1.Effect of Epimedium brevicornu Ethanol Extract on Aging of Castrated Rats by Intervening in Mesenchymal Adipose-derived Stem Cells
Zuyu MENG ; Haiquan LIU ; Shaozi LIN ; Mei WANG ; Yiyao ZHANG ; Fang LIU ; Menghan LI ; Hongling CHEN ; Jiajia QIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):174-181
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which the ethanol extract of Epimedium brevicornu (EEBM) intervenes in mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to delay aging in castrated rats. MethodsForty-five 3-month-old SPF female SD rats were ovariectomized and randomly divided into model group, ADSCs treatment group, and ADSCs groups treated with low, medium, and high concentrations of EEBM (1, 50, 100 μg·L-1), referred to as the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups, with 9 rats in each group. After tail vein injection of 200 μL of the corresponding stem cell suspension, aging-related indicators including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p21), tumor suppressor gene (p53), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (Caspase-3), and lipofuscin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, the IL-6 content in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Lipofuscin, MDA, and IL-8 levels in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.01), while SOD content was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the ADSCs treatment group, lipofuscin and IL-8 levels in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). The MDA content was significantly decreased in the AE medium concentration group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, protein levels of p21, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3 in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the ADSCs treatment group, protein levels of p21, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3 in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the Bcl-2 protein level in the AE low concentration group was significantly increased (P<0.01). ConclusionThe results of this experiment show that EEBM-treated ADSCs or ADSCs may delay aging in castrated rats by inhibiting cell apoptosis, reducing cell cycle inhibitors and pro-inflammatory factors, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing oxidative reactions. Moreover, EEBM-treated ADSCs demonstrate stronger anti-aging effects than ADSCs alone. This study provides experimental evidence supporting the clinical use of EEBM to intervene in ADSCs and delay aging.
2.Mechanism of Yantiao Prescription in Treating Lipopolysaccharide-induced Acute Lung Injury Based on Arachidonic Acid Metabolic Pathways
Pengcheng LI ; Tianyang CHEN ; Rong FANG ; Anna ZHANG ; Sijia WU ; Wei LIU ; Qian WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):101-110
ObjectiveTo clarify the anti-inflammatory and lung-protective effects of Yantiao prescription on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI), and to explore the impact of Yantiao prescription on the metabolic pathways of arachidonic acid (AA) in vivo. MethodsThirty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the following groups based on body weight: normal group, model group, dexamethasone group (2 mg·kg-1), low-dose Yantiao prescription group (18 g·kg-1), and high-dose Yantiao prescription group (36 g·kg-1), with 6 mice in each group. The ALI mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The treatment groups received oral gavage once a day for 7 consecutive days, and serum and lung tissue were collected at the end of the experiment. The content of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to assess lung tissue pathology. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in lung tissue were measured. The content of AA metabolites in serum and lung tissue was measured by liquid chromatography triple quadrupole-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). ResultsCompared with the conditions in the normal group, the content of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01). The alveolar structure in mice was severely damaged, with markedly thickened alveolar walls and extensive inflammatory cell infiltration. The W/D ratio and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01). The content of AA metabolites, including prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), 11(S)-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid [11(S)-HETE], and 5-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) in serum and lung tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05), while the content of 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) in serum was significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the results in the model group, the content of serum pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the dexamethasone group, low-dose Yantiao prescription group, and high-dose Yantiao prescription group was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Mild thickening of alveolar walls, scattered inflammatory cell infiltration, and relatively intact tissue structure with improved alveolar architecture were observed. The W/D ratio and MPO activity in lung tissue were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The content of AA metabolites PGD2, PGE2, 11(S)-HETE, and 5-HETE in serum from the dexamethasone group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the content of 14,15-EET in serum significantly increased (P<0.01), and the content of 5-HETE in lung tissue significantly decreased (P<0.01). In the low-dose and high-dose Yantiao prescription groups, the content of AA metabolites PGD2, PGE2, 11(S)-HETE, and 5-HETE in serum and lung tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the content of 11,12-EET in both serum and lung tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05). ConclusionYantiao prescription has significant protective effects against LPS-induced ALI, which are related to its regulation of AA metabolic pathways in vivo.
3.Epidemic characteristics and prediction model analysis of chickenpox in Urumqi in 2014-2019
Zhimeng WANG ; Weiyi FANG ; Yaoqin LU ; Tudi ZULIPIKAER ; Wei CHEN ; Yilihamu SENAWAER ; Kailun ZHANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(1):53-56
Objective To construct an optimal prediction model of chickenpox in Urumqi, and to provide reference for formulating the prevention and control strategies of chickenpox. Methods The multivariate autoregressive moving average model (ARIMAX) and random forest model (RF) were established based on the monthly incidence of chickenpox in Urumqi from 2014 to 2018, and the monthly incidence of chickenpox in 2019 was used to test the models and evaluate their prediction effect. The prediction performance of the two models was compared, and the best model was selected to predict the incidence of chickenpox in Urumqi. Results The incidence of chickenpox in Urumqi showed a regular bimodal distribution with obvious seasonality, and it showed a slow upward trend from July 2014 to December 2019. The fitting model was ARIMA(0,1,0)(0,1,1)12, the root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) of ARIMAX model training set were 1.29 and 0.95, respectively, and the RMSE and MAE of the test set were 1.88 and 1.44, respectively. The training set RMSE and MAE of RF model were 1.56 and 1.56, respectively, and the test set RMSE and MAE were 4.83 and 3.96, respectively. Conclusion The performance of ARIMAX model is better than that of RF model, which can better predict the incidence trend of chickenpox in Urumqi. It is necessary to optimize the prediction model according to the actual situation and provide scientific guidance for the prevention and control of chickenpox.
4.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
5.Standardization of electronic medical records data in rehabilitation
Yifan TIAN ; Fang XUN ; Haiyan YE ; Ye LIU ; Yingxin ZHANG ; Yaru YANG ; Zhongyan WANG ; Meng ZHANG ; Xiaoxie LIU ; Yanyan YANG ; Bin ZENG ; Mouwang ZHOU ; Yuxiao XIE ; Guangxu XU ; Jiejiao ZHENG ; Mingsheng ZHANG ; Xiangming YE ; Fubiao HUANG ; Qiuchen HUANG ; Yiji WANG ; Di CHEN ; Zhuoying QIU
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2025;31(1):33-44
ObjectiveTo explore the data standard system of electronic medical records in the field of rehabilitation, focusing on the terminology and coding standards, data structure, and key content categories of rehabilitation electronic medical records. MethodsBased on the Administrative Norms for the Application of Electronic Medical Records issued by the National Health Commission of China, the electronic medical record standard architecture issued by the International Organization for Standardization and Health Level Seven (HL7), the framework of the World Health Organization Family of International Classifications (WHO-FICs), Basic Architecture and Data Standards of Electronic Medical Records, Basic Data Set of Electronic Medical Records, and Specifications for Sharing Documents of Electronic Medical Records, the study constructed and organized the data structure, content, and data standards of rehabilitation electronic medical records. ResultsThe data structure of rehabilitation electronic medical records should strictly follow the structure of electronic medical records, including four levels (clinical document, document section, data set and data element) and four major content areas (basic information, diagnostic information, intervention information and cost information). Rehabilitation electronic medical records further integrated information related to rehabilitation needs and characteristics, emphasizing rehabilitation treatment, into clinical information. By fully applying the WHO-FICs reference classifications, rehabilitation electronic medical records could establish a standardized framework, diagnostic criteria, functional description tools, coding tools and terminology index tools for the coding, indexing, functional description, and analysis and interpretation of diseases and health problems. The study elaborated on the data structure and content categories of rehabilitation electronic medical records in four major categories, refined the granularity of reporting rehabilitation content in electronic medical records, and provided detailed data reporting guidance for rehabilitation electronic medical records. ConclusionThe standardization of rehabilitation electronic medical records is significant for improving the quality of rehabilitation medical services and promoting the rehabilitation process of patients. The development of rehabilitation electronic medical records must be based on the national and international standards. Under the general electronic medical records data structure and standards, a rehabilitation electronic medical records data system should be constructed which incorporates core data such as disease diagnosis, functional description and assessment, and rehabilitation interventions. The standardized rehabilitation electronic medical records scheme constructed in this study can support the improvement of standardization of rehabilitation electronic medical records data information.
6.Value of different noninvasive diagnostic models in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices with significant portal hypertension in compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis
Cheng LIU ; Jiayi ZENG ; Mengbing FANG ; Zhiheng CHEN ; Bei GUI ; Fengming ZHAO ; Jingkai YUAN ; Chaozhen ZHANG ; Meijie SHI ; Yubao XIE ; Xiaoling CHI ; Huanming XIAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):263-268
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of different noninvasive diagnostic models in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices since there is a high risk of esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension, and to provide a basis for the early diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices. MethodsA total of 108 patients with significant portal hypertension due to compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who attended Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from November 2017 to November 2023 were enrolled, and according to the presence or absence of esophageal and gastric varices under gastroscopy, they were divided into esophageal and gastric varices group (GOV group) and non-esophageal and gastric varices group (NGOV group). Related data were collected, including age, sex, imaging findings, and laboratory markers. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; the least significant difference t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate the diagnostic value of five scoring models, i.e., fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), LOK index, LPRI, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR). The binary logistic regression method was used to establish a combined model, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was compared between the combined model and each scoring model used alone. The Delong test was used to compare the AUC value between any two noninvasive diagnostic models. ResultsThere were 55 patients in the GOV group and 53 patients in the NGOV group. Compared with the NGOV group, the GOV group had a significantly higher age (52.64±1.44 years vs 47.96±1.68 years, t=0.453, P<0.05) and significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransferase [42.00 (24.00 — 17.00) U/L vs 82.00 (46.00 — 271.00) U/L, Z=-3.065, P<0.05], aspartate aminotransferase [44.00 (32.00 — 96.00) U/L vs 62.00 (42.50 — 154.50) U/L,Z=-2.351, P<0.05], and platelet count [100.00 (69.00 — 120.00)×109/L vs 119.00 (108.50 — 140.50)×109/L, Z=-3.667, P<0.05]. The ROC curve analysis showed that FIB-4, LOK index, LPRI, and AAR used alone had an accuracy of 0.667, 0.681, 0.730, and 0.639, respectively, in the diagnosis of esophageal and gastric varices (all P<0.05), and the positive diagnostic rates of GOV were 69.97%, 65.28%, 67.33%, and 58.86%, respectively, with no significant differences in AUC values (all P>0.05), while APRI used alone had no diagnostic value (P>0.05). A combined model (LAF) was established based on the binary logistic regression analysis and had an AUC of 0.805 and a positive diagnostic rate of GOV of 75.80%, with a significantly higher AUC than FIB-4, LOK index, LPRI, and AAR used alone (Z=-2.773,-2.479,-2.206, and-2.672, all P<0.05). ConclusionFIB-4, LOK index, LPRI, and AAR have a similar diagnostic value for esophageal and gastric varices in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis and significant portal hypertension, and APRI alone has no diagnostic value. The combined model LAF had the best diagnostic efficacy, which provides a certain reference for clinical promotion and application.
7.Parkinsonism in Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy: Clinical Features and Biomarkers
Chih-Hao CHEN ; Te-Wei WANG ; Yu-Wen CHENG ; Yung-Tsai CHU ; Mei-Fang CHENG ; Ya-Fang CHEN ; Chin-Hsien LIN ; Sung-Chun TANG
Journal of Stroke 2025;27(1):122-127
8.Differentiating Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy From Alzheimer’s Disease Using Dual Amyloid and Tau Positron Emission Tomography
Hsin-Hsi TSAI ; Marco PASI ; Chia-Ju LIU ; Ya-Chin TSAI ; Ruoh-Fang YEN ; Ya-Fang CHEN ; Jiann-Shing JENG ; Li-Kai TSAI ; Andreas CHARIDIMOU ; Jean-Claude BARON
Journal of Stroke 2025;27(1):65-74
Background:
and Purpose Although amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) might provide a molecular diagnosis for cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), it does not have sufficient specificity for this condition relative to incipient Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To identify a regional amyloid uptake pattern specific to CAA, we attempted to reduce this overlap by selecting “pure CAA” (i.e., fulfilling the criteria for probable CAA but without tau PET AD signature) and “pure AD” (i.e., positive amyloid PET and presence of tau PET AD signature, but without lobar hemorrhagic lesions). We hypothesized that occipital tracer uptake relative to the whole cortex (WC) would be higher in patients with pure CAA and may serve as a specific diagnostic marker.
Methods:
Patients who fulfilled these criteria were identified. In addition to the occipital region of interest (ROI), we assessed the frontal and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) ROIs that are sensitive to AD. Amyloid PET uptake was expressed as the absolute standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and ROI/WC ratio. The diagnostic utility of amyloid PET was assessed using the Youden index cutoff.
Results:
Eighteen patients with AD and 42 patients with CAAs of comparable age were eligible. The occipital/WC was significantly higher in CAA than AD (1.02 [0.97–1.06] vs. 0.95 [0.87–1.01], P=0.001), with an area under curve of 0.762 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.635–0.889) and a specificity of 72.2% (95% CI 46.5–90.3) at Youden cutoff (0.98). The occipital lobe, frontal lobe, PCC and WC SUVRs were significantly lower in CAA than in AD. The frontal/WC and PCC/WC ratios did not differ significantly between the groups.
Conclusion
Using stringent patient selection to minimize between-condition overlap, this study demonstrated the specificity of higher relative occipital amyloid uptake in CAA than in AD.
9.Effect of mild hypercapnia during the recovery period on the emergence time from total intravenous anesthesia: a randomized controlled trial
Lan LIU ; Xiangde CHEN ; Qingjuan CHEN ; Xiuyi LU ; Lili FANG ; Jinxuan REN ; Yue MING ; Dawei SUN ; Pei CHEN ; Weidong WU ; Lina YU
Korean Journal of Anesthesiology 2025;78(3):215-223
Background:
Intraoperative hypercapnia reduces the time to emergence from volatile anesthetics, but few clinical studies have explored the effect of hypercapnia on the emergence time from intravenous (IV) anesthesia. We investigated the effect of inducing mild hypercapnia during the recovery period on the emergence time after total IV anesthesia (TIVA).
Methods:
Adult patients undergoing transurethral lithotripsy under TIVA were randomly allocated to normocapnia group (end-tidal carbon dioxide [ETCO2] 35–40 mmHg) or mild hypercapnia group (ETCO2 50-55 mmHg) during the recovery period. The primary outcome was the extubation time. The spontaneous breathing-onset time, voluntary eye-opening time, and hemodynamic data were collected. Changes in the cerebral blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery were assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound.
Results:
In total, 164 patients completed the study. The extubation time was significantly shorter in the mild hypercapnia (13.9 ± 5.9 min, P = 0.024) than in the normocapnia group (16.3 ± 7.6 min). A similar reduction was observed in spontaneous breathing-onset time (P = 0.021) and voluntary eye-opening time (P = 0.008). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the adjusted ETCO2 level was a negative predictor of extubation time. Middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity was significantly increased after ETCO2 adjustment for mild hypercapnia, which rapidly returned to baseline, without any adverse reactions, within 20 min after extubation.
Conclusions
Mild hypercapnia during the recovery period significantly reduces the extubation time after TIVA. Increased ETCO2 levels can potentially enhance rapid recovery from IV anesthesia.
10.Medical student selection interviews: insights into nonverbal observable communications: a cross-sectional study
Pin-Hsiang HUANG ; Kang-Chen FAN ; Alexander WAITS ; Boaz SHULRUF ; Yi-Fang CHUANG
Korean Journal of Medical Education 2025;37(2):153-161
Purpose:
Interviews play a crucial role in the medical school selection process, although little is known about interviewers’ non-verbal observable communications (NoVOC) during the interviews. This study investigates how interviewers perceive NoVOC exhibited by interviewees in two medical schools, one in Taiwan and the other in Australia. The study also explores potential cross-cultural differences in these perceptions.
Methods:
A 26-item questionnaire was developed using a Delphi-like method to identify NoVOC. Interviewers from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan (n=47 and N=78, respectively) rated these NoVOC between 2018 and 2021. Factor analyses identified and validated underlying factors. Measurement invariance across countries and genders was examined.
Results:
A total of 125 interviewers completed the questionnaire, including 78 from Taiwan and 47 from Australia. Using exploratory factor analysis, 14 items yielded reliable three factors “charming,” “disengaged,” and “anxious” (Cronbach’s α=0.853, 0.714, and 0.628, respectively). The measurement invariance analysis indicated that the factor models were invariant across genders but significantly different between the two countries. Further analysis revealed inconsistencies in interpreting the “anxious” factor between Taiwan and Australia.
Conclusion
The three distinct factors revealed in this study provide valuable insights into the NoVOC that interviewers perceive and evaluate during the interview process. The findings highlight the importance of considering non-verbal communication in selecting medical students and emphasize the need for training and awareness among interviewers. Understanding the impact of non-verbal behaviors can improve selection processes to mitigate bias and enhance the fairness and reliability of medical student selection.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail