1.Effects of androgens on cognitive function in castration male mice
Yaqi ZHANG ; Cancan HUI ; Fang REN ; Min XU ; Zilong JIANG ; Datong DENG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):455-461
ObjectiveTo establish a castrated male mouse model and to preliminarily investigate the effects of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on behavior, serum indices, and histopathological changes in castrated mice, as well as to explore the role of androgens in cognitive function. MethodsForty 6-month-old male C57/BL6J mice were randomly divided into sham operation group, castration group, testosterone propionate (0.5,1.0 mg/kg) treated group, with 10 mice in each group. Following castration and subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate at different doses (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) for TRT, learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze (MWM) test and the passive avoidance test. Serum testosterone and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were measured by ELISA, and histopathological changes in the hippocampus were examined using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. ResultsRoutine observations: there were no statistically significant differences in body weight among groups at any time point. MWM test: compared with castration group, sham operation group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) showed significantly reduced escape latency on days 4 and 5 (P0.05), while the number of platform crossings and the time spent in the target quadrant significantly increased (P0.05). Passive avoidance test: the number of passive avoidance errors significantly decreased in sham operation group and testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg)-treated group (P0.05), and the passive avoidance latency was significantly prolonged in sham-operated group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) (P0.05). Serum testosterone and serum BDNF assays: serum testosterone levels and serum BDNF concentrations significantly increased in sham operation group and testosterone propionate-treated groups (0.5, 1.0 mg/kg) (P0.01). HE staining: compared with sham operation group, neuronal density in all hippocampal subregions was slightly reduced in castration group; in the testosterone propionate (0.5 mg/kg)-treated group, neuronal arrangement in the CA1 and CA3 regions was improved and apoptotic cells were reduced compared with castration group; in testosterone propionate (1.0 mg/kg)-treated group, the pyramidal cell layer in the CA3 region was more compactly arranged, with fewer apoptotic cells than in castration group. ConclusionTRT improves learning and memory performance in castration male mice, potentially through modulation of hippocampal BDNF signaling pathways.
2.Effect and Mechanism of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus Lignans on Behavior of Schizophrenic Mice
Jiaqi LI ; Xi CHEN ; Siwei WANG ; Qi WANG ; Yiting LIU ; Ziyan GUO ; Zilong LUN ; Chengyi ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):65-71
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus lignans on schizophrenia induced by dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) in mice and to clarify its mechanism. MethodsMale mice of 4-6 weeks old were randomized into blank, model, positive drug, and low-, medium-, and high-dose (40, 80, 160 mg·kg-1, respectively) Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus lignans groups. The blank group was administrated with distilled water, and the other groups were injected with 0.5 mg·kg-1 MK-801 to induce schizophrenia symptoms. Meanwhile, risperidone was injected at 0.2 mg·kg-1 in the positive drug group, and mice in the intervention groups were injected with corresponding drugs for 14 consecutive days. The behavioral changes of mice were observed by autonomous activity test, open field test, forced swimming test, and water maze test. The levels of dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in the brain and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in peripheral blood were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes in the prefrontal lobe of mice were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the changes of the hippocampal tissue were observed by Nissl staining. The protein levels of silencing information regulatory factor 1 (SIRT1) and forkhead box protein O3a (FoxO3a) in the hippocampus of mice were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, low, medium, and high doses of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus lignans reduced the total number of autonomous activities, total distance in the open field test, immobile time in the forced swimming test, and levels of TNF-α and NF-κB in peripheral blood (P<0.05), while increasing the number of platform crossings in the water maze test and DA and 5-HT levels in the brain tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, risperidone and low, medium, and high doses of Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus lignans improve the neural cell morphology in the CA1 region, with full cells in neatly dense arrangement and exhibiting clear membrane boundary. Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus lignans inhibited the expression of SIRT 1 and FoxO3a in the hippocampus (P<0.05). ConclusionTo sum up, Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus lignans may improve the behavior of schizophrenic mice by activating the SIRT1/FoxO3a signaling pathway to exert neuroprotective effects.
3.Analysis of the trend and spatial clustering of lung cancer mortality in Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021
Zhentao FU ; Fan JIANG ; Zilong LU ; Jie CHU ; Xiaohui XU ; Bingyin ZHANG ; Fuzhong XUE ; Xiaolei GUO ; Aiqiang XU ; Jixiang MA
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(5):555-560
Objective:To understand spatial aggregation of lung cancer mortality and its changing trends over the past fifty years in different counties and districts of Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021.Methods:The mortality data of lung cancer were obtained from the death registration system of Shandong province and three retrospective surveys of death cause. The mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate were used to describe the changing trend of lung cancer in different years, and the contribution value of population factors and non-population factors in lung cancer mortality change was calculated by the mortality differential decomposition method. GeoDa 1.20 and ArcGIS 10.8 software were used for spatial autocorrelation analysis and visualization map display.Results:The crude mortality rate of lung cancer in Shandong Province showed a significant upward trend from 1970 to 2021, rising from 7.22 per 100 000 in 1970-1974 to 62.73 per 100 000 in 2020-2021, with an increase of 7.69 times. Meanwhile, the standardized mortality rate of lung cancer exhibited a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The differential analysis of lung cancer mortality in different years revealed that changes in crude mortality rates were the result of the combined effects of demographic and non-demographic factors. The proportion of population factors (aging population) leading to an increase in lung cancer mortality rate rose from 2.12% in 1990-1992 to 40.20% in 2020-2021. From a spatial distribution perspective, there were significant regional differences in lung cancer mortality rates among counties (cities, districts) in Shandong Province across different eras. Compared to the period of 1970-1974, the lung cancer mortality rates in all counties and districts in 2020-2021 showed a considerable increase, and there were noticeable changes in the areas of high-high and low-low clustering of lung cancer mortality rates across different eras.Conclusion:There have been significant temporal and spatial changes in the mortality rate of lung cancer in Shandong Province from 1970 to 2021. The crude mortality rate has shown an upward trend, while the standardized mortality rate increases first and then decreases. The concentration of lung cancer mortality rates in counties and districts has also undergone significant changes.
4.Pathogenesis,syndrome differentiation,and treatment of chronic prostatitis based on the"host-guest interaction-collateral disease"theory
Yi WEI ; Zhiming HONG ; Junfeng QIU ; Zilong CHEN ; Shengjie WANG ; Wenshuo CHEN ; Lianqin ZHANG ; Chunxiu CHEN
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(7):979-984
Chronic prostatitis,a common condition in andrology,is clinically characterized by a prolonged course,resistance to treatment,and frequent recurrence.In traditional Chinese medicine,it is classified under the categories of"turbid sperm,""overstrain strangury,"and"vaginal pain."Based on the"host-guest interaction-collateral disease"theory,we believe that healthy qi deficiency,latent pathogenic factors,and collateral obstruction are the primary pathological factors of this disease,which run through the entire process of chronic prostatitis occurrence and development.Accordingly,we propose that obstruction of collaterals and apathesia of the semen chamber are the core pathogenesis.The disease progression can be divided into three pathological stages:"deficiency,depression,and blood stasis."Spleen and kidney deficiency and malnutrition of collaterals form the pathological foundation.In the deficiency stage,treatment strategies involve reinforcing qi and nourishing the collaterals,using Fuzheng Yangrong Decoction.During disease progression,dampness and heat invasion,as well as collateral stagnation qi,are key contributors to disease progression.Thus,treatment focuses on clearing heat and dampness,promoting qi flow,and smoothing the collaterals,achieved with a modified Qiantongding Decoction.In the final stage,blood stasis and collateral obstruction dominate,warranting therapeutic strategies aimed at tonifying and removing blood stasis,addressing both the body and the collaterals simultaneously using the modified Guiling Huayu Decoction.Overall,the clinical treatment generally focuses on the concept of function through free flow,combination of unblocking and tonifying.This study provides a novel perspective and reference for clinical differentiation and treatment of chronic prostatitis.
5.Survey of prevalence of allocation of infection control professionals and their position competence in secondary,tertiary traditional Chinese medicine institutions of Beijing
Zilong ZHAO ; Cuizhen ZHANG ; Haiyan MA ; Bing ZHAO ; Yinghong WU
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(17):2691-2695
OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status of infection control departments setting,allocation of in-fection control professionals and their position competence in the secondary,tertiary traditional Chinese medi-cine institutions of Beijing.METHODS The questionnaire survey was conducted for all of the secondary and tertiary traditional Chinese medicine institutions in Beijing by Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Infection Man-agement Quality Control Center from Feb.17,2023 to Apr.11,2023.The content of the survey involved the in-formation of the hospitals,setting information of infection control departments and allocation of infection control professionals.RESULTS Totally 59 traditional Chines medicine medical institutions were involved in the survey,35(59.32%)were tertiary hospitals.The median of opened beds was 331(155,479)in the first quarter of 2023.The median of equipped infection control professionals was 4(3,5).The number of infection control professional e-quipped in 67.80%of the medical institutions conformed to requirements of"Notice regarding to further strength-en the management of infection control professionals allocation in medical institutions"released by The Joint Pre-vention and Control Mechanism of the State Council for the Response to the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Epi-demic in Aug.2021,with the ratio of infection control professionals to beds 1∶94.20.The principals in charge of the infection control department who had the qualifications for senior professional and technical position and en-gaged in infection control for more than 5 years accounted for 20.00%.Among the infection control professionals,nurses accounted for 49.17%,doctors 41.67%,other professionals 9.17%.CONCLUSIONS There is relatively adequate quantity of the infection control professional equipped in the secondary and tertia-ry medical institutions of Beijing,however,the principals in charge of the infection control department who had the qualifications for senior professional and technical position and engaged in infection control for more than 5 years are very scarce.It is necessary to further optimize the structure of the infection control professionals.
6.Effects of entecavir on tear secretion and tear film function in patients with hepatitis B virus infection
Weiping HU ; Liyang NI ; Huangfang YING ; Zilong ZHANG ; Yonggen XU
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2025;32(10):1509-1512
Objective:To analyze the effects of entecavir on tear secretion and tear film function in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 24 patients with HBV infection who received treatment with entecavir at the Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University from April to October 2022. The relevant examination results of dry eye in these patients were analyzed before medication and at 1 and 3 months after medication.Results:Before medication, 13 cases (54.17%) had dry eye, and 3 months after medication, 17 cases (70.83%) had dry eye. At 1 and 3 months after treatment with entecavir, the Ocular Surface Disease Index values of the patients were (13.83 ± 7.11) points and (15.29 ± 6.94) points, respectively. There was no significant difference in Ocular Surface Disease Index value between before and after treatment ( t = -0.24, -1.24, both P>0.05). At 1 and 3 months after treatment, the Schirmer I test results were (8.74 ± 2.40) mm and (8.21 ± 2.40) mm, respectively. The Schirmer I test results at 3 months after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment ( t = 2.12, P<0.05). At 3 months after treatment, the tear film break-up time was reduced to (7.63 ± 1.97) seconds, which was significantly shorter than the value recorded before treatment ( t = 2.12, P<0.05). At 3 months after treatment, the height of the tear meniscus was (0.21 ± 0.06) mm, which was significantly different from that measured before treatment ( t = 2.26, P<0.05).At 3 months after treatment, the red eye index increased compared with the value recorded before treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant ( t = -0.35, -0.94, both P>0.05). Conclusions:Patients with HBV infection are prone to developing dry eye syndrome. After treatment with entecavir, there may be a reduction in tear secretion and a decline in tear film function, which should be a concern for clinicians.
7.Research Progress on Artemisinin and Its Derivatives to Improve Female Reproductive Diseases
Jianying CHANG ; Mingyue WEI ; Jingjing LI ; Zilong CHEN ; Yujin MA ; Huifeng MA ; Lei ZHANG ; Tao JIANG ; Chuanxin LIU ; Hongwei JIANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(11):3386-3399
The female reproductive system is essential for sustaining reproductive endocrine homeostasis,however,its vulnerability to various endogenous and exogenous insults,including pathological conditions,pharmacological agents,genetic predispositions,and environmental factors,often results in compromised fertility.The existing protective approaches(including surgical interventions,hormonal replacement therapies,and assisted reproductive techniques)are constrained by several limitations,such as adverse therapeutic effects,technical complexities,and their incapacity to reverse ovarian senescence.Artemisinin and its derivatives(ARTs),characterized by their unique endoperoxide bridge configuration,have exhibited outstanding therapeutic performance across multiple domains including malaria treatment,anticancer therapy,inflammation modulation,and parasitic infection control.Emerging research has identified their novel protective capabilities against various reproductive system pathologies.This comprehensive review systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying artemisinin-based interventions in reproductive pathologies and evaluates their clinical translation prospects,thereby proposing innovative strategies for the development of next-generation fertility-protective agents with enhanced safety and efficacy profiles.
8.Overview of the Design and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine Tongue Diagnosis Equipment
Yakun ZHANG ; Zilong CUI ; Shuo ZHAO ; Yasong FENG ; Shuo WANG ; Dan WANG ; Chaoyi FANG ; Shaoxian WANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(6):1742-1749
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)tongue diagnosis has obvious advantages,but its strong subjectivity,susceptibility to environmental influences,and lack of a unified standard greatly affect the objectivity and accuracy of diagnostic results,and it is difficult to integrate into the modern scientific system.Therefore,developing tongue diagnosis equipment to objectively and normatively extract tongue image information,and simulating human brain thinking to construct an objective diagnostic model of TCM tongue image-disease syndrome,and promoting the quantitative and intelligent research of TCM tongue diagnosis have become the trend of future development.This article reviews the research status and application prospects of TCM tongue diagnosis equipment,in order to provide methodological references and research ideas for the research and application of this field.
9.The Role and Molecular Mechanism of Ginsenoside Rb1 in the Attenuation of Atherosclerosis through Suppression of Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation
Zhenni YANG ; Zilong ZHANG ; Jingang CUI ; Xiaoye DU ; Jing XU ; Minqi XIONG ; Yu CHEN ; Teng ZHANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(10):2889-2898
Objective To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1(Rb1)in regulating neutrophil extracellular trapping networks(NETs)to intervene in atherosclerosis(AS).Methods In vivo:an AS model was constructed with ApoE knockout mice superimposed on a high-fat diet.The pathological and morphological changes of aortic root plaques were observed by HE staining and oil red O staining;Immunofluorescence labelling of neutrophils citrullinated histones(Cit-H3)and macrophages as well as IL-1β at the aortic root plaque site were used to assess the inflammatory infiltration.In vitro:NETs induced by PMA and cholesterol crystals were taken as models respectively.Direct effect of Rb1 against NETs formation assessed by Sytox staining and immunofluorescence staining with Cit-H3 and myeloperoxidase.Rb1 on ROS levels was assessed by DCFH-DA.Rb1 on histone H3 citrulline modification was assessed by Western blotting.Results In vivo:Rb1 significantly inhibited plaque formation,lipid deposition(P<0.05)and intra-plaque inflammatory infiltration(P<0.05).In vitro:Rb1 significantly inhibited NETs formation(P<0.05),neutrophil ROS levels(P<0.05),and Cit-H3 levels(P<0.05).Conclusions Rb1 significantly inhibited AS progression by inhibiting plaque NETs formation,which may be partly through the inhibition of histone H3 citrullination resulting from activation of the neutrophil oxidative stress pathway.
10.Research Progress on the Mechanism of Action of Moxibustion in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension
Kuang YU ; Sai YING ; Zheng SUN ; Haitian SUN ; Run HONG ; Zilong ZHU ; Jianbin ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(5):609-614
This paper systematically sorts out the historical evolution and modern research progress of moxibustion in the treatment of essential hypertension.It analyzes the development of moxibustion in the treatment of hypertension from early experience to the for-mation of theory,from clinical exploration,initial systematization of clinical research to the current development results,reflecting the scientific and innovative transformation of moxibustion in the treatment of essential hypertension.It reveals that moxibustion can achieve antihypertensive effects through multiple pathways,including neuron-body fluid regulation,renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system reg-ulation,cell signaling pathway regulation,vascular homeostasis,and immune system function regulation,emphasizing its internal con-sistency from macroscopic syndrome differentiation to microscopic mechanism.Through systematic integration,it can not only highlight the unique advantages of moxibustion in"multi-dimensional adjustment",but also provide a new perspective for breaking through the single-target limitation of current antihypertensive drugs.

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