1.Mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 improving liver inflammation in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet
Haiyang ZHU ; Jingshu CUI ; Liu YANG ; Mengting ZHOU ; Jian TONG ; Hongmei HAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):254-262
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) in the liver, the phenotype of hepatic macrophages, and liver inflammation in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as the mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 improving liver inflammation. MethodsAfter 1 week of adaptive feeding, 24 specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group [choline-supplemented L-amino acid-defined (CSAA) diet], normal+1,25(OH)2D3 group [CSAA diet+1,25(OH)2D3], model group [choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet (CDAA) diet], and model+1,25(OH)2D3 group [CDAA diet+1,25(OH)2D3], with 6 rats in each group. The dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 was 5 μg/kg for intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 12 weeks. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured, liver histopathology was observed, and SAF score was assessed. M1 hepatic macrophages and M2 hepatic macrophages were measured to analyze in the change in the phenotype of hepatic macrophages, and ELISA was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in liver tissue, and qPCR was used to measure the mRNA level of PPAR-γ. The two-factor analysis of variance was use for comparison between groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison; the Pearson method was used for correlation analysis. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model rats with CDAA diet-induced NASH had significant increases in the serum levels of AST and ALT (P=0.019 and P<0.001), the SAF score of liver histopathology (P<0.001), the level of M1 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), and the ratio of M1 and M2 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), as well as a significant increase in the level of TNF-α (P<0.001) and a significant reduction in the level of IL-4 in liver tissue (P=0.025). The 1,25(OH)2D3 group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT (P<0.001), the SAF score of liver histopathology (P<0.001), the level of M1 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), and the ratio of M1 and M2 hepatic macrophages (P=0.001), the level of IL-1β (P<0.001) and a significant increase in the level of M2 hepatic macrophages (P=0.017), the level of IL-10 (P=0.039), the level of IL-4 (P<0.001), the level of PPAR-γ (P=0.016). There were significant interactions between CDAA diet-induced NASH model and 1,25(OH)2D3 in serum the levels of AST and ALT (P=0.007 and P=0.008), the SAF scores of liver histopathology (P<0.001), the level of M1 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), the level of M2 hepatic macrophages (P=0.008), the ratio of M1 and M2 of hepatic macrophages (P=0.005), the level of TNF-α (P<0.001), the level of IL-10 (P=0.038), the level of IL-4 (P<0.001) and the level of PPAR-γ (P=0.009). The correlation analysis showed that PPAR-γ was negatively correlated with the ratio of M1 and M2 hepatic macrophages (r=-0.415, P=0.044) and was positively correlated with M2 hepatic macrophages (r=0.435, P=0.033), IL-10 (r=0.433, P=0.035), and IL-4 (r=0.532, P=0.007). ConclusionThis study shows that 1,25(OH)2D3 improves liver inflammation in NASH by activating PPAR-γ to regulate the phenotypic transformation of hepatic macrophages. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
2.Structural and Spatial Analysis of The Recognition Relationship Between Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase Antigenic Epitopes and Antibodies
Zheng ZHU ; Zheng-Shan CHEN ; Guan-Ying ZHANG ; Ting FANG ; Pu FAN ; Lei BI ; Yue CUI ; Ze-Ya LI ; Chun-Yi SU ; Xiang-Yang CHI ; Chang-Ming YU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):957-969
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveThis study leverages structural data from antigen-antibody complexes of the influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) protein to investigate the spatial recognition relationship between the antigenic epitopes and antibody paratopes. MethodsStructural data on NA protein antigen-antibody complexes were comprehensively collected from the SAbDab database, and processed to obtain the amino acid sequences and spatial distribution information on antigenic epitopes and corresponding antibody paratopes. Statistical analysis was conducted on the antibody sequences, frequency of use of genes, amino acid preferences, and the lengths of complementarity determining regions (CDR). Epitope hotspots for antibody binding were analyzed, and the spatial structural similarity of antibody paratopes was calculated and subjected to clustering, which allowed for a comprehensively exploration of the spatial recognition relationship between antigenic epitopes and antibodies. The specificity of antibodies targeting different antigenic epitope clusters was further validated through bio-layer interferometry (BLI) experiments. ResultsThe collected data revealed that the antigen-antibody complex structure data of influenza A virus NA protein in SAbDab database were mainly from H3N2, H7N9 and H1N1 subtypes. The hotspot regions of antigen epitopes were primarily located around the catalytic active site. The antibodies used for structural analysis were primarily derived from human and murine sources. Among murine antibodies, the most frequently used V-J gene combination was IGHV1-12*01/IGHJ2*01, while for human antibodies, the most common combination was IGHV1-69*01/IGHJ6*01. There were significant differences in the lengths and usage preferences of heavy chain CDR amino acids between antibodies that bind within the catalytic active site and those that bind to regions outside the catalytic active site. The results revealed that structurally similar antibodies could recognize the same epitopes, indicating a specific spatial recognition between antibody and antigen epitopes. Structural overlap in the binding regions was observed for antibodies with similar paratope structures, and the competitive binding of these antibodies to the epitope was confirmed through BLI experiments. ConclusionThe antigen epitopes of NA protein mainly ditributed around the catalytic active site and its surrounding loops. Spatial complementarity and electrostatic interactions play crucial roles in the recognition and binding of antibodies to antigenic epitopes in the catalytic region. There existed a spatial recognition relationship between antigens and antibodies that was independent of the uniqueness of antibody sequences, which means that antibodies with different sequences could potentially form similar local spatial structures and recognize the same epitopes. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
3.Effects of long-term noise exposure during sleep on cognitive function and biological clock-related mechanisms in mice
Yiming FU ; Xinyao ZHANG ; Xiaojun SHE ; Yingwen ZHU ; Honglian YANG ; Xiujie GAO ; Bo FU ; Bo CUI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(2):119-124
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Background Environmental noise pollution is serious, and there are few studies on the effects of long-term noise exposure during sleep on cognitive function and possible biological clock mechanism. Objective To explore the cognitive impairment induced by noise exposure during sleep in mice and possible biological clock mechanism, and to provide a theoretical basis for the protection against noise exposure. Methods Twenty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group and a noise-exposed group, 10 mice in each group. The noise-exposed group was exposed to sleep-period noise using a noise generator for 12 h (08:00–20:00) per day for a total of 30 d. The calibrated noise intensity was set at 90 dB. No intervention was imposed on the control group. At the end of the noise exposure, cognitive function of mice was examined using the new object recognition experiment and the open field test, and the hippocampal tissue damage of mice were evaluated by Nissl staining, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) immunofluorescence staining, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR for inflammatory factors and biological clock genes. Oxidative stress indicators in the hippocampus of mice were also detected by assay kit. Results After noise exposure during sleep period, the results of new object recognition experiment showed that the discrimination index of mice in the noise-exposed group was 0.06±0.04, which was significantly lower than that of the control group (0.65±0.13) (P<0.05). The results of open field test showed that the central activity distance of the noise-exposed group was (242.20±176.10) mm, which was significantly lower than that of the control group, (1548.00±790.30) mm (P < 0.05), and the central activity time of the noise-exposed group was (0.87±0.64) s, which was significantly lower than that of the control group, (6.00±2.86) s (P < 0.05). The Nissl staining results showed that compared with the control group, neurons in the hippocampus of the noise-exposed mice were shrunken, deeply stained, disorganized, and loosely connected. The immunofluorescence results showed that microglia in the hippocampus of the noise-exposed mice were activated and the expression of Iba1 was significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The real-time PCR results of showed that the mRNA levels of the biological clock genes Clock, Per2, and Rev-erbα were significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.05), and the mRNA level of Per1 was significantly decreased compared with that of the control group (P<0.05); and the mRNA levels of IL-18, IL-6, iNOS, and NLRP3 in the hippocampal tissues of mice were significantly increased compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The results of oxidative stress evaluation showed that compared with the control group, reduced glutathione content was significantly reduced in the noise-exposed group (P<0.001). Conclusion Noise exposure during sleep period can lead to the destabilization of biological clock genes in hippocampal tissues and trigger hippocampal neuroinflammation, which can lead to the activation of microglia and cause cognitive impairment in mice.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
4.Impact of inhaled corticosteroid use on elderly chronic pulmonary disease patients with community acquired pneumonia.
Xiudi HAN ; Hong WANG ; Liang CHEN ; Yimin WANG ; Hui LI ; Fei ZHOU ; Xiqian XING ; Chunxiao ZHANG ; Lijun SUO ; Jinxiang WANG ; Guohua YU ; Guangqiang WANG ; Xuexin YAO ; Hongxia YU ; Lei WANG ; Meng LIU ; Chunxue XUE ; Bo LIU ; Xiaoli ZHU ; Yanli LI ; Ying XIAO ; Xiaojing CUI ; Lijuan LI ; Xuedong LIU ; Bin CAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(2):241-243
5.Effects of Bushen formulae on bone metabolism and ENaCα,NCC and ClC-3 expression in ovariectomized rats with high salt intake
Yan CUI ; Kehuan SUN ; Xiaoyao ZHAN ; Shu MO ; Yawen XIAO ; Pan-Pan WANG ; Li YANG ; Ronghua ZHANG ; Xiaofeng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(1):141-147
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			AIM:To investigate the effect of Bushen formulae(BHF)on bone metabolism and its possible mechanism in ovariectomized rats with high salt intake.METHODS:According to the random number table method,80 SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group,ovariectomy(OVX)group,medium-high-salt diet(MSD)group,high-salt diet(HSD)group,BHF group,BHF with normal saline(BHF+NS)group,BHF+MSD group,and BHF+ HSD group,with 10 rats in each group.After modeling,different diets and BHF formula interventions were administered,and the concentrations of sodium chloride added to MSD group and HSD group were 2%(w/w)and 8%(w/w),respective-ly.The dose of BHF was 7.8 g·kg-1·d-1,once a day,and the treatment lasted for 12 weeks.Bone density,bone microar-chitecture,bone parameters,bone metabolism biomarkers,bone histopathological changes,the expression of epithelial sodium channel α(ENaCα),Na-Cl cotransporter(NCC),and voltage-gated chloride channel 3(ClC-3)proteins in bone tissue were detected in each group.RESULTS:Compared with sham group,the rats in OVX group had reduced bone density and destroyed bone microstructure.Compared with OVX group,the bone microstructure in MSD and HSD groups was more significantly damaged,while the levels of bone formation markers,bone glycoprotein(BGP)and type Ⅰ procolla-gen N-terminal peptide(PINP),were significantly increased in HSD group(P<0.05).Moreover,the levels of bone re-sorption markers,such as amino-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(NTX),carboxy-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type Ⅰ collagen(CTX)and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRACP),were significantly in-creased(P<0.05),indicating that bone metabolism was in high-conversion state.High-salt diet accelerated the structural destruction of bone trabeculae,and Western blot results showed that high-salt diet caused decreases in the protein expres-sion levels of ENaCα and ClC-3 and an increase in the protein expression level of NCC in femoral tissues(P<0.05).After BHF intervention,the expression of relevant ion channels caused by high salt could be regulated to different degrees.CONCLUSION:Bushen formulae could differentially regulate the expression of relevant ion channels ENaCα,ClC-3,and NCC induced by high salt to different degrees,which has certain ameliorative and therapeutic effects on the imbalance of bone metabolism.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
6.Research progress of organoids in liver regenerative medicine
Liuyang ZHU ; Sen LIU ; Tao CUI ; Long YANG ; Chuanliang CHENG ; Pinsheng HAN ; Yamin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2024;30(1):72-76
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Liver regenerative medicine can use functional liver cells to repair or replace damaged liver tissue and it is expected to be rapidly developed as an alternative treatment to liver transplantation. However, regenerative medicine requires cells with stable proliferation ability and liver cell characteristics. Liver organoids are derived from adult stem cells or pluripotent stem cells. They can be proliferated in large quantities and cultured for a long time in vitro, meanwhile maintain genetic stability, and simulate the structural and functional characteristics of organs in the body, providing a new strategy for liver regeneration. This article reviews liver organoids and their research progress in liver regenerative medicine, and discusses their application potential and existing limitations.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
7.Screening Effective Sites of Momordicae Semen-Epimedii Folium and Anti-lung Cancer Mechanism of Its Prescription
Yuanlong ZANG ; Jun LI ; Rui ZENG ; Xihe CUI ; Qing YANG ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Yajie WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):17-25
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			ObjectiveTo preliminarily confirm the effective anti-lung cancer sites of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium and study their mechanism of action. MethodOn the basis of preliminary research, the extraction method of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium was optimized and the effective parts were screened under the guidance of pharmacological effects. Different ethanol elution and water elution sites of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium were obtained through adsorption and elution with D101 macroporous resin. The methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay was used to detect the effects of total drug extracts and different elution sites on the proliferation of various tumor cell lines, and to screen for the optimal elution site and tumor sensitive strains. Flow cytometry was used to detect the effect of the elution sites of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis in A549 cells. Western blot was used to compare the expressions of tumor protein 53 (p53), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 and 9 (Caspase-3 and Caspase-9) proteins in A549 cells. ResultThe inhibitory effect of Momordicae Semen on the proliferation of A549 cells was better than the kernel of Momordicae Semen, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) being (86.83±2.88) mg·L-1 and (95.10±18.13) mg·L-1, respectively. The effect of total extracts of Epimedii Folium on A549 anti proliferation IC50 value was (4.71±0.81) mg·L-1. The IC50 values of the 40%, 60%, and 80% ethanol and anhydrous ethanol eluted macroporous resins of the total extracts of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium inhibiting A549 proliferation were (45.32±4.38)、 (14.95±0.73)、 (17.07±1.76)、 (14.46±2.35)、 (51.7±2.26)、 (12.37±0.67)、 (20.29±0.93)、 and (3.43±0.91) mg·L-1, respectively. Compared with the normal group, the 1∶1 combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium inhibited A549 cell proliferation in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. Compared with the normal group, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased intracellular ROS expression (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 12.5, 25, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased the expression of A549 cell apoptosis (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 25, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased the expression of p53 in A549 cells (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 12.5, 25, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly increased the expression of Bax (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, 50 mg·L-1 of the combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium significantly reduced the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 (P<0.01). ConclusionThe anti-tumor effect of Momordicae Semen is better than that of the kernel of Momordicae Semen. The anti-tumor substances of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium mainly concentrate in the 60% ethanol to anhydrous ethanol elution site. A549 cells are sensitive to the 1∶1 combination of Momordicae Semen and Epimedii Folium, which can effectively inhibit the cell proliferation. The mechanism may be related to increasing the generation of ROS in A549 cells, promoting their apoptosis, increasing the expressions of apoptotic proteins such as p53 and Bax, and reducing the expressions of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
8.Application analysis of composite surgery in the treatment of chronic common carotid artery occlusion
Fei WANG ; Zhongjian WU ; Shengjia YANG ; Zhu TONG ; Shijun CUI ; Yongquan GU ; Lianrui GUO
International Journal of Surgery 2024;51(7):481-485
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of composite surgery in the treatment of chronic common carotid artery occlusion(CCAO).Methods:A retrospective descriptive study was conducted. The clinical data of 7 patients with CCAO admitted to Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from October 2020 to December 2023 were collected retrospectively. There were 6 males and 1 female. The age was (66.7±10.9) years, ranging from 52 to 83 years. Outpatient or telephone follow-up were conducted after surgery, carotid artery ultrasound or computed tomography angiography were performed at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively to determine vascular patency. The selection of surgical methods and clinical effect were analyzed. Normally distributed measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s). The measurement data of skewed distribution were expressed by M ( Q1, Q3). Count data were expressed as frequency. Results:All 7 patients were diagnosed with chronic CCAO before operation, 6 on the left and 1 on the right. 3 cases affected the middle and distal segments of the common carotid artery, 1 case affected the proximal segment, and 1 case each affected the middle and distal segments, the remaining case involves the entire common carotid artery. All the procedures were successfully performed, among which 4 cases underwent carotid endarterectomy combined with stent placement, and 3 cases did not receive stent placement after carotid endarterectomy. 1 patient developed neck hematoma after surgery and the remaining patients recovered well after surgery without any complications or deaths. The follow-up time was 13.5(4.0, 20.5) months; 1 patient was lost to follow-up, and 6 patients received effective follow-up. the common carotid artery remained unobstructed in all 6 patients, and there were no transient ischemic attacks or strokes during the follow-up period.Conclusion:Composite surgery is a safe and feasible method that can be used to treat chronic CCAO lesions, and has satisfactory short-term results.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
9.Safety and strategy of intravascular intervention in ruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm
Hao ZHU ; Yingang WU ; Hao CUI ; Jian YU ; Yu CHEN ; Daqun GU ; Yang ZHANG ; Chaoshi NIU ; Ge GAO
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(2):164-168
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of intravascular intervention in ruptured intracranial vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm (IVADA).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed; 25 patients with ruptured IVADA (25 aneurysms) admitted to Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from January 2020 to June 2023, were chosen. Aneurysm and parent artery occlusion or stent-assisted spring coil embolization were performed according to location of the aneurysms, degrees of aneurysm immediate embolization were evaluated by Raymond grading, and perioperative adverse events were recorded. The patients were followed up for 6-48 months, and aneurysm recurrence was determined according to DSA results; prognoses were assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), with scores of 0-2 as good prognosis and scores of 3-6 as poor prognosis.Results:All 25 patients had unilateral ruptured IVADA, 10 (40%) received aneurysm and parent artery occlusion (occlusion of dissection segment) and 15 (60%) received stent-assisted embolization. Immediately after surgery, 19 patients (76%) had grading I embolization, 4 (16%) grading II embolization, and 2 (8%) grading III embolization. No aneurysm rupture or stent related thrombosis was observed during procedure; 3 patients (12%) died after procedure, with postoperative rebleeding in 1, postoperative cerebellar infarction with respiratory failure in 1, and severe pneumonia in 1. In the 22 survivals, 18 had good prognosis and 4 had poor prognosis. In the 5 relapsed patients (all accepted stent-assisted embolization), 4 underwent re-intervention, and one with visualization at aneurysm neck was relatively stable on re-examination and accepted regular follow up.Conclusion:Aneurysm and parent artery occlusion can be used for non-dominant vertebral artery aneurysms not involving posterior inferior cerebellar artery, whose recurrence rate is lower than that of stent-assisted coil embolization.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
10.Influencing factors of adaptive ability development of children aged 2 - 6 in China
Jiayin CUI ; Ruili LI ; Lihong WANG ; Xiaoguo ZHENG ; Huimin YANG ; Liqi ZHU ; Shuling GUO ; Lu ZHAO ; Wenhua ZHAO ; Zhenyu YANG ; Qian ZHANG ; Yuying WANG ; Tao XU ; Bowen CHEN
Chinese Journal of Child Health Care 2024;32(3):280-285
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			【Objective】 To investigate the development of adaptability in children aged 2 - 6, and to explore its influencing factors, so as to provide reference for promoting the development of adaptability in young children. 【Methods】 Data were from the National Nutrition and Health Systematic Survey for Children in China, and 3 319 children aged 2 - 6 and their parents from 28 sites across 14 provinces were recruited in this study.The Development Scale for Children Aged 0 - 6 years (WS/T 580-2017) was used to measure the developmental quotient of children′s adaptive ability, and a survey questionnaire was used to collect relevant information about children and their parents. 【Results】 Among 3 319 children aged 2 - 6, the proportion of slightly low or low level of adaptability, moderate adaptability development, good and excellent adaptability development was 7.68%,66.25% and 26.06%, respectively.The proportion of children aged 5 - 6 with good and excellent adaptability was lower in 3-year-old and 4-year-old groups (χ2=59.29, P<0.05).Multiple stepwise linear regression showed that children′s gender (β=0.06), gestational age of birth (β=-0.05), only child (β=-0.04), left-behind child (β=-0.04), the main caregiver (β=-0.06), and the education level of parents (β=0.09, 0.10), whether parents actively pay attention to children′s emotions (β=-0.06) and whether children play with homemade toys (β=-0.04) were the influencing factors of children′s adaptive development quotient.Girls, full-term children, only children, non-left-behind children, children with parents as main caregivers, parents with a high level of education, parents who often take the initiative to pay attention to children′s emotions, and children who play with homemade toys had a higher level of adaptability development quotient. 【Conclusions】 The development level of adaptability in children aged 2 - 6 in China is mostly above the average level and is related to multiple factors.Targeted intervention work can be carried out on relevant factors in order to promote the development of children′s adaptability.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            
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