1.Unveiling the oral-gut connection:chronic apical periodontitis accelerates atherosclerosis via gut microbiota dysbiosis and altered metabolites in apoE-/-Mice on a high-fat diet
Gan GUOWU ; Lin SHIHAN ; Luo YUFANG ; Zeng YU ; Lu BEIBEI ; Zhang REN ; Chen SHUAI ; Lei HUAXIANG ; Cai ZHIYU ; Huang XIAOJING
International Journal of Oral Science 2024;16(3):515-527
The aim of this study was to explore the impact of chronic apical periodontitis(CAP)on atherosclerosis in apoE-/-mice fed high-fat diet(HFD).This investigation focused on the gut microbiota,metabolites,and intestinal barrier function to uncover potential links between oral health and cardiovascular disease(CVD).In this study,CAP was shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis in HFD-fed apoE-/-mice,as evidenced by the increase in plaque size and volume in the aortic walls observed via Oil Red O staining.16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant alterations in the gut microbiota,with harmful bacterial species thriving while beneficial species declining.Metabolomic profiling indicated disruptions in lipid metabolism and primary bile acid synthesis,leading to elevated levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid(TCDCA),taurocholic acid(TCA),and tauroursodeoxycholic acid(TDCA).These metabolic shifts may contribute to atherosclerosis development.Furthermore,impaired intestinal barrier function,characterized by reduced mucin expression and disrupted tight junction proteins,was observed.The increased intestinal permeability observed was positively correlated with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions,highlighting the importance of the intestinal barrier in cardiovascular health.In conclusion,this research underscores the intricate interplay among oral health,gut microbiota composition,metabolite profiles,and CVD incidence.These findings emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene as a potential preventive measure against cardiovascular issues,as well as the need for further investigations into the intricate mechanisms linking oral health,gut microbiota,and metabolic pathways in CVD development.
2.Based on the Rat Model of Wind-Cold Superficies Syndrome Model to Explore the Effect of the Ascending and Floating of Ephedrae Herba on the Efficacy of Tongxuan Lifei Prescription
Qinqin ZHANG ; Mengnan ZENG ; Bing CAO ; Beibei ZHANG ; Weisheng FENG ; Xiaoke ZHENG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(7):1830-1839
Objective Through the investigation of Tongxuan Lifei prescription and Tongxuan Lifei prescription to reduce Ephedrae Herba on the respiratory system,central system,urinary system,circulatory system and digestive system of model rats with wind-cold superficies symptoms,to explore the effect of the ascending and floating of Ephedrae Herba on the efficacy of Tongxuan Lifei prescription and to provide theoretical basis for clinical prescription.Methods 60 SD rats were randomly divided into normal group(CON),model group(M),paracetamol group(Y,0.455 g·kg-1),Ephedrae Herba group(MH,2.340 g·kg-1),Tongxuan Lifei prescription group(TX,4.326 g·kg-1)and Tongxuan Lifei prescription to reduce Ephedrae Herba group(TX-MH,3.920 g·kg-1),10 rats in each group.Except for the CON group,the rats of the groups were modeled with fan blowing and cold stimulation.The model was successful when the rats appeared in a state of crouching or condensed,decreased spontaneous activity,hunched back,sneezing,and elevated body temperature.After successful modeling,the corresponding drugs(10 mL·kg-1)were given respectively,and the rats in the CON and M group were given the same volume of distilled water for 4 consecutive days.The basic state of the rats was observed,ammonia induced cough,phenol red excretion and levels of inflammatory factors(IgE,IL-4,IFN-γ)in BALF,lung histopathological sections and oxidative stress(MDA,SOD and GSH-Px)levels were determined to investigate the effects of TX and TX-MH on the respiratory system.The effects of TX and TX-MH on the central system were investigated by the open field experiment,the sleep time of rats and the levels of inflammatory factors(IgE,IFN-γ,IL-4)in serum.The effects of TX and TX-MH on digestive system were investigated by gastrointestinal motility and levels of motilin(MTL),somatostatin(SST)and gastrin(GT)in plasma.The effects of TX and TX-MH on the urinary system were investigated by the levels of toe sweat secretion,urine volume,serum creatinine(CRE)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN).The effects on the circulatory system were investigated by the rat cardiac function and the levels of serum NO.Results TX could increase the body weight and decrease the body temperature of rats with wind-cold superficies symptoms;TX could stimulate the central system,improve the respiratory system,enhance the urinary-sweat system,and has no obvious effect on the circulatory system and digestive system.The effects of TX-MH on the respiratory system and the central system is obviously weakened,and the circulatory system and the digestive system are basically not affected.In general,the effect of TX is better than that of TX-MH,which indicates that the removal of Ephedrae Herba,the ascending and floating medicine,weakens the effect of TX on"promoting cold"and"xuanfei relieving cough".Conclusion The Ephedrae Herba's ascending and floating medicinal properties play an important role in the efficacy of Tongxuan Lifei prescription's"promoting cold"and"xuanfei relieving cough".
3.Analysis of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccine awareness and influencing factors among rural women in the Tacheng region of Xinjiang
Rui TANG ; Dou WANG ; Beibei ZENG ; Yan WANG
Journal of China Medical University 2024;53(8):712-718
Objective To assess cervical cancer and human papillomavirus(HPV)vaccine awareness and analyze the influencing fac-tors among rural Kazakh women aged 25 to 64 years in the Tacheng region of Xinjiang.Methods Overall 2000 rural Kazakh women(aged 25 to 64 years)were selected using a township-based cluster sampling method from the five townships in Toli County,Tacheng Region,for an interview-based questionnaire survey.Study participants were divided into screened and unscreened groups according to whether they had participated in screening in the past,and their cognitive levels were compared.Based on their cognitive scores,the study participants were divided into low-and high-cognitive groups,and the χ2 test and logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors.Results The awareness level of HPV and cervical cancer screening among the 1 885 study participants ranged from 1.91%to 13.32%,and was higher in the screened group than in the unscreened group(P<0.001).The analysis found that annual household income had an independent influence on the level of awareness of HPV and cervical cancer screening(P<0.001),and the level of awareness grad-ually increased with the increase in annual household income.The awareness rate of the HPV vaccine was>95%,and the willingness to vaccinate children was<10%.The analysis found that education level and annual household income independently influenced the level of awareness of the HPV vaccine(P<0.001),and women with high school education and an annual household income of 30 000 to 60 000 had a high rate of awareness of the HPV vaccine(OR=2.595,95%CI:1.069-6.302;OR=2.876,95%CI:1.630-5.076).Conclusion Rural Kazakh women in Tori County of Xinjiang have a low level of cervical cancer screening awareness,a high HPV vac-cine awareness rate,and a negative attitude toward HPV vaccination for their children.Educational level and annual household income are factors affecting the awareness level of cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination.Health education should be carried out according to local and individual needs to improve rural women's awareness levels and promote efficient implementation of cervical cancer preven-tion and control measures.
4.Regulation of Th17/Treg immune imbalance by β-sitosterol in an OVA-induced allergic asthma rat model
Jufang JIA ; Mengnan ZENG ; Beibei ZHANG ; Ru WANG ; Meng LIU ; Pengli GUO ; Qinqin ZHANG ; Fengyu ZHANG ; Xiaoke ZHENG ; Weisheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2023;39(12):2477-2482
Objective:To explore the interventional effect of β-sitosterol on ovalbumin(OVA)-induced allergic asthma rats and its potential mechanism.Methods:SD male rats were randomly divided into normal group(CON),model group(M),positive drug dexamethasone group(DEX,0.075 mg/kg)and β-sitosterol group(Sit,50 mg/kg).A rat model of allergic asthma was estab-lished by intraperitoneal injection of OVA with aluminum hydrogen solution,and nebulized inhalation of OVA to stimulate.Rats were given intragastric administration 30 min before aerosol challenge,and after continuous administration for 7 days,the indicators of cough and asthma and tracheal phenol red excretion were detected.HE staining was used to observe pathological changes of lung tis-sue.Flow cytometry was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS)generation,apoptosis level and ratios of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood.Biochemical method was used to detect contents of MDA,and activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px in rat lung tissues.ELISA was used to detect levels of Th17 and Treg-related cytokines(TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6,IL-17A,and IL-35).Results:Compared with model group,β-sitosterol significantly prolonged the incubation period of cough and gasp in rats with allergic asthma,reduced the frequency of cough and gasping,and promoted the excretion of phenol red in trachea;significantly reduced inflammatory infiltration in lung tissue of asthmatic rats;observably reduced MDA content in lung tissue,ROS of primary lung cell and apoptosis levels of asthmatic rats,increased the activities of T-SOD and GSH-Px;markedly reduced proportion of Th17 cells and levels of pro-inflammatory cyto-kines TNF-α,IL-4,IL-6 and IL-17A,increased proportion of Treg cells and levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-35.Conclusion:β-sitosterol can ameliorate airway inflammation and oxidative damage in OVA-induced allergic asthmatic rats,and its mecha-nism may be related to the regulation of β-sitosterol on Th17/Treg immune imbalance and oxidative stress response.
5.Analysis of important abnormal physical examination results for employees of third class a children's specialized hospital
Kexin SHUAI ; Beibei DENG ; Xianglian LI ; Xiwen ZENG ; Yun LI ; Huan WANG ; Rui FU
Modern Hospital 2023;23(12):1905-1907,1911
Objective To analyze the important abnormal results of physical examination of the staff in our hospital in recent 2 years,and to provide evidence for the health management of the staff in our hospital.Methods The physical examina-tion data of hospital staff in recent 2 years were retrospectively analyzed,and the important abnormal results were statistically ana-lyzed.Results A total of 3 584 employees participated in physical examination,including753 males and 2831 females.There were 92 cases with significant abnormal results,and the total detection rate was 2.57%.The detection rate of significant abnor-mal results was slightly lower in males(17cases,2.26%)than in females(75cases,2.65%),and the age of females[(48.89±19.53)years]was lower than that of males[(55.68±17.43)years].The age group with the most significant detec-tion rate of important abnormal results was 50-59 years old(3.07%),and the diseases detected by important abnormal results were as follows:There were 26 thyroid tumors,19 lung tumors,13 breast tumors,12 space occupying cases(3 liver,4 kidney,2 adrenal glands,1 adnexa,1 pancreas,1 mediastinum),9 vascular lesions,6 abnormal tumor markers,5 cervical lesions,1 tuberculosis,and 1 subdural hematoma.Among them,thyroid tumors,breast tumors,lung tumors and cervical lesions were the main cases in women,and vascular diseases,lung tumors,space-occupying lesions(liver and kidney)and thyroid tumors were the main cases in men.Conclusion Physical examination is of great significance in detecting important abnormal diseases.We should attach great importance to physical examination,detect serious diseases as early as possible,and strengthen health man-agement accordingly.
6.High frequency of alternative splicing variants of the oncogene Focal Adhesion Kinase in neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and breast.
Dawei XIE ; Zheng WANG ; Beibei SUN ; Liwei QU ; Musheng ZENG ; Lin FENG ; Mingzhou GUO ; Guizhen WANG ; Jihui HAO ; Guangbiao ZHOU
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(5):907-923
The characteristic genetic abnormality of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), a heterogeneous group of tumors found in various organs, remains to be identified. Here, based on the analysis of the splicing variants of an oncogene Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets that contain 9193 patients of 33 cancer subtypes, we found that Box 6/Box 7-containing FAK variants (FAK6/7) were observed in 7 (87.5%) of 8 pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas and 20 (11.76%) of 170 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). We tested FAK variants in 157 tumor samples collected from Chinese patients with pancreatic tumors, and found that FAK6/7 was positive in 34 (75.6%) of 45 pancreatic NENs, 19 (47.5%) of 40 pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, and 2 (2.9%) of 69 PDACs. We further tested FAK splicing variants in breast neuroendocrine carcinoma (BrNECs), and found that FAK6/7 was positive in 14 (93.3%) of 15 BrNECs but 0 in 23 non-NEC breast cancers. We explored the underlying mechanisms and found that a splicing factor serine/arginine repetitive matrix protein 4 (SRRM4) was overexpressed in FAK6/7-positive pancreatic tumors and breast tumors, which promoted the formation of FAK6/7 in cells. These results suggested that FAK6/7 could be a biomarker of NENs and represent a potential therapeutic target for these orphan diseases.
Female
;
Humans
;
Alternative Splicing
;
Breast Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology*
;
Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/therapeutic use*
;
Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics*
;
Neuroendocrine Tumors/genetics*
;
Oncogenes
;
Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism*
7.Construction and application of the procurement platform for reagents and consumables in Zhejiang disease control and prevention institutions
HAN Zongmei ; LI Minhong ; ZHOU Min ; ZENG Beibei ; JIANG Wen
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;35(5):448-451
Abstract
To further standardize the procurement management of reagents and consumables in disease control and prevention institutions in Zhejiang Province and facilitate incorruptible health building, the procurement management for reagents and consumables in Zhejiang disease control and prevention institutions was created by Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019. Based on three-layer architecture of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS, this platform, which is easy to perform, safe and practical, provides modular portal website services, and its main functions include procurement budget management, procurement plan management, order management, bidding management, contract management, execution-of-contract and acceptance, and payment management. This platform, which was initiated to be run on early 2020, was found to be improve the procurement efficiency, safe management costs, reduce the internal control risk, and facilitate the containment of COVID-19, which may provide the support to improving procurement management and laboratory capability in disease control and prevention institutions.
8.Ephedra Herb extract ameliorates adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome in rats via the CAMKK2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.
Yuhan ZHANG ; Mengnan ZENG ; Benke LI ; Beibei ZHANG ; Bing CAO ; Yuanyuan WU ; Shan YE ; Ruiqi XU ; Xiaoke ZHENG ; Weisheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2023;21(5):371-382
This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanisms of Ephedra Herb (EH) extract on adriamycin-induced nephrotic syndrome (NS), providing an experimental basis for the clinical treatment of NS. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and kidn injury molecule-1 were used to evaluate the activities of EH extract on renal function. The levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress were detected by kits. The levels of reactive oxygen species, immune cells, and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. A network pharmacological approach was used to predict the potential targets and mechanisms of EH extract in the treatment of NS. The protein levels of apoptosis-related proteins and CAMKK2, p-CAMKK2, AMPK, p-AMPK, mTOR and p-mTOR in the kidneys were detected by Western blot. The effective material basis of EH extract was screened by MTT assay. The AMPK pathway inhibitor (compound C, CC) was added to investigate the effect of the potent material basis on adriamycin-induced cell injury. EH extract significantly improved renal injury and relieve inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in rats. Network pharmacology and Western blot results showed that the effect of EH extract on NS may be associated with the CAMKK2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, methylephedrine significantly ameliorated adriamycin-induced NRK-52e cell injury. Methylephedrine also significantly improved the phosphorylation of AMPK and mTOR, which were blocked by CC. In sum, EH extract may ameliorate renal injury via the CAMKK2/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, methylephedrine may be one of the material bases of EH extract.
Rats
;
Animals
;
Doxorubicin/adverse effects*
;
Nephrotic Syndrome
;
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*
;
Apoptosis
9.Cytogenetic abnormalities and morphological changes of bone marrow in multiple myeloma: a pathological analysis of 151 cases
Hong CHEN ; Beibei ZENG ; Yuan ZHAO ; Yan XIE ; Mulan JIN
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2020;49(11):1136-1141
Objective:To investigate the relationship between six common cytogenetic abnormalities and bone marrow pathomorphology in multiple myeloma (MM).Methods:Bone marrow biopsy was performed on 151 newly-diagnosed MM patients. Meanwhile, myeloma cells were enriched by CD138 immunomagnetic beads, and then lq+, 13q-, 17p-, t(4;14), t (11;14), t (14;16) and other common genetic abnormalities were detected using interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The relationship between different genetic abnormalities and biopsy morphology was compared.Results:Of the 151 patients, 15 had extramedullary infiltration (9.9%). The rate of cytogenetic abnormalities was 76.2% (115/151), of which 1q+ accounted for 49.7% (75/151), 13q-39.1% (59/151), 17p-8.6% (13/151), t(4;14) 21.2% (32/151), t(11;14) 19.2% (29/151), and t(14;16) 2.0% (3/151). The proliferation patterns of MM plasma cells were nodular (48.3%, 73/151), interstitial (33.8%, 51/151) and diffuse (17.9%, 27/151). The morphology of plasma cells was mainly mature type (58.3%, 88/151), followed by juvenile type (20.5%, 31/151), intermediate type (15.9%, 24/151) and plasmacyte type (5.3%, 8/151). According to the mSMART risk stratification system, the proliferation pattern of myeloma cells in the high-risk group was mainly diffuse type, and the morphology was mainly immature and plasmacyte type. In the middle-risk group, mature type myeloma cells were mainly nodular proliferating. In the low-risk and negative group, mature type myeloma cells were mainly interstitial proliferating. There was no difference in the probability of different proliferation modes of intermediate type plasma cells in each group.Conclusions:The proliferation pattern and morphology of plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy combined with cytogenetic markers can more accurately predict the severity and prognosis of MM.
10.Relationship between oncolytic viral therapy and tumor microenvironment or body immunity
Beibei ZENG ; Wen ZHANG ; Binlei LIU ; Shangmei LIU
Cancer Research and Clinic 2018;30(6):423-425
The interaction between oncolytic virus (OV) and the tumor microenvironment or body immune system is critical to the outcome of antitumor therapy. The antitumor mechanism of OV is complex, which involves direct cytotoxic effects, immunogenicity change in tumor microenvironment, the role of tumor vasculature, and activating of the antitumor immunity response, to reach the goal of killing the tumor cells infected or uninfected, and confirming the continous favorable effects.


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