1.Nanomaterial-based Therapeutics for Biofilm-generated Bacterial Infections
Zhuo-Jun HE ; Yu-Ying CHEN ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; De-Liang LIU ; Meng-De LIU ; Jian-Hui GAO ; Ze CHEN ; Jia-Yu DENG ; Guang-Yan LIANG ; Li WEI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1604-1617
Bacterial biofilms gave rise to persistent infections and multi-organ failure, thereby posing a serious threat to human health. Biofilms were formed by cross-linking of hydrophobic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), such as proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA, which were synthesized by bacteria themselves after adhesion and colonization on biological surfaces. They had the characteristics of dense structure, high adhesiveness and low drug permeability, and had been found in many human organs or tissues, such as the brain, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skeleton. By releasing pro-inflammatory bacterial metabolites including endotoxins, exotoxins and interleukin, biofilms stimulated the body’s immune system to secrete inflammatory factors. These factors triggered local inflammation and chronic infections. Those were the key reason for the failure of traditional clinical drug therapy for infectious diseases.In order to cope with the increasingly severe drug-resistant infections, it was urgent to develop new therapeutic strategies for bacterial-biofilm eradication and anti-bacterial infections. Based on the nanoscale structure and biocompatible activity, nanobiomaterials had the advantages of specific targeting, intelligent delivery, high drug loading and low toxicity, which could realize efficient intervention and precise treatment of drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. This paper highlighted multiple strategies of biofilms eradication based on nanobiomaterials. For example, nanobiomaterials combined with EPS degrading enzymes could be used for targeted hydrolysis of bacterial biofilms, and effectively increased the drug enrichment within biofilms. By loading quorum sensing inhibitors, nanotechnology was also an effective strategy for eradicating bacterial biofilms and recovering the infectious symptoms. Nanobiomaterials could intervene the bacterial metabolism and break the bacterial survival homeostasis by blocking the uptake of nutrients. Moreover, energy-driven micro-nano robotics had shown excellent performance in active delivery and biofilm eradication. Micro-nano robots could penetrate physiological barriers by exogenous or endogenous driving modes such as by biological or chemical methods, ultrasound, and magnetic field, and deliver drugs to the infection sites accurately. Achieving this using conventional drugs was difficult. Overall, the paper described the biological properties and drug-resistant molecular mechanisms of bacterial biofilms, and highlighted therapeutic strategies from different perspectives by nanobiomaterials, such as dispersing bacterial mature biofilms, blocking quorum sensing, inhibiting bacterial metabolism, and energy driving penetration. In addition, we presented the key challenges still faced by nanobiomaterials in combating bacterial biofilm infections. Firstly, the dense structure of EPS caused biofilms spatial heterogeneity and metabolic heterogeneity, which created exacting requirements for the design, construction and preparation process of nanobiomaterials. Secondly, biofilm disruption carried the risk of spread and infection the pathogenic bacteria, which might lead to other infections. Finally, we emphasized the role of nanobiomaterials in the development trends and translational prospects in biofilm treatment.
2.Serological Investigation into the Infected Genotypes of Patients with Japanese Encephalitis in the Coastal Provinces of China
Zhang WEIJIA ; Zhao JIERONG ; Yin QIKAI ; Liu SHENGHUI ; Wang RUICHEN ; Fu SHIHONG ; Li FAN ; He YING ; Nie KAI ; Liang GUODONG ; Xu SONGTAO ; Yang GUANG ; Wang HUANYU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(7):716-725
Objective Genotypes(G)1,3,and 5 of the Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)have been isolated in China,but the dominant genotype circulating in Chinese coastal areas remains unknown.We searched for G5 JEV-infected cases and attempted to elucidate which JEV genotype was most closely related to human Japanese encephalitis(JE)in the coastal provinces of China. Methods In this study,we collected serum specimens from patients with JE in three coastal provinces of China(Guangdong,Zhejiang,and Shandong)from 2018 to 2020 and conducted JEV cross-neutralization tests against G1,G3,and G5. Results Acute serum specimens from clinically reported JE cases were obtained for laboratory confirmation from hospitals in Shandong(92 patients),Zhejiang(192 patients),and Guangdong(77 patients),China,from 2018 to 2020.Seventy of the 361 serum specimens were laboratory-confirmed to be infected with JEV.Two cases were confirmed to be infected with G1 JEV,32 with G3 JEV,and two with G5 JEV. Conclusion G3 was the primary infection genotype among JE cases with a definite infection genotype,and the infection caused by G5 JEV was confirmed serologically in China.
3.Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2(LECT2)regulates liver ischemia-reperfusion injury
Dong MENG-QI ; Xie YUAN ; Tang ZHI-LIANG ; Zhao XUE-WEN ; Lin FU-ZHEN ; Zhang GUANG-YU ; Huang ZHI-HAO ; Liu ZHI-MIN ; Lin YUAN ; Liu FENG-YONG ; Zhou WEI-JIE
Liver Research 2024;8(3):165-171
Background and aim:Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)is a significant challenge in liver trans-plantation,trauma,hypovolemic shock,and hepatectomy,with limited effective interventions available.This study aimed to investigate the role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2(LECT2)in hepatic IRI and assess the therapeutic potential of Lect2-short hairpin RNA(shRNA)delivered through adeno-associated virus(AAV)vectors. Materials and methods:This study analyzed human liver and serum samples from five patients under-going the Pringle maneuver.Lect2-knockout and C57BL/6J mice were used.Hepatic IRI was induced by clamping the hepatic pedicle.Treatments included recombinant human LECT2(rLECT2)and AAV-Lect2-shRNA.LECT2 expression levels and serum biomarkers including alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),creatinine,and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured.Histological analysis of liver necrosis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Results:Serum and liver LECT2 levels were elevated during hepatic IRI.Serum LECT2 protein and mRNA levels increased post reperfusion.Lect2-knockout mice had reduced weight loss;hepatic necrosis;and serum ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN levels.rLECT2 treatment exacerbated weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN).AAV-Lect2-shRNA treatment significantly reduced weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN),indicating thera-peutic potential. Conclusions:Elevated LECT2 levels during hepatic IRI increased liver damage.Genetic knockout or shRNA-mediated knockdown of Lect2 reduced liver damage,indicating its therapeutic potential.AAV-mediated Lect2-shRNA delivery mitigated hepatic IRI,offering a potential new treatment strategy to enhance clinical outcomes for patients undergoing liver-related surgeries or trauma.
4.Research progress of oral anticoagulants—cornerstone of atrial fibrillation treatment
Yan-Li XU ; Yan-Feng TIAN ; Zhao-Guang LIANG
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2024;33(3):337-340
Atrial fibrillation(AF)is one of the most common arrhythmias in clinical practice,accounting for about 1/3 of all hospitalized arrhythmic patients.With the increasing morbidity of AF and aggravation of aging of popula-tion,the number of AF patients will increase year by year.Long-term AF can cause a series of adverse clinical consequences such as stroke and heart failure,among which apoplexy is the most important cause of death and disa-bility of AF,while stroke is the most common manifestation of it.Therefore,the prevention of stroke in AF pa-tients through anticoagulation therapy has become the core strategy of AF treatment.In China,a considerable number of AF patients have not received effective anticoagulant therapy,which seriously affects the prognosis and normal life of AF patients.At present,there are many kinds of anticoagulant drugs.This article reviews the re-search progress of anticoagulant drugs.
5.Clinical efficacies of different surgical methods on elderly patients with lumbar tuberculosis
Shuai WANG ; Zhao-Liang DONG ; Shu-Ren LIU ; Chen-Guang JIA ; Lian-Bo WANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(7):619-623
Objective To explore the clinical efficacies of different surgical methods for elderly patients with lumbar tuberculosis.Methods The clinical data of 289 elderly patients with lumbar tuberculosis admitted to Hebei Chest Hospital from August 2018 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.According to surgical methods,the patients were divided into the posterior group(109 cases),the anterior and posterior combination group(81 cases),and the anterior group(99 cases).The time of bone graft and fusion,operation time,hospital stay,intraoperative blood loss,and complications of the three groups were collected and compared among the three groups.The spine Cobb angle was regularly determined,the correction degree was calculated;the levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),white blood cell count(WBC),and C-reactive protein(CRP)were collected and compared among the three groups;and the Frankel grading and visual analogue scale(VAS)scores of the three groups were compared.Results After a 2-year follow-up,there was no significant difference in the time of bone graft and fusion among the three groups(P>0.05),the anterior group had the shortest operation time,the posterior group had the shortest hospital stay,and the lowest intraoperative blood loss and incidence of complications,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The correction degree of the anterior and posterior combination group was better than that of the posterior group and the anterior group(P<0.05),and the Cobb angles after operation and at the last follow-up in the posterior group was better(P<0.05).The anterior and posterior combination group had better improvement effect on CRP and ESR at the last follow-up(P<0.05),the WBC level of the posterior group was lower(P<0.05).The proportions of patients in grade E of Frankel grading at the last follow-up in the three groups were higher than those after surgery(P<0.05);compared with the preoperative period,the VAS scores at the last follow-up of the three groups decreased(P<0.05),and the VAS score of the posterior group was lower(P<0.05).Conclusion The effects of anterior surgery,posterior surgery and anterior and posterior combined surgery in the treatment of elderly lumbar tuberculosis are good,and the approach method can be scientifically and reasonably formulated according to patients' physical condition to improve the clinical treatment effect.
6.Mechanism of Toxicity Reduction of Psoralidin Combined with Echinatin
Tingting LIU ; Longxin LIANG ; Guang XU ; Xiaohe XIAO ; Yanling ZHAO ; Zhaofang BAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(1):45-51
ObjectiveTo establish a model of inflammasome activation induced by psoralidin based on bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) in mice, and to explore the immunomodulatory effects of psoralidin combined with echinatin. MethodLipopolysaccharide (LPS) and psoralidin were used to activate inflammasomes, and after 4 h LPS stimulation, echinatin (40 μmol·L-1) was administered for pre-protection for 1 h, followed by stimulation with psoralidin (10, 20, 40 μmol·L-1) for 4 h. The protein expression of Caspase-1 p20 in cell supernatant and precursor (pro)-Caspase-1 and pro-interleukin(IL)-1β in cell lysate were simultaneously detected by Western blot. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the content of IL-β and TNF-α in the supernatant of BMDM
7.Identification and analysis of R1-MYB gene family in Rheum palmatum L. based on full-length transcriptome sequencing
Xia ZHAO ; Yuan-min LI ; Yi-min LI ; Guang-hui XIAO ; Ming-ying ZHANG ; Wen-ping CHENG ; Jing GAO ; Liang PENG ; Gang ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2023;58(5):1354-1363
As one kind of v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (MYB) transcription factors, R1-MYB (MYB-related) family plays an important role in plant growth and development, as well as environmental stress and hormone signal transduction. In this study, R1-MYB family genes in
8.Effects of orientation and distance of goats on blast lung injury characteristics on a plateau above 4500-meter.
Zhao-Xia DUAN ; Guan-Hua LI ; Jie-Yuan ZHANG ; Meng-Sheng DENG ; Kui-Jun CHEN ; Liang-Chao ZHANG ; Xiang-Yun CHENG ; Jing CHEN ; Guang-Ming YANG ; Jian-Min WANG
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2023;26(3):139-146
PURPOSE:
High explosives are used to produce blast waves to study their biological effects. The lungs are considered as the critical target organ in blast-effect studies. The degree of lung hemorrhaging is related to both the explosive power and the increased lung weight. We studied the characteristics of the biological effects from an air explosion of a thermobaric bomb in a high-altitude environment and the lethality and lung injury severity of goats in different orientations and distances.
METHODS:
Goats were placed at 2.5, 3, 4, and 5 m from the explosion center and exposed them to an air blast at an altitude of 4700-meter. A group of them standing oriented to the right side and the other group seated facing the explosion center vertically. The lung injuries were quantified according to the percentage of surface area contused, and using the pathologic severity scale of lung blast injury (PSSLBI) to score the 4 injury categories (slight, moderate, serious and severe) as 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The lung coefficient (lung weight [g]/body weight [kg]) was the indicator of pulmonary edema and was related to lung injury severity. Blast overpressure data were collected using blast test devices placed at matching locations to represent loadings to goats. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 26.0, statistical software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
RESULTS:
In total, 127 goats were involved in this study. Right-side-standing goats had a significantly higher mortality rate than those seated vertical-facing (p < 0.05). At the 2.5 m distance, the goat mortality was nearly 100%, whereas at 5 m, all the goats survived. Lung injuries of the right-side-standing goats were 1 - 2 grades more serious than those of seated goats at the same distances, the scores of PSSLBI were significantly higher than the seated vertical-facing goats (p < 0.05). The lung coefficient of the right-side-standing goats were significantly higher than those of seated vertical-facing (p < 0.05). Mortality, PSSLBI, and the lung coefficient results indicated that the right-side-standing goats experienced severer injuries than the seated vertical-facing goats, and the injuries were lessened as the distance increased. The blast overpressure was consistent with these results.
CONCLUSION
The main killing factors of the thermobaric bomb in the high-altitude environment were blast overpressure, blast wind propulsions and burn. The orientation and distances of the goats significantly affected the blast injury severity. These results may provide a research basis for diagnosing, treating and protecting against injuries from thermobaric explosions.
Animals
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Lung Injury/etiology*
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Blast Injuries
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Goats
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Explosions
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Lung/pathology*
9.Clinical and genetic analyses of Joubert syndrome in children.
Guang-Yu ZHANG ; Yun-Xia ZHAO ; Hui-Ling ZHAO ; Guo-Hao TANG ; Peng-Liang WANG ; Deng-Na ZHU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2023;25(5):497-501
OBJECTIVES:
To study the clinical and genetic features of Joubert syndrome (JS) in children.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data, genetic data, and follow-up data of 20 children who were diagnosed with JS in the Department of Children's Rehabilitation, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from January 2017 to July 2022.
RESULTS:
Among the 20 children with JS, there were 11 boys and 9 girls. The common clinical manifestations were developmental delay (20 children, 100%), abnormal eye movement (19 children, 95%), and hypotonia (16 children, 80%), followed by abnormal respiratory rhythm in 5 children (25%) and unusual facies (including prominent forehead, low-set ears, and triangular mouth) in 3 children (15%), and no limb deformity was observed. All 20 children (100%) had the typical "molar tooth sign" and "midline cleft syndrome" on head images, and 6 children (30%) had abnormal eye examination results. Genetic testing was performed on 7 children and revealed 6 pathogenic genes, i.e., the CPLANE1, RPGRIP1L, MKS1, CC2D2A, CEP120, and AHI1 genes.
CONCLUSIONS
For children with developmental delay, especially those with abnormal eye movement and hypotonia, it is recommended to perform a head imaging examination to determine the presence or absence of "molar tooth sign" and "midline cleft syndrome", so as to screen for JS to avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis. There are many pathogenic genes for JS, and whole-exome sequencing can assist in the diagnosis of JS.
Male
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Female
;
Humans
;
Child
;
Cerebellum
;
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics*
;
Kidney Diseases, Cystic/genetics*
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Eye Abnormalities/genetics*
;
Retina
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Retrospective Studies
;
Muscle Hypotonia/genetics*
10.Intestinal Cckbr-specific knockout mouse as a novel model of salt-sensitive hypertension via sodium over-absorption.
Qiong-Yu ZHANG ; Yan GUO ; Xiao-Liang JIANG ; Xing LIU ; Shu-Guang ZHAO ; Xian-Liang ZHOU ; Zhi-Wei YANG
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2023;20(7):538-547
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the value of CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice as a mouse model of salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH).
METHODS:
In the first part, 2-month-old CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice (CKO) and control CCKBRfl/fl mice (WT) were fed with normal diet (0.4% NaCl) or high salt diet (4% NaCl), separately for 6 weeks. In the rescue study, one week of hydrochlorothiazide or saline injection were treated with the CKO mice fed high salt diet. The blood pressure, biochemical indexes, and the expression of small intestinal sodium transporters (NHE3, NKCC1, eNaC) was detected. The organ injury markers (MMP2/MMP9) and the histopathological changes of kidneys were observed, whereas the changes of duodenal sodium absorption were detected by small intestinal perfusion in vivo.
RESULTS:
The CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice with high salt intake exhibited high blood pressure, increased duodenal sodium absorption and urinary sodium excretion, and with renal injury. The protein expression of NHE3, NKCC1 and eNaC were also significant increase in the intestine of CKO-HS mice. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide remarkably attenuated the elevated blood pressure by high salt absorption in the CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice, but no significant histopathological changes were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
These results support a crucial role of intestinal Cckbr deficiency on SSH development and the diuretic antihypertension effect in CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice. The CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice with the high salt intake may serve as a stable model of salt-sensitive hypertensive induced by sodium overloading.

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