1.Effect and mechanism of dapagliflozin on gut microbiota in a mouse model of metabolic associated fatty liver disease
Caiyun ZHENG ; Lili YU ; Xiaoxu TIAN ; Hengfen DAI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2300-2309
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of dapagliflozin on liver lipid metabolism and gut microecology in mice with metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and to clarify its potential mechanism. MethodsA total of 50 male C57 mice were randomly divided into Control group, type 2 diabetes+MAFLD group (MAFLD group), dapagliflozin group (DAPA group), meldonium group (THP group), and dapagliflozin+meldonium group (DAPA+THP group), with 10 mice in each group. High-fat diet combined with streptozotocin was used to establish a mouse model of MAFLD. Treatment outcomes were assessed based on histopathology and biochemical parameters such as blood glucose and blood lipid levels, and the transcriptomic and metagenomic analyses were used to identify differentially expressed genes and the changes in gut microbiota. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for comparison between two groups; the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups, and the Nemenyi test was used for comparison between two groups. ResultsHistopathological examination showed that the mice in the MAFLD group had excessive lipid deposition and hepatocyte steatosis; compared with the MAFLD group, the DAPA group had a significant improvement in hepatocyte steatosis, while the THP group and the DAPA+THP group had a less significant improvement compared with the DAPA group. Compared with the Control group, the MAFLD group had a significant increase in fasting blood glucose (P<0.05), significant increases in the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05), and a significant reduction in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P<0.05). Compared with the MAFLD group, the DAPA group, the THP group, and the DAPA+THP group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT and AST (P<0.05). The results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that compared with the Control group, the MAFLD group had significant changes in gut microbiota, with an increase in Firmicutes and a reduction in Bacteroidetes, as well as reductions in S24-7 and Erysipelotrichaceae and an increase in Lactobacillaceae. The levels of the above flora were upregulated to normal levels in the DAPA group, the THP group, and the DAPA+THP group. The liver transcriptomic analysis showed that the enriched metabolic pathways included steroid hormone biosynthesis, bile secretion, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP, fatty acid elongation, and lipid biodegradation processes, and the related genes mainly involved the key targets of lipid metabolism such as Acot2, Angptl4, Scd2, and Npc1l1. ConclusionDapagliflozin can alleviate MAFLD through the pathways such as steroid hormone biosynthesis, bile secretion, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP, and fatty acid elongation, as well as by regulating gut microbiota homeostasis.
2.Weak SARS-CoV-2-specific responses of TIGIT-expressing CD8 + T cells in people living with HIV after a third dose of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine.
Junyan JIN ; Xiuwen WANG ; Yongzheng LI ; Xiaodong YANG ; Hu WANG ; Xiaoxu HAN ; Jin SUN ; Zhenglai MA ; Junyi DUAN ; Guanghui ZHANG ; Tao HUANG ; Tong ZHANG ; Hao WU ; Xin ZHANG ; Bin SU
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(24):2938-2947
BACKGROUND:
T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif domains (TIGIT), an inhibitory receptor expressed on T cells, plays a dysfunctional role in antiviral infection and antitumor activity. However, it is unknown whether TIGIT expression on T cells influences the immunological effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inactivated vaccines.
METHODS:
Forty-five people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for more than two years and 31 healthy controls (HCs), all received a third dose of a SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccine, were enrolled in this study. The amounts, activation, proportion of cell subsets, and magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response of TIGIT + CD4 + and TIGIT + CD8 + T cells were investigated before the third dose but 6 months after the second vaccine dose (0W), 4 weeks (4W) and 12 weeks (12W) after the third dose.
RESULTS:
Compared to that in HCs, the frequency of TIGIT + CD8 + T cells in the peripheral blood of PLWH increased at 12W after the third dose of the inactivated vaccine, and the immune activation of TIGIT + CD8 + T cells also increased. A decrease in the ratio of both T naïve (T N ) and central memory (T CM ) cells among TIGIT + CD8 + T cells and an increase in the ratio of the effector memory (T EM ) subpopulation were observed at 12W in PLWH. Interestingly, particularly at 12W, a higher proportion of TIGIT + CD8 + T cells expressing CD137 and CD69 simultaneously was observed in HCs than in PLWH based on the activation-induced marker assay. Compared with 0W, SARS-CoV-2-specific TIGIT + CD8 + T-cell responses in PLWH were not enhanced at 12W but were enhanced in HCs. Additionally, at all time points, the SARS-CoV-2-specific responses of TIGIT + CD8 + T cells in PLWH were significantly weaker than those of TIGIT - CD8 + T cells. However, in HCs, the difference in the SARS-CoV-2-specific responses induced between TIGIT + CD8 + T cells and TIGIT - CD8 + T cells was insignificant at 4W and 12W, except at 0W.
CONCLUSIONS
TIGIT expression on CD8 + T cells may hinder the T-cell immune response to a booster dose of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, suggesting weakened resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in PLWH. Furthermore, TIGIT may be used as a potential target to increase the production of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 + T cells, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of vaccination.
Humans
;
Antibodies, Viral
;
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
;
COVID-19/complications*
;
COVID-19 Vaccines/immunology*
;
HIV Infections/complications*
;
Receptors, Immunologic
;
SARS-CoV-2
3.Introduction and application of deep integration strategy of extracurricular scientific research management and information technology for undergraduates in military medical universities
Feifei WU ; Xiaoxia LIU ; Gaixia LI ; Xiaoxu JIANG ; Kaifeng LI ; Xiacheng SUN ; Fei TIAN ; Yousheng WU ; Li WANG ; Nannan LIU ; Haifeng ZHANG ; Yayun WANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2022;21(6):664-668
This study deeply analyzes the common problems of three military medical universities in the management of undergraduate extracurricular scientific research, such as lack of communication means, limited online resources, backward laboratory opening and low utilization rate of equipment. We have built a cloud platform management system for undergraduate extracurricular scientific research. This system firstly sets up a teaching resources storage module including videos, PPTs, documents, pictures, electronic materials, question bank, etc. Then four subsystems for different roles of students, mentors, experimental teaching staff and administrators are constructed. Finally, this system realizes independent experiments by students, real-time evaluation by mentors, instrument sharing and efficient management through the seamless connection with the user terminal equipment. And the study also makes evaluation on the present usage.
4. Clinical study of hysteroscopy combined with laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of unexplained infertility
Xiaoxu XU ; Qi YU ; Aijun SUN ; Qinjie TIAN ; Rong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020;55(1):15-20
Objective:
To explore the importance of the diagnosis and treatment value of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in patients with unexplained infertility.
Methods:
A total of 519 cases diagnosed as unexplained infertility, received laparoscopy and hysteroscopy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 2012 to December 2015. The causes of infertility were evaluated, and the subjects were followed up to observe the nature pregnancy rate.
Results:
Among 519 unexplained infertility patients, pelvic abnormalities had been explored in 466 (89.8%, 466/519) cases. Pelvic endometriosis combined with adhesions, pelvic adhesion alone, uterine leiomyoma and uterine cavity polyp were 72.4% (376/519), 12.3% (64/519), 3.7% (19/519) and 1.3% (7/519) respectively. The total natural pregnancy rate within the 3 years of follow up was 53.9% (208/386), and the natural pregnancy rate was 29.8% (31/104) in patients aged 35 years and over.
Conclusions
The patients with clinical diagnosis of unexplained infertility should be examined by hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. Under the examination, the causes of infertility could be found more intuitively, and targeted treatment could be carried out to improve the pregnancy rate. The natural pregnancy rate of the elderly patients decrease obviously after operation, and the time of natural trying pregnancy should not be too long.
5. Problems and countermeasures on the management and application of antiseptic drugs in Chinese hospitals
Pengqian FANG ; Rui MIN ; Xiaoxu YIN ; Xue BAI ; Kan TIAN ; Jiangyun CHEN
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2018;34(8):655-658
Antiseptic drugs are the most popular anti-infectious drugs in daily use in hospitals, making significant contribution to public health. In view of the increasingly serious problems in the use and management of antiseptic drugs, the Chinese government has taken a series of measures to guide their rational use. However, due to the imperfect regulatory mechanism and weak sense of rational drug use, the problem of irrational use of antiseptic drugs is still existing. By studying the current situation and existing problems of antiseptic drugs in the country, this paper discussed the effective management means of such drugs, and provided feasible strategies and suggestions for standardizing their rational use.
6.Application Prospects of DNA Barcoding for Forensic Species Identification
Xiaoxu ZHU ; Qinghua TIAN ; Dong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine 2017;32(4):371-374
Being put forward more than ten years ago, DNA barcoding technology has now become a hotspot in the related domestic and international fields of food safety and animal protection in species identification, which can characterize the species in a fast and accurate way to provide scientific evidence for the judicial practice. This paper summarizes the principle, development and application prospects of DNA barcoding technology.
7. Study on mosaicism of SCN1A gene mutation in parents of children with Dravet syndrome
Aijie LIU ; Xiaoxu YANG ; Xiaojing XU ; Qixi WU ; Xiaojuan TIAN ; Xiaoling YANG ; Xiru WU ; Liping WEI ; Yuehua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2017;55(11):818-823
Objective:
To investigate the clinical phenotypes and the mutant allele proportion of parents with SCN1A gene mutation mosaicism of Dravet syndrome (DS) children, thus to provide guidance for family reproduction and prenatal diagnosis.
Method:
The clinical data and peripheral blood DNA samples of DS patients with a SCN1A gene mutation proved by Sanger sequencing were collected prospectively from February 2005 to November 2016 in Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital. The same mutation was searched in parents and other available relatives. Parental somatic mosaicism was confirmed and quantified by Ion Torrent Personal Genome Machine (PGM) and Raindrop droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). The families were followed up and prenatal diagnosis was provided.
Result:
Mosaicisms of SCN1A gene mutation in parents were identified in 5.2% (30 out of 575) DS families. Seventeen were fathers and thirteen were mothers. The mutant allele proportion ranged from 1.7% to 32.9% by PGM and from 0.82% to 34.51% by ddPCR, respectively. In 30 parents with somatic mosaicism, thirteen were asymptomatic, ten had a history of febrile seizures (FS), five with epilepsy, one with febrile seizure plus and one had a history of afebrile seizure. Four families had two children with DS. Three siblings of the probands were confirmed genetically with the same pathogenic mutation. One deceased sister of the proband was assumed to have the same pathogenic mutation because she matched DS diagnosis after medical history review despite no blood sample. Two families received prenatal diagnosis. One second pregnancy was terminated because the fetus inherited the mutation as the mother's wish.
Conclusion
Sanger sequencing detects parents of some children with DS are SCN1A mutation mosaics. PGM and ddPCR can be used for accurate quantification of mutant mosaics, which can provide accurate guidance for family genetic counseling.
8.Immunological and virological characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 superinfection: implications in vaccine design
Gao YANG ; Tian WEN ; Han XIAOXU ; Gao FENG
Frontiers of Medicine 2017;11(4):480-489
Superinfection is frequently detected among individuals infected by human immunodeficiency virus type Ⅰ (HIV-1).Superinfection occurs at similar frequencies at acute and chronic infection stages but less frequently than primary infection.This observation indicates that the immune responses elicited by natural HIV-1 infection may play a role in curb of superinfection;however,these responses are not sufficiently strong to completely prevent superinfection.Thus,a successful HIV-1 vaccine likely needs to induce more potent and broader immune responses than those elicited by primary infection.On the other hand,potent and broad neutralization responses are more often detected after superinfection than during monoinfection.This suggests that broadly neutralizing antibodies are more likely induced by sequential immunization of multiple different immunogens than with only one form of envelope glycoprotein immunogens.Understanding why the protection from superinfection by immunity induced by primary infection is insufficient and if superinfection can lead to cross-reactive immune responses will be highly informative for HIV-1 vaccine design.
9.Emergent reconstruction and repair of thumb and finger defect by toes and combined toes transplantation
Chongjie LI ; Jie ZHAN ; Qiang SHI ; Jinsheng WU ; Defeng SHA ; Yang YAO ; Xiaoxu LIANG ; Furong TIAN ; Sixia WANG
Chinese Journal of Microsurgery 2008;31(3):172-174,illust 2
Objective To explore the method and effect of thumb and finger reconstruction and repair by emergent primary toes transplantation. Methods Three hundred and fourteen fingers of 282 cases including finger thumb defect and complex injury with hyperthena palm radid soft tissue of forearm were reconstructed and repaired by the second toes, wrap-around flap and the second third toes wrap-around flap combined with distal flap of leg or other complex tissue flap transplantation. Results Three hundred and eight reconstructed fingers survived, the survival rate was 98%. After a follow up to 6 months to 6 years, the reconstructed thumbs and fingers have accepted nip, grasp, opponent function. The result was graded as excellent in 214 fingers, good in 63, fair in 26, poor in 5. The excellent and good rate was 88%according to the upper limb functional evaluation criteria issued by the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association. Conclusion Different type of toes and combined toes transplantation can obtain preferable clinical effect on emergent primary thumb and finger defect.

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