1.Effect of hypertension on cardiovascular fibrosis and sFRP2 expression in rats
Yao XU ; Chunhui MA ; Zhiyong LI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(4):180-184
Objective To investigate the effect of spontaneous hypertension on the remodeling of cardiac and aortic tissues in rats, with special attention to the changes in the content of collagen fibers, elastic fibers and secreted Frizzled-related protein 2 (sFRP2) in cardiac and aortic tissues. Methods 28-week-old SHR rats (Spontaneously Hypertensive rats) and WKY (Wistar-Kyoto rats) of the same age were selected as experimental animals. Cardiac load was assessed by calculating the cardiac weight index. Collagen fibers and elastic fibers were isolated from the rat thoracic aorta by hot alkali method, and their content was determined by biochemical analysis. In addition, pathological evaluation of tissue sections of the left ventricle and thoracic aorta were performed by H&E staining, Sirius red staining, and lichen red staining. Western blotting was used to determine the expression level of sFRP2 protein in cardiac tissues. Results Compared with WKY rats, the heart weight index of SHR rats increased significantly (P<0.001), and the results of biochemical analysis and staining of pathological sections showed that the content of collagen fibers in the aorta in the SHR group was higher than that in the WKY group, while the content of elastic fibers was lower, but the difference did not have statistical significance. The content of collagen fibers in the heart of the SHR group was significantly higher than that in the WKY group (P<0.01). Western blotting showed that there was no significant difference in the expression level of sFRP2 protein in heart tissues between the two groups. Conclusion The remodeling of cardiac and aortic tissues in a rat model of spontaneous hypertension may involve complex molecular mechanisms, not just changes in the content of collagen fibers and elastic fibers. The detailed mechanism of the progression of spontaneous hypertension and target organs damage still need further investigation.
2.Effects of Shugan jieyu capsules on the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole,rivaroxaban and apixaban in rats
Ying LI ; Chunhui SHAN ; Yizhen SONG ; Yinling MA ; Zhi WANG ; Caihui GUO ; Zhanjun DONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(12):1470-1475
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of multiple doses of Shugan jieyu capsules on the pharmacokinetics of voriconazole, rivaroxaban and apixaban in rats. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into voriconazole group (30 mg/kg), rivaroxaban group (2 mg/kg), apixaban group (0.5 mg/kg), Shugan jieyu capsules+voriconazole group (145 mg/kg+30 mg/kg), Shugan jieyu capsules+rivaroxaban group (145 mg/kg+2 mg/kg), Shugan jieyu capsules+apixaban group (145 mg/kg+0.5 mg/kg), with 6 rats in each group. After the rats in each group were consecutively administered solvent (0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution) or Shugan jieyu capsules by intragastric gavage for 8 days, they were respectively given voriconazole, rivaroxaban and apixaban solution by intragastric gavage on the 8th day. Blood samples were then collected at different time points (in voriconazole group, rivaroxaban group and corresponding drug combination groups, blood was collected before administration and at 0.17, 0.34, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours post-administration; in apixaban group and corresponding drug combination group, blood was collected before administration and at 0.08, 0.17, 0.25, 0.34, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 12 hours post-administration). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was employed to determine the mass concentrations of voriconazole, rivaroxaban and apixaban in rat plasma. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of these drugs were calculated using a non-compartmental model, and the comparisons were made between groups. RESULTS Compared with single drug group, after multiple administrations of Shugan jieyu capsules, AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ and cmax of voriconazole were significantly decreased, while CLz/F was significantly increased, and tmax was also significantly prolonged (P<0.05). For rivaroxaban and apixaban, their tmax values were both significantly prolonged (P<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the other pharmacokinetic parameters between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of Shugan jieyu capsules can decrease the exposure, increase the clearance, and delay the peak concentration of oral voriconazole. However, it does not affect the exposure levels of rivaroxaban and apixaban, but it does delay the time to reach peak concentration for both drugs.
3.Effect of heterologous expression of Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene SqME on photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation in tobacco leaves.
Yizhen LIU ; Mengyuan LI ; Zhanqian LI ; Yushuang GUO ; Jingfang JI ; Wenchao DENG ; Ze YANG ; Yan SUN ; Chunhui ZHANG ; Jin'ai XUE ; Runzhi LI ; Chunli JI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(7):2829-2842
Microalgae possess high photosynthetic efficiency, robust adaptability, and substantial biomass, serving as excellent biological resources for large-scale cultivation. Malic enzyme (ME), a ubiquitous metabolic enzyme in living organisms, catalyzes the decarboxylation of malate to produce pyruvate, CO2, and NAD(P)H, playing a role in multiple metabolic pathways including energy metabolism, photosynthesis, respiration, and biosynthesis. In this study, we identified the Scenedesmus quadricauda malic enzyme gene (SqME) and its biological functions, aiming to provide excellent target genes for the genetic improvement of higher plants. Based on the RNA-seq data from S. quadricauda under the biofilm cultivation mode with high CO2 and light energy transfer efficiency and small water use, a highly expressed gene (SqME) functionally annotated as ME was cloned. The physicochemical properties of the SqME-encoded protein were systematically analyzed by bioinformatics tools. The subcellular localization of SqME was determined via transient transformation in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The biological functions of SqME were identified via genetic transformation in Nicotiana tabacum, and the potential of SqME in the genetic improvement of higher plants was evaluated. The ORF of SqME was 1 770 bp, encoding 590 amino acid residues, and the encoded protein was located in chloroplasts. SqME was a NADP-ME, with the typical structural characteristics of ME. The ME activity in the transgenic N. tabacum plant was 1.8 folds of that in the wild-type control. Heterologous expression of SqME increased the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll by 20.9%, 26.9%, and 25.2%, respectively, compared with the control. The transgenic tobacco leaves showed an increase of 54.0% in the fluorescence parameter NPQ and a decrease of 30.1% in Fo compared with the control. Moreover, the biomass, total lipids, and soluble sugars in the transgenic tobacco leaves enhanced by 20.5%, 25.7%, and 9.5%, respectively. On the contrary, the starch and protein content in the transgenic tobacco leaves decreased by 22.4% and 12.2%, respectively. Collectively, the SqME-encoded protein exhibited a strong enzymatic activity. Heterologous expressing of SqME could significantly enhance photosynthetic protection, photosynthesis, and biomass accumulation in the host. Additionally, SqME can facilitate carbon metabolism remodeling in the host, driving more carbon flux towards lipid synthesis. Therefore, SqME can be applied in the genetic improvement of higher plants for enhancing photosynthetic carbon fixation and lipid accumulation. These findings provide scientific references for mining of functional genes from S. quadricauda and application of these genes in the genetic engineering of higher plants.
Nicotiana/genetics*
;
Photosynthesis/physiology*
;
Malate Dehydrogenase/biosynthesis*
;
Plant Leaves/genetics*
;
Scenedesmus/enzymology*
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Carbon Cycle/genetics*
;
Lipid Metabolism/genetics*
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Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*
4.A clinical study on the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia with a new type of laser localization assisted percutaneous puncture of trigeminal nerve microsphere capsule compression surgery
Jiping CAI ; Meijun YANG ; Xiuyue MAO ; Qiulian MO ; Tao CHEN ; Jinbing GONG ; Jianbai YU ; Libo LI ; Chunhui LI
Journal of Chinese Physician 2024;26(3):392-396
Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety analysis of a novel laser localization technology assisted percutaneous puncture of trigeminal nerve microsphere capsule compression surgery for the treatment of primary trigeminal neuralgia.Methods:A retrospective selection was conducted on 63 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia who underwent percutaneous puncture of the trigeminal nerve microsphere capsule compression surgery at the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2021. According to different surgical methods, they were divided into a new laser localization assisted puncture group (observation group) of 32 cases and a traditional barehanded localization puncture group (control group) of 31 cases. An analysis was conducted on the surgical time, puncture time, puncture frequency, intraoperative exposure to radiation, number of cases of poor balloon formation, and clinical efficacy within 6 months after surgery for two groups of patients. The prognosis of the patients was followed up at 6 months after surgery.Results:The surgical time, puncture time, puncture frequency, and intraoperative exposure of the observation group were all less than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in the number of cases of poor balloon angioplasty between the observation group and the control group, as well as the pain score grading of the Barlow Neurological Institute (BNI) on the first day after surgery. Within 6 months after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of facial numbness, diplopia, masseter weakness, perilabial herpes, and recurrent pain between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Laser positioning technology can assist in precise puncture of the foramen ovale and accurate placement of balloons based on surgical experience, which helps to improve surgical safety, reduce postoperative complications and intraoperative radiation dose, and achieve satisfactory short-term follow-up results.
5.Effect of Thyme Herbal Tea on Proliferation of Human Coronavirus OC43 in vitro and in vivo
Jixiang TIAN ; Tongtong ZHANG ; Yuning CHANG ; Peifang XIE ; Shuwei DONG ; Xiaoang ZHAO ; Yun WANG ; Chunhui ZHAO ; Hongwei WU ; Amei ZHANG ; Haizhou LI ; Xueshan XIA ; Huamin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):81-89
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of thyme herbal tea (BLX) on the proliferation of human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe chemical composition of BLX was analyzed by UPLC-MS. The cytotoxicity of BLX in HRT-18 cells and the effect of BLX treatment on the proliferation of HCoV-OC43 in cells were analyzed. Copies of viral gene were detected by real-time PCR. The effect of BLX treatment on the life cycle of HCoV-OC43 was detected by time-of-addition assay. The maximum tolerated dose of BLX and the influences of BLX on the body weight and survival time of suckling mice infected with HCoV-OC43 were determined. The expression of viral protein in the brain and lung tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. ResultThere were 11 chemical components identified in BLX by UPLC-MS. BLX showed the 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of (13 859.56±319) mg·L-1, the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of (1 439.09±200) mg·L-1, and the selection index of 8.26-11.44 for HCoV-OC43 in HRT-18 cells. Compared with the cells infected with HCoV-OC43, BLX at the concentrations of 1 500, 1 000, 500 mg·L-1 inhibited the proliferation of this virus (P<0.05, P<0.01). BLX exhibited antiviral effect in the early stage of virus infection, and the inhibition role in the attachment stage was more significant than that in the entry stage (P<0.05). In the suckling mice infected with HCoV-OC43, BLX at 1200 and 600 mg·kg-1·d-1 alleviated the symptoms, prolonged the survival period, reduced the death rate, and down-regulated the mRNA level of nucleocapsid protein in the mice. Moreover, BLX at 1 200 mg·kg-1·d-1 down-regulated the expression of nucleocapsid protein in the brain (P<0.01) and the lung (P<0.01). ConclusionBLX contained multiple antiviral ingredients. It inhibited the proliferation of HCoV-OC43 both in vitro and in vivo by interference with viral attachment. This study provides theoretical reference for the treatment of acute respiratory tract infection with HCoV-OC43 and for further development and application of BLX.
6.Bibliometric and visual analysis of in vitro-in vivo extrapolation in risk assessment
Yulu HU ; Yue LI ; Tao YU ; Chunhui NI ; Huanqiang WANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(11):1232-1239
Background In vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) is an approach utilizing in vitro experimental data to predict in vivo phenomena. It is a promising tool for chemical risk assessment. Objective To learn the hotspots, evolution path, and trend of IVIVE in risk assessment by literature search and bibliometric analysis, and provide reference and data support for subsequent research. Methods PubMed and Web of Science Core Collection were selected as foreign databases to search for literature about IVIVE applied in risk assessment published by December 31, 2023. The number of relevant documents in CNKI and Wanfang database was too small, so the Chinese databases were not included in this study. This study employed bibilometric analysis using VOSviewer and CiteSpace for visualizing networks categorized by author, institution, country, journal, keyword, and co-citation. Results A total of 189 articles were included in this study. The first article was published in 2006, and since then the number of publications overall showed an upward trend and increased significantly after 2016. The institution with the most publications was the United States Environmental Protection Agency (28 articles). The United States was the most productive country (87 articles), and had a close cooperation with the United Kingdom. The journal with the most publications and the highest number of citations per article was Archives of Toxicology (19 articles). The keyword co-occurrence analysis suggested that research on IVIVE in risk assessment mainly studied the methods and models of IVIVE and prediction of chemical toxicity, and toxicity, in vitro, and models were the research hotspots in this field. Keyword timeline cluster analysis suggested that the assessment objects gradually expanded from drugs to environmental chemicals, organic chemicals and food additives. The co-citation analysis suggested that articles about IVIVE in risk assessment mostly cited journals in the environment, food, and drug fields, and these articles were mainly methodological studies followed by literature reviews. Conclusion The research of IVIVE in risk assessment has developed rapidly. With the improvement of prediction models and the expansion of application scope, animal experiments in risk assessment may be greatly reduced and the efficiency of risk assessment can be increased. At present, the United States has a leading position in this field, while China has few relevant studies and needs to actively carry out international cooperation to improve the level of applied research of IVIVE. In the future, it is hoped that the IVIVE method can be further refined to improve its application and expand its research fields.
7.Practice and reflection of day surgery in a tertiary hospital in Tianjin
Chunhui LI ; Lei ZHANG ; Liqiang GU ; Zhiquan TAN ; Guoxun LI
Modern Hospital 2024;24(3):333-335
Objective To analyze the implementation of day surgery in a public hospital in Tianjin,and to provide refer-ence for the quantity and quality of day surgery.Methods The implementation of day surgery in a public hospital in Tianjin from 2020 to 2022 was analyzed.Results From 2020-2022,the main types of daytime operations were secondary(43 kinds)and ter-tiary operations(28 kinds).In terms of the implementation of professional disciplines,anorectal surgery,urology surgery and orthopedics carried out the largest number of operations,among which anorectal surgery accounted for 70.76%(2 285/3 229).Conclusion It is necessary to further improve the development of professional disciplines,the management system of day surger-y,and the guarantee of medical services,strengthen the construction of weak links in the management path of day surgery and im-prove the coverage and accessibility of day service.
8.Association between exposure to multiple metals and lung function in welders by multi-pollutant statistical models
Yue LI ; Huanqiang WANG ; Meibian ZHANG ; Chunhui NI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(3):251-258
Background Welders' exposure to welding fumes with multiple metals leads to decreased pulmonary function. Previous studies have focused on single metal exposure, while giving little attention to the impact of metal mixtures. Objective To assess the association between metal levels in urine and blood of welders and pulmonary function indicators, and to identify key metals for occupational health risk assessment. Methods Questionnaire surveys, lung function tests, urine and blood sampling were conducted among welders and control workers in a shipyard in Shanghai. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to detect the concentrations of 12 metals such as vanadium, chromium, and manganese in urine and blood. Spearman correlation was applied to analyze the correlations between the metals in urine and blood. Multiple linear regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to analyze the relationships between mixed metal exposure and pulmonary function parameters, such as forced vital capacity (FVC), forced vital capacity as a percentage of predicted value (FVC%), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), forced expiratory volume in the first second as a percentage of predicted value (FEV1%), and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC). Results This study enrolled 445 subjects, including 322 welders (72.36%) and 123 controls (27.64%). The mean age of the 445 participants was (37.64±8.80) years, and 87.19% participants were male. The welders had significantly higher levels of urinary cadmium (0.88 vs 0.58 μg·L−1), blood chromium (5.86 vs 5.06 μg·L−1), and blood manganese (24.24 vs 21.38 μg·L−1) than the controls (P<0.05). The Spearman correlation coefficients between the metals in urine and blood ranged from −0.46 to 0.68. After adjustment for confounders, the multiple linear regression indicted that the urine molybdenum of the welders was negatively correlated with FVC and FEV1. There were also negative correlations between the molybdenum in blood and FVC, FVC%, FEV1, and FEV1%, and between the copper in blood and FEV1/FVC. The WQS model showed that FEV1 and FVC decreased by 0.112 L and 0.353 L with each quartile increase of metal mixture concentrations in urine and blood among the welders respectively, and the leading contributors were copper, zinc, vanadium, and antimony. The BKMR model showed a negative overall effect of metal mixtures in urine and blood among the welders on FVC, FVC%, FEV1, and FEV1%, and the univariate exposure response-relationship between the molybdenum concentration in urine or blood and FVC, FVC%, FEV1, or FEV1% had an approximately linear decreasing trend. Meanwhile, there may be an interaction of cadmium with manganese, nickel, or vanadium, and an interaction of vanadium with iron, molybdenum, zinc, or copper, when different metals in urine among the welders interacted with FEV1%. Conclusion Exposure to multiple metals in welders leads to a decline in lung function, with molybdenum, antimony, copper, and zinc as the leading contributors.
9.Feasibility and safety of a new portable endoscopic system for the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal trauma in animal models
Ting ZHANG ; Wenbin ZOU ; Chunhui JIANG ; Zhen WANG ; Liping CAI ; Zhaoshen LI ; Zhuan LIAO
Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2024;41(1):25-29
Objective:To compare the feasibility and safety of a new portable endoscopic system and the conventional endoscopic system for the detection and emergency treatment of abdominal trauma in animal models.Methods:Three healthy Bama pigs, which were fasted and water deprivation for 8 h before surgery and then underwent induction anesthesia. A layer-by-layer incision was made into the abdominal cavity of Bama pigs. An artificial pneumoperitoneum was established using a laparoscopic pneumoperitoneum machine. A bullet model was inserted into the abdominal cavity to build the bullet wound model. After the bullet model was removed, a shrapnel model was inserted into the mid-abdomen to build the shrapnel wound model. The two types of endoscopic system were used to detect, remove bullet model or shrapnel model of the three Bama pigs respectively. The procedure order of the two systems was assigned according to the random number table method. The surgical success, operation time, endoscopy pipeline patency, endoscopic operation satisfaction, adverse events and equipment defects were recorded.Results:Three surgeries were performed using the new portable endoscopic system and three other surgeries using the conventional endoscopic system, all of which were successful. The time of the new portable endoscopic system to find and remove the bullet model, and the shrapnel model were 232.33±11.68 s, 300.33±57.70 s, 170.00±44.44 s and 52.67±2.52 s, respectively. The corresponding time of the conventional endoscopic system were 232.67±21.20 s ( t=-0.054, P=0.962), 256.67±67.00 s ( t=0.880, P=0.472), 176.00±52.42 s ( t=-0.111, P=0.922), 58.67±14.84 s ( t=-0.832, P=0.493), respectively. There was no significant difference between the two systems ( P>0.05). The endoscopy tubes of the two endoscopic systems were both smooth. The operator was satisfied with the endoscopic procedures of both endoscopic systems, and no adverse event or device defect occurred. Conclusion:The portable endoscopic system proves to be safe and feasible for the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal trauma in animal models.
10.Bridging the widening demand-supply gap of public medical service delivery: experience of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong and its enlightenment
Chuanlin LI ; Tong CHEN ; Yiqun MI ; Chunhui GAO ; Rong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2024;40(1):30-35
Due to factors such as an aging population, the Hospital Authority(HA) of Hong Kong is facing a contradiction between limited health resource supply and continuously increasing demand. In order to effectively address challenges, the HA prompted three measures to bridging the demand-supply gap. The HA relied on its management system advantages to continuously increase its capital construction to enhance the service capacity of public health institutions; transformed service delivery mode so as to improve the experience, quality, and efficiency of service delivery; established cooperation with private service providers and communities to shunt population health demand. The practices of HA can provide reference for public hospitals and their sponsors in other regions of China.

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