1.The Neural Circuit Characteristics of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Over The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for The Treatment of Migraine
Chen-Xia JIN ; Bo-Lin TAN ; Yang YE ; Ji-Qing HE ; Ling-Yan WANG ; Zhong-Ming GAO ; Yu-Jun WANG ; Hui-Li LIU ; Yong-Xing YAN ; Xian-Wei CHE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1953-1968
ObjectiveMigraine is a leading neurological disorder and the fourth most common cause of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting nearly 116 million individuals. Although pharmacological treatments are available, their efficacy is often limited by side effects and variable response rates. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) offers a safe, non-invasive alternative for migraine management. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms, particularly how rTMS modulates local cortical excitability and distributed pain-related circuits, remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and improving clinical outcomes. MethodsThis study employed concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate neuroplastic and neurocircuitry mechanisms of DLPFC-rTMS in migraine. Study 1 compared 30 migraineurs and 28 healthy controls to identify abnormalities in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and significant current density (SCD) within sensory-discriminative regions including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and posterior insula (pINS), cognitive-affective regions including the anterior insula (aINS) and midcingulate cortex (MCC), and a descending modulatory region, the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Study 2 used a single-blind, crossover, sham-controlled design in 34 healthy participants. Each participant received both active (10 Hz, 80% RMT, 1 500 pulses) and sham DLPFC-rTMS in counterbalanced order. TMS-EEG and cold pain tolerance were assessed before and after each session. ResultsIn Study 1, migraineurs showed a significantly less negative N120 amplitude compared to healthy controls (P=0.027, Cohen’s d=0.60), indicating local intracortical disinhibition. No group differences were observed for N40, P60, or P180 components. At the source level, migraineurs exhibited significantly higher SCD in the S1, pINS, aINS, and MCC (allQ<0.05), but not in the ventroposterior thalamus (vpTHAL), mediodorsal thalamus (mdTHAL), or PAG. In Study 2, active rTMS significantly reduced SCD from pre- to post-stimulation in the S1, aINS, and MCC (all Q<0.05). Sham stimulation also reduced SCD in the S1 (Q<0.05) but not in the aINS or MCC. Although no significant group-level analgesic effect was observed between active and sham conditions (P=0.107), correlation analyses revealed that greater SCD reductions in the S1 and MCC were significantly associated with higher post-rTMS pain tolerance (R=-0.487 and -0.495, both Q<0.01) and larger improvements in pain tolerance(R=-0.487 and -0.451, both Q<0.05). No such correlations were found following sham stimulation, suggesting that the behavioural relevance of neural changes is specific to active rTMS. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that migraineurs exhibit both local neuroplastic abnormalities (reduced N120 amplitude) and hyperactivity in key pain-processing regions (S1, pINS, aINS, MCC). A single session of DLPFC-rTMS reduced hyperactivity in the aINS, MCC, and S1. Notably, greater reductions in the S1 and MCC were associated with improved pain tolerance. These findings identify distinct cortical circuitries, particularly within the cognitive-affective pain network, that may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing rTMS treatment in migraine and other chronic pain conditions. Future studies should validate these results in patient populations experiencing spontaneous migraine attacks and explore multi-session or accelerated rTMS protocols.
2.Genetic variation analysis in three cases of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis caused by hydroxychloroquine
Yi SHAO ; Shuai ZHANG ; Jinfa DOU ; Lu BIAN ; Xing FAN ; Ming LI ; Hongwei LIU ; Jianbo WANG ; Jianguo LI
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(8):767-770
To report 3 cases of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) caused by hydroxychloroquine. All the 3 patients were females, aged 23, 30, and 28 years respectively. In cases 1 and 3, the rashes appeared 4 days and 12 days respectively after the treatment with hydroxychloroquine for systemic lupus erythematosus; case 2, who was 8 weeks pregnant, developed rashes 10 days after starting hydroxychloroquine treatment for antiphospholipid syndrome. All the 3 patients had high fever, and clinically presented with generalized round or oval-shaped edematous erythema on the face, neck, trunk and limbs, covered with a large number of pinhead-sized pustules, and with multiple erythema multiforme-like lesions on the trunk and both upper limbs, including targetoid lesions. Mutations in the IL36RN gene were identified in all the 3 patients: a homozygous mutation c.115+6T>C in the IL36RN gene was found in case 1, and her parents were heterozygous carriers; case 2 inherited the heterozygous mutation c.115+6T>C in the IL36RN gene from her mother; the heterozygous mutation c.115+6T>C found in case 3 was a de novo mutation. A diagnosis of AGEP was made in all the 3 cases. Cases 1 and 2 received subcutaneous injections of adalimumab in addition to the treatment of their underlying diseases, and skin lesions markedly regressed after 1 week of treatment; case 3 was treated with high-dose glucocorticoids, and lesions subsided after 4 weeks; no significant adverse reactions were observed in cases 1 and 2, however, femoral head necrosis was noted in case 3. During a follow-up period of 42 months, none of the patients experienced recurrence, and case 2 gave birth to a healthy baby boy after 8-month treatment.
3.A bibliometric analysis of studies related to retroperitoneal tumors
Qian LIU ; Cheng-hua LUO ; Ming-yin ZHOU ; Xing-chen LIU ; Yong-qiang LI ; Hua-zhao XU ; Yu-jun XIONG
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(5):361-366
Objective:This study aims to analyze the trends,hotspots,and interrelations in research on retroperito-neal tumors through bibliometric methods,providing the latest scientific information support for clinicians and research-ers.Methods:Data were sourced from the SCI-expanded database of the Web of Science Core Collection,covering the period from 2004 to 2023.Statistical analysis and visualization of the number of publications,total citations,average citations per article,countries,institutions,journals,and keywords were conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019,VOS-viewer,and CiteSpace.Results:A total of 6,842 relevant articles were retrieved,with a total of 113 753 citations and an average of 16.63 citations per article.The number of publications had been increasing annually,peaking in 2022.The United States,China,and Japan are the major research countries,with the United States contributing the most.Memo-rial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center are the leading research in-stitutions.The journal with the most publications was the Cureus Journal of Medical Science.Gronchi Alessandro was the most prolific author.The ain keywords were"Management","Surgery",and"Tumor",and the most cited papers focus on surgery and multicenter studies.Conclusion:Research on retroperitoneal tumors is increasing annually,with hot-spots focusing on treatment methods and prognosis analysis.The United States is the main contributor to this field,with significant international collaboration.Future research should further explore the pathogenesis of retroperitoneal tumors and more effective treatment strategies.
4.Ameliorative effects of tea on metabolic disorders in obesity mice induced by high-fat diet
Chen WANG ; Xiang BAN ; Jia-xing LIU ; Si-yao SANG ; Xue AO ; Ming-jie SU ; Bin-wei HU ; Hui LI
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(3):393-402
Objective To investigate the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of six types of tea(green tea,cyan tea,red tea,white tea,black tea and yellow tea)on metabolic disorders in obesity mice induced by high-fat diet(HFD).Methods Four-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 8 groups with 7 mice per group.An HFD-induced obese mouse model was established,and the mice in control group maintained on standard diet followed by intragastric administration of different teas for 5 weeks.The body weight,liver weight ratio,fasting blood glucose,and lipid profile of the mice were measured to assess glucose and lipid metabolism.Serum inflammatory factors including IL-6,tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)and oxidative stress markers[malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were measured.Additionally,liver histopathology and the expression of key glycolipid metabolism-related genes,adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1(CPT-1),were analyzed to explore underlying mechanisms.Results Cyan tea significantly suppressed weight gain,demonstrating superior weight control.White tea markedly reduced fasting blood glucose levels and decreased the area under the curve of oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)and insulin tolerance test(ITT),indicating synergistic improvements in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.Yellow tea exhibited exceptional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects,reducing hepatic IL-6 and MDA while enhancing SOD activity.Green tea activated the lipid oxidation pathway by upregulating AMPK/CPT-1 expression.All kinds of tea significantly attenuated hepatic lipid droplet accumulation.Conclusion All six types of tea alleviated metabolic disorders by reducing hepatic fat content in obesity mice.However,different types of tea exert their unique effects on improving metabolic disorders through differential mechanisms such as glucose metabolism regulation,lipid oxidation,and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions.
5.Genetic variation analysis in three cases of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis caused by hydroxychloroquine
Yi SHAO ; Shuai ZHANG ; Jinfa DOU ; Lu BIAN ; Xing FAN ; Ming LI ; Hongwei LIU ; Jianbo WANG ; Jianguo LI
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(8):767-770
To report 3 cases of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) caused by hydroxychloroquine. All the 3 patients were females, aged 23, 30, and 28 years respectively. In cases 1 and 3, the rashes appeared 4 days and 12 days respectively after the treatment with hydroxychloroquine for systemic lupus erythematosus; case 2, who was 8 weeks pregnant, developed rashes 10 days after starting hydroxychloroquine treatment for antiphospholipid syndrome. All the 3 patients had high fever, and clinically presented with generalized round or oval-shaped edematous erythema on the face, neck, trunk and limbs, covered with a large number of pinhead-sized pustules, and with multiple erythema multiforme-like lesions on the trunk and both upper limbs, including targetoid lesions. Mutations in the IL36RN gene were identified in all the 3 patients: a homozygous mutation c.115+6T>C in the IL36RN gene was found in case 1, and her parents were heterozygous carriers; case 2 inherited the heterozygous mutation c.115+6T>C in the IL36RN gene from her mother; the heterozygous mutation c.115+6T>C found in case 3 was a de novo mutation. A diagnosis of AGEP was made in all the 3 cases. Cases 1 and 2 received subcutaneous injections of adalimumab in addition to the treatment of their underlying diseases, and skin lesions markedly regressed after 1 week of treatment; case 3 was treated with high-dose glucocorticoids, and lesions subsided after 4 weeks; no significant adverse reactions were observed in cases 1 and 2, however, femoral head necrosis was noted in case 3. During a follow-up period of 42 months, none of the patients experienced recurrence, and case 2 gave birth to a healthy baby boy after 8-month treatment.
6.miR-142a-3p Reduces Autophagy in TCMK-1 Cells and Enhances Pyroptosis by Targeting ATG16L1
Xing ZHAO ; Fei YU ; Rui-Yang YUAN ; Ya-Ru YANG ; Jia-Yan LIU ; Hai-Mai DING ; Xue-Ming ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(7):1031-1039
The incidence rate of kidney diseases in China has always remained high.At present,the clinical treat-ment mainly focuses on symptomatic treatment to delay the progression of the disease,and there is a lack of eco-nomical and effective treatment methods.MicroRNA plays an important regulatory role in the occurrence and devel-opment of diseases.This study aims to explore the role and regulatory mechanism of miR-142a-3p in adriamycin(ADR)-induced renal tubular epithelial cell(TCMK-1)injury,with a focus on its potential as a therapeutic target for ADR nephropathy.First,cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 kit,and a mouse renal tubular epithelial cell model induced by ADR was established.Subsequently,alterations in miR-142a-3p and its target gene ATG16L1 mRNA levels were quantified using RT-qPCR.Western blotting was used to detect the protein levels of autophagy marker proteins and pyroptosis marker proteins.Monodansylcadaverin(MDC)staining was performed and the autophagy of cells was detected by flow cytometry.The results showed that the relative expression of miR-142a-3p in TCMK-1 cells induced by ADR was increased and the relative expression of its target gene ATG16L1 was decreased(P<0.0001).Western blotting results showed that the levels of p62(P<0.001)and pyroptosis-related proteins(P<0.001)were increased,while the protein levels of autophagy-related proteins were decreased(P<0.05).The flow cytometry results showed that there was no difference in the mean fluorescence intensity of autoph-agosomes between the ADR group and the autophagosome inhibitor group(3-MA group)(P>0.05),indicating that after ADR induction,cell autophagy was inhibited and pyroptosis was enhanced.When the expression of miR-142a-3p was inhibited by transfecting miR-142a-3p inhibitor,the relative expression level of the target gene ATG16L1 was restored(P<0.001).Western blotting showed that the protein level of p62(P<0.01)and pyropto-sis-related proteins(P<0.01)were decreased,and the protein level of autophagy-related proteins was restored(P<0.001).Flow cytometry results further indicated that cell autophagy was restored(P<0.0001).In conclusion,ADR targets A TG1 6L1 through miR-142a-3p to reduce the autophagy level of TCMK-1,and simultaneously activates GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis.
7.Clinical course, causes of worsening, and outcomes of severe ischemic stroke: A prospective multicenter cohort study.
Simiao WU ; Yanan WANG ; Ruozhen YUAN ; Meng LIU ; Xing HUA ; Linrui HUANG ; Fuqiang GUO ; Dongdong YANG ; Zuoxiao LI ; Bihua WU ; Chun WANG ; Jingfeng DUAN ; Tianjin LING ; Hao ZHANG ; Shihong ZHANG ; Bo WU ; Cairong ZHU ; Craig S ANDERSON ; Ming LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(13):1578-1586
BACKGROUND:
Severe stroke has high rates of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the clinical course, causes of worsening, and outcomes of severe ischemic stroke.
METHODS:
This prospective, multicenter cohort study enrolled adult patients admitted ≤30 days after ischemic stroke from nine hospitals in China between September 2017 and December 2019. Severe stroke was defined as a score of ≥15 on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Clinical worsening was defined as an increase of 4 in the NIHSS score from baseline. Unfavorable functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin scale score ≥3 at 3 months and 1 year after stroke onset, respectively. We performed Logistic regression to explore baseline features and reperfusion therapies associated with clinical worsening and functional outcomes.
RESULTS:
Among 4201 patients enrolled, 854 patients (20.33%) had severe stroke on admission. Of 3347 patients without severe stroke on admission, 142 (4.24%) patients developed severe stroke in hospital. Of 854 patients with severe stroke on admission, 33.95% (290/854) experienced clinical worsening (median time from stroke onset: 43 h, Q1-Q3: 20-88 h), with brain edema (54.83% [159/290]) as the leading cause; 24.59% (210/854) of these patients died by 30 days, and 81.47% (677/831) and 78.44% (633/807) had unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months and 1 year respectively. Reperfusion reduced the risk of worsening (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12-0.49, P <0.01), 30-day death (adjusted OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.11-0.41, P <0.01), and unfavorable functional outcomes at 3 months (adjusted OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.68, P <0.01) and 1 year (adjusted OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06-0.50, P <0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
Approximately one-fifth of patients with ischemic stroke had severe neurological deficits on admission. Clinical worsening mainly occurred in the first 3 to 4 days after stroke onset, with brain edema as the leading cause of worsening. Reperfusion reduced the risk of clinical worsening and improved functional outcomes.
REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03222024.
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Prospective Studies
;
Ischemic Stroke/mortality*
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Stroke
;
Brain Ischemia
8.The relationship between variant angina pectoris syncope and coronary artery spastic targeted location, arrhythmia and coronary artery stenostic lesion
Xiangmei ZHAO ; Yuxiang SHEN ; Chuanyu GAO ; Muwei LI ; Huiying WU ; Wei YANG ; Ling ZHANG ; Ming LIU ; Fei XING ; Tianmin DU ; Lin LIU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2025;53(12):1404-1410
Objective:Investigation of the relationship between variant angina pectoris syncope and coronary artery spastic targeted location, arrhythmias, and coronary artery stenostic lesion.Methods:This study combined retrospective and prospective registry approaches. Data were sourced from the case database of Henan province "Multicenter Clinical Observation Study of Variant Angina Pectoris". A total of 507 patients with variant angina pectoris who had complete records from June 1980 to December 2022 were consecutively enrolled. Select patients among them who experienced syncope, and analyze the target vessel sites of coronary artery spasm, arrhythmias during variant angina pectoris attacks, and the degree of stenosis in coronary artery lesions.Results:Among 507 variant angina pectoris patients, 88 experienced syncope. Age was (53.9±9.7) years and 66 patients (75.0%) were male. Forty patients (45.5%, 40/88) were aged 50-59 years. The incidence of syncope in variant angina pectoris caused by left anterior descending artery (LAD) spasm, right coronary artery (RCA) spasm, and multivessel coronary artery spasm was 7.4% (15/202), 22.7% (42/185), and 23.6% (25/106), respectively. The latter two were significantly higher than those in the LAD group ( P all<0.05). Among 77 patients with variant angina pectoris syncope, definitive electrocardiogram recordings were available during syncope episodes. All patients exhibited arrhythmias during syncope: 34 cases involved tachyarrhythmias and 43 cases involved bradyarrhythmias. The incidence of rapid arrhythmias in patients with LAD, RCA, and multi-vessel spasm syncope was 72.7% (8/11), 24.3% (9/37), and 54.2% (13/24), respectively, with P<0.05 for the first two. Bradyarrhythmias occurred in 27.3% (3/11) of LAD, 75.7% (28/37) of RCA, and 45.8% (11/24) of multivessel coronary artery spasm syncope cases, with the first two showing P<0.05. Coronary angiography analysis of 56 syncope patients revealed target vessel locations and stenosis severity: 12 patients had LAD lesions and 41 had RCA lesions, stenosis ≥50% occurred in 66.7% (8/12) and 43.9% (18/41) of these lesions, respectively ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Variant angina pectoris syncope predominantly affects middle-aged males. Bradyarrhythmias triggered by RCA spasm are a common cause, while the incidence of syncope shows no significant correlation with the degree of coronary artery stenostic lesion, whether in the LAD or the RCA.
9.Targeting WEE1: a rising therapeutic strategy for hematologic malignancies.
Hao-Bo LI ; Thekra KHUSHAFA ; Chao-Ying YANG ; Li-Ming ZHU ; Xing SUN ; Ling NIE ; Jing LIU
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(5):839-854
Hematologic malignancies, including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, are hazardous diseases characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells. Dysregulated cell cycle resulting from genetic and epigenetic abnormalities constitutes one of the central events. Importantly, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), complexed with their functional partner cyclins, play dominating roles in cell cycle control. Yet, efforts in translating CDK inhibitors into clinical benefits have demonstrated disappointing outcomes. Recently, mounting evidence highlights the emerging significance of WEE1 G2 checkpoint kinase (WEE1) to modulate CDK activity, and correspondingly, a variety of therapeutic inhibitors have been developed to achieve clinical benefits. Thus, WEE1 may become a promising target to modulate the abnormal cell cycle. However, its function in hematologic diseases remains poorly elucidated. In this review, focusing on hematologic malignancies, we describe the biological structure of WEE1, emphasize the latest reported function of WEE1 in the carcinogenesis, progression, as well as prognosis, and finally summarize the therapeutic strategies by targeting WEE1.
Humans
;
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/physiology*
;
Hematologic Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Cell Cycle Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Nuclear Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
;
Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
;
Molecular Targeted Therapy
;
Animals
10.Xinyang Tablets ameliorate ventricular remodeling in heart failure via FTO/m6A signaling pathway.
Dong-Hua LIU ; Zi-Ru LI ; Si-Jing LI ; Xing-Ling HE ; Xiao-Jiao ZHANG ; Shi-Hao NI ; Wen-Jie LONG ; Hui-Li LIAO ; Zhong-Qi YANG ; Xiao-Ming DONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1075-1086
The study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of Xinyang Tablets( XYP) in modulating the fat mass and obesity-associated protein(FTO)/N6-methyladenosine(m6A) signaling pathway to ameliorate ventricular remodeling in heart failure(HF). A mouse model of HF was established by transverse aortic constriction(TAC). Mice were randomized into sham, model, XYP(low, medium, and high doses), and positive control( perindopril) groups(n= 10). From day 3 post-surgery, mice were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 6 consecutive weeks. Following the treatment, echocardiography was employed to evaluate the cardiac function, and RT-qPCR was employed to determine the relative m RNA levels of key markers, including atrial natriuretic peptide( ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide( BNP), β-myosin heavy chain(β-MHC), collagen type I alpha chain(Col1α), collagen type Ⅲ alpha chain(Col3α), alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), and FTO. The cardiac tissue was stained with Masson's trichrome and wheat germ agglutinin(WGA) to reveal the pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression levels of Col1α, Col3α, α-SMA, and FTO in the myocardial tissue. The m6A modification level in the myocardial tissue was measured by the m6A assay kit. An H9c2 cell model of cardiomyocyte injury was induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ), and small interfering RNA(siRNA) was employed to knock down FTO expression. RT-qPCR was conducted to assess the relative m RNA levels of FTO and other genes associated with cardiac remodeling. The m6A modification level was measured by the m6A assay kit, and Western blot was employed to determine the phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(p-PI3K)/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K) and phosphorylated serine/threonine kinase(p-Akt)/serine/threonine kinase(Akt) ratios in cardiomyocytes. The results of animal experiments showed that the XYP treatment significantly improved the cardiac function, reduced fibrosis, up-regulated the m RNA and protein levels of FTO, and lowered the m6A modification level compared with the model group. The results of cell experiments showed that the XYP-containing serum markedly up-regulated the m RNA level of FTO while decreasing the m6A modification level and the p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt ratios in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, FTO knockdown reversed the protective effects of XYP-containing serum on Ang Ⅱ-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In conclusion, XYP may ameliorate ventricular remodeling by regulating the FTO/m6A axis, thereby inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Ventricular Remodeling/drug effects*
;
Heart Failure/physiopathology*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO/genetics*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Humans
;
Adenosine/analogs & derivatives*
;
Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail