2.Characteristic Expression of Multiple Neurotransmitters Oscillation Imbabance in Brains of 1 028 Patients with Depression
Anqi WANG ; Xuemei QING ; Yanshu PAN ; Pingfa ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Jian LI ; Cheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):278-286
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristic expression patterns of six neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE), inhibitory neurotransmitter (INH), and excitatory neurotransmitter (EXC) in the whole brain and different brain regions of depression patients by Search of Encephalo Telex (SET), providing new ideas for the study of heterogeneous etiology of depression. Methods(1) A retrospective study was conducted on supra-slow signals of EEG fluctuations in 1 028 patients with depression. The SET system was used to obtain the expression information of six neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions: left frontal region (F3), right frontal region (F4), left central region (C3), right central region (C4), left parietal region (P3), right parietal region (P4), left occipital region (O1), right occipital region (O2), left anterior temporal region (F7), right anterior temporal region (F8), left posterior temporal region (T5), and right posterior temporal region (T6). The expression information of each neurotransmitter was compared with the normal model, and it was found that single neurotransmitter was in one of three states: increased, decreased, or normal expression. The simultaneous expression states of six neurotransmitters in the brain space were referred to as the expression pattern of multiple neurotransmitters. (2) A MySQL database was established to analyze the actual expression patterns of different neurotransmitters in the whole brain of patients with depression. (3) Factor analysis was conducted to further analyze the characteristic rules of 78 variables of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions in depression patients. Results(1) The expression of single neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions of the total depression population showed one of three expression states (increased/decreased/normal), being normal in the majority. The decreased and increased expression of 5-HT, ACh, DA, INH, EXC, and NE in the whole brain occurred in 6% and 25%, 31% and 17%, 36% and 9%, 15% and 31%, 32% and 14%, and 22% and 22%, respectively. (2) The antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters (EXC/INH, DA/5-HT, and ACh/NE) showed significant antagonistic relationships in the whole brain and different brain regions, with a strong negative correlation between EXC and INH (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.69 to 0.76), a strong negative correlation between DA and 5-HT (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.83 to 0.90), and a moderate negative correlation between ACh and NE (P<0.01, with |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.66). Meanwhile, non-antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions also showed correlations, with DA/NE (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.46) and NE/EXC (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.61) showing weak and moderate negative correlations, respectively, and DA/EXC showing a weak positive correlation (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.47). (3) The six neurotransmitters in the 1 028 patients with depression presented a total of 170 expression patterns in the whole brain. The top 30 expression patterns were reported in this paper, with a cumulative rate of 60.60%, including patterns ① INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE-/EXC- (9.05%), ② INH+/5-HT-/ACh↓/DA+/NE-/EXC- (4.57%), and ③ INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE↓/EXC- (3.31%). That is, the proportion of depression patients with normal levels of all the six neurotransmitters was 9.05%, and the patients with at least one neurotransmitter abnormality accounted for 91.95%. (4) The factor analysis extracted 22 common factors from 78 variables in the whole brain and different brain regions. These common factors showed the absolute values of loadings ranging from 0.32 to 0.86 and the eigenvalues (F) ranging from 1.03 to 13.43, with a cumulative contribution rate of 76.82%. The characteristic expression patterns included ① AChP3↓/AChW↓/AChC3↓/AChF3↓/AChO1↓/AChT5↓/AChF7↓/NEP3↑/NEW↑/NEC3↑/NEF3↑/NEO1↑/NET5↑/NEF7↑ (F=13.43, whole brain), ② 5-HTO2↑/DAO2↓/5-HTP4↑/DAP4↓/5-HTW↑/DAW↓/5-HTC4↑/DAC4↓ (F=5.94), and ③ EXCF4↓/DAF4↓/NEF4↑/INHF4↑/5-HTF4↑/AChF4↓ (F=5.33). ConclusionThe actual 170 expression patterns of 6 neurotransmitters in the whole brain of 1 028 depression patients indicate that depression is a heterogeneous disease with individualized characteristics. The 22 characteristic expression patterns in the whole brain and 12 brain regions verify the pathogenesis hypothesis of multi-neurotransmitters oscillation imbalance in brains of depression patients. In summary, this study provides new guidance for the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and establishes a methodological foundation for the effectiveness evaluation of individualized treatment of depression by traditional Chinese medicine based on the objective biological markers.
3.Characteristic Expression of Multiple Neurotransmitters Oscillation Imbabance in Brains of 1 028 Patients with Depression
Anqi WANG ; Xuemei QING ; Yanshu PAN ; Pingfa ZHANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Jian LI ; Cheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):278-286
ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristic expression patterns of six neurotransmitters including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE), inhibitory neurotransmitter (INH), and excitatory neurotransmitter (EXC) in the whole brain and different brain regions of depression patients by Search of Encephalo Telex (SET), providing new ideas for the study of heterogeneous etiology of depression. Methods(1) A retrospective study was conducted on supra-slow signals of EEG fluctuations in 1 028 patients with depression. The SET system was used to obtain the expression information of six neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions: left frontal region (F3), right frontal region (F4), left central region (C3), right central region (C4), left parietal region (P3), right parietal region (P4), left occipital region (O1), right occipital region (O2), left anterior temporal region (F7), right anterior temporal region (F8), left posterior temporal region (T5), and right posterior temporal region (T6). The expression information of each neurotransmitter was compared with the normal model, and it was found that single neurotransmitter was in one of three states: increased, decreased, or normal expression. The simultaneous expression states of six neurotransmitters in the brain space were referred to as the expression pattern of multiple neurotransmitters. (2) A MySQL database was established to analyze the actual expression patterns of different neurotransmitters in the whole brain of patients with depression. (3) Factor analysis was conducted to further analyze the characteristic rules of 78 variables of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and 12 brain regions in depression patients. Results(1) The expression of single neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions of the total depression population showed one of three expression states (increased/decreased/normal), being normal in the majority. The decreased and increased expression of 5-HT, ACh, DA, INH, EXC, and NE in the whole brain occurred in 6% and 25%, 31% and 17%, 36% and 9%, 15% and 31%, 32% and 14%, and 22% and 22%, respectively. (2) The antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters (EXC/INH, DA/5-HT, and ACh/NE) showed significant antagonistic relationships in the whole brain and different brain regions, with a strong negative correlation between EXC and INH (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.69 to 0.76), a strong negative correlation between DA and 5-HT (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.83 to 0.90), and a moderate negative correlation between ACh and NE (P<0.01, with |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.66). Meanwhile, non-antagonizing pairs of neurotransmitters in the whole brain and different brain regions also showed correlations, with DA/NE (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.46) and NE/EXC (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.56 to 0.61) showing weak and moderate negative correlations, respectively, and DA/EXC showing a weak positive correlation (P<0.01, |r| values ranging from 0.38 to 0.47). (3) The six neurotransmitters in the 1 028 patients with depression presented a total of 170 expression patterns in the whole brain. The top 30 expression patterns were reported in this paper, with a cumulative rate of 60.60%, including patterns ① INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE-/EXC- (9.05%), ② INH+/5-HT-/ACh↓/DA+/NE-/EXC- (4.57%), and ③ INH+/5-HT-/ACh+/DA+/NE↓/EXC- (3.31%). That is, the proportion of depression patients with normal levels of all the six neurotransmitters was 9.05%, and the patients with at least one neurotransmitter abnormality accounted for 91.95%. (4) The factor analysis extracted 22 common factors from 78 variables in the whole brain and different brain regions. These common factors showed the absolute values of loadings ranging from 0.32 to 0.86 and the eigenvalues (F) ranging from 1.03 to 13.43, with a cumulative contribution rate of 76.82%. The characteristic expression patterns included ① AChP3↓/AChW↓/AChC3↓/AChF3↓/AChO1↓/AChT5↓/AChF7↓/NEP3↑/NEW↑/NEC3↑/NEF3↑/NEO1↑/NET5↑/NEF7↑ (F=13.43, whole brain), ② 5-HTO2↑/DAO2↓/5-HTP4↑/DAP4↓/5-HTW↑/DAW↓/5-HTC4↑/DAC4↓ (F=5.94), and ③ EXCF4↓/DAF4↓/NEF4↑/INHF4↑/5-HTF4↑/AChF4↓ (F=5.33). ConclusionThe actual 170 expression patterns of 6 neurotransmitters in the whole brain of 1 028 depression patients indicate that depression is a heterogeneous disease with individualized characteristics. The 22 characteristic expression patterns in the whole brain and 12 brain regions verify the pathogenesis hypothesis of multi-neurotransmitters oscillation imbalance in brains of depression patients. In summary, this study provides new guidance for the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of depression and establishes a methodological foundation for the effectiveness evaluation of individualized treatment of depression by traditional Chinese medicine based on the objective biological markers.
7.Trends in intestinal aging: From underlying mechanisms to therapeutic strategies.
Yajun WANG ; Xueni ZHANG ; Mengli QING ; Wen DANG ; Xuemei BAI ; Yingjie WANG ; Di ZHOU ; Lingjuan ZHU ; Degang QING ; Juan ZHANG ; Gang CHEN ; Ning LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3372-3403
Intestinal aging is central to systemic aging, characterized by a progressive decline in intestinal structure and function. The core mechanisms involve dysregulation of epithelial cell renewal and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In addition to previous results in model organisms like Drosophila melanogaster, recent studies have shown that in mammalian models, aging causes increased intestinal permeability and intestinal-derived systemic inflammation, thereby affecting longevity. Therefore, anti-intestinal aging can be an important strategy for reducing frailty and promoting longevity. There are three key gaps remaining in the study of intestinal aging: (1) overemphasis on aging-related diseases rather than the primary aging mechanisms; (2) lack of specific drugs or treatments to prevent or treat intestinal aging; (3) limited aging-specific dysbiosis research. In this review, the basic structures and renewal mechanisms of intestinal epithelium, and mechanisms and potential therapies for intestinal aging are discussed to advance understanding of the causes, consequences, and treatments of age-related intestinal dysfunction.
8.Efficacy of combined magnetic-electrical stimulation,intelligent exercise prescription,and novel matrix radiofrequency therapy in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Xuemei LIU ; Kaixian DENG ; Jianhao LIANG ; Yanqiu LIANG ; Chunying HE ; Cuiling CHEN ; Qing ZENG ; Guozhi HUANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(20):3198-3205
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of combined magnetic and electrical stimulation with an"intelligent exercise prescription"and novel matrix radiofrequency therapy in patients with pelvic organ prolapse(POP).Methods A total of 158 patients with POP who received treatment at the Gynecological Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Center of the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University between October 2022 and July 2025 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into an observation group(n=64)and a control group(n=94)based on their treatment plans.The control group underwent magnetic and electrical stimulation combined with an"intelligent exercise prescription"regimen.Specifically,patients received 10 sessions of electrical stimulation,5 sessions of magnetic stimulation,and performed 15~20 minutes of daily home exercise training guided by the"intelligent exercise prescription."The observation group received,in addition to the aforementioned treatments,four sessions of novel matrix radiofrequency therapy.Changes in the muscle strength grades of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ pelvic floor muscles,Glazer surface electromyography(EMG)values,and POP-Q staging were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results After treatment,both groups demonstrated significant improvements in type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ muscle fiber strength compared to baseline(all P<0.05),with the observation group showing greater improvement in type Ⅰ muscle fiber strength than the control group(P<0.05).The muscle potential values of the observation group during rapid contraction,tense contraction,and endurance contraction stages were markedly increased compared to pre-treatment levels.Moreover,the muscle potential values during the pre-resting stage were significantly reduced after treatment(P<0.05).In the observation group,POP-Q grades of the anterior vaginal wall,uterus,and posterior vaginal wall were all significantly lower post-treatment than pre-treatment(all P<0.05).However,no statistically significant differences were observed between the observation group and the control group in these parameters(P>0.05).Both groups exhibited relatively high compliance rates(both≥75.0%),with no significant difference between them(P>0.05).The treatment cost for the observation group was significantly higher than that for the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions The combination of magneto-electrical stimulation,an"intelligent exercise prescription,"and novel matrix radiofrequency therapy can significantly improve pelvic floor muscle strength and muscle potential values in the short term,compared to pre-treatment levels.This integrated approach also effectively alleviates the prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall,uterus,and posterior vaginal wall.Furthermore,the combination of magnetic and electrical stimulation,"intelligent exercise prescription,"and matrix radiofrequency therapy demonstrates superior efficacy in enhancing type Ⅰ pelvic floor muscle fiber strength when compared to the combination of magnetic and electrical stimulation with"intelligent exercise prescription"alone.However,this treatment protocol entails a relatively high economic burden,and its clinical application should be carefully evaluated in consideration of patients'functional needs and financial conditions.
9.Efficacy of combined magnetic-electrical stimulation,intelligent exercise prescription,and novel matrix radiofrequency therapy in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse
Xuemei LIU ; Kaixian DENG ; Jianhao LIANG ; Yanqiu LIANG ; Chunying HE ; Cuiling CHEN ; Qing ZENG ; Guozhi HUANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(20):3198-3205
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of combined magnetic and electrical stimulation with an"intelligent exercise prescription"and novel matrix radiofrequency therapy in patients with pelvic organ prolapse(POP).Methods A total of 158 patients with POP who received treatment at the Gynecological Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Center of the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University between October 2022 and July 2025 were retrospectively enrolled and divided into an observation group(n=64)and a control group(n=94)based on their treatment plans.The control group underwent magnetic and electrical stimulation combined with an"intelligent exercise prescription"regimen.Specifically,patients received 10 sessions of electrical stimulation,5 sessions of magnetic stimulation,and performed 15~20 minutes of daily home exercise training guided by the"intelligent exercise prescription."The observation group received,in addition to the aforementioned treatments,four sessions of novel matrix radiofrequency therapy.Changes in the muscle strength grades of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ pelvic floor muscles,Glazer surface electromyography(EMG)values,and POP-Q staging were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results After treatment,both groups demonstrated significant improvements in type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ muscle fiber strength compared to baseline(all P<0.05),with the observation group showing greater improvement in type Ⅰ muscle fiber strength than the control group(P<0.05).The muscle potential values of the observation group during rapid contraction,tense contraction,and endurance contraction stages were markedly increased compared to pre-treatment levels.Moreover,the muscle potential values during the pre-resting stage were significantly reduced after treatment(P<0.05).In the observation group,POP-Q grades of the anterior vaginal wall,uterus,and posterior vaginal wall were all significantly lower post-treatment than pre-treatment(all P<0.05).However,no statistically significant differences were observed between the observation group and the control group in these parameters(P>0.05).Both groups exhibited relatively high compliance rates(both≥75.0%),with no significant difference between them(P>0.05).The treatment cost for the observation group was significantly higher than that for the control group(P<0.05).Conclusions The combination of magneto-electrical stimulation,an"intelligent exercise prescription,"and novel matrix radiofrequency therapy can significantly improve pelvic floor muscle strength and muscle potential values in the short term,compared to pre-treatment levels.This integrated approach also effectively alleviates the prolapse of the anterior vaginal wall,uterus,and posterior vaginal wall.Furthermore,the combination of magnetic and electrical stimulation,"intelligent exercise prescription,"and matrix radiofrequency therapy demonstrates superior efficacy in enhancing type Ⅰ pelvic floor muscle fiber strength when compared to the combination of magnetic and electrical stimulation with"intelligent exercise prescription"alone.However,this treatment protocol entails a relatively high economic burden,and its clinical application should be carefully evaluated in consideration of patients'functional needs and financial conditions.
10.Identification of novel genetic loci associated with major depressive disorder and the hippocampus in a European population using the condFDR method
Qing DU ; Minglan YU ; Xuemei LIANG ; Tingting WANG ; Rongfang HE ; Wei LEI ; Jing CHEN ; Chaohua HUANG ; Kezhi LIU ; Bo XIANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(7):769-775
Objective:To identify additional loci associated with depression and the hippocampus (HIP) through genome-wide association study.Methods:The depression-related genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta summary data was downloaded from the official website of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, which had involved 170 756 cases and 329 443 controls. The left and right hippocampal volume GWAS data sets were downloaded from the UK Biobank, which involved 33 224 participants. The conditional false discovery rate (condFDR) was used to identify novel genetic loci for depression and left and right hippocampal volumes, and a conjunctional false discovery rate (conjFDR) was used to evaluate the enrichment of pleiotropic loci between depression and left and right hippocampal volumes.Results:Respectively, 7, 13, and 12 new loci have been associated with depression, left hippocampal volume and right hippocampal volume, with a significant threshold of condFDR < 0.01. A site of rs1267073 locus was found to be shared by the depression and right hippocampal volume with a threshold of conjFDR < 0.01.Conclusion:Above findings have provided more insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the volume of hippocampus and the risk for depression. The results may also provide evidence for future clinical trials for treating depression.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail