1.Current situation, ethical challenges, and key points of ethical review for non-human primate experiments
Qin HE ; Youzhi DENG ; Jiyin ZHOU
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(4):455-461
Non-human primates are the closest relatives of human beings and possess similar morphological, anatomical, physiological, and behavioral characteristics, making them indispensable in fields such as neuroscience, reproduction, infectious diseases, and drug research and development. Currently, the restrictions on using non-human primates in experiments are becoming increasingly stringent in Europe and the United States. These experiments have ethical particularities that are different from those involving ordinary animals, and they also pose ethical challenges such as lack of necessity assessment, no unified assessment standards, and ethical dumping hazards. Supervision and ethical review should be strengthened. The key points of their ethical review include the necessity of the experiments, the assessment of the harm-benefit ratio, and the implementation of the “3R” principles.
2.Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy for 30 cases of anxiety and depression in patients with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury.
Dongli WANG ; Xueqian WANG ; Rui WANG ; Youzhi HAO ; Weiwei QIAO ; Chao LI ; Yinping ZUO
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(7):923-926
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with neurogenic bladder (NB) after spinal cord injury (SCI).
METHODS:
Thirty cases of NB after SCI with anxiety and depression were selected and treated with acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy. Acupuncture was applied at Baihui (GV20), Yintang (GV24+), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Shenmen (HT7), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), once a day, continuous treatment for 4 weeks. Ginger moxibustion was applied at the bladder meridian of foot taiyang and governor vessel, once a day, continuous treatment for 4 weeks. In treatment of umbilical therapy, Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri), Yujin (Radix Curcumae), Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) were ground and mixed with the same amount of honey, put into the application, and the application was placed on the navel after filling the navel with fine salt, once a day for 4 weeks. Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) score, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score, urodynamic indexes (maximum urinary flow rate [Qmax], maximum detrusor pressure [Pdet-max], residual urine volume [RUV]), neurogenic bladder symptom score (NBSS), urinary symptom distress scale (USDS) score were compared before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.
RESULTS:
After treatment, the scores of HAMA, HAMD, NBSS, USDS and RUVwere lower than those before treatment (P<0.05), and Qmax and Pdet-max were higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 93.3 (28/30).
CONCLUSION
Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with umbilical therapy can effectively relieve anxiety and depression symptoms, improve urination disorders in patients with NB after SCI.
Humans
;
Moxibustion
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Spinal Cord Injuries/psychology*
;
Depression/etiology*
;
Anxiety/etiology*
;
Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic/etiology*
;
Young Adult
;
Aged
;
Combined Modality Therapy
;
Acupuncture Points
3.Structural design and mechanical analysis of a "drum-shaped" balloon-expandable valve stent in expanded configuration.
Youzhi ZHAO ; Qianwen HOU ; Jianye ZHOU ; Shiliang CHEN ; Hanbing ZHANG ; Aike QIAO
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(5):945-953
Stent migration is one of the common complications following transcatheter valve implantation. This study aims to design a "drum-shaped" balloon-expandable aortic valve stent to address this issue and conduct a mechanical analysis. The implantation process of the stent was evaluated using a method that combines numerical simulation and in vitro experiments. Furthermore, the fatigue process of the stent under pulsatile cyclic loading was simulated, and its fatigue performance was assessed using a Goodman diagram. The process of the stent migrating toward the left ventricular side was simulated, and the force-displacement curve of the stent was extracted to evaluate its anti- migration performance. The results showed that all five stent models could be crimped into a 14F sheath and enabled uniform expansion of the native valve leaflets. The stress in each stent was below the ultimate stress, so no fatigue fracture occurred. As the cell height ratio decreased, the contact area fraction between the stent and the aortic root gradually decreased. However, the mean contact force and the maximum anti-migration force first decreased and then increased. Specifically, model S5 had the smallest contact area fraction but the largest mean contact force and maximum anti-migration force, reaching approximately 0.16 MPa and 10.73 N, respectively. The designed stent achieves a "drum-shaped" change after expansion and has good anti-migration performance.
Stents
;
Prosthesis Design
;
Heart Valve Prosthesis
;
Humans
;
Aortic Valve/surgery*
;
Stress, Mechanical
;
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement/instrumentation*
4.Protective effect of graphene heating film far-infrared hyperthermia against frostbite in mice.
Jinshui ZHANG ; Shuo LI ; Dongdong WEI ; Xin CHENG ; Yun DENG ; Youzhi ZHANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(3):522-530
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the protective effects of graphene heating film far-infrared (FIR) hyperthermia therapy against frostbite in mice and its impacts on microcirculation and coagulation function.
METHODS:
Seventy-six C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control, model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups. After 7-day FIR intervention (4 h/day), the mice were subjected to acute (4 ℃, 4 h) and intermittent (4 ℃, 4 h/day for 3 days) cold exposure and the changes in rectal temperature were monitored. In liquid nitrogen frostbite experiment, 24 ICR mice were divided into model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups, and after a 7-day FIR pretreatment (4 h/day), the liquid nitrogen frostbite models were established and apparent scores of the wounds were assessed on days 3 and 6 after modeling. In carrageenan-induced thrombosis experiment, 40 ICR mice were allocated to control, model, graphene-FIR, carbon fiber-FIR, and prazosin groups to test the effect of a 7-day FIR intervention on thrombosis induced by intraperitoneal carrageenan injection (2.5 mg/kg) by measuring thrombus length, blood perfusion, and serum biomarkers (6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, t-PA, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF‑α) 24 h after the injection.
RESULTS:
The mice in graphene-FIR group showed significantly elevated rectal temperature in cold exposure tests. In mice with liquid nitrogen-induced frostbite, graphene-FIR treatment significantly reduced the wound scores and reduced frostbite area, producing better effects than carbon fiber. In mice with carrageenan-induced thrombosis, graphene-FIR treatment significantly decreased tail thrombosis length and thrombosis area, increased blood perfusion, lowered serum levels of TXB2, TNF-α and IL-6, and increased the levels of 6-keto-PGF1α and t-PA.
CONCLUSIONS
Graphene heating film FIR therapy can alleviate frostbite injury in mice by improving microcirculation, suppressing thrombosis and inflammatory responses, and reducing coagulation dysfunction.
Animals
;
Frostbite/therapy*
;
Graphite
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Mice
;
Infrared Rays
;
Mice, Inbred ICR
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Hyperthermia, Induced/methods*
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Male
;
Microcirculation
5.Cannabidiol regulates circadian rhythm to improve sleep disorders following general anesthesia in rats.
Xinshun WU ; Jingcao LI ; Ying LIU ; Renhong QIU ; Henglin WANG ; Rui XYE ; Yang ZHANG ; Shuo LI ; Qiongyin FAN ; Huajin DONG ; Youzhi ZHANG ; Jiangbei CAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):744-750
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the regulatory effect of cannabidiol (CBD) on circadian rhythm sleep disorders following general anesthesia and explore its potential mechanism in a rat model of propofol-induced rhythm sleep disorder.
METHODS:
An electrode was embedded in the skull for cortical EEG recording in 24 male SD rats, which were randomized into control, propofol, CBD treatment, and diazepam treatment groups (n=6). Eight days later, a single dose of propofol (10 mg/kg) was injected via the tail vein with anesthesia maintenance for 3 h in the latter 3 groups, and daily treatment with saline, CBD or diazepam was administered via gavage; the control rats received only saline injection. A wireless system was used for collecting EEG, EMG, and body temperature data within 72 h after propofol injection. After data collection, blood samples and hypothalamic tissue samples were collected for determining serum levels of oxidative stress markers and hypothalamic expressions of the key clock proteins.
RESULTS:
Compared with the control rats, the rats with CBD treatment showed significantly increased sleep time at night (20:00-6:00), especially during the time period of 4:00-6:00 am. Compared with the rats in propofol group, which had prolonged SWS time and increased sleep episodes during 18:00-24:00 and sleep-wake transitions, the CBD-treated rats exhibited a significant reduction of SWS time and fewer SWS-to-active-awake transitions with increased SWS aspects and sleep-wake transitions at night (24:00-08:00). Diazepam treatment produced similar effect to CBD but with a weaker effect on sleep-wake transitions. Propofol caused significant changes in protein expressions and redox state, which were effectively reversed by CBD treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
CBD can improve sleep structure and circadian rhythm in rats with propofol-induced sleep disorder possibly by regulating hypothalamic expressions of the key circadian clock proteins, suggesting a new treatment option for perioperative sleep disorders.
Animals
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Male
;
Cannabidiol/therapeutic use*
;
Rats
;
Circadian Rhythm/drug effects*
;
Propofol/adverse effects*
;
Anesthesia, General/adverse effects*
;
Sleep Wake Disorders/chemically induced*
;
Hypothalamus/metabolism*
;
Electroencephalography
7.Expression and clinical significance of stimulator of interferon genes,C-C motif chemokine ligand 5,interferon regulatory factor 3 and programmed death ligand-1 in squamous cell lung cancer
Zhongfu CAI ; Jishui HUANG ; Wencong HONG ; Xiaobin LI ; Yanling HUANG ; Wenliang DAI ; Youzhi HONG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(10):57-62
Objective To analyze the expression and clinical significance of stimulator of interfer-on genes(STING),C-C motif chemokine ligand 5(CCL5),interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)and programmed death ligand-1(PDL1)in squamous cell lung cancer.Methods A total of 56 pa-tients with squamous cell lung cancer were enrolled.Resected tumor tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues(located more than 5 cm from the tumor margin)were collected.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of STING,CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1.The correlations of STING,CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1 with clinical data were analyzed.The relationship between the expression of STING,CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1 in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues and prognosis was also evalua-ted.The prognostic factors of patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed.Results The positive rate of STING expression in lung squamous cell carcinoma tissues was significantly lower than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues,whereas the positive rates of CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1 were significantly higher(P<0.05).The expression levels of STING,CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1 were associated with tumor diameter,TNM stage,lymph node metastasis and differentiation degree(P<0.05).The 3-year survival rate of STING positive expression patients was significantly higher than that of STING negative expression patients(P<0.05).The 3-year survival rate of CCL5 positive,IRF3 positive and PDL1 positive expression patients was significantly lower than that of CCL5 negative,IRF3 negative and PDL1 negative expression patients(P<0.05).STING,CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1 were identified as prognostic factors for patients with squamous cell lung cancer(P<0.05).Conclusion In squamous cell lung cancer tissues,STING is expressed at low levels,while CCL5,IRF3 and PDL1 are ex-pressed at high levels.These findings have significant clinical value in assessing the prognosis of pa-tients with squamous cell lung cancer.
8.Dynamic detection of NE and 5-HT levels in the serum of acute reserpine-induced depression-like mice by UPLC-MS coupling
Fuyao LUO ; Zijia JIN ; Chunxue GAO ; Rui XU ; Youzhi ZHANG ; Changwei LI ; Shuaiming ZHU
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(9):681-686
Objective To develop an ultra high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS)method for quantifying serum levels of norepinephrine(NE)and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and to monitor the dynamic changes in these neurotransmitters during the process of establishing a model of acute reserpine-induced depression-like mice.Methods By evaluating matrix effect,recovery,precision,and accuracy efficiency,an UPLC-MS method for determining the concentrations of NE and 5-HT in serum was established.Forty-eight C57 mice were randomly divided into normal control and model groups,which were intraperitoneally injected with physiological saline(10 mL/kg)and reserpine(2.5 mg/kg),respectively.At various time points after intraperitoneal injection,the degree of ptosis and decreases in body temperature of the mice were observed before orbital blood was sample for the determination of NE and 5-HT levels.Results The concentrations of NE and 5-HT showed good linearity within the range of 15.63 to 2000.00 ng/mL,with R2 values greater than 0.999.The results of methodological validation met the requirements for the analysis of biological samples,with a lower limit of quantification of 15.63 ng/mg.After intraperitoneal injection of reserpine,the model mice exhibited varying body temperature decreases and ptosis.At 1 and 2 h post-administration,the depression-like symptoms in the model group were significantly different from those of the normal control group(P<0.01).The body temperature of mice in the model group was significantly lower than that of mice in the normal control group(P<0.01),while the score of the eyelid ptosis was significantly higher(P<0.001).The levels of NE and 5-HT in the serum of model mice were also significantly depleted,and were significantly different from those of the normal control group at 0.5,1 and 2 h(P<0.05).Conclusion The study process of established a rapid and accurate method for dynamically observing the changes in NE and 5-HT levels during the process of establishing a model of acute reserpine-induced depression-like mice,which might contribute to the study of the pathogenesis of depression and the development of new antidepressant drugs.
9.Effects of total flavonoid extracted from Xiaobuxin-Tang on local field potentials of the frontal cortexin mice
Jin YANG ; Jincao LI ; Shuzhuo ZHANG ; Yankai WANG ; Renhong QIU ; Yongfang GU ; Rui XUE ; Shuo LI ; Yang ZHANG ; Qiongyin FAN ; Youzhi ZHANG ; Shuang LIU
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(10):747-753
Objective To investigate the pharmacological mechanism through which total flavonoids extracted from Xiaobuxin-Tang(XBXT-2)affects neural network activities in the frontal cortex by focusing on the effects of XBXT-2 on the cortical field potentials in the frontal association cortex(FrA)in mice.Methods Cortical electrodes were implanted into the skull of C57BL/6J mice targeting the FrA.After a 7-day recovery period,the mice were administered XBXT-2 intragastrically at a dose of 100 mg/kg,and 1 hour later,local field potential(LFP)in the FrA were recorded for 30 minutes.Spectral analysis of the data was performed using Neuro Explorer software.Changes in the power spectral density of α,β,θ,γ,and δ frequency bands before and after drug administration were analyzed using GraphPad Prism 10.3.Phase-amplitude coupling of θ and γ oscillations was analyzed using Matlab 2021 software.Results It was found that the oral administration of XBXT-2 significantly suppressed high-frequency γ oscillations while simultaneously enhancing θ,β,α,and δ oscillations in FrA of mice compared to the control.Furthermore,XBXT-2 treatment markedly strengthened the phase-amplitude coupling between θ and γ oscillations.Conclusion XBXT-2 possibly affects emotional and cognitive functions by modulating neural network activity in FrA and enhancing θ-γ phase-amplitude coupling in mice.
10.Research on Material Basis of Homologous and Heterogeneous Effect of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus and Aurantii Fructus Based on Total Statistical Moment Analysis and Molecular Connectivity Index
Xiao YUAN ; Yuefeng WU ; Shixiong LI ; Youzhi LIU ; Zhiqin YU ; Fuyuan HE ; Jin ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(3):161-168
ObjectiveTo investigate the material basis of homologous and heterogeneous effect of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus(AFI) and Aurantii Fructus(AF) based on the total statistical moment analysis and molecular connectivity index(MCI). MethodRelevant literature at home and abroad and Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP) were consulted to establish the chemical composition database of AFI and AF, and set up their fingerprints by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC), and the total statistical moments and similarity parameters of the fingerprint were calculated. According to MCI, all components of AFI and AF were divided into different component groups, the average values of 0-8th order(0χ-8χ) MCI of the common component groups of AFI and AF were calculated. ResultThe values of total zero-order moment(AUCT) of AFI and AF were (10.57±2.45)×106, (5.09±0.89)×106 μV·s, the values of total first-order moment(MCRTT) were (11.57±1.58), (12.10±1.29) min, the values of total second-order moments(VCRTT) were(24.49±2.30), (26.49±2.54) min2, respectively. It showed that qualitative and quantitative parameters of AFI and AF were significantly different. The components with high similarity such as neohesperidin, hesperidin and narirutin were screened as the common potential pharmacodynamic components of AFI and AF. The non-common components of AFI, such as alysifolinone and imperatorin, and the non-common components of AF, such as neoeriocitrin and isosakuranin, with high similarity were screened out as potential heterogeneous components of AFI and AF. The composition groups of AFI and AF were classified into six categories, and the similarities between the composition groups of AFI and AF and the total constituents were 0.872-0.979 and 0.918-0.997, the average values of 0χ-8χ MCI of alkaloids in AFI and AF were 3.65 and 3.14, the average values of 0χ-8χ MCI of flavonoids were 8.47 and 8.47, the average values of 0χ-8χ MCI of volatile oils were 2.71 and 3.48, respectively. It showed that there were some differences in MCI of chemical constituents(groups) between AFI and AF. ConclusionThe chemical constituents(groups) of AFI and AF not only differ in content and species, but also in structural characteristics and structure-activity relationship, which can provide a basis for further explaining the scientific connotation of homologous and heterogeneous effect of AFI and AF.

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