1.The Xenomitochondrion Provides Extensive Supply for Mitochondrial Transplantation
Zhen YANG ; Wen-Peng LI ; Tian NIU ; Hui-Wen XUE ; Si-Xi ZHAO ; Xing-Bo ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(2):273-283
Mitochondria are organelles in eukaryotic cells that play a crucial role in cellular energy me-tabolism,oxidative stress,heat production,and signal transduction.Mitochondrial transplantation(MT)is currently one of the most advanced techniques for treating mitochondrial dysfunction and anti-aging re-search.This study aimed to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of xenogeneic MT by transplanting mitochondria from yak(Bos grunniens),domestic cattle(Bos taurus),and horse(Equus caballus)into mice(Mus musculus).The results demonstrated that mitochondria from yak,domestic cattle,and horse could be successfully transplanted into mice and maintained in various tissues and organs of the mice for at least 14 days,as confirmed by confocal imaging,digital PCR,and DNA sequencing.MT mice exhibi-ted positive biological effects,including increased ATP content and mitochondrial DNA copy number(P<0.05),with the maximum effect observed on day 7,which was sustained until day 14.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in MT mice significantly increased at 2 hours post-injection(P<0.05),then grad-ually decreased towards baseline levels by day 7 and day 14(P>0.05).These findings support the effec-tiveness of xenogeneic MT and suggest that the effects can be maintained for up to 14 days.This study provides scientific evidence for future clinical applications.
2.Mechanism of Lizhong decoction in treating cold-damp diarrhea through network pharmacology,molecular docking and animal experiments
Hao ZHANG ; Wen-wen MI ; Rong-xia GUO ; Chun NIU ; Bao-xia CHEN ; Peng JI ; Yan-ming WEI ; Fang YANG ; Zhen-he LI ; Yong-li HUA
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(8):1552-1561
Aim To explore the key components and mechanisms of Lizhong decoction in treating rats with cold-damp diarrhea based on network pharmacology,molecular docking technology and animal experiments.Methods By literature review and database collec-tion,the components of Lizhong decoction,therapeutic targets,and the mapping with diarrhea disease targets were conducted to construct an intersection target pro-tein-protein interaction network for screening core tar-gets,and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed to build an"active component-target-pathway"network,followed by molecular docking vali-dation.Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into the normal control group(K),model group(DG),Lizhong decoction group(LZDG),and Pulsatilla decoction group(BTDG).Subsequently,a rat cold-damp diar-rhea model was established using Senna combined with low-temperature high-humidity environment,and the rats were intervened with Lizhong decoction and Pul-satilla decoction.HE staining was used to detect path-ological changes in intestinal tissue,ELISA was em-ployed to measure the levels of peripheral blood IL-6,IL-10,IL-1 β,and TNF-α,and western blot was used to determine the expression of colon tight junction pro-teins.Results Network pharmacology initially identi-fied 125 compounds in Lizhong decoction,5 186 drug target components,438 disease targets,and 60"drug-disease"shared targets.GO and KEGG enrichment a-nalysis showed that signaling pathways such as IL-17 and TNF were highly enriched.Molecular docking in-dicated that the core components of the drug had good binding activity with corresponding key targets.Liz-hong decoction could effectively improve the clinical symptoms of rats with cold-damp diarrhea,and com-pared with the DG group,the diarrhea rate,diarrhea in-dex,and other related indicators also gradually de-creased to normal levels.Compared with the DG group,the LZDG group showed reduced inflammation levels and a recovery in energy metabolism levels.Conclusion It can regulate targets such as MMP9 and IL-17 signaling pathways through multi-components like Calycosin and formononetin to exert its therapeutic effect on cold-damp diarrhea.
3.The mechanism and application prospects of mitochondrial quality control in osteoarthritis
Liang WANG ; Yinshuan DENG ; Tao QU ; Chaoming DA ; Yunfei HE ; Rui LIU ; Weimin NIU ; Weishun YAN ; Zhen CHEN ; Shuo LI ; Zhiyun YANG ; Binbin GUO ; Xueqian LAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(2):282-288
Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.
4.The mechanism and application prospects of mitochondrial quality control in osteoarthritis
Liang WANG ; Yinshuan DENG ; Tao QU ; Chaoming DA ; Yunfei HE ; Rui LIU ; Weimin NIU ; Weishun YAN ; Zhen CHEN ; Shuo LI ; Zhiyun YANG ; Binbin GUO ; Xueqian LAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(2):282-288
Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.
5.Surgical techniques for the safe and rapid resection of primary or secondary sacral tumors located between the second and fourth sacral vertebrae
Gangcheng WANG ; Chongqing GAO ; Tao WANG ; Gaohua NIU ; Shijia ZHANG ; Zhi ZHANG ; Wanchao AI ; Lingjuan LI ; Liangliang DING ; Zhen ZHANG ; Guixiang ZHANG ; Lili GUO
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2025;47(10):1050-1056
Objective:To investigate the methods and skills required for the safe and swift removal of primary or secondary sacral tumors located between the second (inclusive) and fourth sacral vertebrae.Methods:The clinical images, pathology reports, surgical procedures, operation durations, intraoperative bleeding volumes, and postoperative functional follow-up data of 26 patients undergoing sacral tumor resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Hospital between May 2020 and February 2025 were retrospectively examined. Additionally, the safety measures for sacral tumor resection and techniques for expedited specimen removal were evaluated.Results:According to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, all 26 patients presented with sacral tumors located between the second (inclusive) and fourth sacral vertebrae. Specifically, 9 patients were diagnosed with primary sacral tumors, pathologically confirmed as chordomas, while 17 patients had secondary sacral tumors. Among the secondary tumor cases, 12 were attributed to recurrent rectal cancer invading the sacrum, and 5 were due to malignant teratomas invading the sacrum. The 26 patients underwent a treatment strategy that began with managing the relationship between the internal iliac artery, vein branches, and the tumor, followed by the resection of the sacrum. During surgery, the bilateral sciatic foramina were accurately positioned, and the presacral fascia was dissected subsequent to the fracture of the sacrum. Among the 26 patients, 9 underwent sacral tumor resection directly through the posterior sacral approach. The average operation time for these patients was (71.1±4.9) minutes, with average blood loss of (186.7±72.8) milliliters. On the other hand, 17 patients underwent sacral tumor resection by transitioning from the supine position to the prone knife position through a combined abdominal and sacral approach. The average operation time for this group was (213.5±19.3) minutes, with average blood loss of (480.0±93.0) milliliters, significantly longer than that of the posterior sacral approach. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 48 months, with a median of 20 months, ending on March 31, 2025. During this time, 26 patients achieved autonomous defecation with the aid of medication. None of the patients reported any functional movement disorders or pain in their lower limbs. It was observed that two out of the 26 patients developed distant metastasis, while the remaining 24 patients survived without any tumors.Conclusion:By pretreated the relationship between the internal iliac vessels and sacral tumors prior to resecting sacral tumors, utilizing the approach of initially fracturing the sacrum followed by rupturing the presacral fascia, the tumor can be entirely eliminated, resulting in a brief surgical procedure, reduced intraoperative bleeding, and minimal postoperative complications.
6.Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis of Demyelination in the Brain of Balb/c Mice Infected by Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Zhen NIU ; Xiaojie WU ; Liang YANG ; Zhixuan MA ; Junxiong YANG ; Ying FENG
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(2):293-300
[Objective]To investigate the demyelination induced by Angiostrongylus cantonensis(AC)infection in the brain of Balb/c mice and analyze the untargeted metabolomic changes in the corpus callosum,aiming to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.[Methods]Balb/c mice were randomly assigned to a control group(n=6)and an infection group(n=6).The infection group was orally administered 30 third-stage larvae of AC,while the control group received an equal volume of saline.Body weight,visual function,and behavioral scores were measured on post-infection 3,6,9,12,15,18,and 21 days to assess neurological alterations.After 21 days,brain tissues were harvested for immunofluorescence staining,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and transmission electron microscopy to examine morphological changes in brain myelin and retina.Metabolomics analysis was performed,and differential metabolites were identified using volcano plots and heatmaps.The distribution of fold changes and bar charts were used to profile the key metabolites.These differential metabolites were then subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis and regulatory network analysis.[Results]On the 9th day after AC infection,Balb/c mice showed a decline in neurological behavioral scores(P<0.05).By day 15,visual scores decreased(P<0.05),and by day 21,significant weight loss(P<0.001)and mortality were observed.Concurrently,transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence staining revealed significant myelin damage in the corpus callosum and a marked reduction in oligodendrocytes(P<0.001).HE staining showed severe retinal ganglion cell damage.Metabolomic analysis revealed that glycerophospholipids were the most abundant differential metabolites,with steroids and sphingolipids being relatively less abundant.Cholesteryl ester CE(20:2)was significantly upregulated(P<0.001),while phosphatidylmethanol(18:0_18:1)was significantly downregulated(P<0.01).KEGG enrichment and regulatory network analyses demonstrated that the differential metabolites were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways like steroid biosynthesis,bile secretion,and cholesterol metabolism,and were involved in key metabolic pathways such as sphingolipid metabolism,neural signal regulation,and glycerophospholipid metabolism.[Conclusions]AC infection affects the metabolic state of mice via multiple pathways,modifying the levels of metabolites crucial for myelination and myelin stability.Demyelination may be closely linked to the disruption of these key metabolic pathways,particularly the dysregulation of cholesterol and sphingolipid metabolism,potentially playing a central role in demyelination onset.Furthermore,alterations in phospholipid metabolism and abnormal nerve signaling regulation may exacerbate myelin damage.
7.Critical value of lifestyle risk factors for young and middle-aged patients with prediabetes progressing to diabetes: a scoping review
Tao NIU ; Fang ZHAO ; Chenqiu FENG ; Zhen YANG ; Xinmiao YU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(35):4881-4888
Objective:To conduct a scoping review on the critical values for lifestyle risk factors in young and middle-aged patients with prediabetes progressing to diabetes, so as to provide a reference for clinical screening, prevention, intervention, and patient self-management.Methods:Guided by the scoping review methodology and framework developed by Arksey et al., research questions were identified. Through systematic searches of Chinese and English literature databases, studies on risk factors in young and middle-aged patients with prediabetes progressing to diabetes published from the establishment of the database to August 11, 2024 were screened. Studies examining critical values for lifestyle risk factors were selected for data extraction, summary of findings, and qualitative analysis.Results:A total of 19 articles were ultimately included. Lifestyle risk factors encompassed diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, and step count. Specific indicators included daily sugar intake >25 grams, weekly exercise time <150 min, daily exercise time <30 min, weekly drinking ≥3 times with ≥180 ml of clear liquor per session, and daily step count <5 000 steps.Conclusions:There are different characteristics and critical values of the influence of various factors on the progress of diabetes. Future research should further standardize criteria and conduct large-scale, multicenter, long-term follow-up studies to establish optimal critical values for lifestyle factors, thereby providing evidence for diabetes screening, prevention, and intervention.
8.The Xenomitochondrion Provides Extensive Supply for Mitochondrial Transplantation
Zhen YANG ; Wen-Peng LI ; Tian NIU ; Hui-Wen XUE ; Si-Xi ZHAO ; Xing-Bo ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(2):273-283
Mitochondria are organelles in eukaryotic cells that play a crucial role in cellular energy me-tabolism,oxidative stress,heat production,and signal transduction.Mitochondrial transplantation(MT)is currently one of the most advanced techniques for treating mitochondrial dysfunction and anti-aging re-search.This study aimed to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of xenogeneic MT by transplanting mitochondria from yak(Bos grunniens),domestic cattle(Bos taurus),and horse(Equus caballus)into mice(Mus musculus).The results demonstrated that mitochondria from yak,domestic cattle,and horse could be successfully transplanted into mice and maintained in various tissues and organs of the mice for at least 14 days,as confirmed by confocal imaging,digital PCR,and DNA sequencing.MT mice exhibi-ted positive biological effects,including increased ATP content and mitochondrial DNA copy number(P<0.05),with the maximum effect observed on day 7,which was sustained until day 14.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in MT mice significantly increased at 2 hours post-injection(P<0.05),then grad-ually decreased towards baseline levels by day 7 and day 14(P>0.05).These findings support the effec-tiveness of xenogeneic MT and suggest that the effects can be maintained for up to 14 days.This study provides scientific evidence for future clinical applications.
9.Screening bile acid-related characteristic genes in IgA nephropathy based on bioinformatics analysis
Sailaiajimu GUZAILINUER· ; Guming ZOU ; Xinxin QI ; Peiyuan NIU ; Xuan HUANG ; Zhen LIU ; Suhua LI ; Chen LU
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2025;41(1):11-21
Objective:To screen bile acid-related characteristic genes in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) based on the feature gene selection algorithm in the machine learning method, aiming to exploring the molecular biological mechanisms and biomarkers of IgAN.Methods:The gene expression data and sample grouping information of GSE93798, GSE116626 and GSE35487 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Bile acid-related gene sequences were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). R language was used to identify differentially expressed genes between IgAN samples and healthy control samples. Candidate genes were obtained by intersecting differentially expressed genes and bile acid-related genes. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm in machine learning was used to screen the feature genes in the candidate genes as biomarkers, and the feature genes in the training set and validation set were analyzed by the rate of change index. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) method was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of identified bile acid related characteristic genes for IgAN. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyze the Spearman correlation between the characteristic genes and all other genes and their related metabolic pathways. The expression of disease-characteristic genes in the kidney tissues of IgAN rats was validated by real-time PCR.Results:Gene expression information from kidney tissue samples of 20 IgAN cases and 22 healthy controls were obtained from GEO database. A total of 204 bile acid-related genes including 24 pathways were obtained from MSigDB. The results of gene differential expression analysis showed that 333 genes in the kidney tissues of IgAN patients were differentially expressed compared with those of healthy controls, including 102 up-regulated genes and 231 down-regulated genes, among which 12 differentially expressed genes were related to bile acid genes, as follows: NR1H4,SLC23A1, ALDH8A1, FABP1, ALB, SLC27A2, DIO1, CYP8B1, BBOX1, PIPOX, AKR1C1 and SLC10A2. Five characteristic genes ( NR1H4, SLC23A1, FABP1, ALB and AKR1C1) were screened by LASSO regression algorithm.ROC analysis results showed that in GSE93798 cohort genes, the AUC of NR1H4, SLC23A1, FABP1 and ALB genes with differential expression was >0.95 respectively in diagnosing IgAN, and that of AKR1C1 genes with differential expression was >0.85 in diagnosing IgAN. The gene expression data of SLC23A1 in GSE35487 cohort was missing. ROC analysis results of other four genes showed that the AUC of differential expression of ALB gene for IgAN was >0.95 respectively, that of NR1H4 gene was >0.70, and that of both FABP1 and AKR1C1 gene was >0.60. In the GSE116626 cohort genes, the AUC of five disease characteristic genes ( NR1H4, SLC23A1, FABP1, ALB, AKR1C1) for diagnosing IgAN was >0.60, respectively. These results suggested that 5 characteristic genes have certain distinguishing ability between IgAN group and control group. GSEA results were displayed that the characteristic genes were related to butyric acid metabolism, propionic acid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, valine leucine and isoleucine degradation, fatty acid metabolism, etc. These results suggested that five characteristic genes might be related to IgAN through the above metabolic mechanisms. The verification results of five bile acid characteristic genes in the rat model of IgAN in the kidney tissue showed that the expressions of four genes, NR1H4, SLC23A1, FABP1 and ALB, were higher than those of the control group, and there was no statistical significance in the expression of AKR1C1 gene between the two groups. Conclusions:The expression of bile acid-related characteristic genes is abnormal in the kidney tissue of IgAN patients. Four bile acid-related differentially expressed genes, NR1H4, SLC23A1, FABP1 and ALB, are expected to be biomarkers for non-invasive diagnosis and therapeutic targets .
10.Application of quantitative electroencephalography in predicting post-stroke cognitive impairment
Wenxiao NIU ; Ying GAO ; Mengfan LI ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jinbiao ZHANG
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;33(5):362-365
Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a common complication of stroke, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Therefore, early and accurate prediction of PSCI is crucial for implementing targeted intervention measures. Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), as a non-invasive and objective neurophysiological technique, can provide objective basis for early prediction and targeted intervention of PSCI during the critical period of 72 hours to 1 month after stroke onset. This article reviews the current application status of qEEG in predicting PSCI, aiming to provide theoretical basis for early identification of patients with high-risk PSCI.

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