ZHANG ; Dandan LIU ; Xiaoxia QU ; Yantao NIU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(3):229-236
Objective:To investigate the status and diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) of adult CT radiation dose based on survey result from some hospitals in Beijing.Methods:From September to December 2023, the survey results for 50 hospitals were collected in Beijing, including 47 tertiary hospitals and 3 second grade general hospitals. The CT data sets in total of 20 items including head (sequential scanning), head (spiral scanning), head perfusion, sinus, neck, chest, chest (low dose scanning), abdomen, pelvis, abdomen-pelvis, chest-abdomen-pelvis, lumbar spine, CT urography, coronary CTA (retrospective), coronary CTA (prospective), head CTA, neck CTA, aorta CTA, leg CTA and knee were collected on clinical commonly used CT scanners with annual qualified state inspection. For each item, radiation dose data was collected continuously and randomly for up to 50 cases for every CT scanner. Using the volume CT dose index (CTDI vol) and dose length product (DLP) as dose parameters, the median value of each item in each hospital was obtained. The median CTDI vol and DLP values of all hospitals were arranged, and the local DRL of each item was set as the 75th percentile of the median values. The obtained DRLs were compared with the DRLs issued by domestic and international radiological protection organizations. Results:A total of 26 031 dose values of adult patients were collected and 25 996 dose values were left while 35 invalid values removed.For different CT users, CTDl vol, DLP and scanning phases were different for the same item. The five items with the highest CTDI were head perfusion, head sequential scanning, head spiral scanning, coronary CTA (retrospective mode), and sinus. The five items with the highest DLP were CTU, head perfusion, leg CTA, chest-abdomen-pelvis and aortic CTA. The CTDI vol of CTU was only 16.9 mGy (75th percentile), while the DLP was as high as 2 394.9 mGy·cm (75th percentile). The survey showed that the DRLs of most items in Beijing was lower than the national DRLs of domestic and foreign standards, and the DRLs of a small number of items were slightly higher. Conclusion:The current CT dose level in Beijing is not consistent with national DRLs released at home and abroad, so it is necessary to establish local DRLs according to the clinical status in Beijing.
6.Clinical epidemiological study of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy based on Shenzhen birth cohort
Yixuan CHEN ; Linlin WU ; Kan LIU ; Xiaoxia WU ; Jianmin NIU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(3):281-286
Objective:To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and morbidity trends of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) in Shenzhen, China.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Data were based on the Shenzhen Birth Cohort. Pregnant women who gave birth from January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2023 were included. Incidence and change trends of HDP and its different pathological types were analyzed. The enrolled pregnant women were divided into the HDP group and the non-HDP group according to whether HDP occurred. General clinical data and pregnancy outcomes were collected from both groups. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women with different pathological types of HDP was analyzed, and subgroup analyses were performed based on age and body mass index (BMI).Results:A total of 90 117 pregnant women were enrolled, aged (31.6±4.4) years. There were 4 117 cases in the HDP group and 86 000 in the non-HDP group. The overall incidence of HDP in the whole study population was 4.57% (4 117/90 117). From 2018—2023, the incidence of HDP in Shenzhen showed an increasing trend year by year, from 2.88% (523/18 155) to 7.04% (271/3 851). Specifically, the incidence of gestational hypertension increased from 0.93% (168/18 155) to 3.09% (119/3 851), the incidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia increased from 1.78% (323/18 155) to 3.17% (122/3 851), the incidence of chronic hypertension increased from 0.01% (1/18 155) to 0.42% (16/3 851), and the incidence of chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia increased from 0.17% (31/18 155) to 0.36% (14/3 851). The age ((32.8±4.8) years vs. (31.5±4.3) years, P<0.05) and BMI in the first trimester ((23.37±3.77) kg/m 2 vs. (21.35±2.91) kg/m 2, P<0.05) of HDP group were higher than those of the non-HDP group. Subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of HDP in pregnant women aged≥50.0 years was the highest in all age subgroups (42.86% (6/14)). The incidence of HDP in pregnant women with BMI≥30.0 kg/m 2 in the first trimester was the highest among all BMI subgroups (20.44% (241/1 179)). The proportions of preterm birth, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, small for gestational age, placental abruption, and late abortion in HDP group were 30.82% (1 269/4 117), 30.46% (1 254/4 117), 6.80% (280/4 117), 4.86% (200/4 117), 3.59% (148/4 117), and 0.80% (33/4 117), respectively. Conclusions:The incidence of HDP among pregnant women has been increased year by year in Shenzhen, China. With the increase in age and BMI during early pregnancy, the incidence of HDP showed an overall upward trend.
7.Analysis of problems in maternal and child health services in communities of Shanghai
Xiaoxia MA ; Ningqing CHEN ; Jishun SHI ; Jing XU ; Lihua NIU ; Yan DING
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2024;40(9):694-700
Objective:To analyze the existing problems in maternal and child health services in Shanghai′s communities, so as to provide references for the continuous improvement and enhancement of maternal and child health work in community.Methods:Retrieve relevant literature on community maternal and child health services in Shanghai from databases such as CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Chinese biomedical literature database and PubMed for text analysis, with a search period from 2009 to 2023. From August 2022 to May 2023, a purposive sampling method was used to select community health service centers in Shanghai for participatory observation. Interviews were conducted with maternal and child health service providers in community, management personnel at all levels, and obstetric experts from tertiary hospitals participating in the construction of medical alliances to understand the problems that exist in the process of providing maternal and child health services in community service centers. Based on text analysis, participatory observation, and interview results, a structure-process-outcome theory model was used to sort out a list of problems of maternal and child health services in Shanghai′s community. An electronic questionnaire was created based on the list of questions, and maternal and child health service personnel in each jurisdiction were invited to rate the existing problems from three aspects: importance, severity, and solvability. The key issues was determined based on the total score of each problem.Results:A list of 24 issues related to maternal and child health services in Shanghai′s community has been formed, with the structural dimension including team building and hardware facilities, the process dimension including mechanism construction, implementation process, and institutional coordination, and the result dimension only including system result category. According to the survey results, the three key questions with a total score greater than 7 were identified as the need for improvement in the maternal and child health knowledge and skills of service personnel; Insufficient staffing of service personnel, lack of dedicated personnel and specialized talents; The health information platform was not well-established, and institutions could not fully and timely share diagnosis and treatment data.Conclusions:This study has identified a problem list for maternal and child health care services in Shanghai′s communities, as well as key issues that urgently need to be addressed, which can provide reference for improving the quality of maternal and child health care services in Shanghai′s communities.
8.Impact of social support on posttraumatic growth in thyroid cancer patients: a chain mediating effect of positive psychological capital and general self-efficacy
Qiaomin WANG ; Binfang LING ; Dong JI ; Jinjing WANG ; Xiaoxia NIU ; Yan YANG ; Tingting ZHANG ; Yi FANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(33):4526-4534
Objective:To construct a chain mediating model based on two mediating variables of positive psychological capital and general self-efficacy, so as to explore the impact mechanism of social support on posttraumatic growth in thyroid cancer patients.Methods:From March to December 2023, convenience sampling was used to select 270 postoperative patients with thyroid cancer from the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital as participants. The patients were surveyed using the General Information Questionnaire, Post Traumatic Growth Inventory, Social Support Rating Scale, Positive Psychological Questionnaire, and General Self-efficacy Scale. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between social support, positive psychological capital, general self-efficacy, and posttraumatic growth in thyroid cancer patients. SPSS PROCESS program was used to test for the chain mediating effect.Results:A total of 270 questionnaires were distributed, and 257 questionnaires were collected. After excluding questionnaires with missing items exceeding 10% and regular responses, 246 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid response rate of 91.11% (246/270). Spearman correlation showed that there was positive correlations between social support, positive psychological capital, general self-efficacy, and posttraumatic growth in patients ( P<0.01). Mediating effect analysis showed that social support directly and positively predicted posttraumatic growth in thyroid cancer [ β=0.403, 95% CI (0.258, 0.547) ], and also affected patients' posttraumatic growth through three indirect pathways, namely social support → positive psychological capital → posttraumatic growth, with an effect value of 0.083 [95% CI (0.002, 0.173) ], accounting for 13.63% of the total effect, and social support → general self-efficacy → posttraumatic growth, with an effect value of 0.099 [95% CI (0.040, 0.166) ], accounting for 16.26% of the total effect, and social support → positive psychological capital → general self-efficacy → posttraumatic growth, with an effect value of 0.025 [95% CI (0.005, 0.051) ], accounting for 4.11% of the total effect. The total indirect effect accounted for 33.83% of the total effect. Conclusions:Social support can not only directly affect the post-traumatic growth of thyroid cancer patients, but also indirectly affect post-traumatic growth through the mediating effect of positive psychological capital and general self-efficacy.
9.Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage and associated factors in patients hospitalized with acute exacerbations of COPD in China: Findings from real-world data
Ruoxi HE ; Xiaoxia REN ; Ke HUANG ; Jieping LEI ; Hongtao NIU ; Wei LI ; Fen DONG ; Baicun LI ; Ye WANG ; Ting YANG ; Chen WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(10):1179-1189
Background::Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination are a priority in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, limited information is available on vaccination coverage among patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) in China. This study aimed to determine the rates and associated factors of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in patients hospitalized with AECOPD.Methods::Baseline data from a national, multicenter, hospital-based study that included adult inpatients with AECOPD between 2017 and 2021 were analyzed. The outcomes of interest were the influenza vaccination in the past year and the pneumococcal vaccination in the past 5 years. To ensure national representativeness, rates were weighted according to the distribution of hospital levels and types enrolled in this study. Multivariable Poisson regression based on mixed-effects models were used to determine the associated factors. The independent variables included the region and hospital features where the participants were located, sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, rural/urban residence, education, etc.), and clinical indicators (COPD disease history, lung function parameters, comorbidities, etc.). The treatment profiles of the vaccinated and unvaccinated participants were compared.Results::Of 6949 eligible participants, the weighted rates of influenza/pneumococcal, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccination were 2.72% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34%-3.10%), 2.09% (95% CI: 1.76%-2.43%), and 1.25% (95% CI: 0.99%-1.51%), respectively. In multivariable models, age ≥60 years (60-69 years, odds ratio [OR]: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.11-3.25; ≥80 years, OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.06-3.78), geographical regions (Northern China relative to Eastern China, OR: 5.09, 95% CI: 1.96-13.21), urban residence (OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07-2.66), a higher education level (junior high school, OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.21-2.58; senior high school or above, OR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.69-4.03), former smoking (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.15-2.79), and regular inhaled medication treatment (OR: 3.28, 95% CI: 2.29-4.70) were positively associated with vaccination. Patients who had experienced severe exacerbations in the past year were less likely to be vaccinated (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45-0.96). Compared with unvaccinated participants, vaccinated participants adhered better to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment.Conclusions::Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination coverage are extremely low. Urgent measures are necessary to increase vaccination coverage among inpatients with AECOPD in China.
10.A study on the dynamic and static functional connectivity changes of amygdala subregions in patients with bilateral idiopathic tinnitus and hearing loss based on fMRI
Yue SHI ; Lanyue CHEN ; Yi ZHANG ; Xiaobo MA ; Wei LI ; Xiaoxia QU ; Qian WANG ; Yantao NIU ; Zhaohui LIU
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(9):574-579
OBJECTIVE To observe the changes of static functional connectivity(sFC) and dynamic functional connectivity(dFC) of amygdala subregions in patients with bilateral idiopathic tinnitus and hearing loss(TINHL). METHODS The resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) data of 30 patients with bilateral tinnitus and hearing loss and 37 normal controls(NCs) were collected to analyze the intensity changes of sFC and dFC in 8 subregions of amygdala and the whole brain in TINHL patients. RESULTS There were no significant differences in age,sex and education between the two groups. Compared with the NCs group,the sFC intensity of the right basolateral subregion and right cerebellar peduncle 1 region,the left basolateral subregion and left orbital medial frontal gyrus and left angular gyrus in TINHL group was significantly decreased. The dFC intensity of left amygdalostriatal subregion and left precuneus in TINHL group was increased,but the dFC intensity was reduced in the left basolateral subregion and right angular gyrus as well as between the right superficial subregion and right medial orbital of superior frontal gyrus. CONCLUSION Among the 8 subregions of amygdala,the bilateral basolateral subregions,the left amygdalostriatal subregion and the right superficial region shown abnormal functional connectivity with other regions of the brain,which are the important parts of emotional abnormalities in TINHL.

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