1.The Mechanism of Exercise Regulating Intestinal Flora in The Prevention and Treatment of Depression
Lei-Zi MIN ; Jing-Tong WANG ; Qing-Yuan WANG ; Yi-Cong CUI ; Rui WANG ; Xin-Dong MA
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1418-1434
Depression, a prevalent mental disorder with significant socioeconomic burdens, underscores the urgent need for safe and effective non-pharmacological interventions. Recent advances in microbiome research have revealed the pivotal role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of depression. Concurrently, exercise, as a cost-effective and accessible intervention, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the interplay among exercise, gut microbiota modulation, and depression, elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms via the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. Depression is characterized by gut microbiota alterations, including reduced alpha and beta diversity, depletion of beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Coprococcus), and overgrowth of pro-inflammatory and pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Morganella, Klebsiella, and Enterobacteriaceae). Metagenomic analyses reveal disrupted metabolic functions in depressive patients, such as diminished synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impaired tryptophan metabolism, and dysregulated bile acid conversion. For instance, Bifidobacterium longum deficiency correlates with reduced synthesis of neuroactive metabolites like homovanillic acid, while decreased Coprococcus abundance limits butyrate production, exacerbating neuroinflammation. Furthermore, elevated levels of indole derivatives from Clostridium species inhibit serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, contributing to depressive phenotypes. These dysbiotic profiles disrupt the MGB axis, triggering systemic inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Exercise exerts profound effects on gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that sustained aerobic exercise increases alpha diversity, enriches SCFA-producing genera (e.g., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, and Akkermansia), and suppresses pathobionts (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Streptococcus). For example, a meta-analysis of 25 trials involving 1 044 participants confirmed that exercise enhances microbial richness and restores the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a biomarker of metabolic health. Notably, endurance training promotes Veillonella proliferation, which converts lactate into propionate, enhancing energy metabolism and delaying fatigue. Exercise also strengthens intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (e.g., ZO-1, occludin), thereby reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation and systemic inflammation. However, excessive exercise may paradoxically diminish microbial diversity and exacerbate intestinal permeability, highlighting the importance of moderate intensity and duration. Exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms through multifaceted interactions with the gut microbiota, primarily via 4 interconnected pathways. First, exercise mitigates neuroinflammation by elevating anti-inflammatory SCFAs such as butyrate, which suppresses NF-κB signaling to attenuate microglial activation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Animal studies demonstrate that voluntary wheel running reduces hippocampal TNF‑α and IL-17 levels in stress-induced depression models, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from exercised mice reverses depressive behaviors by modulating the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway. Second, exercise regulates neurotransmitter dynamics by enriching GABA-producing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, thereby counteracting neuronal hyperexcitability. Aerobic exercise also enhances the abundance of Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus, which facilitate 5-HT and dopamine synthesis. Clinical trials reveal that 12 weeks of moderate exercise increases fecal Coprococcus and Blautia abundance, correlating with improved 5-HT bioavailability and reduced depression scores. Third, exercise normalizes HPA axis hyperactivity by reducing cortisol levels and restoring glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. In rodent models, chronic stress-induced corticosterone elevation is reversed by probiotic supplementation (e.g., Lactobacillus), which enhances endocannabinoid signaling and hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, exercise upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) via microbial metabolites like butyrate, promoting histone acetylation and synaptic plasticity. FMT experiments confirm that exercise-induced microbiota elevates prefrontal BDNF expression, reversing stress-induced neuronal atrophy. Fourth, exercise reshapes microbial metabolic crosstalk, diverting tryptophan metabolism toward 5-HT synthesis instead of neurotoxic kynurenine derivatives. Butyrate inhibits indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a key enzyme in the kynurenine pathway linked to depression. Concurrently, exercise-induced Akkermansia enrichment enhances mucin production, fortifies the gut barrier, and reduces LPS-driven neuroinflammation. Collectively, these mechanisms underscore exercise as a potent modulator of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, offering a holistic approach to alleviating depression through microbial and neurophysiological synergy. Current evidence supports exercise as a potent adjunct therapy for depression, with personalized regimens (e.g., aerobic, resistance, or yoga) tailored to individual microbiota profiles. However, challenges remain in optimizing exercise prescriptions (intensity, duration, and type) and integrating them with probiotics, prebiotics, or FMT for synergistic effects. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized controlled trials to validate causality, multi-omics approaches to decipher MGB axis dynamics, and mechanistic studies exploring microbial metabolites as therapeutic targets. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift toward microbiota-centric interventions, emphasizing the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and gut ecosystem resilience in mental health management. In conclusion, this review underscores exercise as a multifaceted modulator of the gut-brain axis, offering novel insights into non-pharmacological strategies for depression. By bridging microbial ecology, neuroimmunology, and exercise physiology, this work lays a foundation for precision medicine approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate depressive disorders.
2.Research progress on NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy and related diseases.
Chen JIA ; Hong-Ji LIN ; Fang CUI ; Rui LU ; Yi-Ting ZHANG ; Zhi-Qin PENG ; Min SHI
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(1):194-208
Nuclear receptor co-activator 4 (NCOA4) acts as a selective cargo receptor that binds to ferritin, a cytoplasmic iron storage complex. By mediating ferritinophagy, NCOA4 regulates iron metabolism and releases free iron in the body, thus playing a crucial role in a variety of biological processes, including growth, development, and metabolism. Recent studies have shown that NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy is closely associated with the occurrence and development of iron metabolism-related diseases, such as liver fibrosis, renal cell carcinoma, and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, a number of clinical drugs have been identified to modulate NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy, significantly affecting disease progression and treatment efficacy. This paper aims to review the current research progress on the role of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in related diseases, in order to provide new ideas for targeted clinical therapy.
Humans
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Nuclear Receptor Coactivators/physiology*
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Ferritins/metabolism*
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Animals
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Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism*
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Iron/metabolism*
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Autophagy/physiology*
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Liver Cirrhosis/metabolism*
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Carcinoma, Renal Cell/metabolism*
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Kidney Neoplasms/physiopathology*
3.Expert consensus on early orthodontic treatment of class III malocclusion.
Xin ZHOU ; Si CHEN ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Zuolin JIN ; Hong HE ; Yuxing BAI ; Weiran LI ; Jun WANG ; Min HU ; Yang CAO ; Yuehua LIU ; Bin YAN ; Jiejun SHI ; Jie GUO ; Zhihua LI ; Wensheng MA ; Yi LIU ; Huang LI ; Yanqin LU ; Liling REN ; Rui ZOU ; Linyu XU ; Jiangtian HU ; Xiuping WU ; Shuxia CUI ; Lulu XU ; Xudong WANG ; Songsong ZHU ; Li HU ; Qingming TANG ; Jinlin SONG ; Bing FANG ; Lili CHEN
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):20-20
The prevalence of Class III malocclusion varies among different countries and regions. The populations from Southeast Asian countries (Chinese and Malaysian) showed the highest prevalence rate of 15.8%, which can seriously affect oral function, facial appearance, and mental health. As anterior crossbite tends to worsen with growth, early orthodontic treatment can harness growth potential to normalize maxillofacial development or reduce skeletal malformation severity, thereby reducing the difficulty and shortening the treatment cycle of later-stage treatment. This is beneficial for the physical and mental growth of children. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusion is particularly important. Determining the optimal timing for early orthodontic treatment requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, dental age, and skeletal age, and can lead to better results with less effort. Currently, standardized treatment guidelines for early orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusion are lacking. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, and early orthodontic techniques for Class III malocclusion, along with systematic discussions on selecting early treatment plans. The purpose of this expert consensus is to standardize clinical practices and improve the treatment outcomes of Class III malocclusion through early orthodontic treatment.
Humans
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Malocclusion, Angle Class III/classification*
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Orthodontics, Corrective/methods*
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Consensus
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Child
4.Progress of bevacizumab intraperitoneal instillation in the treatment of ovarian cancer
Zhi-Qi ZHANG ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Qian-Xin LIU ; Qian XIANG ; Yi-Min CUI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(5):759-762
The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in ovarian cancer tissues is closely related to the degree of malignancy of ovarian cancer,and can be an effective target for ovarian cancer treatment.Bevacizumab,as a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF,can inhibit tumor neovascularization and tumor growth,and is used for the treatment of ovarian cancer,cervical cancer,metastatic colorectal cancer and other malignant tumors.Bevacizumab administered by intraperitoneal perfusion has good efficacy for malignant ascites in tumor patients,and can alleviate patients'clinical symptoms.In recent years,more studies have explored the clinical application method,therapeutic efficacy and related adverse effects of bevacizumab intraperitoneal instillation in the treatment of ovarian cancer,and this article is a review in this field,aiming to provide reference for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer.
5.Mechanism analysis of E7766 in the treatment of bladder cancer based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics
Tian-Tian QI ; Yu-Hang ZHANG ; Yi-Min CUI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(16):2409-2412
Objective This article aims to explore the target and mechanism of E7766 in the treatment of bladder cancer through network pharmacology and online biological analysis.Methods Relevant targets of E7766 and bladder cancer were obtained with the help of multiple drug and disease databases.The core target of E7766 in the treatment of bladder cancer was determined by using Cytoscape software.Perform gene ontology(GO)analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment pathway analysis on the selected targets through the David database.The Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis(GEPIA)database was used to analyze the expression of core targets in bladder cancer and their relationship with patient prognosis.Perform immune infiltration analysis on core target genes using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource(TIMER)database.Results Obtained drug disease core gene targets:caspase-3(CASP3),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP9),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2)and mitogen activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1).KEGG enrichment analysis showed that multiple pathways such as apoptosis pathway and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)signaling pathway had therapeutic effects on bladder cancer.GEPIA database analysis showed that MMP9 was highly expressed in bladder cancer tissues,while PTGS2 was low(P<0.05);the expression level of MAPK1 is negatively correlated with prognosis,and the lower the expression of MAPK,the better the prognosis of patients(P<0.05).The TIMER tumor immune database has found that core targets are closely related to the infiltration levels of various immune cells,playing an important role in the infiltration of dendritic cells and CD8+T cells.Conclusion E7766 influences biological processes such as apoptosis and inflammation of bladder cancer cells through multiple targets such as CASP3,MMP9,mTOR,PTGS2,MAPK1 and multiple pathways such as apoptosis and TNF signaling pathway.
6.Study on influencing factors of venous thromboembolism in pneumonia patients
Rui-Juan LI ; Jing NIU ; Peng-Yan JIA ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Cheng-Li QUE ; Qian XIANG ; Yi-Min CUI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(17):2479-2482
Objective To analyze the incidence of venous thromboembolism(VTE)in pulmonary patients and explore the assessment and prevention of the risk of pneumonia accompanied VTE.Methods The patients with pneumonia were divided into control group(simple pneumonia)and treatment group(with VTE)according to the condition of VTE.Demographic data,blood routine,coagulation index,liver and kidney function index and blood gas index were collected.Statistical methods like chi square test,t-test and nonparametric rank sum test were applied to compare the differences between the two groups.Finally,the nomogram was established according to the logistic regression results and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was calculated.Results 106 cases in control group and 29 cases in treatment group.Univariate analysis showed that age,D-dimer,fibrinogen degradation products,white blood cell count,neutrophil count,albumin-globulin ratio were statistically significant(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggests that age[odds ratio(OR)=1.052],D-dimer(OR=2.339),and albumin/globulin(OR=0.042)are independent affecting factors for VTE in pneumonia patients.A nomogram was developed and ROC was calculated,the area under curve(AUC)was 0.754.Conclusion High age,elevated D-dimer and decreased albumin/globulin are independent risk factors for VTE in pneumonia patients.More over,the established prediction model has good accuracy.
7.Application of single-cell multi-omics sequencing technology in the study of ischemic stroke
Qian MENG ; Yiwen WANG ; Na CUI ; Min BAI ; Le YANG ; Yi DING
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2024;29(6):690-699
Ischemic stroke is an acute cerebro-vascular disease with high disability and mortality,is the most common cause of death in China.De-spite years of research,there are still no biomark-ers for stroke,and the molecular mechanisms re-main largely unknown.In the past decade,single-cell sequencing technology,as a rapidly developing emerging technology,can conduct high-throughput sequencing of multiple omics including genome,transcriptome,epigenome and proteome at the level of a single cell,providing a new way to discov-er biomarkers and analyze pathological mecha-nisms.In this paper,the progress of single-cell multi-omics sequencing technology and its applica-tion in the discovery of biomarkers,pathological mechanisms and drug development of ischemic stroke are introduced in detail,in order to provide valuable reference for precision medicine of isch-emic stroke.
8.Research Progress on the Application of Medical Knowledge Graph in the Field of Stroke in China
Yi TAO ; Qingyue JIA ; Xiaoman MIN ; Jiazheng LIU ; Yifang SHANG ; Ning SUN ; Wenqiang CUI ; Hongyun WU
Journal of Medical Informatics 2024;45(10):28-32
Purpose/Significance To deeply analyze the research progress on the application of medical knowledge graph in the field of stroke,to discuss the problems of the development of stroke knowledge graph in China,and to put forward suggestions for the construc-tion of stroke knowledge graph.Method/Process By reviewing and analyzing the relevant literature,the application of medical knowledge graph in the field of stroke is sorted out and summarized.Result/Conclusion There are still many deficiencies in the development of stroke knowledge graph in China,and in the future,in-depth research can be carried out from four aspects,namely,expanding the ap-plication scope of knowledge graph,promoting the fusion of knowledge graph,developing more efficient algorithms,and upgrading to cog-nitive graph by joint artificial intelligence(AI).
9.Advances of ceftazidime/avibactam in the treatment of carbapenem-resis-tant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection
Yuan-Qi ZHAO ; Ming-Jing CHENG ; Miao-Miao XIONG ; Min XIAO ; Xiu-Yu CUI ; Zi-Jian ZHOU ; Yi-Wei YU ; Wei-Dong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(8):1047-1052
In recent years,the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(CRKP)infection has become a global public health issue.Ceftazidime/avibactam(CAZ/AVI)has been approved as a novel antimicrobial agent for the treatment of healthcare-associated pneumonia/ventilator-associated pneumonia,bloodstream infection,infection after kidney transplantation,and severe infection combined with liver cirrhosis.However,the use of CAZ/AVI has also led to the emergence of drug-resistant strains.The major mechanisms of drug-resistance include over-expression of blaKPC gene,mutation of β-lactamase and amino acids at key sites,changes in cell permeability caused by loss of membrane porin,and over-expression of efflux pump.This article reviews the research progress of CAZ/AVI in the treatment of CRKP infection,providing reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
10.Analysis of Human Brain Bank samples from Hebei Medical University
Juan DU ; Shi-Xiong MI ; Yu-Chuan JIN ; Qian YANG ; Min MA ; Xue-Ru ZHAO ; Feng-Cang LIU ; Chang-Yi ZHAO ; Zhan-Chi ZHANG ; Ping FAN ; Hui-Xian CUI
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2024;55(4):437-444
Objective To understand the current situation of human brain donation in Hebei Province by analyzing the basic information of Human Brain Bank samples of Hebei Medical University in order to provide basic data support for subsequent scientific research.Methods The samples collected from the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University were analyzed(from December 2019 to February 2024),including gender,age,cause of death,as well as quality control data such as postmortem delay time,pH value of cerebrospinal fluid and and RNA integrity number and result of neuropathological diagnosis.Results Until February 2024,30 human brain samples were collected and stored in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University,with a male to female ratio of 9∶1.Donors over 70 years old accounted for 53%.Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases(36.67%)and nervous system diseases(23.33%)accounted for a high proportion of the death causes.The location of brain tissue donors in Shijiazhuang accounted for 90%donations,and the others were from outside the city.The postmortem delay time was relatively short,90%within 12 hours and 10%more than 12 hours.69.23%of the brain samples had RNA integrity values greater than 6.Cerebrospinal fluid pH values ranged from 5.8 to 7.5,with an average value of 6.60±0.45.Brain weights ranged from 906-1496 g,with an average value of(1210.78±197.84)g.Three apolipoprotein E(APOE)alleles were detected including five genotypes(ε2/ε3,ε2/ε4,ε3/ε3,ε3/ε4,ε4/ε4).Eleven staining methods related to neuropathological diagnosis had been established and used.A total of 12 cases were diagnosed as neurodegenerative diseases(including Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease,multiple system atrophy,corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy,etc.),accounting for 40%donated brains.The comorbidity rate of samples over 80 years old was 100%.Conclusion The summary and analyses of the data of brain donors in the Human Brain Bank of Hebei Medical University can reflect the current situation of the construction and operation of the brain bank in Hebei Province,and it can also be more targeted to understand and identify potential donors.Our information can provide reference for the construction of brain bank and provides more reliable materials and data support for scientific research.

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