1.Association between intergenerational parent-child separation and allergic diseases among rural preschool children
ZHU Min, MA Kai, ZHANG Anhui, YU Min, WANG Yufen, SUN Ying
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1333-1336
Objective:
To investigate the impact of intergenerational parent-child separation (PCS) on allergic diseases among rural preschool children, providing theoretical guidance for developing targeted public health interventions.
Methods:
From March to June 2024, 10 kindergartens were selected from Nanling, Wuhu City, Anhui Province. A total of 2 279 children aged 3-6 years and their parents/primary caregivers participated in the survey by a combination of convenience sampling and cluster sampling method. Children s fathers and mothers reported the experiences of PCS during their childhood. The children s PCS experiences and allergies were reported by their primary caregivers. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was used to supplement the allergies (allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Chi square tests were used to compare differences between children in different PCS groups. Logistic regression models assessed the association between PCS and the risk of allergic diseases in preschool children.
Results:
Among the preschoolers enrolled, the prevalence of allergic diseases in only parent-child separation group in childhood, only child separation group, and the intergenerational continuity of PCS groups were significantly higher than those of the none separation group (38.0%, 41.8%, 48.1%,30.4%; χ 2=40.45, P < 0.01 ). After adjusting for covariates including child age, sex and body mass index, Logistic regression model revealed that compared to children in the group without PCS, those in the only parent-child separation in childhood( OR =1.43, 95% CI =1.06-1.94), only child separation ( OR =1.82, 95% CI =1.22-2.71), and intergenerational continuity of PCS ( OR =2.33, 95% CI =1.68-3.24) exhibited higher allergic disease risk (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
Intergenerational continuity of PCS is related to the increased risk of allergies in preschool children. The multigenerational accumulation of adverse effects from PCS underscores the importance of breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations.
2.3D-EDiffMG: 3D equivariant diffusion-driven molecular generation to accelerate drug discovery.
Chao XU ; Runduo LIU ; Yufen YAO ; Wanyi HUANG ; Zhe LI ; Hai-Bin LUO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101257-101257
Structural optimization of lead compounds is a crucial step in drug discovery. One optimization strategy is to modify the molecular structure of a scaffold to improve both its biological activities and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties. One of the deep molecular generative model approaches preserves the scaffold while generating drug-like molecules, thereby accelerating the molecular optimization process. Deep molecular diffusion generative models simulate a gradual process that creates novel, chemically feasible molecules from noise. However, the existing models lack direct interatomic constraint features and struggle with capturing long-range dependencies in macromolecules, leading to challenges in modifying the scaffold-based molecular structures, and creates limitations in the stability and diversity of the generated molecules. To address these challenges, we propose a deep molecular diffusion generative model, the three-dimensional (3D) equivariant diffusion-driven molecular generation (3D-EDiffMG) model. The dual strong and weak atomic interaction force-based long-range dependency capturing equivariant encoder (dual-SWLEE) is introduced to encode both the bonding and non-bonding information based on strong and weak atomic interactions. Additionally, a gate multilayer perceptron (gMLP) block with tiny attention is incorporated to explicitly model complex long-sequence feature interactions and long-range dependencies. The experimental results show that 3D-EDiffMG effectively generates unique, novel, stable, and diverse drug-like molecules, highlighting its potential for lead optimization and accelerating drug discovery.
3.Oroxylin A inhibits UVB-induced non-melanoma skin cancer by regulating XPA degradation.
Renjie DOU ; Jiarui SUN ; Hang YANG ; Yufen ZHENG ; Kang YUAN ; Lei QIANG ; Run MA ; Yunyao LIU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):742-753
Oroxylin A (OA), a natural compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, demonstrates preventive potential against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), the most prevalent cancer worldwide with increasing incidence. Utilizing SKH-1 hairless mice exposed to UVB, this study showed that OA delayed NMSC onset and alleviated acute skin damage. Mechanistic investigations revealed its dual action: inhibiting inflammation and enhancing nucleotide excision repair (NER) by stabilizing XPA, a crucial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) repair protein. This stabilization occurred through OA's interaction with glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94), which disrupted murine double minute 2 (MDM2)-mediated XPA ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. By maintaining XPA levels, OA expedited photoproduct clearance and diminished genomic instability, ultimately impeding NMSC development. These findings suggest OA as a promising chemopreventive agent targeting the GRP94/MDM2-XPA axis to counteract UVB-induced carcinogenesis.
Animals
;
Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects*
;
Skin Neoplasms/prevention & control*
;
Flavonoids/pharmacology*
;
Mice
;
Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Protein/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2/genetics*
;
DNA Repair/drug effects*
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Scutellaria baicalensis/chemistry*
;
Mice, Hairless
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Skin/radiation effects*
4.Scoping review of pharmaceutical service provided by community pharmacists for patients with chronic diseases in China
Yuanhui HU ; Guolin LI ; Chang FENG ; Yuyao PEI ; Yufen ZHENG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(20):2559-2564
OBJECTIVE To summarize and analyze the profile of the implementation of pharmaceutical service by community pharmacists for patients with chronic diseases in China. METHODS Literature was searched from CNKI, Wanfang database, PubMed (Medline), Embase, and Scopus to collect studies about community pharmacists providing pharmaceutical services for patients with chronic diseases. The ways and contents of the implementation of pharmaceutical services for chronic diseases by community pharmacists were summarized descriptively. RESULTS A total of 75 studies were included, involving 49 trial studies and 26 cross-sectional studies. The study sites were mainly located in the developed regions of China, and the types of disease involved in the studies were mainly diabetes mellitus (n=30) and hypertension (n=28); most studies used the following indexes to evaluate pharmaceutical services, such as changes in disease symptoms and related indicators(n=35), improvement of patient compliance(n=34), and the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (irrational drug use) (n=25). The pharmaceutical service provided by community pharmacists included medication education (84.0%), monitoring and follow-up (64.0%), and identifying and solving medication-related problems (58.7%). Thirty-eight studies mentioned that pharmaceutical services were achieved through teamwork, 16 of which mentioned healthcare alliances. A few studies investigated stratified healthcare systems (n=15) and internet-based pharmaceutical services (n=10). CONCLUSIONS In China, pharmaceutical services provided by community pharmacies for patients with chronic diseases are still mainly confined to economically developed areas, and the scope of services is limited to a few diseases and basic pharmaceutical practices. In the future, the implementation of precise pharmaceutical services for different diseases and patients’ disease status, the establishment of medical alliances, and the development of internet-based pharmaceutical services should become the focus of pharmaceutical services.
5.Oral mucosal manifestations of Sweet's syndrome:a case report and literature review
Yufen NIU ; Fang YANG ; Lei DONG ; Jicai FAN ; Chunyan ZHANG
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2024;32(8):620-624
Objective To explore the oral mucosal manifestations of Sweet's syndrome and provide a reference for its early detection and correct diagnosis.Methods The oral mucosal manifestations of a 60-year-old female patient with Sweet's syndrome are described in detail,followed by a discussion of the related literature.Results The patient had skin erythema of both lower extremities,which was accompanied by oral mucosal ulceration and pain for 3 days.The patient presented with mild cutaneous lesions and diffuse large-scale erosion in the oral mucosa with obvious pain.During the onset of the disease,the patient was accompanied by fever with a temperature of 38.5℃.After visiting the Department of Stomatology,laboratory tests showed an increase in C-reactive protein(35.2 mg/L)and an accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate(77.00 mm/h).Scattered red plaques and mild tenderness were observed in the knees and lower limbs.Histopathological examination of the skin lesions revealed scattered infiltration of immature neutrophils across the entire dermis.The patient responded well to glucocorticoid therapy.According to the clinical signs and labo-ratory examination,combined with the lesion histopathological results,a diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome was given.The patient was administered 1 mL compound Betamethasone injection only once intramuscularly.In the meantime,the pa-tient was asked to gargle with compound chlorhexidine solution and topically apply recombinant bovine basic fibroblast growth factor solution to the damaged mucosa three times a day for 1 week.After 4 days of medication,the patient's body temperature had returned to normal and the oral lesions were significantly reduced.After 2 weeks,the erythema in the leg and knee had almost all subsided,and the oral mucosal lesions had disappeared.The patient was followed up 6 months after treatment,with no recurrence of skin lesions.After 2 years of follow-up,the disease was stable with no re-currence.A review of the relevant literature shows that Sweet's syndrome is a rare inflammatory reactive dermatosis with unknown etiology,which can be divided into three clinical types:specific,tumor-related,and drug-induced.The male/female prevalence ratio is 1:4.The salient clinical manifestations are abrupt onset of painful erythematous plaques or nodules most commonly involving the extremities,often accompanied by pyrexia,elevated neutrophil count,elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate,and positive C-reactive protein.The use of glucocorticoids is the most common treatment for this disease,and most patients see a rapid improvement in skin lesions;however,some may experience infection or recurrence after withdrawal.Some patients with Sweet's syndrome are accompanied by oral lesions,but cases of oral mucosal damage have been rarely reported,and this condition is easily misdiagnosed.Conclusion Oral mucosal lesions may be extraterritorial manifestations of Sweet's syndrome,and the patient's systemic condition should be comprehensively considered.Skin biopsy should be completed as soon as possible to make a clear diagnosis,so as not to delay the disease.J Prev Treat Stomatol Dis,2024,32(8):620-624.
6.Clinical and genetic analysis of children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 18 caused by SZT2 gene variants
Xin ZHANG ; Liping ZHU ; Li YANG ; Shiyan QIU ; Na XU ; Yuzeng HAN ; Yufen LI
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(2):133-140
Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of developmental epileptic encephalopathy 18 (DEE18) caused by SZT2 gene variants. Methods:Clinical data of 2 children with SZT2 related DEE18 who visited the Department of Pediatric Neurology, Linyi People′s Hospital in March 2020 and July 2023 were collected. The whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were applied to verify the child and their parents. SWISS-MODEL software was used to perform protein 3D modeling for the selected SZT2 gene variants. Results:Both of the 2 cases showed severe global developmental delay, epileptic seizures, autism, megacephaly, facial deformity, hypotonia, corpus callosum malformation, persistent cavum septum pellucidum, and slow background activity and focal discharge in video electroencephalography. Case 1 was easy to startle and thin in stature; case 2 had immune deficiency and clustered seizures. WES results showed that case 1 carried a compound heterozygous variant of c.5811G>A (p.W1937X) (paternal) and c.9269delG (p.S3090Ifs *94) (maternal), while case 2 carried a compound heterozygous variant of c.6302A>C(p.H2101P) (paternal) and c.7584dupA (p.E2529Rfs *20) (maternal), the parents of both patients with normal clinical phenotypes. The 4 mutations mentioned above were novel variations that had not yet been reported domestically or internationally. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics variant classification criteria and guidelines, the p.S3090Ifs *94 variant was interpreted as pathogenic; p.W1937X variant was interpreted as pathogenic; p.E2529Rfs *20 variant was interpreted as likely pathogenic; p.H2101P variant was interpreted as uncertain significance. 3D modeling showed that the variant of p.H2101P resulted in a significant change in the hydrogen bond around the 2 101st amino acid encoded, leading to a decrease in protein stability. The other 3 variants led to early truncation of peptide chain and obvious changes in protein structure. Conclusions:DEE18 caused by SZT2 gene mutation is mainly an autosome recessive genetic disease, and its clinical manifestations include global developmental delay, epileptic seizures, autism, craniofacial malformation, hypotonia, epileptic discharge, corpus callosum malformation, persistent cavum septum pellucidum, shock, small and thin stature, and immune deficiency. Four novel variants related to the SZT2 gene may be the genetic etiology of DEE18 patients in this study.
7.Clinical phenotype and genetic analysis of BRWD3 gene variation related infantile epileptic spasm syndrome
Menglin LI ; Xin ZHANG ; Li YANG ; Na XU ; Yuzeng HAN ; Liping ZHU ; Xixi YU ; Xin LI ; Yufen LI
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(2):141-148
Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of infantile epileptic spasm syndrome caused by BRWD3 gene mutation. Methods:Clinical data of a child with BRWD3 related infantile epileptic spasm syndrome who was admitted to Department of Pediatric Neurology of Linyi People′s Hospital on August 2, 2019 were collected and followed up, whole exome sequencing technology and Sanger sequencing were applied to verify the child and his parents, and the pathogenicity of mutation site was analyzed. The studies till June 2023 were searched with keywords of " BRWD3" in both English and Chinese databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and PubMed. The clinical phenotype and genetic characteristics of patients with BRWD3 related epilepsy were summarized. Results:The patient was a 4 years and 4 months old boy, with a clinical phenotype including severe global development delay, focal seizures (the onset age was 4 months), epileptic spasm (the onset age was 6 months), autism, megacephaly, high forehead as well as hypsarrhythmia. The whole exome sequencing results showed a de novo and frameshift variation c.4318_4319del(p.Q1441Efs*20)(NM_153252) in the BRWD3 gene, and the variation was interpreted as pathogenic (PVS1+PS2+PM2) according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics variant classification criteria and guidelines. A total of 7 English literature articles were retrieved reporting 16 cases of BRWD3 gene related epilepsy in children (including 1 case of infantile epileptic spasm syndrome), and there has been no report in China yet. Totally there were 17 cases of BRWD3 gene related epilepsy including this case. All the cases showed X chromosome dominant inheritance, of whom 15 cases showed minor variations, including 7 missense variations, 3 frameshift variations, 3 splicing variations, 2 nonsense variations, and the remaining 2 cases showed large segment deletions. A total of 15 different variants were found. The phenotypes of the 17 patients mainly included epileptic seizures (17/17), intellectual disability (10/17), motor development disorder (7/17), speech impairment (9/17), megacephaly (8/17), facial malformation (8/17), autism (4/17) and hypotonia (4/17). The common seizure types were found to be focal seizures, occasionally epileptic spasm seizures and tonic seizures. Conclusions:BRWD3 gene variation related epilepsy is an X chromosome dominant genetic disease with a wide clinical phenotype spectrum. BRWD3 gene mutation c.4318_4319del(p.Q1441Efs *20) could cause infantile epileptic spasm syndrome, manifested as severe global developmental delay, epileptic spasm, focal seizures, autism, craniofacial malformation and hypsarrhythmia. This research enriches BRWD3 gene mutation spectrum.
8.Clinical phenotype and genotype characteristics of tuberous sclerosis complex in 52 children
Na XU ; Li YANG ; Shiyan QIU ; Xin ZHANG ; Yufen LI ; Yuzeng HAN ; Liyun XU ; Liping ZHU
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(4):359-365
Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotypes and TSC1/TSC2 gene variations in 52 children with tuberous sclerosis complex. Methods:The clinical data of 59 children with tuberous sclerosis complex hospitalized in Linyi People′s Hospital between January 2017 and October 2022 were collected. The analysis of TSC1 and TSC2 gene variations on main family members was performed, and then bioinformatics analysis followed. The positive children were divided into TSC1 gene group and TSC2 gene group, and the difference of clinical characteristics between the two groups was analyzed. Results:Among 59 children, 52 cases were detected TSC1/ TSC2 gene variations (17 cases in the TSC1 gene group and 35 cases in the TSC2 gene group). Of the 52 children, 28 (53.8%) were male, 24 were female (46.2%); 17 (32.7%) were familial cases (10 with TSC1 gene variations and 7 with TSC2 gene variations), 35 (67.3%) were sporadic cases; 46 (88.5%) had hypomelanotic macules, 13 (25.0%) had facial angiofibromas, 5 (9.6%) had shagreen patches, 49 (94.2%) had subependymal nodules/calcifications, 47 (90.4%) had cortical nodules, 2 (3.8%) had subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, 39 (75.0%) had intellectual/developmental disabilities, 49 (94.2%) had epileptic seizures, 8 (15.4%) had cardiac rhabdomyomas, 9 (17.3%) had renal angiomyolipomas, and 4 (7.7%) had retinal hamartomas. Of the 52 children, 49 variations were detected, including 4 large fragment deletion/duplication variations, and 45 point variations; 41 pathogenic variations, 7 likely pathogenic variations, and 1 variation of uncertain significance. In this study, 16 point mutations and 1 large fragment duplication mutation which had not been reported at home and abroad, and 3 high-frequency mutation sites (p.Arg692 *, p.Arg228 *, and p.Arg1200Try) were found. There was a statistically significant difference in the proportion of familial cases [10/17 vs 7/35(20%), χ2=7.838, P=0.005], median onset age of epilepsy [38.0(0.5-134.0) months vs 8.0(0.1-63.0) months, Z=3.506 , P<0.001] and the incidence of developmental retardation/intellectual impairment [8/17 vs 31/35(88.6%), χadj2=8.423, P=0.004] between the TSC1 gene and TSC2 gene groups. Conclusions:Tuberous sclerosis compiex has widespread phenotypes, can affect every body system, especially the skin and nervous system. The pathogenic gene is TSC1/ TSC2. The TSC1 gene group has more familial cases. The TSC2 gene group has an earlier onset age of epilepsy and a higher incidence of developmental retardation/intellectual impairment. In this study, 16 novel point mutations, 1 novel large fragment duplication mutation, and 3 hotspot mutations were identified, expanding the gene variation spectrum of tuberous sclerosis complex.
9.Effects of the various herbs and different proportions of the herbs in Huidu Yinhua powder on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Yufen LI ; Shuang JIANG ; Wu SONG ; Tao JIANG ; Chang LIU ; Haofang ZHOU ; Yating TANG ; Lin WEI ; Xin SU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(2):63-71
Objective To study the inhibitory effect of Huidu Yinhua powder from the Orthodox Manual of External Medicine on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),virulence factor α-hemolysin(Hla)activity,and biofilm formation,and to explore the optimal ratios of Huidu Yinhua powder and provide experimental support for its use.Methods The inhibitory effects of Huidu Yinhua powder and the herbs in the formula on USA300 were analyzed by the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC),minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC),and disk diffusion assay(K-B method).Hemolysis,neutralization,oligomerization,and Western blot assays were used to verify in which form the drug inhibits the activity of virulence factor α-hemolysin(Hla).A biofilm assay was performed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Huidu Yinhua powder on biofilm.Orthogonal experiments were performed to explore the optimal ratio of Huidu Yinhua powder.Results Huidu Yinhua powder inhibited the MRSA strain with a MIC90 of 64 mg/mL and an MBC of 256 mg/mL with antibacterial circle diameter of(7.50±0.50)mm.Huidu Yinhua powder inhibited Hla activity by inhibiting Hla secretion.The minimum effective concentration(MEC)was 16 mg/mL,and the MEC of biofilm was 8 mg/mL.In Huidu Yinhua powder,honeysuckle and astragalus only affected the hemolytic activity of MRSA and biofilm formation without inhibiting bacterial growth.The hemolytic activity and biofilm of MEC were both 32 mg/mL.Glycyrrhiza had a strong bacterial inhibitory capacity with a MIC90 of 8 mg/mL and biofilm MEC of 1 mg/mL without showing inhibitory hemolytic activity at subinhibitory concentrations.The orthogonal experiment showed that,at a ratio of honeysuckle,astragalus,and glycyrrhiza in Huidu Yinhua powder of 1∶2∶4,the MIC90 was 16 mg/mL,MEC of hemolytic activity was 8 mg/mL and that of biofilm was 4 mg/mL,both of which were the lowest among the nine groups.Conclusions Huidu Yinhua powder affects the hemolytic activity and biofilm formation of MRSA at subinhibitory concentrations with the optimal ratio of honeysuckle,astragalus,and glycyrrhiza being 1∶2∶4.
10.Analysis on the relative factors of sarcopenia in hospitalized male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2024;32(9):684-688
Objective To investigate the related factors of sarcopenia(SP)in hospitalized male patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 800 male patients with T2DM who were hospitalized in our department from August 2019 to June 2022 were enrolled in the study.All the subjects were divided into SP group(n=305)and T2DM group(n=495),according to the diagnostic criteria on sarcopenia.General data,biochemical indicators and bone metabolism data were collected.Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results BMI,HbA1c,FIns,TG,FC-P,HOMA-IR,fat content in Android area,fat content in Gynoid area and A/G fat ratio in SP group were lower than those in T2DM group(P<0.05).The incidence of DM complications was higher in SP group than those in T2DM group(P<0.05).After adjusting for age,BMI,DM complications and the level of 25(OH)D.Logistic regression analysis showed that A/G fat ratio was the influencing factor of SP.Conclusions A/G fat ratio is a protective factor for SP in hospitalized male T2DM patients.Early screening and intervention in fat distribution may be effective measures to delay the occurrence of SP.


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