1.Alterations in functional connectivity density resulted from mild cognitive impairment and their correlations with cognitive scores in various cognitive domains in Parkinson's disease patients
Qi WANG ; Haihua SUN ; Hengheng LIU ; Tianchi MU ; Xiaolu XU ; Lihuan LI ; Congsong DONG ; Zhenyu DAI ; Fei CHEN
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(8):777-784
Objective:To explore the alterations in functional connectivity density (FCD) resulted from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their correlations with cognitive scores in various cognitive domains in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).Methods:Forty-three PD patients admitted to Department of Neurology, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2022 to April 2024 were selected and divided into PD-MCI group (MoCA scores<26) and PD with normal cognition (PD-NC) group (MoCA scores≥26) according to Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Another 23 middle-aged and elderly healthy volunteers (HC group) matched with PD patients in age, gender and education level were recruited at the same period. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected and whole brain FCD was calculated. Differences of clinical data, whole brain FCD, and FCD in brain regions with significantly different FCD among the 3 groups were compared. Efficiency of FCD in brain regions with significantly different FCD between PD-MCI group and PD-NC group in differentially diagnosing PD-MCI and PD-NC was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Pearson correlation was used to the analyze the correlations of FCD in brain regions with significantly different FCD with MoCA score and cognitive scores in various cognitive domains.Results:Among the 43 patients, 23 were into the PD-MCI group and 20 into the PD-NC group. PD-MCI group had significantly lower scores in the visuospatial and executive function, abstraction, and delayed memory cognitive domains than PD-NC group ( P<0.05). Brain regions with significantly different FCD among the 3 groups were the right parahippocampal gyrus, left gyrus rectus, right rolandic operculum, left middle occipital gyrus, right precentral gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left medial superior frontal gyrus. Compared with the HC group, the PD-MCI group and PD-NC group had significantly increased FCD at the right parahippocampal gyrus, left gyrus rectus and right rolandic operculum, statistically decreased FCD at the right precentral gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, and left medial superior frontal gyrus ( P<0.05). Compared with the HC group, the PD-MCI group had significantly increased FCD at the left middle occipital gyrus ( P<0.05). Compared with the PD-NC group, the PD-MCI group had significantly decreased FCD at the right parahippocampal gyrus, and statistically increased FCD at the left middle occipital gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus ( P<0.05). Area under ROC curve (AUC) of FCD in brain regions with significantly different FCD in discriminating PD-MCI and PD-NC was 0.878, with sensitivity of 90.0% and specificity of 91.3%. FCD at right parahippocampal gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus and left middle frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with MoCA score ( P<0.05); FCD at right parahippocampal gyrus was positively correlated with cognitive scores in the visuospatial and executive function, and delayed memory domains ( P<0.05); FCD at left middle occipital gyrus was negatively correlated with cognitive scores in the executive function and visual-spatial skills, and abstraction domains ( P<0.05); FCD at the left medial frontal gyrus was negatively correlated with cognitive scores in the visuospatial and executive function, abstraction and delayed memory domains ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Abnormal FCD can be noted in some brain regions of PD patients, enjoying differences between PD-MCI patients and PD-NC patients. Combined FCD in brain regions with significantly different FCD has high value in differentially diagnosing PD-MCI and PD-NC, and FCD in brain regions with significantly different FCD is correlated with cognitive function changes in PD patients.
2.Cathepsin L inhibitor suppresses oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial cells by targeting mitochondria
Zhen HE ; Zhenyu KOU ; Lijie DONG ; Xiaorong LI
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2024;40(5):379-386
Objective:To explore the effect of cathepsin L (CTSL) inhibitor on apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and mitochondrial oxidative stress.Methods:RPE cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control group, hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) group, and H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group. The cells of H 2O 2 group and H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group were incubated in the medium containing 400 μmol/L H 2O 2 for 24 hours and 10 μmol/L CTSL inhibitor was added in H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group at the same time. The cells of normal group were routinely cultured cells. The follow-up experiment was carried out 24 hours after modeling. The rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of CTSL was detected by immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and real time-polymerase chain reaction. The level of mitochondrial super oxide was detected by MitoSOX fluorescent probe, and the mitochondrial structure was observed after MitoTracker staining, the average area, form factors, and branch of mitochondria were quantitatively analyzed. The two groups were compared using two-tailed Student t test, while numerous groups were compared using one-way ANOVA. Results:Compared with control group, the rate of apoptosis in H 2O 2 group was significantly higher ( t=3.307, P=0.029 7), the expression level of CTSL was significantly increased ( t=19.950, 6.916, 14.220; P<0.05). Compared with H 2O 2 group, the expression level of CTSL, the rate of apoptosis and the mitochondrial ROS level in H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group were significantly lower ( t=11.940, 4.718, 16.680; P<0.05). The mitochondria of H 2O 2+CTSL inhibitor group were elongated, oval-shaped or rod-shaped, while the mitochondria of H 2O 2 group lost their continuous contour shape and complete structure. The differences of the average area, form factors, and brach of mitochondria among 4 groups were statistically significant ( F=251.700, 34.010, 60.500; P<0.000 1). Conclusions:H 2O 2 can significantly induce apoptosis in RPE cells and increase CTSL expression. CTSL inhibitor can inhibit the H 2O 2-induced apoptosis of RPE cells, lower the mitochondrial super oxide level, and successfully repair the mitochondrial structure.
3.The effect of NDRG1 gene on the angiogenesis ability of retinal endothelial cells in vitro
Jingjing CAO ; Hui LI ; Zhenyu KOU ; Guijia WU ; Lijie DONG ; Mingfei JIAO
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2024;40(7):538-544
Objective:To observe the effects of NDRG1 on proliferation, migration and lumen formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells (RF/6A cells) in monkeys under high glucose condition. Methods:RF/6A cells were divided into normal group, mannitol group, high glucose group, small interfering RNA (siRNA) negative control group without target gene (siRNA group), 30 nmol/L siRNA down-regulated NDRG1 genome (siNDRG1 group) and 50 nmol/L siNDRG1 group. Normal group cells were cultured conventionally. The mannitol group was added with 25 mmol/L mannitol, and the high-glucose group was added with 25 mmol/L glucose. In the siRNA group, 25 mmol/L glucose was added, and then blank siRNA was added for induction. The 30 and 50 nmol/L siNDRG1 groups were added with 25 mmol/L glucose and induced with 30 and 50 nmol/L siRNDRG1, respectively. All cells were incubated for 24 h for follow-up experiments. Cell proliferation was observed by 4', 6-diaminidine 2-phenylindole staining. Cell counting kit-8 staining was used to detect cell activity. The expression level of NDRG1 mRNA and protein was detected by Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Cell migration was observed by cell scratch assay. Cell lumen formation assay was used to detect lumen formation. The two-tailed Student t test was used to compare the two groups. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups. Results:There were significant differences in cell proliferation rate ( t=36.659, 57.645) mobility rate ( t=24.745, 33.638) and lumen formation number ( t=41.276, 22.867) between high glucose group and normal group and mannitol group ( P <0.01). Compared with normal group and mannitol group, the relative expression levels of NDRG1 gene mRNA and protein in high glucose group were significantly decreased, with statistical significance ( t=46.145, 21.541, 36.738, 32.976; P<0.001). Compared with the siRNA negative group, the relative expression levels of NDRG1 gene mRNA and protein in 30 nmol/L siNDRG1 group and 50 nmol/L siNDRG1 group were significantly decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=44.275, 40.7577, 57.167, 25.877; P<0.01). Compared with normal group and siRNA group, cell mobility in 30 nmol/LsiNDRG1 group was increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=57.562, 49.522; P<0.01). Compared with normal group and siRNA group, the number of cell lumen formation in 30 nmol/LsiNDRG1 group was significantly increased in the same field of vision, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=63.446, 42.742; P<0.01). Conclusion:Down-regulation of NDRG1 gene can improve the activity, migration and lumen formation of RF/6A cells under hyperglycemia.
4.Navigation and quantitative evaluation strategies for tumor fluorescent surgery based on arti-ficial intelligence and medical big data
Jie TIAN ; Kun WANG ; Di DONG ; Zhenyu LIU ; Zeyu ZHANG ; Mengjie FANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2024;23(4):536-542
The development of molecular imaging has been going on for more than 20 years. During this period, a large number of new imaging technologies for molecular imaging have been proposed, but only a small number of them have successfully achieved clinical transformation, entered the actual clinical application and achieved significant clinical results. Among them, intraoperative navigation based on fluorescence molecular imaging and quantitative analysis technology based on medical imaging big data are being carried out in more and more clinical trials and have gradually won wide recognition. Through the in-depth integration of these two technologies with artificial intelligence, a series of research results have been achieved in multiple clinical diagnosis and treat-ment processes such as preoperative diagnosis, intraoperative navigation and postoperative prediction of digestive system tumors, providing new technical support in the field of medical imaging for the individualized diagnosis and treatment of patients with digestive system diseases.
5.Effects of salvage therapies for local recurrence of tumor following prostate cryoablation
Junliang ZHAO ; Diwei ZHAO ; Jun YANG ; Zhenyu YANG ; Xingbo LONG ; Jun WANG ; Dong CHEN ; Fangjian ZHOU ; Yonghong LI
Journal of Modern Urology 2024;29(1):41-45
【Objective】 To explore the effectiveness and safety of different salvage therapies for local recurrence of tumor following primary prostate cryoablation so as to provide the reference for the treatment of prostate similar cases. 【Methods】 The clinical data of patients with prostate cancer (cT1c-4N0M0) who received salvage therapy for local recurrence of tumor following primary prostate cryoablation in the Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center during June 2014 and Dec. 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Salvage therapies included local therapy (salvage radiotherapy, salvage cryoablation or salvage radical prostatectomy) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). 【Results】 Altogether 8 patients were involved. The median age was 71(63-76) years, the median prostate specific antigen (PSA) at the first diagnosis was 17.650(10.380-325.100) ng/mL, the median nadir post-cryoablation PSA was 0.041(0.003-0.541) ng/mL, and the median PSA at local recurrence was 3.030(2.090-19.180) ng/mL. Abnormal digital rectal examination was found in 3 cases, and radiographic evidence of local recurrence was found in 7 cases. Prostate biopsy was performed in 4 cases, 2 of which had positive results. The median follow-up after salvage therapy lasted for 54 (9-75) months. Four cases received salvage radiotherapy, 2 of which developed bloody stool, hematuresis and urinary tract infection, and recovered after conservative treatment; 1 case received salvage cryoablation without side effects; 1 case underwent radical prostatectomy and radiotherapy, developed lymphorrhagia and recovered after conservative treatment; 2 cases received ADT alone, one experienced hot flashes and recovered after conservative treatment, and the other progressed into castration-resistant prostate cancer after 63 months. No other progression or death occurred at the termination of follow-up. 【Conclusion】 Salvase therapy (salvage radiotherapy, salvage cryoablation, salvage radical prostatectomy) and ADT can be used for local recurrence of tumor following primary prostate cryoablation. However, large-scale prospective research is needed to confirm the effectiveness and safety of different therapies.
6.Suggestions on prevention throughout whole life cycle to curb the rapidly increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in the population
Shian YIN ; Caixia DONG ; Zhenyu YANG
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;58(1):107-113
Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become diseases that seriously threaten the health and quality of life of the Chinese population, and also become a major public health problem affecting the national economic and social development. With the intensification of China′s population aging, the economic burden caused by NCDs will further increase. More and more evidence has shown that NCDs could be prevented, and the prevention and control of NCDs have been considered as a core task of building a healthy China. Therefore, precise personalized nutrition and the prevention of NCDs from the age of zero, which is called the "Double Zero Strategy", would provide a well-consolidated basis for body tissue structure, and prevention of NCDs should also begin at age zero, and then extend to the first 1 000 days of life. The "Double Zero Strategy" preventive intervention can improve the nutritional status, balance diet and nutrition, and increase physical activity among children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly, all of which can reduce the risk of chronic disease, disability, and death. Therefore, launching the "Double Zero Strategy" for full life cycle prevention will help to achieve China′s health goals in the new era, and provide more comprehensive measures and plans for implementing the goal of a healthy China.
7.Silencing Nodal inhibits the biological behavior of retinal vascular endothelial cells under high glucose conditions
Jingjing CAO ; Zhenyu KOU ; Qing WANG ; Tongtong ZHUANG ; Lijie DONG ; Linni WANG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2024;40(2):136-141
Objective:To observe the effect of Nodal on the biological behavior of retinal vascular endothelial cells (RF/6A cells) in monkeys with high glucose.Methods:RF/6A cells were divided into normal group, mannitol group, high glucose group, high glucose combined with non-specific small interfering RNA treatment group (HG+NC group), high glucose combined with small interfering Nodal treatment group (HG+siNodal group). The transfection efficiency of siNodal was observed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blot protein immunoblotting. The effect of Nodal on the proliferation of RF/6A cells was detected by thiazole blue colorimetry. The effect of Nodal on migration ability of RF/6A cells was detected by cell scratch assay. The effect of Nodal on the formation of RF/6A cell lumen was measured by Matrigel three-dimensional in vitro. The expression of extracellular signal phosphorylated regulated kinase 1/2 (pERK1/2) in RF/6A cells was detected by western blot protein immunoblotting. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare groups.Results:Compared with HG+NC group, Nodal protein ( F=33.469) and mRNA relative expression levels ( F=38.191) in HG+siNodal group were significantly decreased, cell proliferation was significantly decreased ( F=28.548), and cell migration ability was significantly decreased ( F=24.182). The number of cell lumen formation was significantly decreased ( F=52.643), and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with HG+NC group, the relative expression of pERK1/2 protein in HG+siNodal group was significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant ( F=44.462, P<0.01). Conclusions:Silencing Nodal expression can inhibit proliferation, migration and tube formation of RF/6A cells induced by high glucose. It may act by inhibiting pERK1/2 expression.
8.Sampling study design and radiography protocol of a large-sample investigation on skeletal maturation in 3 to 18-year-old children in China
Kai LI ; Qian GAN ; Jian GENG ; Yimin MA ; Wenhai WANG ; Yandong LIU ; Qian ZHANG ; Zhenyu YANG ; Wenhua ZHAO ; Dong YAN ; Xiaoguang CHENG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2023;57(4):348-352
Objective:To report the sampling study design and radiography protocol of a large-sample investigation on skeletal maturation of 3 to 18-year-old children in China.Methods:Multi-stage stratified random sampling was employed in this study. Two provinces, municipalities, or autonomous regions were randomly selected from each of the seven regions of China, including Northeast China, Northwest China, North China, Central China, East China, Southwest China, and South China. Then one rural and one urban investigation site were randomly selected from each province, municipality, or autonomous region. In total 28 sites were included. Among those sites, four residential districts were randomly selected from each urban site, and four townships from each rural site. For each residential district or township, 1-4 kindergartens, primary schools, and middle schools were chosen. Random cluster sampling was used to extract 3-<6-year-old children in kindergartens, and 6-18-year-old children in primary schools and middle schools. The investigation on skeletal maturation was sampled proportionate to the sampling of the whole study. The estimated simple size was 780 for each site, and 21 840 for all 28 sites in total. There were six groups of 3-<6-year-old children classified at 0.5-year intervals, and 12 groups of 6-18-year-old children classified at 1-year intervals. Posteroanterior position radiography of the left hand and wrist was achieved for all subjects.Results:The study was performed from August 26, 2019 to October 16, 2021. In total, 20 444 children received posteroanterior position radiography of the left hand and wrist, including 10 196 males and 10 248 females, 9 711 urban and 10 733 rural, respectively. The 3-<6-year-old group included 1 611 (male 819, female 792) subjects, and the 6 to 18-year-old group included 18 833 (male 9 377, female 9 456) subjects.Conclusion:This nationwide investigation on skeletal maturation of 3 to 18-year-old children in seven regions of China was successfully preformed. The results of this study can provide an important reference for establishing the current evaluation criteria of bone age in Chinese children and adolescents.
9.Sarcomatoid carcinoma of renal pelvis: a case report
Kun LIU ; Antao DONG ; Zhenyu HUANG ; Liangliang LI ; Defu XING ; Peixing SONG
Chinese Journal of Urology 2023;44(1):62-63
Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the renal pelvis is rare. One case of sarcomatoid carcinoma of the left renal pelvis was reported. The patient was diagnosed as sarcomatoid carcinoma of left pyelonephrosis by left percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) and biopsy of left pyelonephrosis in another hospital due to left lumbar pain.The patient came to our hospital for laparoscopic left hemiculturectomy and was pathologically diagnosed as left renal pelvic sarcomatoid carcinoma. The patient suffered left retroperitoneal recurrence and bilateral lung metastasis 7 months after surgery and died of cachexia 10 months later.
10.Effect of high expression of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor on retinal microvascular endothelial cells
Jingli LIANG ; Zhenyu KOU ; Jingjing CAO ; Hui LI ; He TENG ; Aihua LIU ; Chuanli ZHANG ; Lijie DONG
Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases 2023;39(4):324-329
Objective:To observe the effect of high expression of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) on low concentration of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) induced human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs), and explore the possible mechanism.Methods:The HRMECs cultured in vitro were divided into 4-HNE treated group, PSF overexpression group combined with 4-HNE group (PSF+4-HNE group), PSF overexpression+ML385 treatment combined with 4-HNE group (PSF+ML385+4-HNE group), and 4-HNE induced PSF overexpression group with LY294002 pretreatment (LY294002+4-HNE+PSF group). Cell culture medium containing 10 μmmol/L 4-HNE was added into 4-HNE treatment group, PSF+4-HNE group, PSF+ML385+4-HNE group for 12 hours to stimulate oxidative stress. 1.0 μg of pcDNA-PSF eukaryotic expression plasmid were transfected into PSF+4-HNE group and PSF+ML385+4-HNE group to achieve the overexpression of PSF. Also cells were pretreated with ML385 (5 μmol/L) for 48 hours in the PSF+ML385+4-HNE group, meanwhile within the LY294002+4-HNE+PSF group, after pretreatment with LY294002, cells were treated with plasmid transfection and 4-HNE induction. Transwell detects the migration ability of PSF to HRMECs. The effect of PSF on the lumen formation of HRMECs was detected by using Matrigel in vitro three-dimensional molding method. Flow cytometer was used to detect the effect of PSF overexpression on reactive oxygen (ROS) level in HRMECs. Protein immunoblotting was used to detect the relative expression of PSF, nuclear factor E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein, and phosphoserine threonine protein kinase (pAkt) protein. The comparison between the two groups was performed using a t-test. Results:The number of live cells, migrating cells, and intact lumen formation in the 4-HNE treatment group and the PSF+4-HNE group were 1.70±0.06, 0.80±0.13, 24.00±0.58, 10.00±0.67, and 725.00±5.77, 318.7±12.13, respectively. There were significant differences in the number of live cells, migrating cells, and intact lumen formation between the two groups ( t=12.311, 15.643, 17.346; P<0.001). The results of flow cytometry showed that the ROS levels in the 4-HNE treatment group, PSF+4-HNE group, and PSF+ML385+4-HNE group were 816.70±16.67, 416.70±15.44, and 783.30±17.41, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups ( t=16.311, 14.833, 18.442; P<0.001). Western blot analysis showed that the relative expression levels of pAkt, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins in HRMECs in the 4-HNE treatment group, PSF+4-HNE group and LY294002+4-HNE+PSF group were 0.08±0.01, 0.57±0.04, 0.35±0.09, 0.17±0.03, 1.10±0.06, 0.08±0.11 and 0.80±0.14, 2.50±0.07, 0.50±0.05, respectively. Compared with the PSF+4-HNE group, the relative expression of pAkt, Nrf2, and HO-1 proteins in the LY294002+4-HNE+PSF group decreased significantly, with significant differences ( t=17.342, 16.813, 18.794; P<0.001). Conclusion:PSF upregulates the expression of HO-1 by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt pathway and inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and lumen formation induced by low concentrations of 4-HNE.

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