1.Analysis of the characteristics and influencing factors of mirtazapine steady-state trough concentration and concentration-to-dose ratio
Ze ZHANG ; Mengqiang ZHAO ; Ruiyan YU ; Yiyuan WANG ; Yuanyuan ZHAO ; Jing YU ; Chunhua ZHOU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(6):776-781
OBJECTIVE To analyze the distribution characteristics of mirtazapine steady-state trough concentration and concentration-to-dose ratio ( C / D ), and to investigate the influence of clinical and genetic factors on C / D . METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on hospitalized patients with depression who received mirtazapine treatment and underwent therapeutic drug monitoring at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 2022 to May 2025. The collected data included patients’ gender, age, body mass index, daily dose, steady-state trough concentration, smoking status, history of liver disease, drug type, concomitant medications, and CYP2D6 metabolic phenotype. The C / D was calculated. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the relationship between mirtazapine steady-state trough concentration and daily dose. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression model were employed to screen the factors potentially influencing the C / D of mirtazapine. RESULTS A total of 226 patients were included. The daily dose of mirtazapine was 25.00 (24.82, 30.00) mg/d, the steady-state trough concentration was 44.46 (20.00, 70.00) ng/mL, and the C / D was 1.83 (1.00, 2.00) (ng·d)/(mL·mg). Steady-state trough concentrations were within the reference range (30-80 ng/mL) in 121 patients (53.54%), below the lower limit in 80 patients (35.40%), and above the upper limit in 25 patients (11.06%). A positive correlation was observed between mirtazapine steady-state trough concentration and daily dose (coefficient of determination was 0.320 8, P <0.001). Gender, smoking status, and CYP2D6 metabolic phenotype were significantly associated with the mirtazapine C / D ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Significant interindividual variability exists in mirtazapine steady-state trough concentrations. Gender, smoking status, and CYP2D6 metabolic phenotype are identified as independent influencing factors for the mirtazapine C / D , with higher C / D ratios observed in females, non-smokers, and intermediate metabolizers.
2.Study on The Effect and Mechanism of Luteolin Against Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Xia OU ; Zhao-Hong LIU ; Lei TANG ; Jian-Ming XIA ; Kai YANG ; Kai-Yi DING ; Guo-Yang LIAO ; Ze LIU ; Ji-Hong ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1207-1223
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) activity of luteolin and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MethodsLuteolin was identified as the primary active compound from the polyphenol extract ofF. diotrys using network pharmacology. Its efficacy was evaluated against two MP strains: the standard strain M129 and the multidrug-resistant strain M19. A modified culture medium with visual characteristics was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luteolin. The expression of key proteins involved in MP growth and pathogenicity was assessed by qRT-PCR following luteolin treatment. Additionally, the viability of A549 cells infected with MP was compared between luteolin-treated and untreated groups. In vivo anti-MP activity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues was analyzed. ResultsLuteolin effectively inhibited both MP strains, with MIC90 values of 100 mg/L for M19 and M129. Treatment with luteolin significantly downregulated the expression of adhesion proteins P1 and P30 in both strains. However, the expression of P65, HMW3, TrmB, and CARDS TX was reduced only in the M19 strain following luteolin intervention. Luteolin also enhanced the growth and viability of A549 cells infected with MP. In the mouse model, luteolin treatment resulted in steady weight gain and was well tolerated. The bacteriostatic rate of luteolin in lung tissues was 50.7%, significantly higher than the 25.2% observed in the roxithromycin group. Furthermore, luteolin reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1, in MP-infected mice. ConclusionLuteolin effectively and safely inhibits the proliferation and pathogenicity of MP, particularly the drug-resistant M19 strain, by downregulating the expression of toxicity-associated proteins (P1, P30, P65, HMW3, TrmB, CARDS TX) and modulating host inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that luteolin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating MP infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains.
3.Study on The Effect and Mechanism of Luteolin Against Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Xia OU ; Zhao-Hong LIU ; Lei TANG ; Jian-Ming XIA ; Kai YANG ; Kai-Yi DING ; Guo-Yang LIAO ; Ze LIU ; Ji-Hong ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1207-1223
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) activity of luteolin and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MethodsLuteolin was identified as the primary active compound from the polyphenol extract ofF. diotrys using network pharmacology. Its efficacy was evaluated against two MP strains: the standard strain M129 and the multidrug-resistant strain M19. A modified culture medium with visual characteristics was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luteolin. The expression of key proteins involved in MP growth and pathogenicity was assessed by qRT-PCR following luteolin treatment. Additionally, the viability of A549 cells infected with MP was compared between luteolin-treated and untreated groups. In vivo anti-MP activity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues was analyzed. ResultsLuteolin effectively inhibited both MP strains, with MIC90 values of 100 mg/L for M19 and M129. Treatment with luteolin significantly downregulated the expression of adhesion proteins P1 and P30 in both strains. However, the expression of P65, HMW3, TrmB, and CARDS TX was reduced only in the M19 strain following luteolin intervention. Luteolin also enhanced the growth and viability of A549 cells infected with MP. In the mouse model, luteolin treatment resulted in steady weight gain and was well tolerated. The bacteriostatic rate of luteolin in lung tissues was 50.7%, significantly higher than the 25.2% observed in the roxithromycin group. Furthermore, luteolin reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1, in MP-infected mice. ConclusionLuteolin effectively and safely inhibits the proliferation and pathogenicity of MP, particularly the drug-resistant M19 strain, by downregulating the expression of toxicity-associated proteins (P1, P30, P65, HMW3, TrmB, CARDS TX) and modulating host inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that luteolin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating MP infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains.
4.Mechanisms and Molecular Networks of Hypoxia-regulated Tumor Cell Dormancy
Mao ZHAO ; Jin-Qiu FENG ; Ze-Qi GAO ; Ping WANG ; Jia FU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2267-2279
Dormant tumor cells constitute a population of cancer cells that reside in a non-proliferative or low-proliferative state, typically arrested in the G0/G1 phase and exhibiting minimal mitotic activity. These cells are commonly observed across multiple cancer types, including breast, lung, and ovarian cancers, and represent a central cellular component of minimal residual disease (MRD) following surgical resection of the primary tumor. Dormant cells are closely associated with long-term clinical latency and late-stage relapse. Due to their quiescent nature, dormant cells are intrinsically resistant to conventional therapies—such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy—that preferentially target rapidly dividing cells. In addition, they display enhanced anti-apoptotic capacity and immune evasion, rendering them particularly difficult to eradicate. More critically, in response to microenvironmental changes or activation of specific signaling pathways, dormant cells can re-enter the cell cycle and initiate metastatic outgrowth or tumor recurrence. This ability to escape dormancy underscores their clinical threat and positions their effective detection and elimination as a major challenge in contemporary cancer treatment. Hypoxia, a hallmark of the solid tumor microenvironment, has been widely recognized as a potent inducer of tumor cell dormancy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which tumor cells sense and respond to hypoxic stress—initiating the transition into dormancy—remain poorly defined. In particular, the lack of a systems-level understanding of the dynamic and multifactorial regulatory landscape has impeded the identification of actionable targets and constrained the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Accumulating evidence indicates that hypoxia-induced dormancy tumor cells are accompanied by a suite of adaptive phenotypes, including cell cycle arrest, global suppression of protein synthesis, metabolic reprogramming, autophagy activation, resistance to apoptosis, immune evasion, and therapy tolerance. These changes are orchestrated by multiple converging signaling pathways—such as PI3K-AKT-mTOR, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK, and AMPK—that together constitute a highly dynamic and interconnected regulatory network. While individual pathways have been studied in depth, most investigations remain reductionist and fail to capture the temporal progression and network-level coordination underlying dormancy transitions. Systems biology offers a powerful framework to address this complexity. By integrating high-throughput multi-omics data—such as transcriptomics and proteomics—researchers can reconstruct global regulatory networks encompassing the key signaling axes involved in dormancy regulation. These networks facilitate the identification of core regulatory modules and elucidate functional interactions among key effectors. When combined with dynamic modeling approaches—such as ordinary differential equations—these frameworks enable the simulation of temporal behaviors of critical signaling nodes, including phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), phosphorylated S6 (p-S6), and the p38/ERK activity ratio, providing insights into how their dynamic changes govern transitions between proliferation and dormancy. Beyond mapping trajectories from proliferation to dormancy and from shallow to deep dormancy, such dynamic regulatory models support topological analyses to identify central hubs and molecular switches. Key factors—such as NR2F1, mTORC1, ULK1, HIF-1α, and DYRK1A—have emerged as pivotal nodes within these networks and represent promising therapeutic targets. Constructing an integrative, systems-level regulatory framework—anchored in multi-pathway coordination, omics-layer integration, and dynamic modeling—is thus essential for decoding the architecture and progression of tumor dormancy. Such a framework not only advances mechanistic understanding but also lays the foundation for precision therapies targeting dormant tumor cells during the MRD phase, addressing a critical unmet need in cancer management.
5.Survey of coronaviruses carried by bats in Qinghua Cave,Yunnan Province,China,and establishment of a quantitative viral detection method
Wei KONG ; Peiyu HAN ; Ze YANG ; Junying ZHAO ; Yi TANG ; Jiawei TIAN ; Fenhui XU ; Lidong ZONG ; Yunzhi ZAHNG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(7):704-711
The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively detect coronavirus(CoV)in the feces of bats from Qinghua Cave,Yunnan Province,China.CoV was qualitatively tested with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),and homology and genetic evolution were analyzed with bioinformatics software.The established reverse transcription real-time fluores-cence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)method was applied to CoV quantification in bat feces.The positivity rate of CoV in 306 fecal samples collected from the fulvous fruit bat(Rousettus leschenaultia)was 7.8%(24/306)according to RT-PCR.All 24 strains of CoV belonged to β-CoV,and showed a similarity of 86.8%-100.0%at the nucleotide level and 95.2%-100.0%at the amino acid level,with respect to other β-CoV sequences in the NCBI database.The positivity rate of CoV was 18.6%(57/306)according to qRT-PCR,a value higher than that according to RT-PCR(χ2=25.3,P<0.05).The mean β-CoV load was 1.3×103 copies/μL.In conclusion,the bats in Qinghua Cave,Yunnan Province,carried CoV belonging to β-CoV.The established qRT-PCR method achieved good sensitiv-ity,accuracy,reproducibility,and a higher detection rate than that of RT-PCR,and can be used for rapid detection of β-CoV in bats.
6.The effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the lower limb functioning of stroke survivors
Bin SU ; Zhiwei TANG ; Li ZHANG ; Hewei WANG ; Weiwei ZHAO ; Jinyu YANG ; Ze ZHENG ; Wang YAO ; Guilan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2025;47(3):209-215
Objective:To document any effect of repeated high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) using double-cone coils on the lower limb motor function of stroke survivors.Methods:A total of 40 stroke survivors were randomly divided into an rTMS group and a sham stimulation group, each of 20. The rTMS group received rTMS at 10Hz with a double-cone coil, while a coil that produced sound but no magnetic stimulation was used with the sham group. The treatments were administered daily, five times a week, for three weeks. Before as well as after 1, 2 and 3 weeks of treatment, lower limb motor function, balance, and the root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (MF) of the rectus femoris and tibialis anterior muscles were evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Modified Barthel Index (MBI), Brunnstrom staging, the TecnoBody balance assessment system, and surface electromyography.Results:Compared with the sham stimulation group, the BBS score of the rTMS group was significantly higher after 2 weeks of treatment, and both the FMA-LE and BBS scores were significantly higher after 3 weeks. The average Brunnstrom stage in the sham group had increased significantly after 3 weeks, but in the rTMS group it had increased after 2 weeks. By 3 weeks there were no significant differences between the two groups. In terms of movement control, the average motion ellipse area in the rTMS group was significantly smaller than among the sham group after 2 weeks, and after 3 weeks the average motion trajectory length was significantly shorter than in the sham group. The average RMS of the rectus femoris in the rTMS group was significantly higher than the sham group′s average after 3 weeks of treatment, indicating improved muscle activation.Conclusions:High-frequency rTMS using a conical coil can effectively improve the lower limb motor function and balance ability of stroke survivors, demonstrating promising clinical application potential.
7.The glutamatergic projections from basal forebrain to lateral habenula mediate the regulation of anesthesia in mice
Shiyi ZHAO ; Ze FAN ; Hailong DONG
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2025;41(4):437-444
Objective:To explore the efferent projections of glutamatergic neurons in the basal forebrain(BF)and the function of its projections to lateral habenula(LHb)under isoflurane anesthesia.Methods:Channelrhodopsin-as-sisted circuit mapping(CRACM)was used to explore the efferent projections of BF glutamatergic neurons in cre driver mice lines.On this basis,we optogenetically activated the BF glutamatergic projections to LHb to explore its function in wake-anesthesia regulation of isoflurane anesthesia.Results:The glutamatergic projections of BF mainly project to LHb,optogenetic activation of BF glutamatergic projections to LHb could significantly prolonged the time of loss of righ-ting reflex(LORR)and shortened the time of recovery of righting reflex(RORR).Optical stimulation of this projection reduced the burst suppression ratio(BSR)under 1.0%isoflurane anesthesia.When the mice were anesthetized by 0.8%isoflurane,a significant decrease of δ power percentage was observed,while the power percentage of β bands and γ bands increased.Conclusion:The glutamatergic neurons of BF mainly project to LHb,activation of this projection can not only prolong the induction time but also shorten the emergence time.Furthermore,this projection also exerts a pro-arousal effect under the maintenance phase of isoflurane anesthesia.
8.Feasibility study of using clinical trial individual-level data sample bank as external control to support drug and device development:taking transcatheter aortic valve replacement device as an example
Xiao-ying LIN ; Chi-lie DANZENG ; Duo-er WANG ; Ying-xuan ZHU ; Ye LU ; Fan GAO ; Yuan-xin LI ; Meng-zhu SU ; Zi-long ZHANG ; Min CHEN ; Qi-ze LI ; Ru JIANG ; Yan-yan ZHAO ; Yang WANG
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(8):459-466
Objective To explore the feasibility and corresponding implementation methods of constructing a sample resource bank based on individual-level data of completed clinical trials and using it to construct external controls for drug/device clinical trials.Methods Taking the pre-marketing clinical trial of transcatheter active valve replacement(TAVR)for the treatment of aortic valve stenosis as an example,the individual-level databases of multiple trials were standardized to form a sample bank.The original data of any trial in the sample bank were selected as the experimental group,and the remaining samples were selected as the control group.The potential confounding was handled by using the propensity score matching and stratification methods to clarify the process of constructing external controls based on the sample bank of individual-level data of clinical trials.Results This study included individual-level data of single-group trials of 4 TAVR devices,with a total of 569 subjects(59.2%male).The number of subjects in Trials 1 to 4 was 120,120,163,and 166,respectively.Propensity score matching enabled the matching of 113,117,125,and 147 subjects with comparable or similar characteristics from individual-level data from other trials,respectively,demonstrating a high matching success rate.The PS score distribution plot after stratification showed that the proportions of subjects in the experimental and control groups in strata 1 to 5 in scheme 1 were 4/103,11/103,22/92,32/87,and 51/64,respectively.For all constructed external controlled trials,a certain number of control samples with similar baseline characteristics to the experimental groups were distributed within each propensity score stratum.The results of the simulation test also reflected the potential differences between different devices in the 12-month all-cause mortality rate.Conclusions The sample bank constructed with individual-level data from clinical trials,as a high-quality data source,can serve as a source of external control for single-arm trials in the same field,and as a useful supplement to the external control scenario of real-world evidence to support drug and device development.At the same time,targeted research on research methods and bias control measures in related fields is also needed.
9.Administrative burden among primary healthcare professionals and its impact mechanism on job burnout:An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study
Shi-chao ZHAO ; Ming-ze XIN ; Zi-qian TANG ; Ya-fang DONG ; He-xi LI ; Hui-fen MA ; Tao WANG
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(9):31-38
Objective:To examine the manifestations and causes of administrative burden among primary healthcare professionals,and to explore its impact on job burnout through the mediating role of role conflict,providing theoretical and empirical support for governance-level burden-reduction strategies.Methods:An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed,focusing on primary healthcare professionals in Shandong Province.In the first phase,in-depth interviews were conducted with 175 participants;in the second phase,a questionnaire survey of 1,096 participants and follow-up interviews with 107 participants were carried out.Results:The proportions of respondents who reported"heavy"or"very heavy"burdens were 62.7%for inspection,54.8%for documentation,51.8%for reporting,and 24.4%for meetings.Structural equation modeling showed that administrative burden had a direct effect on job burnout(0.150)and an indirect effect through role conflict(0.093).Qualitative findings further indicated that administrative burden largely stemmed from public health traceability requirements and medical insurance policies,and operated through both resource-based and value-based conflicts.Conclusions:Primary healthcare professionals face considerable administrative burdens,which may heighten job burnout through role conflict.Governance reforms should optimize inspection and assessment,streamline data reporting,refine record-keeping,and promote collaborative governance to break the chain of institutional pressure leading to burnout.
10.Effect of Guilu Taohong Formula on semen quality and spermatogenic cell apoptosis in a varicocele model of rats
Biao WANG ; Yang YANG ; Ze-rui QIU ; En-min FENG ; Xiang ZHAO ; Neng WANG ; Xin HUANG ; Qun-fang LIN ; Qing ZHOU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(2):150-156
Objective:To observe the effect of Guilu Taohong Formula on semen quality in varicocele(VC)models of rats,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups(sham group,model group,Guilu Taohong Formula group and L-carnitine group).After the establishment of models,the rats were treated with intra-gastric administration for eight consecutive weeks.The general condition of the rats was observed.After the gavage,the testicular and epididymal indices were calculated.Semen quality was assessed using an automatic semen analyzer.Apoptosis of testicular cells was assessed by TUNEL staining.And the expression levels of B-cell lymphocytoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax)and cys-teine aspartate protease-3(caspase-3)in testicular tissue were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the sham group,testicular index,epididymal index,sperm concentration,the percentage of progressive motility of sperm(PR%)and the expression level of Bcl-2 decreased in model group(P<0.01).An increased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were observed in model group as well(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the testicular index,epidid-ymal index,sperm concentration,PR%and the expression level of Bcl-2 in Guilu Taohong Formula group increased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01).A decreased apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins were de-tected in Guilu Taohong Formula group as well(P<0.01).Similarly,the L-carnitine group showed increased testicular index,epidid-ymal index,sperm concentration,PR%and the expression level of Bcl-2 protein(P<0.05,P<0.01),where showed decreased ap-optosis rate of spermatogenic cells and the expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 proteins compared with model group(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion:Guilu Taohong Formula improves semen quality in VC model rats and reduces the apoptosis rate of spermato-genic cells in testicular tissue,which may be related to the promotion of Bcl-2 protein expression and the inhibition of Bax and caspase-3 protein expression levels.

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