1.A Comparative Study on the Clinical Effects of Short-term and Long-term Spinal Cord Stimulation in Patients with Prolonged Disorders of Consciousness
Fengqiao SUN ; Hongchuan NIU ; Yi YANG ; Jianghong HE ; Yuanli ZHAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):307-313
To compare the therapeutic effects of short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) and long-term spinal cord stimulation (ltSCS) on patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness(pDoC). Clinical data of patients with pDoC who underwent SCS surgery at Peking University International Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively included. Patients were divided into the stSCS group and the ltSCS group based on the surgical approach. The Coma recovery scale-revised (CRS-R) was used to assess the level of consciousness before and 3 months after SCS treatment. Based on CRS-R scores, the clinical diagnosis of the patient's level of consciousenss was categorized into four levels: vegetative state, minimally conscious state minus (MCS-), MCS plus (MCS+), and emergence from the minimally conscious state(EMCS). Improvement in the clinical diagnostic level of consciousness was defined as effective treatment, and the therapeutic outcomes of the stSCS and ltSCS groups were compared. 44.8% of patients with pDoC showed improvement in their clinical diagnostic level of consciousness after SCS treatment. Compared to preoperative scores, the CRS-R scores at 3 months postoperatively were significantly increased in both the stSCS and ltSCS groups (both Both stSCS and ltSCS can significantly improve the level of consciousness in patients with pDoC. Compared to ltSCS, stSCS may achieve comparable short-term therapeutic outcomes.
2.Effect of ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum on the expression of integrin alpha5 and beta1 in degenerative rabbit lumbar intervertebral discs
Can CHEN ; Yu ZHAO ; Binhan HU ; Mengfan DU ; Junning LIU ; Susheng NIU ; Yan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(2):331-338
BACKGROUND:Needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum can effectively improve symptoms in patients with lumbar degeneration,and ultrasound guidance can increase the precision of needle-knife release;however,the specific effects of needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum on the degenerated intervertebral discs and the possible mechanisms remain to be clarified. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum. METHODS:Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomized into control(n=6)and model(n=18)groups.A rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration model was established in the model group by cutting the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments of the L5/6 and L6/7 segments to maintain a standing posture and apply axial load to the lumbar spine.After successful modeling,the model rabbits were subdivided into a control group,a model group,an ultrasonic needle-knife group,and a sham needle-knife group according to a random number table method,with six animals in each group.The ultrasonic needle-knife group underwent ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the right yellow ligament of L7/S1,once every week,for a total of four times.The needle-knife approach in the sham needle-knife group was the same as that in the ultrasound needle-knife group,but the ligamentum flavum was not released.At 30 days after the intervention,MRI was used to observe the changes in the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus within the L7/S1 segment.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the L7/S1 segment.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of type I and II collagen in the nucleus pulposus of the L7/S1 segment.RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of integrin α5 and β1,p38,and nuclear factor κB in the L7/S1 segment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MRI findings indicated that the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc of rabbits in the model group was gray-black in color,and the gray value of the nucleus pulposus was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.01).The brightness of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc of the rabbits in the ultrasonic needle-knife group was elevated compared with that of the model group,and the gray value of the nucleus pulposus was higher than that of the model group(P<0.01).Results from hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the model group,the shape of the nucleus pulposus was irregular,the number of nucleus pulposus cells was reduced,the extracellular matrix was compressed,the fibrous ring was ruptured,the structure and boundary of the end plate were unclear,and the chondrocytes were arranged disorderly.Compared with the model group,the ultrasonic needle-knife group showed an increase in the number of the nucleus pulposus,an improvement in the rupture of the fibrous ring,and more regular arrangement of cartilage endplate cells.Results from immunohistochemical staining showed an increase in positive expression of type I collagen(P<0.01)and a decrease in positive expression of type II collagen in the nucleus pulposus of the model group compared with the control group as well as a decrease in positive expression of type I collagen and an increase in positive expression of type II collagen in the nucleus pulposus of the ultrasonic needle-knife group compared with the model group(P<0.01).RT-PCR and western blot assays showed that the mRNA and protein expression of integrin α5,integrin β1,p38,and nuclear factor κB in the intervertebral discs of rabbits in the model group were increased compared with that in the control group(P<0.01);the mRNA and protein expression of integrin α5,integrin β1,p38,and nuclear factor κB in the intervertebral discs of rabbits in the ultrasonic needle-knife group was decreased compared with that in the model group(P<0.01).To conclude,ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum can improve the degree of lumbar disc degeneration in rabbits,which may be related to the inhibition of p38 and nuclear factor-κB expression by modulating integrin α5 and β1 expression.
3.Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, Weakness in Limbs, Edema, and Dyspnea: A Rare Inflammatory Myopathy with Positive Aniti-mitochondrial Antibodies and Cardiac Involvement
Chunsu LIANG ; Xuchang ZHANG ; Ning ZHANG ; Lin KANG ; Xiaohong LIU ; Jiaqi YU ; Yingxian LIU ; Lin QIAO ; Yanli YANG ; Xiaoyi ZHAO ; Ruijie ZHAO ; Na NIU ; Xuelian YAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(1):248-255
This article presents a case study of a patient who visited the Geriatric Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital due to "palpitations, shortness of breath for more than 2 years, limb weakness for 6 months, edema, and nocturnal dyspnea for 2 months". The patient exhibited decreased muscle strength in the limbs and involvement of swallowing and respiratory muscles, alongside complications of heart failure and various arrhythmias which were predominantly atrial. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of multiple autoantibodies and notably anti-mitochondrial antibodies. Following a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with anti-mitochondrial antibody-associated inflammatory myopathy. Treatment involved a combination of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, along with resistance exercises for muscle strength and rehabilitation training for lung function, resulting in significant improvement of clinical symptoms. The case underscores the importance of collaborative multidisciplinary approaches in diagnosing and treating rare diseases in elderly patients, where careful consideration of clinical manifestations and subtle abnormal clinical data can lead to effective interventions.
4.Study on Compatibility and Efficacy of Blood-activating Herb Pairs Based on Graph Convolution Network
Jingai WANG ; Qikai NIU ; Wenjing ZONG ; Ziling ZENG ; Siwei TIAN ; Siqi ZHANG ; Yuwen ZHAO ; Huamin ZHANG ; Bingjie HUO ; Bing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):228-234
ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a prediction model for the compatibility of Chinese medicinal pairs based on Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN), named HC-GCN. The model integrates the properties of herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms to predict pairs with specific therapeutic effects. It serves as a demonstration by applying the model to predict and validate the efficacy of blood-activating herb pairs. MethodsThe training dataset for herb pair prediction was constructed by systematically collecting commonly used herb pairs along with their characteristic data, including Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target genes. Integrating traditional characteristics of herb with modern bioinformatics, we developed an efficacy-oriented herb pair compatibility prediction model (HC-GCN) using graph convolutional networks (GCN). This model leverages machine learning to capture the complex relationships in herb pair compatibility, weighted by efficacy features. The performance of the HC-GCN model was evaluated using accuracy (ACC), recall, precision, F1 score (F1), and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Its predictive effectiveness was then compared to five other machine learning models: eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), logistic regression (LR), Naive Bayes, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). ResultsUsing herb pairs with blood-activating effects as a demonstration, a prediction model was constructed based on a foundational dataset of 46 blood-activating herb pairs, incorporating their Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target gene characteristics. The HC-GCN model outperforms other commonly used machine learning models in key performance metrics, including ACC, recall, precision, F1 score, and AUC. Through the predictive analysis of the HC-GCN model, 60 herb pairs with blood-activating effects were successfully identified. Among of these potential herb pairs, 44 include at least one herb with blood-activating effects. ConclusionIn this study, we established an efficacy-oriented compatibility prediction model for herb pairs based on GCN by integrating the unique characteristics of traditional herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms. This model demonstrated high predictive performance, offering a novel approach for the intelligent screening and optimization of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, as well as their clinical applications.
5.National Multicenter Analysis of Serotype Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella in China, 2021—2022
Qianqing LI ; Yanan NIU ; Pu QIN ; Honglian WEI ; Jie WANG ; Cuixin QIANG ; Jing YANG ; Zhirong LI ; Weigang WANG ; Min ZHAO ; Qiuyue HUO ; Kaixuan DUAN ; Jianhong ZHAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1120-1130
To analyze the distribution of serotypes and antimicrobial resistance of clinical Non-duplicate A total of 605 Clinically isolated
6.Research progress on influencing factors and intervention strategies for family readiness for discharge of premature infants in NICU
Ping WEN ; Yuxi ZHAO ; Xiaoqing REN ; Yanzhi NIU ; Yongjiao KANG ; Junwen YANG ; Xiaoxi LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(9):1256-1260
The family readiness for discharge of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an important index to evaluate the safe discharge of premature infants, and a good family discharge readiness is the basic guarantee for the smooth recovery and healthy growth of premature infants. This article summarizes the concept, influencing factors, and intervention strategies of family discharge readiness for premature infants in NICU, in order to provide reference for the formulation and improvement of discharge readiness measures for premature infants in NICU.
7.Application and research prospects of experimental animal models of chronic stress
Xiaoqi YUE ; Yuting LI ; Miao JIANG ; Zigang ZHAO ; Chunyu NIU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(4):147-155
The effect and mechanism of chronic stress on psychosomatic diseases are important topics in stress research.The establishment of animal models to simulate human chronic stress is of great significance to investigations of stress responses,the pathogenesis of related diseases,clinical treatment,and drug development.In this paper,animal models of chronic stress commonly used in China and abroad are reviewed;the classification of stressors,animal selection,model construction,pathological manifestations,and evaluation indexes are summarized;and the advantages and disadvantages and application of various models are discussed.The paper provides a reference for the study and selection of models of chronic stress response.
8.Ferroptosis and its role during experimental acute lung injury
Huanrong GUO ; Jing WANG ; Zigang ZHAO ; Chunyu NIU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(8):99-106
Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic mode of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid-peroxide-accumulation-induced membrane lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial atrophy.It differs from other programmed cell deaths in its morphological and biochemical properties.Ferroptosis is regulated by a variety of metabolic pathways that are involved in the acute lung injury induced by hemorrhagic shock,ischemia-reperfusion,sepsis,and radiation.This article reviews the main regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury in various animal models with the aim of providing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of acute lung injury.
9.Role of NLRP3-pyroptosis in experimental sepsis-induced lung injury
Yuting LI ; Chunyu NIU ; Zigang ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(8):139-147
The Nod-like receptor pyrin domain-associated protein 3(NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis of pulmonary parenchymal and immune cells plays a key role in the pathogenesis of lung injury during sepsis.NF-κB,JAK2/STAT3 and MAPK signaling pathways are involved in NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.Targeting NLRP3-pyroptosis and its related signaling pathways,pharmacological interventions with Physalin B,schisandrin,erythropoietin,and physical therapies such as acupuncture at Zusanli and Feishu points,as well as NLRP3-specific inhibitors like ergolide,have all shown effective anti-septic effects in treating lung injuries.This article reviewed the roles and mechanisms of NLRP3-pyroptosis in sepsis-induced lung injury,as well as the experimental progresses made in targeting NLRP3 pyroptosis as a therapy.We aim to highlight the importance of NLRP3-pyroptosis as a target,providing insights for the prevention and treatment of sepsis-induced lung injury.
10.Analysis of Genes Related to Platelet Activation in Essential Thrombocythemia Based on Transcriptomics
Yan SUN ; Er-Peng YANG ; Yu-Meng LI ; Ji-Cong NIU ; Pei ZHAO ; Wei-Yi LIU ; Zhuo CHEN ; Ming-Jing WANG ; Teng FAN ; Xiao-Mei HU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(6):1814-1821
Objective:To analyze the genes related to platelet activation in essential thrombocythemia (ET)based on transcriptome sequencing technology (RNA-seq ),and to explore the potential targets related to ET thrombosis. Methods:Blood samples from ET patients and healthy individuals were collected for RNA-seq,and differentially expressed lncRNAs,miRNAs,and mRNAs were selected to construct a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Differential mRNAs in the regulatory network were enriched and analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO ) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).The real-time PCR method was applied to validate differential mRNAs on crucial signaling pathways.Results:A total of 32 lncRNAs (3 up-regulated,29 down-regulated),16 miRNAs (8 up-regulated,8 down-regulated),and 35 mRNAs (27 up-regulated,8 down-regulated)were identified as differentially expressed.Among them,5 lncRNAs,12 miRNAs,and 19 mRNAs constituted the regulatory network.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the differential mRNAs were related to the platelet activation signaling pathway,and there were 6 differential mRNAs related to platelet activation,namely F2R,ITGA2B,ITGB1,ITGB3,PTGS1,and GP1 BB,which were all up-regulated in their expression.RT-PCR results showed that the expression of five mRNAs including F2R,ITGA2B,ITGB1,ITGB3,and GP1BB were upregulated in ET patients compared with healthy subjects,and consistent with RNA-seq results,while PTGS1 expression was not significantly different.Conclusion:Differential mRNAs in ET patients are related to the platelet activation pathway,and F2R,ITGA2B,ITGB1,ITGB3,and GP1BB mRNAs may serve as novel targets associated with platelet activation in ET.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail