1.Preparation of the Fusion Protein Between Diphtheria Toxin Mutants and the Receptor Binding Domain of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E(EHc)Molecules and the Immunological Effect Evaluation
Qiu-Ju JIA ; Yao-Hui ZHAO ; Xiao-Yu LIU ; Shuo YU ; Jian-Sheng LU ; Yun-Zhou YU ; Ming LIAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1421-1431
CRM 197(cross-reacting material 197),a naturally occurring mutant of diphtheria toxin,is a safe and effective vaccine vector and extensively used on developing conjugate or combined vaccines.The mutant loses its enzymatic activity,but fully retains its receptor-binding ability and immunogenicity.In current work,the diphtheria toxin mutant CRM 197 and its fusion proteins with the receptor-binding do-main of botulinum neurotoxin serotype E(EHc)were developed using genetic engineering technology.These recombinant proteins were confirmed by Western blotting and SDS-PAGE.BALB/c mice were im-munized with the CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197 fusion proteins,and their immunogenicity was evalua-ted.These two fusion protein molecules,CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197,as subunit vaccines,elicited a robust humoral immune response targeting both CRM197 and EHc antigens in the immunized mice.Compared to the mixture of CRM197 and EHc,the mice vaccinated with the fusion proteins(CRM197-EHc and EHc-CRM197)induced higher levels of anti-CRM197 antibodies,and the mice vaccinated with EHc-CRM197 also generated strongest anti-EHc antibodies.Consequently,as a carrier molecule in the fusion protein vaccine,EHc enhances the immunogenicity of CRM197 molecules.Likewise,CRM197 boosts the immunogenicity of EHc in the EHc-CRM197 fusion protein.
2.Deep learning-based image segmentation of anterior segment UBM images for primary angle-closure glaucoma
Xinqi YU ; Zhiyuan ZHAO ; Qinghao MIAO ; You ZHOU ; Xiaochun WANG ; Song LIN ; Sheng ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2025;43(11):1017-1023
Objective:To develop a deep learning-based segmentation model for anterior segment ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) images to automatically segment the anterior segment tissues of patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG).Methods:A single-center retrospective case series was conducted.A small-scale dataset comprised 468 UBM images of the anterior chamber angle closure from 156 patients with PACG who underwent the UBM examination at Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital between July 12, 2022, and February 20, 2023.The UBM images were randomly split into a training dataset of 228 images and a testing dataset of 152 images using a random seed method in a ratio of 6∶4.The models were trained using the PSPNet model with MobileNet V2 and ResNet50 as backbones, the DeepLab v3+ model with MobileNet V2 and Xception as backbones, and the SegFormer model with MiT-B0 and MiT-B2 as backbones.The testing dataset was used for result prediction and to achieve segmentation of four regions: the cornea and sclera, iris, ciliary body, and anterior lens surface.To evaluate the performance of the models in segmenting the anterior segment structures, multiple metrics were assessed, including the mean intersection over union (mIoU), Dice coefficient, precision, recall, false negative rate, and specificity.A comparative analysis of the test results across the different models was subsequently performed.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital (No.2023KY-05).Results:The two models with the best segmentation performance were PSPNet and DeepLab v3+ .The PSPNet model with ResNet50 as the backbone achieved the mIoU of 85.11%, Dice coefficient of 91.38%, precision of 91.83%, recall of 90.94%, false negative rate of 9.06%, and specificity of 98.89%.The DeepLab v3+ model with MobileNet V2 as the backbone achieved an mIoU of 85.84%, Dice coefficient of 92.01%, precision of 92.67%, recall of 91.36%, false negative rate of 8.64%, and specificity of 98.90%.Among the five key metrics, mIoU, Dice coefficient, recall, false negative rate, and specificity, DeepLab v3+ exhibited the best segmentation performance.In addition, the DeepLab v3+ model with Xception as the backbone had the highest precision among all models, reaching 92.77%.Conclusions:The deep learning-based DeepLab v3+ model achieves precise segmentation of anterior segment tissue structures in PACG anterior segment UBM image segmentation, providing auxiliary support for clinical diagnosis.
3.Multi-center Study on Specific IgE Antibodies to Alternaria Alternata and Aspergillus Fumigatus in Sera of Clinical Allergy Patients in Selected Provinces in China
Chao XU ; Xingyuan ZHU ; Caizhi HUANG ; Hong ZHU ; Shu WANG ; Hongxia YUAN ; Pengfei ZHAO ; Ji YAN ; Jianhua MA ; Chunlei KUANG ; Yanli XIE ; Rongcai WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Sheng LIANG ; Qunying WANG ; Yingsha DUAN ; Yiwu ZHENG
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2025;40(3):13-17
Objective To investigate the prevalence of specific IgE antibodies against Alternaria alternata and Aspergillus fumigatus in serum samples from clinical allergy patients across selected provinces in China.Methods Data on specific IgE antibodies for Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.were collected from 20 hospital laboratories in 17 cities spanning 11 provinces.The study analyzed the levels of specific IgE and their variations across different provinces and seasons.Results A total of 27 471 cases of Alternaria A.and 32 843 cases of Aspergillus F.specific IgE data were included.The national average positive rate of Alternaria A.IgE was 10.40%,with the highest rate of 22.68%in Jiangsu and the lowest rate of 2.06%in Guangxi.For Aspergillus F.specific IgE,the average positive rate was 4.24%,with Hubei province having the highest rate(7.25%)and Hunan province the lowest(1.23%).The difference in IgE levels for both Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.among provinces were statistically significant(H=9 955,16 993,all P<0.0001).Among patients,5.85%had Alternaria A.specific IgE levels at grade 3 or above,while only 0.57%had Aspergillus F.specific IgE levels at this level.When examining seasonal variations using data from Liaoning,Hunan and Anhui provinces,significant seasonal changes were observed for both Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.IgE antibodies(HAlternaria A=347.6,338.0,401.3,HAspergillus F=196.6,133.7,231.7,all P<0.0001).Conclusion The sensitization to Alternaria A.and Aspergillus F.exhibits distinct geographical characteristics and vary significantly with seasons.Given the relatively high IgE levels associated with Alternaria A.,it should be given adequate clinical attention.
4.Phylogenetic analysis of influenza B in the Yellow River Delta region,China,in 2021-2024
Li-fang ZHANG ; Na-na ZHAO ; Xiu-sheng YIN ; Yu-jie HE ; Yuan LI ; Ping LI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):249-254,262
This study analyzed the variations and evolution characteristics of influenza B Victoria(BV)virus in the Yellow River Delta region of China during 2021-2024.Throat swabs were collected from people with influenza-like illness(ILI)from 2021 to 2024 in Binzhou and Dongying,China.Viral isolation was performed,and 22 representative influenza BV isolates were selected for whole genome sequencing.Phylogenetic analysis of whole-genome sequences was performed in MegAlign and MEGA software.A total of 27 674 samples were obtained,and the overall positivity rate of influenza virus(A/H3N2,A/H1N1,BV)was 11.1%.Our surveillance data indicated that influenza B virus was detected in 2 years,which showed positivity rates of 28.2%and 1.7%,respectively.Statistically significant differences in the positivity rates of influenza BV viruses were observed(x2=3 641.791,P<0.001).The median pairwise sequence identities ranged from 98.7%to 99.3%for eight segments of 22 viral sequences.The isolates for the monitoring years 2021-2024 were located in clades V1A.3a.1 and V1A.3a.2.Intra-lineage reassortments were discovered in B/shandongbincheng17/2022.The NA gene of one isolate exhibited an increase in the 488NLTV N-glycoproteome site.The K338R mutation occurred in the PA gene.Three locus deletion or insertion mutations occurred in the MP gene.The BV influenza epidemic was prevalent every other year;the intensity ranged from strong to weak;and the duration ranged from long to short in the Yellow River Delta region of China during 2021-2022.Influ-enza B virus formed intra-lineage reassortments,and showed significant mutations in NA gene,PA gene,and MP gene.
5.Association between prognostic nutritional index and coronary heart disease in US adult population—A cross-sectional analysis based on NHANES data from 2017 to 2020
Zhong-shuai ZHAO ; Yu-feng XUE ; Chuan-bin ZHAO ; Meng-dong HUANG ; Sheng-yun SHANG
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;34(4):497-503
Objective:To explore the relationship between the prognostic nutritional index(PNI)and the prevalence of coronary heart disease(CHD)in adults.Methods:A cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(NHANES)database.A total of 12,141 adult participants were initially included and divided into CHD group and control group according to the disease status questionnaire.PNI was calculated using serum albumin level and lymphocyte count.Multivariable logistic regression was applied to explore the association between PNI and the prevalence of CHD in adults.Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess whether this association remained consistent across different populations.A restricted cubic spline model was con-structed to clarify the dose-response relationship between PNI and CHD prevalence in adults.Results:Among the 3,894 adult participants,200(5.14%)had CHD.The PNI level in CHD patients was significantly lower than that of the control group[(49.20±8.59)vs.(51.57±4.80),P<0.001].Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that,after adjustment for sex,age,race,marital status,body mass index(BMI),hypertension,diabetes and family history of cardiovascular disease,an increase in PNI was still independently associated with a lower prev-alence of CHD(odds ratio[OR]=0.92,95%CI 0.89~0.94,P<0.001).The dose-response relationship indica-ted a negative linear correlation between PNI and CHD prevalence(P<0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that the association between PNI and CHD differed significantly across BMI,hypertension and diabetes subgroups(P for in-teraction<0.05 or<0.01).Conclusion:Increasing PNI was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of CHD in adults,and this association was more pronounced in specific high-risk populations,such as those with obe-sity,hypertension,and diabetes.Our findings suggest that maintaining good nutritional status is of great significance in reducing the risk of CHD.
6.Efficacy and safety of a facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention with half-dose recombinant staphylokinase in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction
Tian-yu WU ; Wen-hao ZHANG ; Peng-sheng CHEN ; Chen LI ; Tian WU ; Zhan LÜ ; Tong WANG ; Kun LIU ; Zhi-wen TAO ; Xiao-xuan GONG ; Liang YUAN ; Yong LI ; Bo CHEN ; Xin CHEN ; Zeng-guang CHEN ; Nai-quan YANG ; Yuan-yuan SANG ; Xiao-yan WANG ; Bai-hong LI ; Li ZHU ; Guo-yu WANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Chuan LU ; Jun JIANG ; Rui-na HAO ; Chun-jian LI
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(8):431-438
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of facilitated percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)with half-dose recombinant staphylokinase(r-SAK)in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)who are expected to undergo PCI within 120 minutes.Methods From October 2021 to August 2022,a total of 200 STEMI patients in eight centers were included and randomly assigned in a 1﹕1 ratio to either r-SAK group or control group.Patients received loading doses of aspirin and ticagrelor and intravenous heparin and were randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of either 5 mg r-SAK or normal saline prior to PCI.The outcomes were set as ST-segment resolution(STR)at 60-90 minutes after PCI,the proportion and transition of pathological Q waves on the 5th day after PCI,and the proportion of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T(hs-cTnT)peaking within 12 hours of onset.The safety outcome was major bleeding events defined as Bleeding Academic Research Consortium(BARC)≥type 3 bleeding during hospitalization.Results Compared with the control group,the r-SAK group had a higher proportion of STR≥70%within 60-90 minutes after PCI(58.3%vs.40.3%,P=0.009);a lower proportion of pathological Q waves(59.1%vs.74.1%,P=0.040);a lower rate of Q wave progression(14.8%vs.43.2%,P<0.001);a higher rate of Q wave disappearance(12.5%vs.3.7%,P=0.027);and a higher proportion of hs-cTnT peaking within 12 hours of symptom onset[31/40(77.5%)vs.17/33(51.5%),P=0.027].Regarding the safety outcome,no significant difference in BARC≥type 3 bleeding was found between the two groups during hospitalization(P>0.05).Conclusions For STEMI patients who were expected to undergo primary PCI within 120 minutes of symptom onset,the facilitated PCI with half-dose r-SAK significantly increased the proportion of STR≥70%at 60-90 minutes after PCI,reduced the formation of pathological Q waves,and shortened the time to peak hs-cTnT,without increasing the risk of bleeding,which should be an alternative reperfusion strategy worthy of further study.
7.Prefabricated Nano Carbon-Platinum Composite Matrix for Surface-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Small Molecular Components in Plant Tissues
Fan YANG ; Yu-Lin SHEN ; Can GONG ; Zhao-Xin LIU ; Qiang-Sheng GUO ; Xu XU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(2):204-213,中插1-中插2
Compared with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS)using organic small molecule matrix,surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(SALDI-MS)based on nanomaterial matrix is more effective in analysis of small molecule compounds.Ion sputtering instruments have obvious advantages for applying inorganic nanomatrix.In this work,the carbon-platinum material was sputtered onto a glass cover slip using an ion sputtering instrument to form a carbon-platinum(C-Pt)composite nanomatrix,and an SALDI-MS analytical method was thus established based on the prefabricated C-Pt composite matrix.The experimental results showed that the C-Pt composite nanomatrix could significantly improve the signal intensity and signal-to-noise ratio of the mass spectrum peaks of the components to be measured.The ratio of carbon to platinum,the duration of ion sputtering,and the laser power in mass spectrometer were investigated to select the optimal C-Pt matrix prefabricated conditions and SALDI-MS experimental conditions.Using the prefabricated C-Pt composite matrix,the melittriose and daidzein sample solution were applied as sample to examine repeatability.The results showed that the intra-point repeatability(RSD)was≤4.8%and the inter-point repeatability(RSD)was≤6.4%.The quercetin and melitriose were applied as model samples,and a linearity between MS peak intensity and respective concentration in the range of 0.05-1.0 mg/mL was found,with linear correlation coefficients(R2)greater than 0.994,showing good potential for quantitative and imaging analysis.Then,the prefabricated C-Pt composite matrix was applied to SALDI-MS analysis of the 50%ethanol extract of soybean,and 15 kinds of compounds including oligosaccharides and triglycerides were identified from the mass spectra.Furthermore,the C-Pt matrix was employed in SALDI-MS imaging for the compositions in corn tissue section,and the results showed that diglycerides and triglycerides were mainly distributed in the corn embryo and around the embryo,and the distribution of oligosaccharides was relatively even.
8.Synthesis of A New Naphthalenesulfonamide-based"Turn-on"Fluorescent Probe for Rapid Detection of Glyphosate
Rong-Rong ZHAO ; Hong-Lin LIU ; Ying-Ping HUANG ; Cui-Wen DENG ; Song-Yan LI ; Shui-Lian YU ; Mao-Sheng TAO ; Yi-Qun TIAN ; Xi YUAN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(6):903-913
Widespread utilization of glyphosate has led to environmental residues,posing potential threats to ecological systems and human health.Traditional methods for detection of glyphosate are limited by specialized equipment and operational techniques,resulting in inefficient responses.Therefore,it is urgent to develop a convenient,sensitive and accurate detection method for detection of glyphosate.Herein,a new naphthalenesulfonamide-based"Turn-on"fluorescent probe was synthesized using 2-chloroaniline and dansyl chloride as raw materials through a one-step process,which showed a good linear relationship between the glyphosate concentration in concentration range of 0.003-70 μmol/L and the fluorescence intensity(R2=0.995),with a detection limit of 2.73 nmol/L(S/N=3).Analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry(HRMS)were used to investigate the interaction mechanism between the fluorescent probe and glyphosate.The results indicated that a nucleophilic substitution reaction occurred between the probe and the secondary amine(—NH—)of glyphosate,inducing a photoinduced electron transfer(PET)effect which enhanced the fluorescence intensity by 11.2 times.The probe showed good anti-interference ability towards coexisting metal ions,anions and pesticides in water.When applied to determination of glyphosate in the samples such as tap water,river water(Xiangxi River Reservoir),soil,soybeans,and corn,the spiking recoveries ranged from 94.7%to 109.9%,demonstrating the high accuracy and broad applicability of this detection method.A portable test strip based on this fluorescent probe was developed for rapid semi-quantitative analysis of glyphosate.The developed method was rapid,sensitive,and portable,providing theoretical and technical support for on-site measurement of environmental contaminants.
9.Clinical characteristics of juvenile dermatomyositis in anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 antibody-positive patients and risk factors for severity: a national multicenter retrospective study
Huiyuan YANG ; Wanzhen GUAN ; Ling2 YANG ; Haimei LIU ; Xiaoqing3 LI ; Haiguo YU ; Meiping LU ; Jun YANG ; Xiaohui LIU ; Hongxia ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Jihong XIAO ; Xiaozhong LI ; Guomin LI ; Hong CHANG ; Sheng HAO ; Yue DU ; Daliang XU ; Ling WU ; Wenjie ZHENG ; Li LIU ; Xinhui JIANG ; Shaohui ZHU ; Dongmei ZHAO ; Xuemei TANG ; Li SUN
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(12):1299-1305
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and independent risk factors of severe disease in patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 219 anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM patients admitted to 23 children′s hospitals across China from July 2011 to July 2023. Patients were classified into severe and non-severe groups based on classification criteria for severe dermatomyositis. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 groups using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to calculate optimal cut-off values. Results:Among the 219 patients, 108 were male and 111 were female, with an age at onset of 6.3 (3.5, 9.4) years. The severe group comprised 69 patients, and the non-severe group 150 patients. The severe group had significantly higher rates of fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, as well as elevated levels of ferritin-to-albumin ratio (FAR), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified anti-Ro52 antibody positivity ( OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.37-128.29) and elevated FAR ( OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09-2.31) as independent risk factors for severe anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM (both P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a FAR cutoff value of 6.82 predicted severe disease with an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001), sensitivity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.70. All patients received glucocorticoid therapy, and the severe group received higher proportions of steroid pulse therapy, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, biologics, and adjuvant treatments compared to the non-severe group (all P<0.05). In terms of outcomes, 2 patients (2.9%) in the severe group died (due to neurological involvement and intestinal perforation, respectively), while the remaining patients achieved complete clinical response or remission. All patients in the non-severe group achieved remission. Conclusions:The primary clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM included fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, and elevated levels of CK, AST, LDH, and FAR. Furthermore, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity and a FAR>6.82 were identified as independent risk factors.
10.Feasibility and exploration of optimal communication models for robot-assisted urological telesurgery: a multicenter, single-arm, retrospective study
Ye WANG ; Taoping SHI ; Sheng TAI ; Sunyi YE ; Yubai ZHANG ; Bingzhang QIAO ; Chenfeng WANG ; Gen CHENG ; Zhi LI ; Qing AI ; Qingbo HUANG ; Baojun WANG ; Qing YUAN ; Junnan XU ; Guojun LIU ; Yu CHEN ; Wuyi ZHAO ; Jianle MAO ; Shiwei LI ; Shuo WANG ; Dan XIA ; Wanhai XU ; Chaozhao LIANG ; Hongzhao LI ; Xin MA ; Xu ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Urology 2025;46(5):331-336
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of a domestically developed robotic surgical system based on fiber-optic dedicated line communication in cross-regional urological telesurgery.Methods:This was multicenter,single-arm,retrospective case series study. The data of patients who underwent urological telesurgeries using the telesurgical system between January 2023 and December 2024 were analyzed. The cohort included 59 patients from seven hospitals across China. Among the patients,47 were male(79.7%)and 12 were female(20.3%),with a median age of 63.0(56.0,68.0)years and a body mass index of(24.7 ± 3.0)kg/m 2. Surgical procedures included 32 radical prostatectomies,24 partial nephrectomies,one radical nephrectomy,one adrenalectomy,and one ureteral reconstruction. The perioperative indicators,pathological results and postoperative complications were analyzed. The network monitoring data were collected,and the perioperative data of patients,remote system monitoring data and costs were compared between the two communication modes of optical transport network(OTN)and cloud-connect network(CCN). Results:All 59 remote surgeries were successfully completed,with a mean operative time of(138.0 ± 54.0)minutes,median intraoperative blood loss of 50.0(30.0,100.0)ml and a postoperative hospital stay of 5.0(4.0,6.0)days. No cases required reoperation,Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 complications,or readmission. The geographical distance between the primary and remote surgical sites ranged from 450 to 2 800 km. Network monitoring revealed increased bidirectional latency with distance increasing:the shortest latency time(Hefei-Hangzhou,450 km)was(16.59 ± 0.80)ms,while the longest(Harbin-Hangzhou,2 200 km)latency time was(53.31 ± 0.31)ms. Average frame loss per procedure was 0?1.27 frames. The results of subgroup analysis comparing OTN and CCN communication modes showed no significant differences in operative time[(130.7 ± 70.5)minutes vs.(142.1 ± 42.9)minutes, P = 0.442],postoperative hospitalization[6.0(4.0,8.0)d vs. 5.0(4.0,6.0)d, P = 0.581],or readmission rates(0 vs. 0). However,CCN demonstrated significant cost advantages with 500 RMB per operation vs. 3 000 RMB per operation for OTN. Conclusions:Urological telesurgery using fiber-optic communication is feasible. The CCN mode,with its cost-effectiveness,excellent usability,and multi-point interconnection flexibility,is currently the preferred communication model for telesurgical applications.

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