1.Autophagy reduces bacterial translocation by regulating intestinal mucosal oxidative stress.
Xing LU ; Chengfen YIN ; Yaxiao SU ; Xinjing GAO ; Fengmei WANG ; Lei XU
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(2):153-159
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the mechanism of autophagy in regulating bacterial translocation in intestinal infection caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumonia (hvKp) and explore the method of reducing translocation infection of intestinal bacteria.
METHODS:
Fifty C57BL/6J mice were divided into gavage group (n = 40) and control group (CO group, n = 10). The gavage group was orally administered with 200 μL/d of hvKp (colony count of 109 CFU/mL) continuously for 5 days to establish a hvKp intestinal infection model. CO group was given an equal amount of normal saline. After the experiment, the mice were anesthetized with lsofluraneand euthanized with cervical dislocation under anesthesia. Peripheral venous blood of mice was collected to detect bacterial translocation by 16S rDNA sequencing, then divided into translocation group (BT+ group) and non-translocation group (BT- group). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate intestinal morphology. The ultrastructural changes of intestinal tissues were observed by electron microscope. The levels of intestinal oxidative stress indicators such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured. Translocation was detected by in situ hybridization. The expression of tight junction protein microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and autophagy protein Beclin-1 were measured by Western blotting. The mRNA expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-2 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of autophagy protein and tight junction protein were observed by immunofluorescence.
RESULTS:
Two out of 40 mice in the gavage group died after developing aspiration pneumonia. All mice in the CO group survived. The 16S rDNA sequencing results showed that no bacteria were detected in the peripheral blood of the CO group, but bacteria were detected in the peripheral blood of 18 mice in the gavage group, with a bacterial translocation rate of 47.4%. The BT- and BT+ groups showed intestinal mucosal tissue damage, with severe damage in the BT+ group. Compared with the CO group, the level of MDA in the BT- and BT+ groups were significantly increased, while the activities of SOD and GPx were significantly decreased. Compared with the BT- group, the MDA level in the BT+ group further increased, while the SOD and GPx activities further decreased [MDA (mmol/mg): 2.98±0.11 vs. 2.48±0.11, SOD (U/mg): 62.40±5.45 vs. 73.40±4.08, GPx (U/mg): 254.72±10.80 vs. 303.55±8.57, all P < 0.01]. The results of in situ hybridization detection showed that after continuous gastric lavage for 5 days, displaced hvKp was detected in the intestinal mucosal lamina propria and liver tissue of the BT+ group. Compared with the CO group, the protein expressions of LC3-II and Beclin-1 in the BT- and BT+ groups were significantly increased. The protein expressions of LC3-II and Beclin-1 in the BT+ group were obviously lower than those in the BT- group (LC3-II/β-actin: 0.38±0.04 vs. 0.70±0.09, Beclin-1/β-actin: 0.62±0.05 vs. 0.86±0.05, both P < 0.01), and there were autophagosomes in the intestinal mucosa. These results indicated that intestinal mucosal autophagy was activated after hvKp continuous gavage. Compared with CO group, the mRNA expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-2 in the BT- and BT+ groups were significantly decreased. Compared with the BT- group, the mRNA expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-2 in the BT+ group was further reduced [ZO-1 mRNA (2-ΔΔCT): 0.78±0.06 vs. 0.88±0.06, Claudin-2 mRNA (2-ΔΔCT): 0.40±0.04 vs. 0.70±0.06, both P < 0.01]. The immunofluorescence results showed that the fluorescence intensity of LC3-II, Beclin-1, ZO-1, and Claudin-2 in the BT+ group was significantly lower than that in the BT- group.
CONCLUSION
HvKp can activate intestinal mucosal autophagy and reduce the damage to intestinal mucosal barrier function by down-regulating oxidative stress level, reduce the occurrence of bacterial translocation.
Animals
;
Oxidative Stress
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Autophagy
;
Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology*
;
Bacterial Translocation
;
Mice
;
Klebsiella Infections/microbiology*
;
Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*
;
Beclin-1
2.Protective mechanism of Dachengqi decoction on intestinal mucosal barrier:a network pharmacology study focused on autophagy
Xing LU ; Kai ZHANG ; Jing ZHAO ; Shiya ZHANG ; Zhibo LI ; Xinjing GAO ; Lei XU ; Chengfen YIN
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2025;32(4):454-459
Objective To explore and verify the active components of Dachengqi decoction in regulating autophagy and its mechanism of protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier through network pharmacology and animal experiments.Methods The chemical components and autophagy-related target points of Dachengqi decoction were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and GeneCards databases.The intersection of the drug target points and disease target points was taken and analyzed.The Cytoscape 3.10.2 software's Network Analyzer tool was used to analyze the drug components and target points,and the core target points were screened out to construct a traditional Chinese medicine compound regulatory network.The drug active component target point-disease network model and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network were visualized.Then,30 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the Dachengqi decoction group,the intestinal infection group,and the control group,with 10 mice in each group.The intestinal infection group was given 200 μL/d of Klebsiella pneumoniae strain by gavage for 5 consecutive days,with a colony count of 109 CFU/mL,to create an intestinal infection model.The control group was given 200 μL/d of sterile normal saline by gavage.The Dachengqi decoction group(drug composition:Rhubarb 12 g,Aurantii Fructus 12 g,Magnolia Officinalis 24 g,Mirabilite 9 g,the drugs were dissolved in boiling distilled water to make a 1 kg/L solution)was given by gavage at a dose of 8 g·kg-1·d-1 for 3 consecutive days,and then given Klebsiella pneumoniae by gavage for 5 consecutive days on the 4th day.Detection indicators and methods:after the experiment,the mice were sacrificed and the terminal ileum tissues were collected.The tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE),and the pathological changes of the intestinal mucosa were observed under a light microscope;immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the positive expressions of junction proteins ZO-1,Claudin-2,light chain 3-Ⅱ(LC3-Ⅱ),and Beclin-1 and the intestinal mucosal autophagy;the mRNA expression levels of autophagy genes were determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Results The intersection of the obtained drug targets and disease targets yielded 111 potential autophagy-related targets for drug treatment of diseases.Key targets included β2-adrenergic receptor(ADRB2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),etc.,and the signaling pathways involved included AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)pathway,mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway,etc.Animal experiments confirmed that the intestinal mucosal barrier function in the Dachengqi decoction group was better than that in the intestinal infection group,and the positive expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 lingt chain 3-Ⅱ(LC3-Ⅱ)and autophagy gene Beclin1 was significantly higher than that in the intestinal infection group.Transcriptome sequencing results showed that the key genes associated with autophagy and oxidative stress included ADRB2,HO-1,etc.The mRNA expression levels of ADRB2 and HO-1 in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly higher than those in the intestinal infection group[HO-1 mRNA expression(FPKM):11.20±0.80 vs.6.63±0.53,ADRB2 mRNA expression(FPKM):6.98±0.54 vs.3.98±0.32,both P<0.01],verifying some of the predictions from network pharmacology.Conclusions Dachengqi decoction regulates autophagy through multiple components,multiple targets and multiple pathways,protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier function and reducing the translocation of intestinal microbiota.This lays a certain foundation for further in-depth research on the mechanism of reducing intestinal bacterial translocation by Dachengqi decoction.
3."Integrating theory and practice"facilitates the advancement of undergraduate students'scientific research thinking:based on the"genetic engineering"course
Xinjing GAO ; Jiao WANG ; Yujia LIU ; Chang FENG ; Yanan GUO ; Xiaolin GUO
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(10):1392-1395
In the current process of talent cultivation in biology majors,some challenges like teaching content that lags behind the forefront of scientific research,instructional models that deviate from the principles of effective knowledge transmission,and evaluation systems that lack dimensions reflecting scientific innovation.As a strategy of tackling challenges,the Genetic Engineering teaching team,drawing on theoretical analysis and extensive teaching practice,has explored a reform of the instructional model from the perspective of integrating theory with practice.This effort led to the development of a research-oriented teaching model characterized by four iterative stages:knowledge instruction,thinking exercises,practical operation,and feedback evaluation.This model is ground-ed in five core elements of scientific thinking:criticality,coherence,simplicity,logic,and integrity.Imple-mentation follows the four-step framework,emphasizing structured knowledge delivery,cultivation of analytical thinking,hands-on experimentation,and comprehensive feedback.After one semester of application,it was found that through reconstructed knowledge systems,immersive simulations of research contexts,realistic problem-solving of technical bottlenecks and all-round feedback,this teaching model effectively fosters scientific thinking among both instructors and students,significantly enhances students'scientific research ca-pabilities and improves overall teaching effectiveness.
4.The establishment and application of a one-stop medical service model integrating pre-admission and day surgery in a hospital
Lin LI ; Lin YIN ; Xinjing CHEN ; Shilong GAO
Modern Hospital 2025;25(6):877-881,886
Objective To enhance medical service efficiency and optimize healthcare resource utilization,our hospital developed a novel one-stop integrated medical service model combining pre-hospitalization with day surgery.Methods Starting in August 2022,a Class A Tertiary Hospital in Guangzhou implemented a multi-dimensional collaborative mechanism:1.Process reengineering:Standardized workflows shifted preoperative tests and anesthesia evaluations to pre-hospitalization.2.Resource in-tegration:Established a one-stop medical service center as a comprehensive service coordination hub,integrating deposit pay-ment,examination scheduling,testing,medical check-ups,bed allocation,and"one-click admission"into a unified diagnostic and treatment service chain.3.Closed-loop management:Streamlined workflow from outpatient evaluation to follow-up.Results By 2024 vs 2022:Increased annual discharges by 30,000+cases.Reduced preoperative hospitalization by 0.4 days.Im-proved bed occupancy(+10.72%)and turnover(+10.86%).Achieved 94%patient satisfaction.Conclusion This model enhances bed efficiency,reduces hospitalization delays,and offers a scalable framework for healthcare optimization,demonstra-ting both social and operational benefits.
5.The establishment and application of a one-stop medical service model integrating pre-admission and day surgery in a hospital
Lin LI ; Lin YIN ; Xinjing CHEN ; Shilong GAO
Modern Hospital 2025;25(6):877-881,886
Objective To enhance medical service efficiency and optimize healthcare resource utilization,our hospital developed a novel one-stop integrated medical service model combining pre-hospitalization with day surgery.Methods Starting in August 2022,a Class A Tertiary Hospital in Guangzhou implemented a multi-dimensional collaborative mechanism:1.Process reengineering:Standardized workflows shifted preoperative tests and anesthesia evaluations to pre-hospitalization.2.Resource in-tegration:Established a one-stop medical service center as a comprehensive service coordination hub,integrating deposit pay-ment,examination scheduling,testing,medical check-ups,bed allocation,and"one-click admission"into a unified diagnostic and treatment service chain.3.Closed-loop management:Streamlined workflow from outpatient evaluation to follow-up.Results By 2024 vs 2022:Increased annual discharges by 30,000+cases.Reduced preoperative hospitalization by 0.4 days.Im-proved bed occupancy(+10.72%)and turnover(+10.86%).Achieved 94%patient satisfaction.Conclusion This model enhances bed efficiency,reduces hospitalization delays,and offers a scalable framework for healthcare optimization,demonstra-ting both social and operational benefits.
6.Protective mechanism of Dachengqi decoction on intestinal mucosal barrier:a network pharmacology study focused on autophagy
Xing LU ; Kai ZHANG ; Jing ZHAO ; Shiya ZHANG ; Zhibo LI ; Xinjing GAO ; Lei XU ; Chengfen YIN
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2025;32(4):454-459
Objective To explore and verify the active components of Dachengqi decoction in regulating autophagy and its mechanism of protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier through network pharmacology and animal experiments.Methods The chemical components and autophagy-related target points of Dachengqi decoction were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and GeneCards databases.The intersection of the drug target points and disease target points was taken and analyzed.The Cytoscape 3.10.2 software's Network Analyzer tool was used to analyze the drug components and target points,and the core target points were screened out to construct a traditional Chinese medicine compound regulatory network.The drug active component target point-disease network model and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network were visualized.Then,30 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the Dachengqi decoction group,the intestinal infection group,and the control group,with 10 mice in each group.The intestinal infection group was given 200 μL/d of Klebsiella pneumoniae strain by gavage for 5 consecutive days,with a colony count of 109 CFU/mL,to create an intestinal infection model.The control group was given 200 μL/d of sterile normal saline by gavage.The Dachengqi decoction group(drug composition:Rhubarb 12 g,Aurantii Fructus 12 g,Magnolia Officinalis 24 g,Mirabilite 9 g,the drugs were dissolved in boiling distilled water to make a 1 kg/L solution)was given by gavage at a dose of 8 g·kg-1·d-1 for 3 consecutive days,and then given Klebsiella pneumoniae by gavage for 5 consecutive days on the 4th day.Detection indicators and methods:after the experiment,the mice were sacrificed and the terminal ileum tissues were collected.The tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE),and the pathological changes of the intestinal mucosa were observed under a light microscope;immunofluorescence staining was used to observe the positive expressions of junction proteins ZO-1,Claudin-2,light chain 3-Ⅱ(LC3-Ⅱ),and Beclin-1 and the intestinal mucosal autophagy;the mRNA expression levels of autophagy genes were determined by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Results The intersection of the obtained drug targets and disease targets yielded 111 potential autophagy-related targets for drug treatment of diseases.Key targets included β2-adrenergic receptor(ADRB2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),etc.,and the signaling pathways involved included AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)pathway,mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway,etc.Animal experiments confirmed that the intestinal mucosal barrier function in the Dachengqi decoction group was better than that in the intestinal infection group,and the positive expression of microtubule-associated protein 1 lingt chain 3-Ⅱ(LC3-Ⅱ)and autophagy gene Beclin1 was significantly higher than that in the intestinal infection group.Transcriptome sequencing results showed that the key genes associated with autophagy and oxidative stress included ADRB2,HO-1,etc.The mRNA expression levels of ADRB2 and HO-1 in the Dachengqi decoction group were significantly higher than those in the intestinal infection group[HO-1 mRNA expression(FPKM):11.20±0.80 vs.6.63±0.53,ADRB2 mRNA expression(FPKM):6.98±0.54 vs.3.98±0.32,both P<0.01],verifying some of the predictions from network pharmacology.Conclusions Dachengqi decoction regulates autophagy through multiple components,multiple targets and multiple pathways,protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier function and reducing the translocation of intestinal microbiota.This lays a certain foundation for further in-depth research on the mechanism of reducing intestinal bacterial translocation by Dachengqi decoction.
7.Application and challenges of chest CT peritumoral radiomics in the precision diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer
Ting WU ; Linyu WU ; Chen GAO ; Xinjing LOU ; Jiawei CHEN ; Jun WU ; Maosheng XU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2024;44(5):443-449
By extracting quantitative radiomic features from regions of interest in medical images and correlating them with the biological features and heterogeneity of tumors, radiomics can provide critical information and a basis for personalized precision diagnosis and treatment. Peritumoral regions contain a wealth of microbiological information. Therefore, chest CT peritumoral radiomics, which can provide quantitative non-invasive assessment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by mining the deep heterogeneity of peritumoral regions, has broad prospects for future clinical applications. Given the rapid progress in computer and medical big data techniques, as well as the in-depth efforts in multi-center, high-quality, and large-sample data in the future, it is reasonably believed that radiomics research will be gradually normalized and reproducible. This is conducive to the translation and application of radiomics research to clinical practice, thus laying a foundation for personalized and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up for lung cancer patients.
8.Important step of weaning from mechanical ventilation: accurate assessment of respiratory muscle strength
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2024;36(4):337-339
Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a powerful mean to rescue patients with respiratory failure. In view of the different etiology and basic respiratory function of patients with respiratory failure, weaning failure often occurs. Prolonged MV time is often accompanied by many complications. Thus, deeply understanding the pathophysiological changes of respiratory failure and strengthen monitoring of respiratory mechanics are helpful to optimize MV parameter settings, reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and wean from MV as early as possible. A successful weaning from MV depends on many factors, the most important factors are respiratory muscle strength, respiratory load and respiratory drive. Spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) is an important part of weaning process. The main purpose of implementing SBT is to screen patients and opportunities to weaning from MV, and find reversible reasons for not passing SBT. Because the accuracy of SBT in assessing weaning prognosis is about 85%, it is not adequate for difficult weaning patients. Standardized measurement of weaning indicators for patients with difficulty weaning is conducive to accurate assessment of respiratory muscle strength and improve the success rate of weaning from MV.
9.How to implement prone position and prone ventilation accurately
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine in Intensive and Critical Care 2024;31(4):396-400
Prone position and position ventilation(PPV)are effective methods to save patients with refractory hypoxemia,and prone position has become the standard treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Successful clinical implementation requires understanding the mechanisms improving oxygenation and hemodynamic effects.In the use of prone position combined with PPV,the common factors affecting ventilation or oxygenation should be given extra an attention,such as the changes in respiratory mechanics,intra-abdominal pressure(IAP)and hemodynamics.However,consensus is lacking on optimal proning protocols and patient selection criteria.The causes of acute hypoxia and respiratory failure are complex,and should be assessed accurately.The success rate of rescuing critically ill patients can be improved by applying multiple effective treatments and standardized implementing prone position and PPV to improve oxygenation at the same time.
10.Role of subminiature and recurrent chromosome copy number variations in recurrent spontaneous abortion
Erfeng YUAN ; Liying SONG ; Yu WANG ; Hongmei DU ; Yang FANG ; Jinshuang GAO ; Yaqing GUO ; Haiyang YU ; Qianqian SHI ; Xinjing YAN ; Linlin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2024;44(8):816-821
Objective:To explore the key copy number variation (CNV) regions, abortion candidate genes and signaling pathways associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on the data of 1 870 miscarriage cases of RSA patients who received CNV analysis by high-throughput sequencing technology in the Laboratory Medicine Department of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2016 to September 2022. These cases were divided into different groups based on the age of miscarriage and gestational age of the pregnant women. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the distribution of chromosome abnormalities and CNV. Gene functions and signaling pathways in RSA-related CNV were identified by gene enrichment analysis.Results:Among the 1 870 tissues, 1 001 (53.53%) cases were detected with chromosomal abnormalities. A total of 140 CNVs were detected in 93 tissues (9.29%), including 34 submicroscopic CNVs (segment<10 Mb) and 106 large CNVs with segment≥10 Mb. Submicroscopic pathogenicity CNVs with statistical differences were involved 1p36.33p36.23, 2q37.3, 4p16.3, 22q11.21 (χ 2=6.99, P=0.008) in early RSA embryos (≤12 weeks). 16p11.2 and Xp11.23p11.22 microdeletion were firstly reported in abortion cases. Significantly recurrent large CNVs were mainly involved 18q22q23 (del/dup), 4p16p15, 9p24p22, 8p23p22, and Xp22.3 regions, and the candidate genes mainly concentrated on PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Conclusion:Rare submicroscopic CNVs and recurrent large CNVs were associated with RSA in early pregnancy. GO and KEGG database analysis revealed potential abortion candidate genes and signaling pathways, providing new information for the genetic etiology of RSA.

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