1.Protection of morusin against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury through gut microbiota modulation and anti-inflammatory effects in mice
Yan LI ; Qi LIU ; Lin WANG ; Yayun LI ; Xinping LI ; Qianqian JIANG ; Zhengzhi WU
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(4):478-490
Objective:
To investigate the protective effects of morusin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury in mice and its underlying mechanisms.
Methods:
Thirty-two male specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 per group): control, LPS, low-dose morusin (morusin-L, 10 mg/kg), and high-dose morusin (morusin-H, 20 mg/kg) groups. The mice in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or normal saline via continuous gavage daily for 16 consecutive days. Except for control group, which received an equal volume of normal saline, other groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) 2 h after the last gavage to establish the acute liver injury model. Serum and liver tissues were collected for subsequent analysis 6 h after LPS injection. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were detected with biochemical methods. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic pathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing was performed to assess the composition of intestinal flora, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was applied for multi-level species discrimination, and Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed. The liver tissues of mice with acute liver injury were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was conducted. The expression levels of selected genes was validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to examine the expression levels of IL-6, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88), and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2).
Results:
Morusin significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001), while alleviating the hepatic pathological damage in mice. Based on efficacy comparisons, morusin-H group was selected for subsequent microbiome and transcriptome analyses. Microbiome analysis revealed that morusin-H effectively mitigated LPS-induced gut dysbiosis and restored the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota balance (P < 0.01). At the genus level, morusin-H significantly reduced the abundances of norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Desulfovibrio, Parabacteroides, and Muribaculum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001). At the phylum, family, and genus levels, our findings indicated that morusin-H treatment caused a significant decrease in the abundance of Desulfobacterota, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Desulfovibrio (P < 0.01). Importantly, the abundance of Desulfovibrio was positively correlated with the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses showed that the therapeutic mechanism of morusin-H involved suppression of the IL-17/TNF signaling pathways and downregulating the mRNA levels of Tlr2, Tlr3, Myd88, Il6, and Cxcl10 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001), as well as the protein levels of key inflammatory mediators (IL-6, MYD88, and TLR2) (P < 0.001).
Conclusion
Morusin demonstrates protective effects against LPS-induced acute liver injury, likely through modulation of gut microbiota and suppression of pro-inflammatory factor expression. These findings indicate that morusin exerts its effects through the "microbiota-inflammation-liver" axis, providing a theoretical basis for its use as a multi-target plant-based drug in the treatment of metabolic inflammation-related liver diseases.
2.Analysis of the current application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in the field of public health
Xinping WANG ; Yunxiao WU ; Wangnan CAO ; Xiaolin WEI ; Siyan ZHAN ; Feng SUN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(8):1446-1450
Evidence-based public health, as the forefront of modern public health practice, has increasingly important in public health field. However, a significant gap remains between the available evidence and its practical application. Effectively disseminating and implementing evidence-based public health practice in real-world settings has become a key challenge in contemporary public health research. In this context, Implementation Science has emerged as a vital discipline. This paper explores the critical role of Implementation Science in public health, reviews the origins and core components of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), and analyzes the current application of CFIR in public health through bibliometric methods. Additionally, it discusses specific examples to further elucidate the steps involved in using the CFIR and its application contexts. The findings indicate that since 2015, research on CFIR in public health has progressively increased, showing a continuous upward trend. CFIR applications mainly address context-specific facilitators, health decision-making, barrier and facilitator identification, and community-based participatory evaluation, predominantly employing qualitative and mixed-methods research. This paper not only reviews and analyzes the current use of CFIR in public health but also provides a detailed discussion on its application. The goal is to offer valuable insights for the development of Implementation Science research within China's public health sector.
3.Correlation between soluble CD146 and systemic vasculitis
Jinwei GAO ; Zhao PENG ; Yao LIU ; Hongxia YU ; Yang WU ; Xinping TIAN
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(6):532-541
Objective:To determine the correlation between serum soluble CD146 (sCD146) levels and disease activity in patients with systemic vasculitis and the potential of sCD146 as a novel biomarker.Methods:We recruited 304 patients from the systemic vasculitis cohort at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2013 to December 2022. The cohort comprised 200 patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and 104 with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The patient′s demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, disease duration, disease type, laboratory results, and disease status, were extracted from the database. The serum sCD146 concentration was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Continuous variables were presented as mean±standard deviation if normally distributed, with between-group comparisons conducted using the t-test. For non-normally distributed data, median ( Q1, Q3) was used, and comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical data were expressed as percentages, and comparisons between groups were conducted using the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test,as appropriate. Kendall′s tau-b′s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the correlation between sCD146 and variables associated with systemic vasculitis. A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active disease compared to those in remission in both cohorts [TAK: 246 (218, 287) vs. 277 (230, 322) μg/L, Z=-2.58, P=0.010; AAV: (301±90) vs. (344±81) μg/L, t=-2.56, P=0.007]. Serum sCD146 levels were positively correlated with age and disease duration (TAK: τ=0.09, 0.12, P=0.040, P=0.009; AAV: τ=0.28, 0.15, P<0.001, P=0.020). In patients with TAK, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease activity status ( τ=-0.17, -0.18, -0.16, -0.16; P=0.001, P<0.001, P=0.003, P=0.010). In patients with AAV, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with platelet count (PLT),disease activity status,and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score ( τ=-0.36, -0.27, -0.27; P<0.001, P=0.007, P=0.001). Conclusion:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active systemic vasculitis than in remission, displaying a negative correlation with disease activity. These findings suggest that sCD146 has potential as a novel biomarker for assessing disease activity in systemic vasculitis.
4.Analysis of the current application of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research in the field of public health
Xinping WANG ; Yunxiao WU ; Wangnan CAO ; Xiaolin WEI ; Siyan ZHAN ; Feng SUN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(8):1446-1450
Evidence-based public health, as the forefront of modern public health practice, has increasingly important in public health field. However, a significant gap remains between the available evidence and its practical application. Effectively disseminating and implementing evidence-based public health practice in real-world settings has become a key challenge in contemporary public health research. In this context, Implementation Science has emerged as a vital discipline. This paper explores the critical role of Implementation Science in public health, reviews the origins and core components of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), and analyzes the current application of CFIR in public health through bibliometric methods. Additionally, it discusses specific examples to further elucidate the steps involved in using the CFIR and its application contexts. The findings indicate that since 2015, research on CFIR in public health has progressively increased, showing a continuous upward trend. CFIR applications mainly address context-specific facilitators, health decision-making, barrier and facilitator identification, and community-based participatory evaluation, predominantly employing qualitative and mixed-methods research. This paper not only reviews and analyzes the current use of CFIR in public health but also provides a detailed discussion on its application. The goal is to offer valuable insights for the development of Implementation Science research within China's public health sector.
5.Correlation between soluble CD146 and systemic vasculitis
Jinwei GAO ; Zhao PENG ; Yao LIU ; Hongxia YU ; Yang WU ; Xinping TIAN
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(6):532-541
Objective:To determine the correlation between serum soluble CD146 (sCD146) levels and disease activity in patients with systemic vasculitis and the potential of sCD146 as a novel biomarker.Methods:We recruited 304 patients from the systemic vasculitis cohort at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2013 to December 2022. The cohort comprised 200 patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) and 104 with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The patient′s demographic and clinical data, including age, sex, disease duration, disease type, laboratory results, and disease status, were extracted from the database. The serum sCD146 concentration was measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Continuous variables were presented as mean±standard deviation if normally distributed, with between-group comparisons conducted using the t-test. For non-normally distributed data, median ( Q1, Q3) was used, and comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical data were expressed as percentages, and comparisons between groups were conducted using the Chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test,as appropriate. Kendall′s tau-b′s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the correlation between sCD146 and variables associated with systemic vasculitis. A two-sided P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active disease compared to those in remission in both cohorts [TAK: 246 (218, 287) vs. 277 (230, 322) μg/L, Z=-2.58, P=0.010; AAV: (301±90) vs. (344±81) μg/L, t=-2.56, P=0.007]. Serum sCD146 levels were positively correlated with age and disease duration (TAK: τ=0.09, 0.12, P=0.040, P=0.009; AAV: τ=0.28, 0.15, P<0.001, P=0.020). In patients with TAK, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease activity status ( τ=-0.17, -0.18, -0.16, -0.16; P=0.001, P<0.001, P=0.003, P=0.010). In patients with AAV, sCD146 levels were negatively correlated with platelet count (PLT),disease activity status,and the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score ( τ=-0.36, -0.27, -0.27; P<0.001, P=0.007, P=0.001). Conclusion:Serum sCD146 levels were significantly lower in patients with active systemic vasculitis than in remission, displaying a negative correlation with disease activity. These findings suggest that sCD146 has potential as a novel biomarker for assessing disease activity in systemic vasculitis.
6.Size discrepancy between ultrasonic and pathological measurement of solitary cN0M0 papillary thyroid microcar-cinoma
Yujie REN ; Yujiang LI ; Zheng ZENG ; Jianhua WANG ; Wenbo DING ; Xinping WU ; Chao LIU ; Shuhang XU
Journal of Surgery Concepts & Practice 2024;29(4):345-350
Objective To compare the size discrepancy between ultrasonic and pathological measurement of solitary cN0M0 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC),and to explore their correlation with lymph node metastasis.Methods From April 2021 to January 2022,234 patients with solitary cN0M0 PTMC who received thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine were analyzed retrospectively.The size discrepancy between ultrasonic and pathological measurement were compared,and the risk factors of central lymph node metastasis were analyzed.Results The mean of maximum diameter of PTMC measured by ultrasound was 6.8(range 5.6 to 8.4)mm,which was significantly bigger than that measured by pathology 5.0(range 4.0 to 7.0)mm(P=0.000).Of them,37.2%of the tumor size measured by ultrasound is consistent with pathology,61.1%of the tumor size measured by ultrasound is bigger than that measured by pathology,and only 1.7%of the tumor size measured by ultrasound is smaller than that measured by pathology.There was a linear correlation between the diameter measured by ultrasound and pathology.And the regression equation can be expressed as:pathological diameter=0.799×ultrasonic diameter-0.221.In addition,28.6%patients had central lymph node metastasis.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the diameter measured by pathology is a risk factor for central lymph node metastasis in patients(OR=17.845,95%CI:2.507-127.025,P=0.004),and the cutoff value is 5.5 mm which corresponded to the diameter measured by ultrasound as 7.2 mm.Conclusions The sizes of solitary cN0M0 PTMC measured by ultrasound and pathology are different but also correlated.PMTC with pathological diameter>5.5 mm with its corresponding ultrasonic diameter as 7.2 mm indicated an increased risk of central lymph node metastasis.
7.Design and clinical application of intracavitary-interstitial brachytherapy applicator template in locally advanced cervical cancer
Yi OUYANG ; Xiaodan HUANG ; Foping CHEN ; Haiying WU ; Weijun YE ; Kai CHEN ; Junyun LI ; Hongying LIU ; Miaoqing MAI ; Huikuan GU ; Huanxin LIN ; Xinping CAO
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(2):137-144
Objective:To design and evaluate the application value of intracavitary-interstitial brachytherapy (IC-ISBT) applicator template for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods:MRI data of 100 patients with ⅡB-ⅣA stage cervical cancer (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2018 staging system) before and after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) admitted to Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from March 2019 to September 2020 were collected. The range of primary cervical lesions was retrospectively analyzed and compared. Based on the residual mass of patients, the corresponding high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was delineated, and the IC-ISBT applicator template was designed and initially applied to cervical cancer patients. Dosimetry analysis and efficacy evaluation were compared between the applicator template-guided ( n=37) and free-hand implantation groups ( n=63). Chi-square test or Fisher exact test was performed for categorical variables, and t-test or U-test for continuous variables. Results:The median distance between the residual tumor margin (clockwise 3, 6, 9, 12 o'clock) and the center of 100 patients with ⅡB-ⅣA stage cervical cancer after EBRT was 16.5, 14.0, 17.0 and 13.0 mm, respectively. The corresponding HR-CTV was superimposed to reconstruct the three-dimensional diagram, and the cylindrical IC-ISBT applicator template with mushroom-like head was designed and manufactured: the longest and shortest diameter of the head was 35 and 20 mm, respectively; the central channel was adapted to the uterine tube, the C1-C12 channels was arranged in inner circle, and the peripheral B1-B5 and A1-A4 pin channels were expanded bilaterally. In terms of dose coverage, there was no significant difference between the HR-CTV D 90% [(635.12±22.65) vs. (635.80±25.84) cGy], bladder D 2 cm3 [(473.79±44.78) vs. (463.55±66.43) cGy)], rectum D 2 cm3 [(396.99±73.54) vs. (408.00±73.94) cGy] and sigmoid colon D 2 cm3 [(293.07±152.72) vs. (311.31±135.77) cGy] between the template-guided and free-hand implantation groups (all P>0.05), but the HR-CTV D 98% was significantly higher [(544.78±32.07) vs. (536.78±32.04) cGy, P=0.007] and the rectum D 1 cm3 and D 0.1 cm3 were significantly lower [(438.62±69.65) vs. (453.97±67.89) cGy, P=0.016; (519.46±70.67) vs. (543.82±81.24) cGy, P=0.001] in the template-guided implantation group. In addition, there was no significant difference in the complete response rate between two groups (86% vs. 83%, P>0.05). Conclusions:This IC-ISBT applicator template is reasonably designed, and the therapeutic efficacy of the template-guided implantation is equivalent to that of free-hand implantation. The dose coverage of the target area meets the clinical demand with a better protection of the organs at risk. The applicator template has the potential to be widely used as a conventional template in clinical practice as the applicator-guided implantation is convenient to operate and repeat.
8.Risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip in infants in Yili area
Kai LI ; Yinming XIA ; Xinping SHAN ; Peng WU ; Nurmaimaiti ALPA ; Yan SHI
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2024;35(3):157-160
Objective To investigate the in-hospital screening results of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infants and young children in Ili area, and to analyze the risk factors affecting the occurrence of DDH. Methods According to the cluster sampling method 5 536 infants and young children who underwent DDH screening in the pediatric outpatient department and orthopedic outpatient department of our hospital from December 2019 to June 2022 were selected as the research objects. The children who met the diagnostic criteria of DDH were selected as the observation group (n=35), and 100 normal children were selected as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of DDH in infants. Results Among the 39 cases were positive in primary screening, 35 cases were positive in secondary screening, and the positive rate was 6.32‰ . The results of single factor analysis showed that the proportion of women, second birth and above, caesarean section, breech delivery, family history, high altitude area, living environment room temperature < 18°C, and leg binding when swaddling in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis showed that mode of production, region, room temperature of living environment and swaddling mode were independent risk factors for DDH in infants (P<0.05). Conclusion Caesarean section, high altitude area, living environment room temperature < 18°C and leg binding in infants are related to the occurrence of DDH in infants, which can provide some reference for clinical screening, diagnosis and treatment.
9.Clinical value of serum calcitonin in the diagnosis,preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up of medullary thyroid cancer
Tingting LI ; Bing'e MA ; Chi HUANG ; Shuhang XU ; Xinping WU ; Jianhua WANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(1):7-12
OBJECTIVE To investigate the diagnostic efficacy of serum calcitonin(Ctn)in medullary thyroid cancer(MTC),the correlation between preoperative serum Ctn and clinicopathological features,and the risk factors affecting the progression of MTC disease during follow-up.METHODS The clinical data of 50 patients admitted to the Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from 2011 to 2022 were systematically reviewed,the ROC curve calculated the diagnostic efficacy of Ctn and CEA levels on MTC,and the risk factors for lymph node metastasis in the central region of MTC were analyzed in univariate and multivariate,and the survival curve without disease progression was drawn to predict risk factors.RESULTS The ROC curve yields the preoperative cut-off value of Ctn was 23.81 pg/ml and the cut-off value of CEA was 3.035 ng/ml for the diagnosis of MTC.The age of disease,tumor diameter,and preoperative serum Ctn and CEA levels in MTC patients were higher than those in non-MTC patients.Ctn≥289.62 pg/ml was an independent risk factor for central lymph node metastasis in MTC.The survival curve showed that invasion of the capsule,central region metastasis,and TNM stage above T2 were risk factors for predicting disease progression(P<0.05).Patients with MTC who have disease progression have higher preoperative Ctn.CONCLUSION Serum Ctn has important clinical value in the differential diagnosis,preoperative evaluation and postoperative follow-up of MTC.
10.Analysis of a Chinese pedigree with Bw subtype due to a novel variant of α-1, 3 galactose aminotransferase gene
Wen WU ; Xinping ZHANG ; Chao LIU ; Xiangyan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(7):858-861
Objective:To explore the serological characteristics and genetic variant in a Chinese pedigree with Bw subtype.Methods:A 32-year-old female proband who had undergone prenatal examination on December 10, 2020 at the 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force and five members from her pedigree were selected as the study subjects. Peripheral blood samples were collected and subjected to ABO blood group phenotyping with serological methods and ABO blood group genotyping with fluorescent PCR. Genetic testing and haplotype analysis were carried out by direct sequencing of the entire coding region of the ABO gene in the proband and cloned sequencing of exons 1-7. Results:The blood type serology of the proband showed Bw, and the ABO blood type genotype determined by fluorescence PCR was B/O. The direct sequencing results showed that the proband had matched the ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO* B. 01 genotype and carried a c. 1A>G variant. Cloned sequencing has confirmed the c. 1A>G variant to have occurred in the ABO* B. 01 allele. Family analysis revealed that the mother of the proband had an O blood type, her husband had a B phenotype, and the her three children had a normal B blood type. DNA sequencing showed that the two sons of the proband had a genotype of ABO* B. 01 and c. 1A>G/ ABO* B. 01. The daughter of the proband was ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO* B. 01, whilst her mother was ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO * O. 01. 02. The novel c. 1A>G variant sequence has been registered with the database with a number of MZ076785 1. Conclusion:The novel c. 1A>G variant of exon 1 of α- 1, 3 galactose aminotransferase gene probably underlay the reduced expression of B antigen in this pedigree.


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