1.Cordycepin Inhibits Fat Infiltration after Rotator Cuff Tear Injury by Regulating Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Qiu'en XIE ; Dengwen LIANG ; Shao WU ; Xuhui HAO ; Liguang LIANG ; Bangxiang JIAN ; Junhong DONG ; Lei YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):98-106
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of cordycepin in inhibiting fat infiltration after rotator cuff injuries in rats by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, providing a theoretical basis for clinical treatment of rotator cuff injuries. MethodsFifty SPF-grade female SD rats were used in this study, with 10 randomly selected as the blank group. A rotator cuff injury repair model was established by supraspinatus tendon and suprascapular nerve compression. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model and low-dose (20 mg·kg-1), medium-dose (40 mg·kg-1), and high-dose (80 mg·kg-1) cordycepin groups. After 6 weeks of treatment, the gait analysis was performed to assess the limb function in rats. Oil red O staining and Masson staining were employed to observe pathological changes in the muscle tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was employed to detect the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), which are markers of adipogenesis. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, of Wnt3a, Wnt10b, and β-catenin. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed decreases in stride length and paw print area (P<0.01), an increase in ratio of wet muscle mass reduction and a decrease in muscle fiber cross-sectional area (P<0.05), and decreased ratios of fat infiltration area and collagen fiber area (P<0.01). Additionally, the model group showed elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05), up-regulated protein levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα (P<0.01), and down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Wnt3a, Wnt10b, and β-catenin (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the low-, medium-, and high-dose cordycepin groups showed increases in stride length and paw print area (P<0.01), a decrease in ratio of wet muscle mass reduction and an increase in muscle fiber cross-sectional area (P<0.05), and increases in ratios of fat infiltration area and collagen fiber area (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, cordycepin lowered the serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the protein levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα (P<0.01), and up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of Wnt3a, Wnt10b, and β-catenin (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionCordycepin can improve the limb function, alleviate rotator cuff muscle atrophy, fat infiltration, and fibrosis, and inhibit inflammation in rats by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
2.Phenomics of traditional Chinese medicine 2.0: the integration with digital medicine
Min Xu ; Xinyi Shao ; Donggeng Guo ; Xiaojing Yan ; Lei Wang ; Tao Yang ; Hao LIANG ; Qinghua PENG ; Lingyu Linda Ye ; Haibo Cheng ; Dayue Darrel Duan
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(3):282-299
Abstract
Modern western medicine typically focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emphasizes the interconnections of the body’s various systems under external environment and takes a holistic approach to preventing and treating diseases. Phenomics was initially introduced to the field of TCM in 2008 as a new discipline that studies the laws of integrated and dynamic changes of human clinical phenomes under the scope of the theories and practices of TCM based on phenomics. While TCM Phenomics 1.0 has initially established a clinical phenomic system centered on Zhenghou (a TCM definition of clinical phenome), bottlenecks remain in data standardization, mechanistic interpretation, and precision intervention. Here, we systematically elaborates on the theoretical foundations, technical pathways, and future challenges of integrating digital medicine with TCM phenomics under the framework of “TCM phenomics 2.0”, which is supported by digital medicine technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable devices, medical digital twins, and multi-omics integration. This framework aims to construct a closed-loop system of “Zhenghou–Phenome–Mechanism–Intervention” and to enable the digitization, standardization, and precision of disease diagnosis and treatment. The integration of digital medicine and TCM phenomics not only promotes the modernization and scientific transformation of TCM theory and practice but also offers new paradigms for precision medicine. In practice, digital tools facilitate multi-source clinical data acquisition and standardization, while AI and big data algorithms help reveal the correlations between clinical Zhenghou phenomes and molecular mechanisms, thereby improving scientific rigor in diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and personalized intervention. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including data quality and standardization issues, shortage of interdisciplinary talents, and insufficiency of ethical and legal regulations. Future development requires establishing national data-sharing platforms, strengthening international collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary professionals, and improving ethical and legal frameworks. Ultimately, this approach seeks to build a new disease identification and classification system centered on phenomes and to achieve the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic patterns.
3.Analyzing the influencing factors of occupational burnout among disease control and prevention staffs in Sichuan Province
Chaoxue WU ; Shuang DONG ; Liang WANG ; Xunbo DU ; Lin ZHAO ; Dan SHAO ; Quanquan XIAO ; Lijun ZHOU ; Chongkun XIAO ; Heng YUAN
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):288-292
Objective To assess the situation and influencing factors of occupational burnout among the staff at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Sichuan Province. Methods A total of 1 038 CDC staff members in Sichuan Province were selected as the study subjects using the stratified random sampling method. Occupational burnout of the staff was assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey via an online questionnaire. Results The detection rate of occupational burnout was 42.3% (439/1 038). Binary logistic regression analysis result showed that, after controlling for confounding factors such as education level and alcohol consumption, CDC staffs aged at 20-<31, 31-<41, and 41-<51 years were at higher risk of occupational burnout compared with those ≥51 years (all P<0.05). CDC staffs with 5-<10 or ≥10 years of service had higher occupational burnout risk compared with those with <5 years (both P<0.05). CDC staffs with poor or fair health status, irregular diet, and poor sleep quality had higher risk of occupational burnout compared with those healthy, have regular diet, and good sleep quality (all P<0.05). The risk of occupational burnout increased with higher overtime frequency (all P<0.05). Conclusion Occupational burnout among CDC staffs in Sichuan Province is relatively high. Age, years of service, health status, diet, sleep quality, and overtime frequency are key influencing factors.
4.Serum Metabolomics Characteristics of Chronic Atrophic Gastritis Patients with Liver-Stomach Qi Stagnation Syndrome and Spleen-Stomach Weakness Syndrome
Yu-Yi CHEN ; Juan-Juan LI ; Hong-Liang WANG ; Shao-Ju GUO ; Bin HUANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(1):7-16
Objective To analyze the metabolomics characteristics of chronic atrophic gastritis(CAG)patients with liver-stomach qi stagnation and spleen-stomach weakness syndromes based on non-targeted metabolomics technology,and to identify the serum differentiated metabolites related to traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome of CAG patients,so as to provide a reference for the objectification of syndrome differentiation.Methods Sixty patients with CAG were included,including 30 cases of liver-stomach qi stagnation syndrome and 30 cases of spleen-stomach weakness syndrome.Fasting blood of 5 mL was collected from the cubital vein of patients in the two groups,and the serum levels of metabolites were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS)methods.The principal component analysis(PCA),orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA),and cluster analysis were used to screen the differentiated metabolites of CAG patients with liver-stomach qi stagnation syndrome and spleen-stomach weakness syndrome.Finally,metabolite pathway analysis was performed for the obtained differentiated metabolites using the KEGG database.Results The results for the screening of differentiated metabolites showed that significant differences of amino acid derivatives and small peptide metabolites were presented between CAG patients with liver-stomach qi stagnation syndrome and CAG patients with spleen-stomach weakness syndrome.The amino acid derivatives consisted of N-acetylglycine,histamine,O-phosphoserine,selenomethylselenocysteine,and methyl-tyrosine.And the small peptide metabolites consisted of tyrosine-leucine-phenylalanine,histidine-alanine-glutamate-lysine,L-asparagine-L-proline-L-serine,and L-isoleucine-L-isoleucine.Conclusion Differences in amino acid metabolism exist between CAG patients with liver-stomach qi stagnation syndrome and those with spleen-stomach weakness syndrome,and metabolites such as N-acetylglycine,intermethyltyrosine,and O-phosphoserine may be the potential biomarkers for distinguishing liver-stomach qi stagnation syndrome from spleen-stomach weakness syndrome in CAG patients.
5.The clinical application value of different localization methods in thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary nodules
Shao GAO ; Xiaoliang HAN ; Liang WANG ; Keling YAO ; Jiadong XIA
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2024;33(2):171-175
Objective To compare the clinical application value of medical glue and a new-type medical anchor positioning needle in thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary nodules.Methods A total of 182 patients with pulmonary nodules,who received video-assisted thoracic surgery(VATS)at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University of China between January 2020 and December 2022,were enrolled in this study.Preoperative CT-guided localization of the pulmonary nodule was performed in all patients,including medical glue positioning in 89 patients(medical glue group)and anchor needle positioning in 93 patients(anchor needle group).The incidences of pneumothorax and bleeding,the time spent for positioning,the interval between localization and operation,the time spent for operation,and the radiation dose during localization process were recorded and the data were statistically analyzed.Results The success rate of positioning was 100%(93/93)in the anchor needle group and 96.7%(86/89)in the medical glue group.There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).The incidence of bleeding was 31.2%(29/93)in the anchor needle group and 15.7%(14/89)in the medical glue group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The incidence of pneumothorax was 30.1%(28/93)in the anchor needle group and 20.2%(18/89)in the medical glue group,and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).No statistically significant difference in the time spent for operation existed between the two groups(P>0.05).The time spent for positioning and the interval between localization and operation in the medical glue group were longer than those in the anchor needle group,and the radiation dose in the medical glue group was higher than that in the anchor needle group,and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion For the preoperative localization of ground glass opacity(GGO)or solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN),both medical glue positioning method and anchor needle positioning method have high clinical application value.The clinical and interventional physicians should adopt appropriate positioning method according to the patient's condition.
6.Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase: Possible Functions and Mechanisms
Xin-Rong LU ; Yong-Liang TONG ; Wei-Li KONG ; Lin ZOU ; Dan-Feng SHEN ; Shao-Xian LÜ ; Rui-Jie LIU ; Shao-Xing ZHANG ; Yu-Xin ZHANG ; Lin-Lin HOU ; Gui-Qin SUN ; Li CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):985-999
Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (ENGase) is widely distributed in various organisms. The first reported ENGase activity was detected in Diplococcus pneumoniae in 1971. The protein (Endo D) was purified and its peptide sequence was determined in 1974. Three ENGases (Endo F1-F3) were discovered in Flavobacterium meningosepticum from 1982 to 1993. After that, the activity was detected from different species of bacteria, yeast, fungal, plant, mice, human, etc. Multiple ENGases were detected in some species, such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Trichoderma atroviride. The first preliminary crystallographic analysis of ENGase was conducted in 1994. But to date, only a few ENGases structures have been obtained, and the structure of human ENGase is still missing. The currently identified ENGases were distributed in the GH18 or GH85 families in Carbohydrate-Active enZyme (CAZy) database. GH18 ENGase only has hydrolytic activity, but GH85 ENGase has both hydrolytic and transglycosylation activity. Although ENGases of the two families have similar (β/α)8-TIM barrel structures, the active sites are slightly different. ENGase is an effective tool for glycan detection andglycan editing. Biochemically, ENGase can specifically hydrolyze β‑1,4 glycosidic bond between the twoN-acetylglucosamines (GlcNAc) on core pentasaccharide presented on glycopeptides and/or glycoproteins. Different ENGases may have different substrate specificity. The hydrolysis products are oligosaccharide chains and a GlcNAc or glycopeptides or glycoproteins with a GlcNAc. Conditionally, it can use the two products to produce a new glycopeptides or glycoprotein. Although ENGase is a common presentation in cell, its biological function remains unclear. Accumulated evidences demonstrated that ENGase is a none essential gene for living and a key regulator for differentiation. No ENGase gene was detected in the genomes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and three other yeast species. Its expression was extremely low in lung. As glycoproteins are not produced by prokaryotic cells, a role for nutrition and/or microbial-host interaction was predicted for bacterium produced enzymes. In the embryonic lethality phenotype of the Ngly1-deficient mice can be partially rescued by Engase knockout, suggesting down regulation of Engase might be a solution for stress induced adaptation. Potential impacts of ENGase regulation on health and disease were presented. Rabeprazole, a drug used for stomach pain as a proton inhibitor, was identified as an inhibitor for ENGase. ENGases have been applied in vitro to produce antibodies with a designated glycan. The two step reactions were achieved by a pair of ENGase dominated for hydrolysis of substrate glycoprotein and synthesis of new glycoprotein with a free glycan of designed structure, respectively. In addition, ENGase was also been used in cell surface glycan editing. New application scenarios and new detection methods for glycobiological engineering are quickly opened up by the two functions of ENGase, especially in antibody remodeling and antibody drug conjugates. The discovery, distribution, structure property, enzymatic characteristics and recent researches in topical model organisms of ENGase were reviewed in this paper. Possible biological functions and mechanisms of ENGase, including differentiation, digestion of glycoproteins for nutrition and stress responding were hypothesised. In addition, the role of ENGase in glycan editing and synthetic biology was discussed. We hope this paper may provide insights for ENGase research and lay a solid foundation for applied and translational glycomics.
7.Allergy Associated With N-glycans on Glycoprotein Allergens
Yu-Xin ZHANG ; Rui-Jie LIU ; Shao-Xing ZHANG ; Shu-Ying YUAN ; Yan-Wen CHEN ; Yi-Lin YE ; Qian-Ge LIN ; Xin-Rong LU ; Yong-Liang TONG ; Li CHEN ; Gui-Qin SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):1023-1033
Protein as the allergens could lead to allergy. In addition, a widespread class of allergens were known as glycans of N-glycoprotein. N-glycoprotein contained oligosaccharide linked by covalent bonds with protein. Recently,studies implicated that allergy was associated with glycans of heterologous N-glycoprotein found in food, inhalants, insect toxins, etc. The N-glycan structure of N-glycoprotein allergen has exerted an influence on the binding between allergens and IgE, while the recognition and presentation of allergens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were also affected. Some researches showed thatN-glycan structure of allergen was remodeled by N-glycosidase, such as cFase I, gpcXylase, as binding of allergen and IgE partly decreased. Thus, allergic problems caused by N-glycoproteins could potentially be solved by modifying or altering the structure ofN-glycoprotein allergens, addressing the root of the issue. Mechanism of N-glycans associated allergy could also be elaborated through glycosylation enzymes, alterations of host glycosylation. This article hopes to provide a separate insight for glycoimmunology perspective, and an alternative strategy for clinical prevention or therapy of allergic diseases.
8.Effect of whey protein on hypoproteinemia in patients with peritoneal dialysis
Yaozhong SHAO ; Changna LIANG ; Yingzhou GENG ; Yinhong JIN ; Luyuan CHANG ; Jing LÜ
Journal of China Medical University 2024;53(2):166-171
Objective To compare the therapeutic efficacy of whey protein powder in peritoneal dialysis hypoproteinemia patients.Methods From August 2019 to August 2020,100 patients with peritoneal dialysis hypoproteinemia from the Peritoneal Dialysis Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were investigated.The patients were separated into 2 groups randomly;the study group were administered whey protein powder and the control group with high protein food.After 32 weeks of treatment,biochemical and biometric indices including hemoglobin(Hb),albumin(ALB),prealbumin(PA),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),phosphorus(P),low density lipoprotein(LDL),high density lipoprotein(HDL),serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),estimated glo-merular filtration rate(eGFR),total spKt/Vurea(TKt/V),total creatinine clearance rate(TCcr),hand grip strength(HG),triceps skinfold(TSF),arm circumference(AMC),mid-arm muscle circumference(MAMC)were compared between groups.Results Compared with 0 week,at 16 and 32 weeks,ALB,PA,and HG were significantly increased in the study group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,ALB,PA,and HG increased significantly at 16 and 32 weeks in the study group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in TG,TC,HDL,LDL,eGFR,TKt/V,and TCcr at 0,8,16,and 32 weeks between the control and study groups(P>0.05).Conclusion For patients with peritoneal dialysis hypoproteinemia caused by insufficient protein intake or excessive protein loss,the addition of whey protein during peritoneal dialysis can significantly improve the nutritional status of patients,with greater efficacy than a high protein diet alone.
9.Ultrasonic artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic system for diagnosing medullary thyroid carcinoma
Liu JIANG ; Lei CHEN ; Xiaoting ZHANG ; Chang LIU ; Zhenwei LIANG ; Xiuming SUN ; Yuhong SHAO ; Luzeng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2024;40(2):208-211
Objective To assess the effect of ultrasonic thyroid artificial intelligence(AI)-assisted diagnostic system(AI-assisted diagnostic system)for diagnosing medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC)compared with different physicians and taken papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)as the controls.Methods Totally 63 MTC,70 PTC and 62 benign thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology were enrolled.AI-assisted diagnostic system was utilized to analyze thyroid nodules and identify the likelihood of malignancy,and the probability value threshold was set at ≥0.40.All thyroid nodules were retrospectively reviewed and categorized by 3 physicians(1 senior physician,1 attending physician and 1 junior physician)according to Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system(C-TIRADS).The efficacy of AI-assisted diagnostic system and physicians for diagnosing MTC and PTC were evaluated.Results AI-assisted diagnostic system showed lower sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy,and area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing MTC and PTC compared with physicians.Significant differences of AUC were found between senior physician and AI-assisted diagnostic system,as well as between attending physician and AI-assisted diagnostic system for diagnosing MTC and PTC(all P<0.01),while no significant difference of AUC was between junior physicians and AI-assisted diagnostic system(both P>0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy and AUC for AI-assisted diagnostic system for diagnosing MTC were all lower than those for diagnosing PTC,but the AUC was not significantly different(P>0.05).Conclusion Ultrasonic thyroid AI-assisted diagnostic system had relatively high value for diagnosing MTC.
10.Progression in the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence with underactive bladder
Zilong LIANG ; Yifan SONG ; Haofeng PANG ; Jizong LYU ; Guanyu WU ; Yongxiang SHAO ; Lingchen KONG ; Baolin ZHUANG ; Weijun QIN ; Fei LIU
Journal of Modern Urology 2024;29(2):183-186
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and underactive bladder (UAB) are common types of lower urinary tract dysfunction in women.As the treatment mechanisms of the two conditions are contradictory, the treatment of SUI patients complicated with UAB remains a difficult clinical problem.In order to improve the treatment rate of such patients and promote research, this paper reviews the latest domestic and overseas diagnostic criteria of UAB, summarizes the treatment experience of conventional midurethral sling (tension-free vaginal tape or outside-in transobturator tape) and adjustable sling procedures (transobturator adjustable tape or Remeex system) combined with medication or intermittent catheterization, and the application prospects of cutting-edge technologies such as stem cell injection, cytokine therapy and gene therapy, so as to provide reference for clinicians and researchers.

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