1.Research Progress on Emerging Signaling Pathways Related to Muscle Bone Symbiosis
Yandong LIU ; Qiang DENG ; Yanjun ZHANG ; Zhongfeng LI ; Randong PENG ; Tiefeng GUO ; Yurong WANG ; Bo CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(1):147-152
Osteoporosis is a systemic metabolic bone disease characterized by decreased bone mass, damage to bone tissue microstructure, increased bone fragility, and susceptibility to fractures, while sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive reduction in overall muscle mass and functional decline. Based on the common pathophysiological mechanism and close correlation between the two, the concept of "osteosarcopenia" has gradually emerged to describe the simultaneous attenuation of muscles and bones. Signaling pathways serve as important signal transmission channels between muscles and bones, and if abnormal, they can lead to osteosarcopenia. The aim of this article, therefore, is to review the signaling pathways related to osteogenesis and myogenesis, such as Hedgehog, Hippo, mTOR, MAPK, in order to provide new ideas for targeted treatment of osteosarcopenia.
2.Application of catheter fenestration technology in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma supplied by the right inferior phrenic artery
Rujian WANG ; Yutian JIANG ; Qiang FU ; Zhongfeng SHENG ; Yong CHEN ; Wenjin JIANG
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2024;33(10):1078-1082
Objective To investigate the feasibility and safety of using catheter fenestration technology in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)supplied by the right inferior phrenic artery(RIPA).Methods From March 2023 to May 2023,five HCC patients,whose HCC lesions were supplied by RIP A,received TACE by using catheter fenestration technology to accomplish the superselective catheterization of RIPA after the conventional microcatheter catheterization of RIPA failed.Results Superselective catheterization of RIPA and TACE were successfully accomplished in all the 5 patients,with a surgical success rate of 100%.The time spent for superselective catheterization of RIPA was(3.2±2.39)minutes.After TACE,the levels of the tumor indicators were decreased when compared with the pre-TACE values,while the liver function indexes showed no obvious damage.Based on the mRECIST criteria,PR was obtained in 3 patients and CR was obtained in 2 patients.None of the five patients developed serious adverse reactions.Conclusion In treating patients with HCC supplied by RIPA,the use of catheter fenestration technology can safely and effectively improve the success rate of superselective catheterization of RIPA during TACE.
3.Study on the pharmacodynamics and mechanism of Blumea balsamifera total flavonoids against acute myocardial infarction model rats
Yiting LYU ; Yichen WANG ; Yidong FENG ; Zhongfeng SHI ; Liang HAN ; Xiaoqi ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2023;34(11):1332-1336
OBJECTIVE To study pharmacodynamics and potential mechanism of Blumea balsamifera total flavonoids against acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model rats. METHODS AMI model of SD rats was established by ligating anterior descending branch of left coronary artery. Fifty model rats were randomly divided into model group (0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose solution), positive control group (Compound danshen tablet, 300 mg/kg), B. balsamifera total flavonoids low-dose, medium-dose and high- dose groups (3, 10, 30 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. Other 10 rats were included in sham operation group (0.8% carboxymethyl cellulose solution). After 1 day of surgery, they were given relevant medicine 3 mL/kg intragastrically, once a day, for 4 consecutive weeks. The changes of S-T segment were recorded before and after operation, after weekly intragastric administration. The hemodynamic indexes of rats were all determined, i.e. systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end diastolic blood pressure (LVEDP), maximal left ventricular pressure rising rate (+LVdp/dtmax), maximal left ventricular pressure decreasing rate (-LVdp/ dtmax). The levels of serum myocardial enzymes [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB)] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β] were determined. The myocardial infarction rate of rats and the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) proteins in myocardial tissue were determined. RESULTS Compared with model group, S-T segments of electrocardiogram were all decreased significantly in administration groups (P<0.05). SBP, DBP, MAP, LVSP, +LVdp/dtmax, -LVdp/dtmax, and ratio of p-PI3KTyr607/ PI3K, p-AktThr308/Akt, p-Aktser473/Akt were increased significantly in B. balsamifera total flavonoids medium-dose and high-dose groups (P<0.05). The levels of LVEDP, serum myocardial enzymes and inflammatory factors, myocardial infarction rate were all decreased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS balsamifera total flavonoids can improve cardiac function of AMI model rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factor and activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
4.Detection of plasma interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, D-dimer and fibrinogen among 96 patients with pneumoconiosis
ZHANG Shaofeng ; LI Zhiheng ; WANG Zhongfeng
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;35(4):320-322
Objective:
To investigate the plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer (D-D) and fibrinogen (Fib) among patients with pneumoconiosis, so as to provide insights into the prevention of thrombosis among patients with pneumoconiosis.
Methods:
Ninety-six male coal workers with stable-stage pneumoconiosis admitted to China Pingmei Shenma Group Occupational Disease Prevention and Control Hospital from February 2019 to February 2021 were included in the pneumoconiosis group, and 43 male healthy volunteers in the hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The plasma D-D, Fib, IL-6 and CRP levels were detected from subjects in the two groups. The associations of plasma D-D and Fib levels with IL-6 and CRP levels were examined using Pearson correlation analysis among pneumoconiosis patients.
Results:
Participants in the pneumoconiosis group and the control group had a mean age of (52.91±3.89) and (52.64±4.12) years, D-D of (1.28±0.91) and (0.44±0.11) mg/L, Fib of (4.41±0.98) and (2.88±0.61) g/L, IL-6 of (0.63±0.19) and (0.42±0.06) ng/L and CRP of (3.30±1.65) and (1.35±0.12) mg/L, respectively. Higher plasma D-D, Fib, IL-6 and CRP levels were detected in the pneumoconiosis group than in the control group (all P<0.05). The plasma D-D level correlated positively with IL-6 level among pneumoconiosis patients (r=0.347, P<0.001).
Conclusion
High plasma IL-6, CRP, D-D and Fib levels are detected among patients with pneumoconiosis, and the plasma D-D level correlates positively with IL-6 level among patients with pneumoconiosis.
5.Application of brain magnetic resonance imaging in electroconvulsive therapy for major depressive disorder
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2022;29(2):184-188
Objective:To observe the changes in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) after modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) relative to before treatment.Methods:A total of 105 patients with MDD who received treatment in Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine from June 2017 to June 2019 were included in this study. The brain MRI data pre- and post-MECT were collected. These patients were divided into study group (abnormal brain structure, n = 51) and control group (normal brain structure; n = 54) according to brain structure pre-treatment as shown on MRI. Clinical efficacy, scores of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety pre and post-treatment, and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups. Results:MRI data revealed that 51 patients had abnormal brain structure, including 16 patients with hippocampal atrophy, 18 patients with brain volume reduction, 10 patients with intracranial cyst, and 7 patients with large occipital cistern. These patients had no obvious changes in brain structure after MECT compared with before MECT. The age of onset was lower in the study group than in the control group [(24.15 ± 1.64) years vs. (29.33 ± 2.71) years, t = -7.751, P < 0.05]. The proportion of female patients (57.4% vs. 47.1%), the proportion of patients with a family history of MDD (81.5% vs. 56.9%), and the proportion of patients with psychotic symptoms (55.6% vs. 35.3%) were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( χ2 = 4.96, 7.50, 4.33, all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that family history was a factor unrelated to MDD ( P = 0.997). Abnormal brain structure in patients with MDD was negatively correlated with age ( OR = 3.89, 95% CI = 2.083 - 7.281, P < 0.01) and it was positively correlated with sex and psychotic symptoms ( OR = 12.05, 0.08, 95% CI = 2.063 - 70.439, 0.010 - 0.698, both P < 0.05). The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores decreased after MECT in both groups (both P < 0.05). The proportions of patients having dizziness/headache (50.98% vs. 27.78%), vomiting (43.14% vs. 22.22%), muscle soreness (29.41% vs. 11.11%), delirium (23.53% vs. 7.41%), and memory impairment (64.71% vs. 33.33%) were significantly higher in the study group than in the control group ( χ2 = 5.93, 5.24, 5.49, 5.27, 10.33, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:Most patients with MDD have an abnormal brain structure. Female patients at a low age of onset with psychotic symptoms tend to have an abnormal brain structure. MECT can greatly improve depressive symptoms and has no obvious impact on brain structure. Patients with MDD who have an abnormal brain structure are more likely to have complications.
6.P2X7/P2X4 Receptors Mediate Proliferation and Migration of Retinal Microglia in Experimental Glaucoma in Mice.
Meng-Xi XU ; Guo-Li ZHAO ; Xin HU ; Han ZHOU ; Shu-Ying LI ; Fang LI ; Yanying MIAO ; Bo LEI ; Zhongfeng WANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2022;38(8):901-915
Microglia are involved in the inflammatory response and retinal ganglion cell damage in glaucoma. Here, we investigated how microglia proliferate and migrate in a mouse model of chronic ocular hypertension (COH). In COH retinas, the microglial proliferation that occurred was inhibited by the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) blocker BBG or P2X7R knockout, but not by the P2X4R blocker 5-BDBD. Treatment of primary cultured microglia with BzATP, a P2X7R agonist, mimicked the effects of cell proliferation and migration in COH retinas through the intracellular MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Transwell migration assays showed that the P2X4R agonist CTP induced microglial migration, which was completely blocked by 5-BDBD. In vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that ATP, released from activated Müller cells through connexin43 hemichannels, acted on P2X7R to induce microglial proliferation, and acted on P2X4R/P2X7R (mainly P2X4R) to induce microglial migration. Our results suggest that inhibiting the interaction of Müller cells and microglia may attenuate microglial proliferation and migration in glaucoma.
Adenosine Triphosphate/pharmacology*
;
Animals
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Glaucoma/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Microglia/metabolism*
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Receptors, Purinergic P2X4/metabolism*
;
Receptors, Purinergic P2X7/metabolism*
;
Retinal Ganglion Cells/metabolism*
7.Physiological role and neuroprotective effects of somatostatin in retina
Yi ZHANG ; Xinghuai SUN ; Zhongfeng WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2021;39(10):915-918
Somatostatin, also called somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF), is a kind of neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and neurotrophic factor, which participates in a variety of physiological functions in the central nervous system by activating the five G-protein-coupled receptors (sst 1-sst 5). SRIF and its receptors are extensively expressed and distributed in retina.Activation of SRIF receptors modulates voltage-gated K + and Ca 2+ channels, and regulates multiple intracellular signaling pathways in retinal cells, then influences neurotransmitter release and synaptic transmission, which plays an important role in the regulation of retinal visual information processing.In addition, SRIF and its receptors may provide protective effects against retinal injuries, such as retinal ischemia, excitotoxic injury and diabetic retinopathy.In this article, connected with related previous researches of our team, the distribution of SRIF and its receptor in retina, as well as the role of SRIF and its receptor in the physiological regulation and neuroprotection of retina were reviewed.
8.Establishment of model to predict lateral neck recurrence of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Siyuan XU ; Zhongfeng REN ; Jie LIU ; Hui HUANG ; Zongmin ZHANG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Xiaolei WANG ; Zhengang XU
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2021;43(7):775-780
Objective:To explore the risk factors for lateral neck recurrence of central lymph node metastasis (CLMN) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and to construct a model to predict the recurrence.Methods:The records of 245 consecutive PTC patients with CLMN underwent surgical treatment from 1996 to 2009 in our department were retrospectively reviewed. The threshold value of CLNM number is determined by ROC curve. The risk factors for lateral neck recurrence were determined by using Cox regression model. The identified risk factors were incorporated into a nomogram model to predict the risk of lateral neck recurrence.Results:A total of 245 patients were enrolled in the study, among them, 32 cases occurred lateral neck lymph node recurrence and 4 cases were dead of thyroid carcinoma. Multivariate analysis revealed that primary tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, the number of metastatic CLNM >3 were independent risk factors of lateral neck recurrence ( P<0.05), lateral neck recurrence was a risk factor of disease-free survival( P<0.05). The nomogram model of predicting the lateral neck recurrence was further established based on the above 3 independent risk factors, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of which was 0.790. Conclusions:The nomogram model based on the independent risk factors of LN recurrence can be helpful to screen the papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with high risk of lateral neck recurrence, and provide more guidance for clinical treatment.
9.Establishment of model to predict lateral neck recurrence of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Siyuan XU ; Zhongfeng REN ; Jie LIU ; Hui HUANG ; Zongmin ZHANG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Xiaolei WANG ; Zhengang XU
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2021;43(7):775-780
Objective:To explore the risk factors for lateral neck recurrence of central lymph node metastasis (CLMN) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and to construct a model to predict the recurrence.Methods:The records of 245 consecutive PTC patients with CLMN underwent surgical treatment from 1996 to 2009 in our department were retrospectively reviewed. The threshold value of CLNM number is determined by ROC curve. The risk factors for lateral neck recurrence were determined by using Cox regression model. The identified risk factors were incorporated into a nomogram model to predict the risk of lateral neck recurrence.Results:A total of 245 patients were enrolled in the study, among them, 32 cases occurred lateral neck lymph node recurrence and 4 cases were dead of thyroid carcinoma. Multivariate analysis revealed that primary tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, the number of metastatic CLNM >3 were independent risk factors of lateral neck recurrence ( P<0.05), lateral neck recurrence was a risk factor of disease-free survival( P<0.05). The nomogram model of predicting the lateral neck recurrence was further established based on the above 3 independent risk factors, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of which was 0.790. Conclusions:The nomogram model based on the independent risk factors of LN recurrence can be helpful to screen the papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with high risk of lateral neck recurrence, and provide more guidance for clinical treatment.
10.Analysis of molecular evolution and genomic structure of South-East Asian dodeca RNA viruses
Jun ZHANG ; Qiuxia ZHAO ; Jiahui WANG ; Han XIA ; Jiheng WANG ; Jianming ZHANG ; Ying ZHUANG ; Hong LIU ; Zhongfeng DING
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2020;34(3):256-263
Objective:To understand the molecular evolutionary and genetic differences of South-East Asian dodeca RNA viruses (Seadornavirus).Methods:The homology, phylogeny, physicochemical properties, epitope prediction, tertiary structure and surface charge distribution were analyzed based on genome sequence of Seadornavirus capsid proteins.Results:The time of most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of Seadornavirus was estimated to be about 2 359 years ago, which were divided into three clusters. Their tMRCA were about 1 338, 499 and 253 years ago, respectively. And their mean substitution rate of Seadornavirus was 3.6×10 -4 n/s/y. The homology of nucleotide and amino acid was 31.3%-100% (μ=68.0%) and 11.9%-100% (μ=56.0%) respectively. Physicochemical properties and epitope analysis showed that the Banna virus (BAV) capsid protein is an acidic hydrophobic protein that there are 6 B cell epitopes and 2 Th epitopes, while Liaoning virus (LNV) and Kadipiro virus (KDV) are alkaline hydrophilic protein that there are 3 and 5 B cell epitopes, respectively. And there is only 1 Th epitope in the capsid protein of LNV, while KDV does not contain this epitope. The tertiary structure and protein surface charge analysis showed that the alpha helices and beta folds of Seadornavirus were different and the BAV contains two distinctly positively charged regions and two negatively charged regions, LNV has only one positively charged region, and KDV has two positively charged regions. Conclusions:Seadornaviruses had more rapid evolution and strong adaptability, and the genome sequences, protein epitopes, physicochemical properties and the tertiary structures between Seadornaviruses are different.


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