1.Research on the correlation between Ddit3-Trib3-Akt signaling pathway and spermatogenesis in rats based on the testicular tissue co-culture system
Yan LI ; Shanshan LIU ; Lin GAO ; Lingyi KONG ; Xia YUN ; Yan ZHANG ; Taodi LIU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(1):91-97
ObjectiveTo verify the association between the Ddit3-Trib3-Akt signaling pathway and rat spermatogenesis by constructing an in vitro co-culture system of testis. MethodsTesticular tissue blocks from 20-25-day-old male rats were placed in an in vitro culture system, and the culture medium was replaced every 2 to 3 days. PCR was used to verify the expression of marker genes of various spermatogenic cells. RNA interference technology was employed to verify the correlation between the Ddit3-Trib3-Akt signaling pathway and rat spermatogenesis. ResultsThe co-culture system could be continuously cultured for more than 2.5 months in vitro. RT-PCR showed that specific marker genes of spermatogonia, spermatocyte and spermoblast were expressed. The RNA and protein expression of Trib3 and Akt changed after the knocking down of Ddit3 and Trib3, respectively. It demonstrated the existence of Ddit3-Trib3-Akt signaling pathway in rat spermatogenesis. ConclusionThe culture time of more than 2.5 months indicates that the culture system can temporarily maintain the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells, and simultaneously maintain and stabilize spermatogenesis in a simple system. The successful validation of the Ddit3-Trib3-Akt signaling pathway also confirms that this culture system can be used to study possible molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis in vitro.
2.Fluorescence Suppression Method of Raman Spectroscopy and Its Application in Skin and Cosmetics Analysis
Yun-Xia CHEN ; Jia-Rong WANG ; Jian-Yu ZHU ; Shi-Wen LIN ; Ya-Nan LIU ; Xiao-Yue MA ; Guang-Cheng XI ; Juan LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1914-1926
Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 106 to 108 times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.
3.Construction and Evaluation of A Risk Warning Model for Enteral Nutrition Related Diarrhea in Acute Stroke Patients Based on Logistic Regression and Nomogram
Yu-ting BAI ; Xia PENG ; Yun WANG ; Yong-mei LIU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(12):2003-2008,2041
Objective:To construct and evaluate a risk warning model for enteral nutrition associated diarrhea(ENAD)in acute stroke patients based on logistic regression and Nomogram.Methods:This study was a retrospective study,a total of 172 patients with acute stroke who were admitted to Yancheng First People's Hospital from January 2022 to May 2024 were selected,and clinical data of patients were collected.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of ENAD occurrence,based on the results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis,a Nomogram warning model was constructed,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of the Nomogram warning model for the risk of ENAD occurrence in patients with acute stroke.Results:Univariate analysis showed that,the occurrence of ENAD in patients with acute stroke was related to fasting time,mechanical ventilation,oral potassium preparations,albumin,number of types of antibiotics used,acute physiology and chronic health status Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score,enteral nutrition infusion rate,length of stay in the intensive care unit(ICU),use of proton pump inhibitors,duration of antibiotic use,use of gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs,and daily enteral nutrition infusion volume(P<0.05).The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that,high APACHE Ⅱ score,prolonged use of antibiotics,low albumin,use of gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs,oral potassium preparations,prolonged fasting time,and rapid enteral nutrition infusion were risk factors for ENAD in patients with acute stroke(P<0.05).Construct and validate a Nomogram warning model based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis.After evaluation,the model fits well with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.823,indicating high predictive value for ENAD occurrence in patients with acute stroke.Conclusion:High APACHE Ⅱ score,prolonged use of antibiotics,low albumin,use of gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs,oral potassium preparations,prolonged fasting time,and rapid enteral nutrition infusion are risk factors for ENAD in patients with acute stroke.The Nomogram warning model constructed based on the above indicators has high predictive value for the occurrence of ENAD in patients with acute stroke.
4.Construction and Evaluation of A Risk Warning Model for Enteral Nutrition Related Diarrhea in Acute Stroke Patients Based on Logistic Regression and Nomogram
Yu-ting BAI ; Xia PENG ; Yun WANG ; Yong-mei LIU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(12):2003-2008,2041
Objective:To construct and evaluate a risk warning model for enteral nutrition associated diarrhea(ENAD)in acute stroke patients based on logistic regression and Nomogram.Methods:This study was a retrospective study,a total of 172 patients with acute stroke who were admitted to Yancheng First People's Hospital from January 2022 to May 2024 were selected,and clinical data of patients were collected.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the influencing factors of ENAD occurrence,based on the results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis,a Nomogram warning model was constructed,the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of the Nomogram warning model for the risk of ENAD occurrence in patients with acute stroke.Results:Univariate analysis showed that,the occurrence of ENAD in patients with acute stroke was related to fasting time,mechanical ventilation,oral potassium preparations,albumin,number of types of antibiotics used,acute physiology and chronic health status Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score,enteral nutrition infusion rate,length of stay in the intensive care unit(ICU),use of proton pump inhibitors,duration of antibiotic use,use of gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs,and daily enteral nutrition infusion volume(P<0.05).The results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that,high APACHE Ⅱ score,prolonged use of antibiotics,low albumin,use of gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs,oral potassium preparations,prolonged fasting time,and rapid enteral nutrition infusion were risk factors for ENAD in patients with acute stroke(P<0.05).Construct and validate a Nomogram warning model based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis.After evaluation,the model fits well with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.823,indicating high predictive value for ENAD occurrence in patients with acute stroke.Conclusion:High APACHE Ⅱ score,prolonged use of antibiotics,low albumin,use of gastrointestinal prokinetic drugs,oral potassium preparations,prolonged fasting time,and rapid enteral nutrition infusion are risk factors for ENAD in patients with acute stroke.The Nomogram warning model constructed based on the above indicators has high predictive value for the occurrence of ENAD in patients with acute stroke.
5.Interaction between influenza A virus nucleoprotein and TRIM25 protein
Xin-yan HU ; Qian-yun LIU ; Le-le AN ; Qiu-ju LAN ; Xiao-xia MA
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):219-226
This study was aimed at exploring the interaction between the nucleoprotein(NP)of influenza A virus(IAV)and TRIM25.The physicochemical properties and protein structure of IAV NP protein were analyzed through bioinformatics methods.The interaction between IAV NP and TRIM25 proteins was simulated with molecular docking techniques,and the in-teraction sites were predicted.With the cDNA of the A/Puerto Rico/8/1934(H1N1)PR8 strain as the template,the NP pro-tein was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pCMV-C-Flag through PCR amplification,the eukaryotic expression re-combinant plasmid pCMV-Flag-NP was constructed,and the expression was further verified.The protein expression levels of pCMV-Flag-NP and pCMV-HA-TRIM25 were detected at various time periods.The interaction between NP protein and TRIM25 protein was verified by co-immunoprecipitation.The co-localization of NP protein and TRIM25 protein in cells was ob-served with laser confocal microscopy.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the NP protein consists of 498 amino acids and 20 amino acids,and is an unstable hydrophilic protein.The NP protein has multiple phosphorylation sites,as well as N-glycosyla-tion and O-glycosylation sites,but no transmembrane domain or signal peptide domain.Additionally,the NP protein's second-ary structure consists of a high proportion of alpha-helices and random coils.The molecular docking prediction results indicated that IAV NP interacts with TRIM25 protein and has multiple potential interaction sites,including the 233rd alanine,234th ala-nine,236th lysine,and 440th alanine of the NP protein.After successfully constructing and expressing the IAV NP protein,we verified the interaction between IAV NP and TRIM25 protein by immunoprecipitation and laser confocal microscopy obser-vations.Our results together suggested that the structure of the IAV NP protein is closely related to its function,and its im-portance to the virus is clear.In addition,the interaction between IAV NP and TRIM25 protein may be associated with TRIM25's anti-influenza virus mechanism.Further in-depth research may provide new ideas for anti-influenza virus strategies.
6.Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of fetal hypoplastic left heart syndrome with left ventricular enlargement:a case report
Chen ZHU ; Fan-gui ZHAO ; Ying-liu YAN ; Cai-xia LEI ; Ting YU ; Chen-yan ZHAO ; Ru LIN ; Yun-yun REN
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(1):143-146
The pregnant woman was 30 years old,G2P0.This singleton pregnancy at 22 weeks of gestation was screened for second-trimester ultrasound malformations,suggesting fetal aortic valve atresia,aortic stenosis with reverse blood flow,mitral valve atresia,and markedly enlarged left ventricle,which was considered for the diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome(HLHS).The pregnancy was terminated at our hospital and subsequently underwent genetic testing with results of heterozygous variants in the NOTCH1 gene,which can cause aortic valve disease type 1.The findings of the fetal autopsy were aortic valve atresia,mitral valve widening and thickening,and left ventricular enlargement with myocardial infarction.This report focuses on the ultrasound characteristics of HLHS with left ventricular enlargement and its hemodynamic changes in order to improve clinicians'understanding of the progressive changes in the disease phenotype of HLHS.
7.Multimodal investigation of stress-induced RNA-brain covariance and its association with depression vulnerability
Yun LIU ; Xijuan XIA ; Kehan YAN ; Yang JI ; Yifeng LUO ; Zhihong CAO ; Yuefeng LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(9):790-797
Objective:To explore the RNA expression and alterations in brain structure in individuals who have experienced stressful life events (SLE), as well as the correlation patterns between them and their association with the occurrence of depression.Methods:Prospectively, a total of 80 SLE subjects were recruited from the psychiatry and psychology clinic of the Jiangsu University Affiliated Yixing Hospital between January 2021 and December 2022, with 16 normal controls (NC) enrolled concurrently. The 17 items Hamilton depression scale (HAMD-17) and social readjustment rating scale (SRRS) were used to assess depressive symptoms and stress levels. RNA sequencing information of peripheral blood and imaging data at baseline were collected. Based on whether depression occurred during the 2-year follow-up period, SLE subjects were divided into the SLE-depression group ( n=15) and the SLE-non-depression group ( n=65). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using differential analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter tracts and gray matter volume (GMV) were extracted using tract-based spatial statistics and voxel-based morphometry.Using analysis of variance compared inter-group differences in gene expression, GMV and white matter FA values. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore correlations between DEGs, altered GMV and white matter microstructure. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on key genes to identify potential biological pathways. Propensity score matching constructed sensitivity subgroups to verify result robustness. Results:The SLE-depression group showed significantly higher SRRS and HAMD-17 scores at baseline and at the end of follow-up compared to the SLE-non-depression group and the NC group ( H=47.773, 35.427, 41.114, all P<0.05). Expression levels of IL-10 (2.12±0.28, 2.43±0.44), EZH2 (2.11±0.43, 2.45±0.51), NCAM1 (3.60±0.30, 3.03±0.39), CD3E (4.95±0.37, 4.57±0.48), CCK (3.29±0.28, 3.02±0.42), and CX3CR1 (5.55±0.40, 5.91±0.34) were significantly different between the SLE-depression group and SLE-non-depression group( F=5.549~28.371, all P<0.05). Compared with the SLE-non-depression group, the SLE-depression group exhibited significantly lower FA values in the genu of the corpus callosum (0.29±0.04, 0.31±0.04) and the left uncinate fasciculus (0.31±0.02, 0.33±0.02), as well as significantly smaller GMV in the right hippocampus (0.29±0.07, 0.33±0.06), bilateral middle frontal gyrus (left: 0.27±0.05, 0.31±0.05; right: 0.28±0.06, 0.32±0.06), right insula (0.36±0.03, 0.38±0.04), and left precentral gyrus (0.19±0.04, 0.24±0.05) ( F=4.593-12.064, all P<0.05, FDR correction). GMV in the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri was significantly larger than that in the SLE-non-depression group (0.34±0.05, 0.29±0.06) ( F=6.704, P=0.034, FDR correction). Partial correlation analysis revealed significantly stronger correlations between hub DEGs and altered brain regions in the SLE-depression group ( r=0.017-0.801) compared to the SLE-non-depression group ( r=0.002-0.382), with a statistically significant difference ( U=629, P<0.001; Cliff's Delta=0.454). GSEA indicated that the aforementioned genes were primarily involved in pathways including the ribosome, spliceosome, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the above results remained statistically significant after balancing sample sizes (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The SLE-depression group showed specific RNA expression and brain structure alterations compared to the SLE-non-depression group, and the correlation between RNA and brain structure was significantly enhanced in the SLE-depression group. This suggests that the correlation between genes and brain structure in the SLE population may be related to their susceptibility to depression.
8.Effect of Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction on behavioral manifestations in rats with tic disorder model and its mechanism of Ca 2+-CaM-CaMK Ⅱ signaling pathway
Yun XIA ; Qinquan ZHU ; Yong YE ; Xinyi LIU ; Jiajia ZHANG ; Qiumei YANG ; Di ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(5):397-404
Objective:To investigate the effects of Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction on the behaviors and the Ca 2+ -CaM-CaMK Ⅱ signaling pathway in the striatum of rats with tic disorder models. Methods:Seventy-two SPF-grade SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, tiapride group (15.93 mg/kg, intragastric administration), low-dose (4.32 g/kg, intragastric administration), medium-dose (8.64 g/kg, intragastric administration) and high-dose (17.28 g/kg, intragastric administration) Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups, with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group and model group were gavaged with 0.5 mg/kg of distilled water while rats in other 4 groups were gavaged with corresponding drugs, all rats were gavaged once a day for 28 days.The evaluations of motor behavior and stereotyped behavior were conducted using the Kadasah scoring method and the Diamond scoring method. Calcium content in the striatum was detected using a calcium assay kit. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect the expression of dopamine transporter (DAT) and inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) in the striatum of rats. Western blot was used to assess the expression of calmodulin (CaM) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMK Ⅱ) in the striatum. RT-PCR was utilized to detect the expression of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ mRNA in the striatum. All data were processed using SPSS 26.0 software, and comparisons among multiple groups were performed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test.Results:(1) After four weeks of pharmacological intervention, statistically significant differences were observed in the locomotor activity scores and stereotyped scores among the six groups of rats ( H=41.20, 44.24, both P<0.01). Specifically, the locomotor activity scores(3.00(3.00, 3.25), 1.00(0.75, 1.25), 1.00(0.75, 2.00), 1.00(0, 1.00)) and stereotyped scores(3.00(3.00, 4.00), 1.00(0.75, 2.00), 2.00(0.75, 2.00), 1.00(0, 1.25)) in the tiapride group and the medium- and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (all P<0.01). (2) Results from the calcium assay kit revealed statistically significant differences in striatal calcium content among the six groups of rats ( F=146.67, P<0.01). The calcium content in the tiapride group and the medium- and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups was significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0.01). Additionally, the calcium content in the medium-dose ((0.40±0.02)mmol/g) and high-dose ((0.30±0.03)mmol/g) Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups was lower than that in the low-dose group ((0.48±0.02)mmol/g) (both P<0.01). (3) Immunohistochemical results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the mean optical density values of DAT and IP3 in the striatum among the six groups of rats ( F=25.57, 154.98, both P<0.01). The IP3 mean optical density in the tiapride group and the Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups with medium and high doses exhibited lower values compared to the model group (all P<0.05), whereas the DAT mean optical density displayed higher values in these groups compared to the model group (all P<0.05). The low-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group also exhibited a lower optical density value of IP3 compared to the model group( P<0.05). The optical density values of IP3 (2.68±0.21, 2.40±0.22) in the medium-dose and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were lower than that in the low-dose group (4.27±0.23) (both P<0.01). (4) Western blot results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the protein expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ in the striatum among the six groups of rats ( F=233.03, 118.60, both P<0.01). The protein expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ in the tiapride group and the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.01). The protein expression levels of CaM (1.02±0.06, 0.84±0.02) and CaMK Ⅱ (0.48±0.03, 0.40±0.02) in the medium-dose and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were lower than those in the low-dose group (1.21±0.03, 0.57±0.02)) (all P<0.05). Additionally, the protein expression level of CaM in the high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group was lower than that in the medium-dose group( P<0.05).(5) The RT-PCR results indicated significant variations in the mRNA expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ within the striatum across the six groups rats ( F=30.54, 20.78, both P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ in the tiapride group and the high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group were lower than those in the model group (both P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of CaMK Ⅱ (1.38±0.17) in the high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group were lower than those in the low-dose group (1.99±0.27) ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction can improve locomotor activity and stereotyped behavior in rats with tic disorder model. The mechanism may be through inhibiting the Ca 2+ -CaM-CaMK Ⅱ signaling pathway and regulating the expression of DAT and IP3, thereby modulating the release and recovery of dopamine and reducing the occurrence of tic symptoms.
9.Multimodal investigation of stress-induced RNA-brain covariance and its association with depression vulnerability
Yun LIU ; Xijuan XIA ; Kehan YAN ; Yang JI ; Yifeng LUO ; Zhihong CAO ; Yuefeng LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(9):790-797
Objective:To explore the RNA expression and alterations in brain structure in individuals who have experienced stressful life events (SLE), as well as the correlation patterns between them and their association with the occurrence of depression.Methods:Prospectively, a total of 80 SLE subjects were recruited from the psychiatry and psychology clinic of the Jiangsu University Affiliated Yixing Hospital between January 2021 and December 2022, with 16 normal controls (NC) enrolled concurrently. The 17 items Hamilton depression scale (HAMD-17) and social readjustment rating scale (SRRS) were used to assess depressive symptoms and stress levels. RNA sequencing information of peripheral blood and imaging data at baseline were collected. Based on whether depression occurred during the 2-year follow-up period, SLE subjects were divided into the SLE-depression group ( n=15) and the SLE-non-depression group ( n=65). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using differential analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter tracts and gray matter volume (GMV) were extracted using tract-based spatial statistics and voxel-based morphometry.Using analysis of variance compared inter-group differences in gene expression, GMV and white matter FA values. Partial correlation analysis was used to explore correlations between DEGs, altered GMV and white matter microstructure. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on key genes to identify potential biological pathways. Propensity score matching constructed sensitivity subgroups to verify result robustness. Results:The SLE-depression group showed significantly higher SRRS and HAMD-17 scores at baseline and at the end of follow-up compared to the SLE-non-depression group and the NC group ( H=47.773, 35.427, 41.114, all P<0.05). Expression levels of IL-10 (2.12±0.28, 2.43±0.44), EZH2 (2.11±0.43, 2.45±0.51), NCAM1 (3.60±0.30, 3.03±0.39), CD3E (4.95±0.37, 4.57±0.48), CCK (3.29±0.28, 3.02±0.42), and CX3CR1 (5.55±0.40, 5.91±0.34) were significantly different between the SLE-depression group and SLE-non-depression group( F=5.549~28.371, all P<0.05). Compared with the SLE-non-depression group, the SLE-depression group exhibited significantly lower FA values in the genu of the corpus callosum (0.29±0.04, 0.31±0.04) and the left uncinate fasciculus (0.31±0.02, 0.33±0.02), as well as significantly smaller GMV in the right hippocampus (0.29±0.07, 0.33±0.06), bilateral middle frontal gyrus (left: 0.27±0.05, 0.31±0.05; right: 0.28±0.06, 0.32±0.06), right insula (0.36±0.03, 0.38±0.04), and left precentral gyrus (0.19±0.04, 0.24±0.05) ( F=4.593-12.064, all P<0.05, FDR correction). GMV in the right anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyri was significantly larger than that in the SLE-non-depression group (0.34±0.05, 0.29±0.06) ( F=6.704, P=0.034, FDR correction). Partial correlation analysis revealed significantly stronger correlations between hub DEGs and altered brain regions in the SLE-depression group ( r=0.017-0.801) compared to the SLE-non-depression group ( r=0.002-0.382), with a statistically significant difference ( U=629, P<0.001; Cliff's Delta=0.454). GSEA indicated that the aforementioned genes were primarily involved in pathways including the ribosome, spliceosome, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the above results remained statistically significant after balancing sample sizes (all P<0.05). Conclusion:The SLE-depression group showed specific RNA expression and brain structure alterations compared to the SLE-non-depression group, and the correlation between RNA and brain structure was significantly enhanced in the SLE-depression group. This suggests that the correlation between genes and brain structure in the SLE population may be related to their susceptibility to depression.
10.Effect of Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction on behavioral manifestations in rats with tic disorder model and its mechanism of Ca 2+-CaM-CaMK Ⅱ signaling pathway
Yun XIA ; Qinquan ZHU ; Yong YE ; Xinyi LIU ; Jiajia ZHANG ; Qiumei YANG ; Di ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(5):397-404
Objective:To investigate the effects of Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction on the behaviors and the Ca 2+ -CaM-CaMK Ⅱ signaling pathway in the striatum of rats with tic disorder models. Methods:Seventy-two SPF-grade SD male rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, tiapride group (15.93 mg/kg, intragastric administration), low-dose (4.32 g/kg, intragastric administration), medium-dose (8.64 g/kg, intragastric administration) and high-dose (17.28 g/kg, intragastric administration) Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups, with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the blank group and model group were gavaged with 0.5 mg/kg of distilled water while rats in other 4 groups were gavaged with corresponding drugs, all rats were gavaged once a day for 28 days.The evaluations of motor behavior and stereotyped behavior were conducted using the Kadasah scoring method and the Diamond scoring method. Calcium content in the striatum was detected using a calcium assay kit. Immunohistochemical analysis was employed to detect the expression of dopamine transporter (DAT) and inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate (IP3) in the striatum of rats. Western blot was used to assess the expression of calmodulin (CaM) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMK Ⅱ) in the striatum. RT-PCR was utilized to detect the expression of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ mRNA in the striatum. All data were processed using SPSS 26.0 software, and comparisons among multiple groups were performed using one-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test.Results:(1) After four weeks of pharmacological intervention, statistically significant differences were observed in the locomotor activity scores and stereotyped scores among the six groups of rats ( H=41.20, 44.24, both P<0.01). Specifically, the locomotor activity scores(3.00(3.00, 3.25), 1.00(0.75, 1.25), 1.00(0.75, 2.00), 1.00(0, 1.00)) and stereotyped scores(3.00(3.00, 4.00), 1.00(0.75, 2.00), 2.00(0.75, 2.00), 1.00(0, 1.25)) in the tiapride group and the medium- and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (all P<0.01). (2) Results from the calcium assay kit revealed statistically significant differences in striatal calcium content among the six groups of rats ( F=146.67, P<0.01). The calcium content in the tiapride group and the medium- and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups was significantly lower than that in the model group (all P<0.01). Additionally, the calcium content in the medium-dose ((0.40±0.02)mmol/g) and high-dose ((0.30±0.03)mmol/g) Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups was lower than that in the low-dose group ((0.48±0.02)mmol/g) (both P<0.01). (3) Immunohistochemical results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the mean optical density values of DAT and IP3 in the striatum among the six groups of rats ( F=25.57, 154.98, both P<0.01). The IP3 mean optical density in the tiapride group and the Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups with medium and high doses exhibited lower values compared to the model group (all P<0.05), whereas the DAT mean optical density displayed higher values in these groups compared to the model group (all P<0.05). The low-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group also exhibited a lower optical density value of IP3 compared to the model group( P<0.05). The optical density values of IP3 (2.68±0.21, 2.40±0.22) in the medium-dose and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were lower than that in the low-dose group (4.27±0.23) (both P<0.01). (4) Western blot results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the protein expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ in the striatum among the six groups of rats ( F=233.03, 118.60, both P<0.01). The protein expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ in the tiapride group and the low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.01). The protein expression levels of CaM (1.02±0.06, 0.84±0.02) and CaMK Ⅱ (0.48±0.03, 0.40±0.02) in the medium-dose and high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction groups were lower than those in the low-dose group (1.21±0.03, 0.57±0.02)) (all P<0.05). Additionally, the protein expression level of CaM in the high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group was lower than that in the medium-dose group( P<0.05).(5) The RT-PCR results indicated significant variations in the mRNA expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ within the striatum across the six groups rats ( F=30.54, 20.78, both P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels of CaM and CaMK Ⅱ in the tiapride group and the high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group were lower than those in the model group (both P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels of CaMK Ⅱ (1.38±0.17) in the high-dose Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction group were lower than those in the low-dose group (1.99±0.27) ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Jianpi Rougan Xifeng Decoction can improve locomotor activity and stereotyped behavior in rats with tic disorder model. The mechanism may be through inhibiting the Ca 2+ -CaM-CaMK Ⅱ signaling pathway and regulating the expression of DAT and IP3, thereby modulating the release and recovery of dopamine and reducing the occurrence of tic symptoms.

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