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
;
Hyperthermia, Induced/methods*
;
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.Impact of Hypoxia Microenvironment on Breast Cancer and Intervention Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xinnan WANG ; Wenxiu HU ; Shuo SUN ; Wenjie ZHANG ; Yi ZHAO ; Youzhi SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(12):232-241
The tumor microenvironment includes blood vessels, lymph, nerves, non-malignant cells, and their metabolites at and near the tumor lesion site, which interact with cancer cells and promote cancer progression. Rapid proliferation of cancer cells increases oxygen consumption, or abnormalities in the structure and function of blood vessels in solid tumors lead to a decrease in oxygen supply, forming a hypoxia microenvironment. The existence of a hypoxia microenvironment is a typical pathophysiological feature of locally advanced solid tumors, widely present in various types of human malignant tumors. Hypoxia microenvironment is a sign of tumor microenvironment and an important and complex system in the breast tumor microenvironment. Its formation and development are closely related to the growth of breast cancer, occupying an important position in the research and treatment of breast cancer. With its advantages of multiple pathways and multiple targets, the effective monomer and compound of traditional Chinese medicine can better regulate the hypoxia microenvironment of breast cancer, inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer cells in the hypoxia environment, induce apoptosis, reverse their drug resistance, intervene in the metabolic reprogramming of breast cancer cells in the hypoxia environment, and inhibit their angiogenesis, thereby improving the quality of life of patients to a certain extent and prolonging the survival cycle of patients. This paper first summarized and discussed the effects of hypoxia microenvironment on proliferation, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, immune function, metabolic reprogramming, non-coding RNA, iron death, and autophagy of breast cancer cells, which affected the occurrence and development of breast cancer, and it elaborated the mechanism behind it. Then, the paper elucidated the regulatory effect and mechanism of targeting the hypoxia microenvironment based on the two modes of effective monomer and compound of traditional Chinese medicine, so as to analyze and extract the deficiencies and directions of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating the hypoxia microenvironment and provide a theoretical reference for the effective treatment of breast cancer.
8.Original Article Impact of Air Pollutants on Lung Function and Inflammatory Response in Asthma in Shanghai
Wang GUIFANG ; Zhang YOUZHI ; Yang HAIYAN ; Yang YI ; Dong LIANG ; Zhang PENG ; Liu JIE ; Chen XIAODONG ; Gong YI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(8):811-822
Objective Air pollution is a leading public health issue.This study investigated the effect of air quality and pollutants on pulmonary function and inflammation in patients with asthma in Shanghai. Methods The study monitored 27 asthma outpatients for a year,collecting data on weather,patient self-management[daily asthma diary,peak expiratory flow(PEF)monitoring,medication usage],spirometry and serum markers.To explore the potential mechanisms of any effects,asthmatic mice induced by ovalbumin(OVA)were exposed to PM2.5. Results Statistical and correlational analyses revealed that air pollutants have both acute and chronic effects on asthma.Acute exposure showed a correlation between PEF and levels of ozone(O3)and nitrogen dioxide(NO2).Chronic exposure indicated that interleukin-5(IL-5)and interleukin-13(IL-13)levels correlated with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations.In asthmatic mouse models,exposure to PM2.5 increased cytokine levels and worsened lung function.Additionally,PM2.5 exposure inhibited cell proliferation by blocking the NF-κB and ERK phosphorylation pathways. Conclusion Ambient air pollutants exacerbate asthma by worsening lung function and enhancing Th2-mediated inflammation.Specifically,PM2.5 significantly contributes to these adverse effects.Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which PM2.5 impacts asthma.
9.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.
10.Analysis of reliability and validity of different methods for quantifying the proportion of shoulder glenoid defect
Huachen LIU ; Songyan LI ; Yiqi YANG ; Youzhi CAI ; Bin WANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2024;44(21):1416-1423
Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of different quantitative methods based on CT images to evaluate the proportion of shoulder glenoid defect.Methods:Four shoulder joint specimens with no trauma, osteoarthritis or deformity were used, including 2 females and 2 males; the average age of death was 58±10 years old; all the specimens were prepared with a standard method with no bone defect occurring before preparation. A glenoid bone defect model was established with each specimen being cut into four defect gradient defects of approximately 8%, 16%, 24%, and 32% in proportion in sequence. A total of 16 samples were obtained. Physical photography and CT image reconstruction were performed on the 16 samples respectively. A total of 8 quantitative methods were used to quantify bone defects, which were surface area method, superimposed circle method, Barchilon method, Pico method, Shaha method, Griffith method, Sugaya method, and Giles method. Intraclass correlation (ICC) using a consistency model was used to evaluate reliability. Paired t-test was used to evaluate validity, with the physical measurement of the specimens using the surface area method as the reference standard. Result:The consistency ICC of each quantitative method was greater than 0.9, and all had high reliability. Combining the results of all bone defect gradients and imaging images, the surface area method had the best validity, which was 0.83%±0.75%; the Barchilon method came second, which was 0.91%±0.93%; the superimposed circle method and the Pico method had good validity, which were 0.99%±0.87% and 1.27%±1.09%, respectively; the Shaha method, the Griffith method, and the Sugaya method had poor validity, which were 6.11%±1.56%, 5.06%±1.35%, and 6.02%±1.61%, respectively; the Giles method had the worst validity, which was 8.40%±3.08%. Conclusion:In clinical practice, surface area method and superimposed circle method are the most reliable to quantify the proportion of bone defect if they can be performed. Otherwise, linear measurement of Barchilon method is the favored method while PICO method is the favored method for angle measurement.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail