1.Targeting PPARα for The Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Tong-Tong ZHANG ; Hao-Zhuo ZHANG ; Li HE ; Jia-Wei LIU ; Jia-Zhen WU ; Wen-Hua SU ; Ju-Hua DAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2295-2313
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains one of the leading causes of mortality among adults globally, with continuously rising morbidity and mortality rates. Metabolic disorders are closely linked to various cardiovascular diseases and play a critical role in their pathogenesis and progression, involving multifaceted mechanisms such as altered substrate utilization, mitochondrial structural and functional dysfunction, and impaired ATP synthesis and transport. In recent years, the potential role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in cardiovascular diseases has garnered significant attention, particularly peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), which is recognized as a highly promising therapeutic target for CVD. PPARα regulates cardiovascular physiological and pathological processes through fatty acid metabolism. As a ligand-activated receptor within the nuclear hormone receptor family, PPARα is highly expressed in multiple organs, including skeletal muscle, liver, intestine, kidney, and heart, where it governs the metabolism of diverse substrates. Functioning as a key transcription factor in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and catalyzing or regulating biochemical reactions, PPARα exerts its cardioprotective effects through multiple pathways: modulating lipid metabolism, participating in cardiac energy metabolism, enhancing insulin sensitivity, suppressing inflammatory responses, improving vascular endothelial function, and inhibiting smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. These mechanisms collectively reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease development. Thus, PPARα plays a pivotal role in various pathological processes via mechanisms such as lipid metabolism regulation, anti-inflammatory actions, and anti-apoptotic effects. PPARα is activated by binding to natural or synthetic lipophilic ligands, including endogenous fatty acids and their derivatives (e.g., linoleic acid, oleic acid, and arachidonic acid) as well as synthetic peroxisome proliferators. Upon ligand binding, PPARα activates the nuclear receptor retinoid X receptor (RXR), forming a PPARα-RXR heterodimer. This heterodimer, in conjunction with coactivators, undergoes further activation and subsequently binds to peroxisome proliferator response elements (PPREs), thereby regulating the transcription of target genes critical for lipid and glucose homeostasis. Key genes include fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT), carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT1), and glucose transporter (GLUT), which are primarily involved in fatty acid uptake, storage, oxidation, and glucose utilization processes. Advancing research on PPARα as a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases has underscored its growing clinical significance. Currently, PPARα activators/agonists, such as fibrates (e.g., fenofibrate and bezafibrate) and thiazolidinediones, have been extensively studied in clinical trials for CVD prevention. Traditional PPARα agonists, including fenofibrate and bezafibrate, are widely used in clinical practice to treat hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. These fibrates enhance fatty acid metabolism in the liver and skeletal muscle by activating PPARα, and their cardioprotective effects have been validated in numerous clinical studies. Recent research highlights that fibrates improve insulin resistance, regulate lipid metabolism, correct energy metabolism imbalances, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, thereby ameliorating pathological remodeling of the cardiovascular system and reducing blood pressure. Given the substantial attention to PPARα-targeted interventions in both basic research and clinical applications, activating PPARα may serve as a key therapeutic strategy for managing cardiovascular conditions such as myocardial hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, ischemic cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. This review comprehensively examines the regulatory roles of PPARα in cardiovascular diseases and evaluates its clinical application value, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for further development and utilization of PPARα-related therapies in CVD treatment.
2.The value of plaque-to-aorta CT value ratio in differentiating coronary lipid and fibrous plaques
Yaqi GAO ; Xuechang ZHANG ; Yao PAN ; Wei WU ; Zhaoqian WANG ; Xixia SUN ; Shuang PAN ; Hao WANG ; Zhiqiang YANG ; Chongfu JIA
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(2):217-221
Objective To explore the value of plaque-to-aorta CT value ratio(standardized CT value)in differentiating coronary lipid and fibrous plaques,and to preliminarily analyze the stability of the cutoff.Methods Patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)and intravascular ultrasound(IVUS)within 1 week were included.The plaque CT value was obtained by measuring the all,four and two short-axis planes,respectively.The CT value of the ascending aorta was measured and standardized(plaque-to-aorta CT value ratio).The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves of the standardized and the traditional CT values were drawn.Results A total of 60 patients with 74 plaques were included,35 lipid and 39 fibrous plaques were diagnosed by IVUS.The aorta CT value was significantly correlated with the plaque(r=0.420,P<0.01);the cutoffs for the CT value of all,four and two plaque slices were 55 HU,48 HU and 52 HU,respectively,and all there of the cutoffs of standardized CT value were 0.149;the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV)and negative predictive value(NPV)of four-slice traditional and standardized CT values to differentiate lipid and fibrous plaques were 69%,87%,83%,76%and 91%,82%,82%,91%,respectively.Conclusion Compared with traditional CT value,the standardized CT value can greatly improve the sensitivity and NPV in differentiating coronary lipid and fibrous plaques,while maintaining modest to high specificity and PPV.Furthermore,the cutoff is stable.
3.Clinicopathological features and surgical methods of solitary papillary thyroid isthmus carcinoma
Jinxin ZHU ; Jia LIU ; Deqian WU ; Huimin QU ; Junli HAO
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2024;18(5):685-690
Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features of solitary papillary thyroid isthmus carcinoma (SPTIC) and the therapeutic effect and prognosis of different surgical methods.Methods:A total of 161 patients with SPTIC who underwent surgical treatment in the Department of Thyroid Surgery of the First Hospital of Jilin University from Dec. 2012 to Oct. 2021 were selected. Gender, age, body mass index and pathology of the patients were collected and the clinicopathological characteristics of SPTIC were analyzed. They were divided into three groups according to different surgical methods: group A underwent isthmic excision, group B underwent extended isthmic excision, and group C underwent total thyroidectomy. There were 47 patients in group A (8 males and 39 females with an average age of 42.6±9.1 years), 50 patients in group B (11 males and 39 females with an average age of 45.3±11.3 years), and 64 patients in group C (10 males and 54 females with an average age of 46.9±11.4 years). The clinicopathological features and therapeutic effect of the three groups were compared by ANOVA, multiple local rank sum test, χ2 test or Fisher's exact probability method, and the recurrence rate and recurrence free survival (RFS) of the three groups were compared after a follow-up of 6 to 126 months. Results:Among the 161 patients with SPTIC, 132 (82.0%) were female, 130 (80.7%) were younger than 55 years old, BMI (25.1±3.6) kg/m 2, 124 (77.0%) were combined with capsule invasion. There were 53 cases (32.9%) with central lymph node metastasis (CLNM). Subgroup analysis showed that the proportion of males in patients with tumor diameter > 1 cm, the proportion of patients with BMI≥26.0 kg/m 2, the rate of capsular invasion, the rate of extrandular invasion and the rate of CLNM were higher (30.0% vs. 14.0%, P=0.023; 60.0% vs. 33.9%, P=0.004; 97.5% vs. 70.2%, P< 0.001; 42.5% vs. 9.9%, P<0.001; 50.0% vs. 27.3%, P=0.008) ; The CLNM rate was higher in male patients with BMI≥26.0 kg/m 2 and tumor diameter > 1 cm (28.3% vs. 13.0%, P=0.017; 52.8% vs. 34.3%, P=0.024; 37.7% vs. 18.5%, P=0.008). Compared with groups A and B, group C had longer hospitalization days, higher hospitalization costs, longer operation time, more postoperative drainage flow and higher incidence of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, and the differences were statistically significant (all P< 0.05). Groups A and B were similar in all aspects, with no statistical significance ( P> 0.05 for all). During the follow-up, 3 patients in both group A and B relapsed, while no patients in group C relapsed, and there were no statistically significant differences in the recurrence rate ( P=0.059) or RFS ( P=0.082) among the three groups. Conclusions:The majority of SPTIC were microcarcinomas, but the incidence of tumor combined with capsule invasion was higher, and the tumor size of more than 1 cm was more invasive (capsule invasion rate and extrathyroid invasion rate were higher). SPTIC should be treated as conservatively as possible (isthmic excision or enlarged isthmic excision) .
4.Knockdown of best1 Gene in Zebrafish Caused Abnormal Neuronal and Skeletal Development - A Subtype of Craniovertebral Junction Malformation?
Zhenlei LIU ; Kang LI ; Kai WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Shanhang JIA ; He WANG ; Fengzeng JIAN ; Hao WU
Neurospine 2024;21(2):555-564
Objective:
To investigate the developmental defects caused by knockdown of best1 gene in zebrafish as a model for a subtype of craniovertebral junction (CVJ) malformation.
Methods:
Two antisense morpholinos (MOs) were designed targeting zebrafish best1 to block translation (ATG-MO) or to disrupt splicing (I3E4-MO). MOs were microinjected into fertilized one-cell embryos. Efficacy of splicing MO was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Phenotypes were analyzed and quantified by microscopy at multiple developmental stages. Neuronal outgrowth was assessed in transgenic zebrafish expressing green fluorescent protein in neurons. Skeletal ossification was visualized by Calcein staining.
Results:
Knockdown of best1 resulted in zebrafish embryos with shorter body length, curved axis, low survival rate, microcephaly, reduced eye size, smaller head and brain, impaired neuronal outgrowth, and reduced ossification of craniofacial and vertebral bone.
Conclusion
Best1 gene plays critical roles in ophthalmologic, neurological and skeletal development in zebrafish. A patient with a premature stop codon in BEST1 gene exhibited similar phenotypes, implying a subtype of CVJ malformation.
5.Knockdown of best1 Gene in Zebrafish Caused Abnormal Neuronal and Skeletal Development - A Subtype of Craniovertebral Junction Malformation?
Zhenlei LIU ; Kang LI ; Kai WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Shanhang JIA ; He WANG ; Fengzeng JIAN ; Hao WU
Neurospine 2024;21(2):555-564
Objective:
To investigate the developmental defects caused by knockdown of best1 gene in zebrafish as a model for a subtype of craniovertebral junction (CVJ) malformation.
Methods:
Two antisense morpholinos (MOs) were designed targeting zebrafish best1 to block translation (ATG-MO) or to disrupt splicing (I3E4-MO). MOs were microinjected into fertilized one-cell embryos. Efficacy of splicing MO was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Phenotypes were analyzed and quantified by microscopy at multiple developmental stages. Neuronal outgrowth was assessed in transgenic zebrafish expressing green fluorescent protein in neurons. Skeletal ossification was visualized by Calcein staining.
Results:
Knockdown of best1 resulted in zebrafish embryos with shorter body length, curved axis, low survival rate, microcephaly, reduced eye size, smaller head and brain, impaired neuronal outgrowth, and reduced ossification of craniofacial and vertebral bone.
Conclusion
Best1 gene plays critical roles in ophthalmologic, neurological and skeletal development in zebrafish. A patient with a premature stop codon in BEST1 gene exhibited similar phenotypes, implying a subtype of CVJ malformation.
6.Development of a working model of evidence-based nursing practice in deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis
Yu WANY ; Yufang HAO ; Yufen MA ; Yuan XU ; Ranxun AN ; Haibo DENG ; Lei WANG ; Xiaojie WANG ; Jianhua SUN ; Jia LIU ; Liyun ZHU ; Xinjuan WU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2024;59(15):1804-1811
Objective To construct an evidence-based practice model for nurses in preventing deep vein thrombosis(DVT)and provide a scientific and targeted theoretical basis for nurses to carry out evidence-based nursing practice in DVT prevention.Methods Based on the previous evidence-based nursing practice project on DVT prevention after hip and knee arthroplasty,the research team used theoretical analysis and brainstorming to develop a draft of the work model.Expert meetings were organized to validate the content of the draft using the Delphi method,leading to the finalization of the evidence-based practice model for nurses in preventing DVT.Results The Knowledge-to-Action(KTA)framework was selected as the basic framework for constructing the evidence-based nursing practice model for preventing DVT.Theoretical Domain Framework,Theory of Planned Behavior,and Social Cognitive Theory were chosen to explore the influencing factors of nurses'behavior change in preventing DVT through evidence-based practice.The authority coefficient of the participating experts was 0.904,indicating high reliability.The final model consisted of 6 key components:knowledge generation,problem identification,localization and adaptation,knowledge application,sustained knowledge use,and conceptual framework for behavior change through evidence-based practice.Conclusion Based on theoretical analysis and clinical practice,this study developed an evidence-based practice model for nurses in preventing DVT using the expert meeting.The research methodology was scientific,and the content was reliable,providing a theoretical basis for nurses to engage in evidence-based nursing practice for DVT prevention.
7.Research on three-dimensional ordered porous carbon-based materials prepared from Acanthopanax senticosus traditional Chinese medicine residues and their drug loading performance
De-sheng WANG ; Jia-xin FAN ; Ri-qing CHENG ; Shi-kui WU ; Lai-bing WANG ; Jia-hao SHI ; Ting-ting CHEN ; Qin-fang HE ; Chang-jin XU ; Hui-qing GUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(10):2857-2863
Three-dimensional ordered porous carbon materials exhibit potential application prospects as excellent drug supports in drug delivery systems due to their high specific surface area, tunable pore structure, and excellent biocompatibility. In this study, three-dimensional ordered porous carbon materials were prepared using
8.Arterial Blood Pressure Wave Signal Reconstruction Using Photoplethysmography by CNN-LSTM Model
Jia-Ze WU ; Hao LIANG ; Ming CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(2):447-458
ObjectiveDirect continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure is invasive and continuous monitoring cannot be achieved by traditional cuffed indirect blood pressure measurement methods. Previously, continuous non-invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring was achieved by using photoplethysmography (PPG), but it is discrete values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures rather than continuous values constructing arterial blood pressure waves. This study aimed to reconstruct arterial blood pressure wave signal based on CNN-LSTM using PPG to achieve continuous non-invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring. MethodsA CNN-LSTM hybrid neural network model was constructed, and the PPG and arterial blood pressure wave synchronized recorded signal data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) were used. The PPG signals were input to this model after noise reduction, normalization, and sliding window segmentation. The corresponding arterial blood pressure waves were reconstructed from PPG by using the CNN-LSTM hybrid model. ResultsWhen using the CNN-LSTM neural network with a window length of 312, the error between the reconstructed arterial blood pressure values and the actual arterial blood pressure values was minimal: the values of mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) were 2.79 mmHg and 4.24 mmHg, respectively, and the cosine similarity is the optimal. The reconstructed arterial blood pressure values were highly correlated with the actual arterial blood pressure values, which met the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standards. ConclusionCNN-LSTM hybrid neural network can reconstruct arterial blood pressure wave signal using PPG to achieve continuous non-invasive arterial blood pressure monitoring.
9.Establishment and verification of auditory brainstem implant vocoder model
Qinjie ZHANG ; Sui HUANG ; Haoyue TAN ; Xiang ZHOU ; Junyi WANG ; Yuzi LIU ; Wen WEN ; Jia GUO ; Hao WU ; Huan JIA
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2024;44(10):1279-1286
Objective·To develope an auditory brainstem implant(ABI)vocoder based on cochlear implant(CI)vocoder characteristics and ABI electrode array topology,and to verify its reliability.Methods·An"n-of-m"coding strategy CI/ABI vocoder was constructed based on MATLAB.Within each frame,only the envelopes of the n channels with the highest energy were selected.The interaction coefficient(IC)(range:1?3),channel numbers(range:5?22),and electrode array topology(CI/ABI)were adjustable parameters,allowing for the synthesis of simulated speech.Psychoacoustic evaluation was employed,recruiting normal hearing subjects to perform closed-set simulated phoneme perception.The phoneme recognition accuracy(20 vowel questions/condition,11 consonant questions/condition)was compared with the corresponding conditions of CI and ABI from reference literature to determine the IC value of the vocoder and verify its reliability.Results·The vocoder successfully synthesized all test stimuli.In the closed-set CI-simulated speech recognition,the simulated vowel and consonant recognition accuracy for IC2 and IC3 conditions showed no significant difference compared to the accuracy reported in the CI reference literature(P>0.05).The difference in vowel and consonant accuracy between IC2 and the literature was smaller than that between IC3 and the literature(vowel|d|=1.6%vs.20%,consonant|d|=8.4%vs.9.9%),thus determining the optimal interaction coefficient of this model as 2.Subsequently,when modifying the electrode array topology to ABI,it was found that the simulated phoneme recognition accuracy for a 16-channel ABI was significantly lower than that for the 16-channel CI group,consistent with the reported literature.The simulated vowel and consonant accuracy within the 5?8 channel range for ABI showed no significant difference(P>0.05),also aligning with the trend reported in the literature.Conclusion·A CI/ABI vocoder based on"n-of-m"coding strategy is established and the optimal IC is determined.The established ABI encoder has been evaluated for high reliability through psychoacoustic experiments.It provides suitable technical means for validating ABI-specific coding strategies.
10.A retrospective study of occlusal reconstruction in patients with old jaw fractures and dentition defects
Ming-Chao DING ; Bo-Ya JING ; Jin SHI ; Liu YANG ; Xiang-Dong LIU ; Jing-Fu WANG ; Shuang QU ; Jia-Wu LIANG ; Zi-Hao TANG ; Jin-Long ZHAO ; Lei TIAN
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2024;27(5):272-278
Purpose::This study evaluated the methods and clinical effects of multidisciplinary collaborative treatment for occlusal reconstruction in patients with old jaw fractures and dentition defects.Methods::Patients with old jaw fractures and dentition defects who underwent occlusal reconstruction at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from January 2018 to December 2022 were enrolled. Clinical treatment was classified into 3 phases. In phase I, techniques such as orthognathic surgery, microsurgery, and distraction osteogenesis were employed to reconstruct the correct 3-dimensional (3D) jaw position relationship. In phase II, bone augmentation and soft tissue management techniques were utilized to address insufficient alveolar bone mass and poor gingival soft tissue conditions. In phase III, implant-supported overdentures or fixed dentures were used for occlusal reconstruction. A summary of treatment methods, clinical efficacy evaluation, comparative analysis of imageological examinations, and satisfaction questionnaire survey were utilized to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy in patients with traumatic old jaw fractures and dentition defects. All data are summarized using the arithmetic mean ± standard deviation and compared using independent sample t-tests. Results::In 15 patients with old jaw fractures and dentition defects (an average age of 32 years, ranging from 18 to 53 years), there were 7 cases of malocclusion of single maxillary fracture, 6 of malocclusion of single mandible fracture, and 2 of malocclusion of both maxillary and mandible fractures. There were 5 patients with single maxillary dentition defects, 2 with single mandibular dentition defects, and 8 with both maxillary and mandibular dentition defects. To reconstruct the correct 3D jaw positional relationship, 5 patients underwent Le Fort I osteotomy of the maxilla, 3 underwent bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy of the mandible, 4 underwent open reduction and internal fixation for old jaw fractures, 3 underwent temporomandibular joint surgery, and 4 underwent distraction osteogenesis. All patients underwent jawbone augmentation, of whom 4 patients underwent a free composite vascularized bone flap (26.66%) and the remaining patients underwent local alveolar bone augmentation. Free gingival graft and connective tissue graft were the main methods for soft tissue augmentation (73.33%). The 15 patients received 81 implants, of whom 11 patients received implant-supported fixed dentures and 4 received implant-supported removable dentures. The survival rate of all implants was 93.82%. The final imageological examination of 15 patients confirmed that the malocclusion was corrected, and the clinical treatment ultimately achieved occlusal function reconstruction. The patient satisfaction questionnaire survey showed that they were satisfied with the efficacy, phonetics, aesthetics, and comfort after treatment.Conclusion::Occlusal reconstruction of old jaw fractures and dentition defects requires a phased sequential comprehensive treatment, consisting of 3D spatial jaw correction, alveolar bone augmentation and soft tissue augmentation, and implant-supported occlusal reconstruction, achieving satisfactory clinical therapeutic efficacy.

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