1.Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Modified Sinisan in Ameliorating Anxiety-like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress in Mice
Jie ZHAO ; Zhengyu FANG ; He XIAO ; Na GUO ; Hongwei WU ; Hongjun YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):70-79
ObjectiveTo elucidate the potential mechanism of modified Sinisan (MSNS) in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in mice at the metabolic level based on serum untargeted metabolomics and identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by MSNS. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into six groups: control, model, high-dose (2.4 g·kg-1) MSNS, medium-dose (1.2 g·kg-1) MSNS, low-dose (0.6 g·kg-1) MSNS, and positive control (fluoxetine, 2.6 mg·kg-1). Except the control group, the other groups were subjected to CRS for the modeling of anxiety. Mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage 2 h before daily restraint for 14 days. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and light/dark box (LDB) test. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) were measured via ELISA to assess stress levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to detect 9 metabolites in the brain tissue and serum metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was adopted to identify differential metabolites (VIP>1.0, P<0.05). MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed reductions in the central activity time and central distance in the OFT (P<0.05), the proportions of open-arm residence time and open-arm residence times in the EPM test (P<0.01), and the proportions of open box activity time and open box activity distance in the LDB test (P<0.05), which were increased in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in the serum (P<0.01), and the elevations were diminished in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups (P<0.05). UPLC-MS results indicated that compared with the control group, the model group presented declined DA, GABA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05, P<0.01) and raised Glu, NE, Kyn, and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, high-dose MSNS increased the GABA, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05) and lowered the Glu and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Untargeted metabolomics identified that 16 CRS-induced metabolic disturbances were reversed by MSNS. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSNS primarily modulated eight core pathways including alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, TCA cycle, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms involved multidimensional biological processes, including neurotransmitter homeostasis regulation, TCA cycle energy metabolism optimization, and inflammatory response suppression. ConclusionMSNS alleviates CRS-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by mitigating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, improving hippocampal neurotransmitter and tryptophan metabolic pathways, and regulating alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, and TCA cycle.
2.Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Modified Sinisan in Ameliorating Anxiety-like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress in Mice
Jie ZHAO ; Zhengyu FANG ; He XIAO ; Na GUO ; Hongwei WU ; Hongjun YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):70-79
ObjectiveTo elucidate the potential mechanism of modified Sinisan (MSNS) in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in mice at the metabolic level based on serum untargeted metabolomics and identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by MSNS. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into six groups: control, model, high-dose (2.4 g·kg-1) MSNS, medium-dose (1.2 g·kg-1) MSNS, low-dose (0.6 g·kg-1) MSNS, and positive control (fluoxetine, 2.6 mg·kg-1). Except the control group, the other groups were subjected to CRS for the modeling of anxiety. Mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage 2 h before daily restraint for 14 days. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and light/dark box (LDB) test. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) were measured via ELISA to assess stress levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to detect 9 metabolites in the brain tissue and serum metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was adopted to identify differential metabolites (VIP>1.0, P<0.05). MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed reductions in the central activity time and central distance in the OFT (P<0.05), the proportions of open-arm residence time and open-arm residence times in the EPM test (P<0.01), and the proportions of open box activity time and open box activity distance in the LDB test (P<0.05), which were increased in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in the serum (P<0.01), and the elevations were diminished in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups (P<0.05). UPLC-MS results indicated that compared with the control group, the model group presented declined DA, GABA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05, P<0.01) and raised Glu, NE, Kyn, and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, high-dose MSNS increased the GABA, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05) and lowered the Glu and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Untargeted metabolomics identified that 16 CRS-induced metabolic disturbances were reversed by MSNS. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSNS primarily modulated eight core pathways including alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, TCA cycle, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms involved multidimensional biological processes, including neurotransmitter homeostasis regulation, TCA cycle energy metabolism optimization, and inflammatory response suppression. ConclusionMSNS alleviates CRS-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by mitigating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, improving hippocampal neurotransmitter and tryptophan metabolic pathways, and regulating alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, and TCA cycle.
3.Impact of therapeutic plasma exchange intervention timing and liver injury periodization on the prognosis of pa-tients with exertional heat stroke
Zongzhong HE ; Min WANG ; Yuan ZHUANG ; Jie LIN ; Leiying ZHANG ; Liyang ZOU ; Lingling LI ; Chunya MA ; Xiaomin LIU ; Xiang QUAN ; Ying JIANG ; Mou ZHOU ; Hongjun KANG ; Yang YU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(7):728-733
Objective To explore the prognostic impact and clinical application value of therapeutic plasma exchange(TPE)intervention timing and liver injury periodization in patients with exertional heat stroke(EHS).Methods Data of 127 EHS patients from the First Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People′s Liberation Army from January 2011 to December 2023 were collected,then divided into the death group and the survival group based on therapeutic outcomes and into 5 stages according to the dynamic changes of ALT,AST,TBIL and DBIL.According to propensity score matching analysis,11 patients in the survival group and 12 patients in the death group were included in the statistical analysis,and 20 of them were treated with TPE.The changes in indicators and clinical outcomes before and after TPE were observed,in order to evaluate the impact of intervention timing on prognosis.Results Among the 23 patients,14 had no liver injury or could progress to the repair phase,resulting in 3 deaths(with the mortality rate of 21.43%),while 9 patients failed to pro-gress to the repair phase,resulting in 9 deaths(with the mortality rate of 100%),with significant differences(P<0.05).The mortality rate of the first TPE intervention before the third stage of liver injury was 23.08%(3/13),while that of interven-tion after reaching or exceeding the third stage was 85.71%(6/7),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion TPE should be executed actively in EHS patients combined with liver injury before the third phase to lock its pathological and physiological processes,thereby improving prognosis and reducing mortality.
4.Application analysis of two nutritional screening tools in nutritional status assessment of elderly inpatients
Jie LIU ; Jinjing LIU ; Guirong HE ; Xuejiao XIAN ; Hongjun YANG
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(17):2598-2602
Objective To evaluate the nutritional status of elderly inpatients by using the nutritional risk screening table 2002(NRS2002)and the short-form mini-nutritional assessment(MNA-SF),and to eval-uate the applicability of the two tools.Methods The general data were collected from the inpatients aged ≥80 years old by the random sampling method.They were divided into the two age groups:≥90 years old and<90 years old,and their nutritional status was assessed by using the two nutritional screening tools.Meanwhile,the fasting venous blood nutritional related indicators including albumin(Alb),hemoglobin(Hb),C-reactive protein(CRP),transferrin(TRF),prealbumin(PA)and retinol-binding protein(RBP)levels were detected.Furthermore the results conducted the correlation analysis.Results There were 404 cases(48.56%)of nutri-tional risk in the NRS2002 evaluation.The occurrence rate of nutritional risk in the ≥90 years old group was higher than that in the<90 years old group(P<0.01).There were 616 cases(74.04%)of malnutrition/risk of malnutrition in the MNA-SF evaluation.The incidence rate of malnutrition risk in the≥90 years old group was higher than that in the<90 years old group(P<0.01).With the serum ALB<30 g/L as the ref-erence standard,the applicabilities were compared between the two kinds of nutritional screening tools,the re-sults found that the two kinds of nutritional screening tools all were suitable for the nutritional status screen-ing of elderly inpatients.The area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC)of the MNA-SF for evaluating the nutritional status in the elderly inpatients was 0.814,the sensitivity and specificity were 75.7%and 87.7%respectively.AUC of ROC in NRS2002 for evaluating the nutritional status in the elderly inpatients was 0.805,the sensitivity and specificity were 88.6%and 62.2%respectively.The correla-tion analysis results of Hb,CRP,PA,RBP and TRF biochemical indexes with MNA-SF score and NRS2002 score showed that NRS2002 score and MNA-SF score were correlated with PA,RBP and TRF.Conclusion The incidence rate of nutritional risk in elderly inpatients is high.Both NRS2002 and MNF-SF nutritional screening tools are suitable for elderly inpatients and have high accuracy.Meanwhile,combining nutrition-related indicators to evaluate the nutritional status of elderly patients can improve the accuracy of nutritional assessment.
5.Genetic analysis and prenatal diagnosis for a Chinese pedigree affected with Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
Zhihua TANG ; Chunlan ZHENG ; Wenwen WANG ; Zhengxia HE ; Chanli ZHANG ; Yan WANG ; Qian MA ; Hongjun GUO
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(9):1072-1076
Objective:To explore the clinical phenotype and genetic etiology for a Chinese pedigree affected with Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).Methods:A pedigree with ADPKD diagnosed at the Department of Gynaecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in December 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the pedigree was collected, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the proband. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of the proband and her relatives. This study was approved by the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. KS-2018-KY-36).Results:Fetal ultrasonography showed increased volume and parenchymal echogenicity in both kidneys. The fetus was found to harbor c. 11098C>T (p.R3700C) and c.11039T>C (p.F3680S) compound heterozygous variants of the PKD1 gene, which were respectively inherited from its mother and father. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), both variants were predicted to be likely pathogenic (PM1+ PM2_Supporting+ PP3). Conclusion:The c. 11098C>T (p.R3700C) and c. 11039T>C (p.F3680S) compound heterozygous variants of the PKD1 gene probably underlay the ADPKD in the fetus. Above finding has provided guidance for the genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this pedigree.
6.A diagnostic prediction model for hypertension in Han and Yugur population from the China National Health Survey (CNHS).
Chengdong YU ; Xiaolan REN ; Ze CUI ; Li PAN ; Hongjun ZHAO ; Jixin SUN ; Ye WANG ; Lijun CHANG ; Yajing CAO ; Huijing HE ; Jin'en XI ; Ling ZHANG ; Guangliang SHAN
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(9):1057-1066
BACKGROUND:
The prevalence of hypertension is high among Chinese adults, thus, identifying non-hypertensive individuals at high risk for intervention will help to improve the efficiency of primary prevention strategies.
METHODS:
The cross-sectional data on 9699 participants aged 20 to 80 years were collected from the China National Health Survey in Gansu and Hebei provinces in 2016 to 2017, and they were nonrandomly split into the training set and validation set based on location. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to develop the diagnostic prediction model, which was presented as a nomogram and a website with risk classification. Predictive performances of the model were evaluated using discrimination and calibration, and were further compared with a previously published model. Decision curve analysis was used to calculate the standardized net benefit for assessing the clinical usefulness of the model.
RESULTS:
The Lasso regression analysis identified the significant predictors of hypertension in the training set, and a diagnostic model was developed using logistic regression. A nomogram with risk classification was constructed to visualize the model, and a website ( https://chris-yu.shinyapps.io/hypertension_risk_prediction/ ) was developed to calculate the exact probabilities of hypertension. The model showed good discrimination and calibration, with the C-index of 0.789 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.768, 0.810) through internal validation and 0.829 (95% CI: 0.816, 0.842) through external validation. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model was clinically useful. The model had a higher area under receiver operating characteristic curves in training and validation sets compared with a previously published diagnostic model based on Northern China population.
CONCLUSION
This study developed and validated a diagnostic model for hypertension prediction in Gansu Province. A nomogram and a website were developed to make the model conveniently used to facilitate the individualized prediction of hypertension in the general population of Han and Yugur.
Adult
;
Humans
;
Asian People
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Health Surveys
;
Hypertension/epidemiology*
;
Nomograms
;
Ethnicity
7.PBRM1 loss promotes PD-L1 secretion in renal cell carcinoma cells through TNF-α/exosome signaling axis
Hongjun XIE ; Xiaoyun GU ; Ke WANG ; Yanlin JIAN ; Lei LI ; Dalin HE ; Shan XU
Journal of Modern Urology 2023;28(1):65-70
【Objective】 To explore the expressions of PBRM1 and PD-L1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the molecular mechanism of PBRM1 regulating PD-L1, in order to provide experimental results for clinical immunotherapy. 【Methods】 The protein expressions of PBRM1 and PD-L1 were detected with immunohistochemistry, and their mRNA expressions were determined by analyzing TCGA database. Meanwhile, the relationship between overall survival and mRNA expressions of PBRM1 and PD-L1 were analyzed in TCGA database. The exosomes were extracted with exoEasy Maxi Kit. Expressions of exosomal biomarkers CD63 and CD9 were detected with Western blotting, and their morphology was observed with transmission electron microscope. PD-L1 expression after IFN-γ, IL-6 and TNF-α treatment was detected with Western blotting. 【Results】 The expression of PBRM1 was significantly lower in canver tissue than in paracancerous tissue (P<0.001). The loss rate of PBRM1 was up to 76.4%. PBRM1 expression was not correlated with PD-L1 expression. PBRM1 deletion activated TNF-α/exosome signaling pathway, leading to increase of PD-L1 secretion in exosomes, which was then transported to the outside of cells. 【Conclusion】 There is no relationship between PBRM1 and PD-L1 protein expressions in RCC. However, PBRM1 mutation can lead to inflammatory signaling pathway activation, inducing PD-L1 secretion, which is encapsulated in exosomes and transported to the outside of cells, and affects the response of immunotherapy.
8.Relationship between symmetry of lower limb function and gait symmetry in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury
Yiji WANG ; Hongjun ZHOU ; Zejia HE ; Genlin LIU ; Ying ZHENG ; Chunxia HAO ; Bo WEI ; Haiqiong KANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Xiaolei LU ; Yuan YUAN ; Qianru MENG
Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice 2023;29(6):639-645
ObjectiveTo observe the characteristics of gait symmetry and its influencing factors in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (ISCI). MethodsFrom May, 2018 to November, 2021, 34 patients with ISCI in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were divided into symmetrical injury of lower limb (SI) group and asymmetrical injury of lower limb (ASI) group according to the lower extremities motor score (LEMS). Three dimensional motion acquisition system and plantar pressure acquisition system were used for gait test. The symmetry indexes of step length, stance time and swing time were caculated. ResultsThe symmetry indexes of step length, stance time and swing time were significant lower in SI group than in ASI group (|t| > 2.619, P < 0.01). Stance time and swing time significantly correlated to the difference of bilateral LEMS in ASI group (r > 0.468, P < 0.01). Discriminant analysis showed that gait parameter equations were different for patients with different symmetry of lower limb injuries. ConclusionThe symmetry of lower limb motor function impacts gait symmetry for patients with ISCI, especially the difference value of bilateral total LEMS. Gait parameters can be used to determine the symmetry of lower limb injury in patients with ISCI.
9.Joint effects of meteorological factors and PM2.5 on age-related macular degeneration: a national cross-sectional study in China.
Jiayu HE ; Yuanyuan LIU ; Ai ZHANG ; Qianfeng LIU ; Xueli YANG ; Naixiu SUN ; Baoqun YAO ; Fengchao LIANG ; Xiaochang YAN ; Yang LIU ; Hongjun MAO ; Xi CHEN ; Nai-Jun TANG ; Hua YAN
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2023;28():3-3
BACKGROUND:
Weather conditions are a possible contributing factor to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of irreversible loss of vision. The present study evaluated the joint effects of meteorological factors and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on AMD.
METHODS:
Data was extracted from a national cross-sectional survey conducted across 10 provinces in rural China. A total of 36,081 participants aged 40 and older were recruited. AMD was diagnosed clinically by slit-lamp ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). Meteorological data were calculated by European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis and were matched to participants' home addresses by latitude and longitude. Participants' individual PM2.5 exposure concentrations were calculated by a satellite-based model at a 1-km resolution level. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models paired with interaction analysis were performed to investigate the joint effects of meteorological factors and PM2.5 on AMD.
RESULTS:
The prevalence of AMD in the study population was 2.6% (95% CI 2.42-2.76%). The average annual PM2.5 level during the study period was 63.1 ± 15.3 µg/m3. A significant positive association was detected between AMD and PM2.5 level, temperature (T), and relative humidity (RH), in both the independent and the combined effect models. For PM2.5, compared with the lowest quartile, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across increasing quartiles were 0.828 (0.674,1.018), 1.105 (0.799,1.528), and 2.602 (1.516,4.468). Positive associations were observed between AMD and temperature, with ORs (95% CI) of 1.625 (1.059,2.494), 1.619 (1.026,2.553), and 3.276 (1.841,5.830), across increasing quartiles. In the interaction analysis, the estimated relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) and the attributable proportion (AP) for combined atmospheric pressure and PM2.5 was 0.864 (0.586,1.141) and 1.180 (0.768,1.592), respectively, indicating a synergistic effect between PM2.5 and atmospheric pressure.
CONCLUSIONS
This study is among the first to characterize the coordinated effects of meteorological factors and PM2.5 on AMD. The findings warrant further investigation to elucidate the relationship between ambient environment and AMD.
Humans
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Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Air Pollutants/analysis*
;
Particulate Matter/analysis*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Macular Degeneration/etiology*
;
Meteorological Concepts
10.The pathogenesis and treatment of refractory Meige syndrome based on the theory of collateral disease
Yunmeng CHEN ; Hongjun YANG ; Zijun ZHAO ; Wei CHEN ; Yuan MENG ; Yixin HE ; Baolin YANG
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2022;44(6):601-605
Meige syndrome is one of the rare Diseases of neurology. It is a part of the group of segmental cranial dystonia, which affects more than two cranial muscle groups. Especially, blepharospasm is associated with another cranial dystonia. Currently, the etiology and pathogenesis of this disorder are not well-understood. Based on the theory of collaterals and the relationship between collateral disease and five zang organs,we try to classify the disease into the category of collateral disease, and hold that the mechasnism of disease is not only linked to brain, but also the five zang organs. The disorder of qi and blood leads to the "deficiency of qi and blood", "phlegm-damp" and "stagnant blood" in collateral. These pathological changes cause the deficiency of both qi and blood in brain marrow and tendon.We think that "unblocking and regulating the collterals"is the general program. Adjusting the five zang organs to heel the brain is the key point of the treatment. What's more, we create Tongmai Heluo Decoction to regulate qi and blood of the collateral. This decoction is composed of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction with some herbal medicine for tonifying qi and activating blood. By adjusting the middle energizer, the qi and the qi movement of five zang organs are well regulated. We use this decoction effectively on refractory Meige syndrome.

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