1.Screening of biomarkers for fibromyalgia syndrome and analysis of immune infiltration
Yani LIU ; Jinghuan YANG ; Huihui LU ; Yufang YI ; Zhixiang LI ; Yangfu OU ; Jingli WU ; Bing WEI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(5):1091-1100
BACKGROUND:Fibromyalgia syndrome,as a common rheumatic disease,is related to central sensitization and immune abnormalities.However,the specific mechanism has not been elucidated,and there is a lack of specific diagnostic markers.Exploring the possible pathogenesis of this disease has important clinical significance. OBJECTIVE:To screen the potential diagnostic marker genes of fibromyalgia syndrome and analyze the possible immune infiltration characteristics based on bioinformatics methods,such as weighted gene co-expression network analysis(WGCNA),and machine learning. METHODS:Gene expression profiles in peripheral serum of fibromyalgia syndrome patients and healthy controls were obtained from the gene expression omnibus(GEO)database.The differentially co-expressed genes were screened in the expression profile by differential analysis and WGCNA analysis.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination(SVM-RFE)machine learning algorithm were further used to identify hub biomarkers,and draw receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)to evaluate the accuracy of diagnosing fibromyalgia syndrome.Finally,single sample gene set enrichment analysis(ssGSEA)and gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)were used to evaluate the immune cell infiltration and pathway enrichment in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Eight down-regulated differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were obtained after differential analysis of the GSE67311 dataset according to the conditions of log2|(FC)|>0 and P<0.05.After WGCNA analysis,497 genes were included in the module(MEdarkviolet)with the highest positive correlation(r=0.22,P=0.04),and 19 genes were included in the module(MEsalmon2)with the highest negative correlation(r=-0.41,P=6×10-5).After intersecting DEGs and the module genes of WGCNA,seven genes were obtained.Four genes were screened out by LASSO regression algorithm and five genes were screened out by SVM-RFE machine learning algorithm.After the intersection of the two,three core genes were identified,which were germinal center associated signaling and motility like,integrin beta-8,and carboxypeptidase A3.The areas under the ROC curve of the three core genes were 0.744,0.739,and 0.734,respectively,indicating that they have good diagnostic value and can be used as biomarkers for fibromyalgia syndrome.The results of immune infiltration analysis showed that memory B cells,CD56 bright NK cells,and mast cells were significantly down-regulated in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome compared with the control group(P<0.05),and were significantly positively correlated with the above three biomarkers(P<0.05).The enrichment analysis suggested that there were nine fibromyalgia syndrome enrichment pathways,mainly related to olfactory transduction pathway,neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,and infection pathway.The above results showed that the occurrence and development of fibromyalgia syndrome are related to the involvement of multiple genes,abnormal immune regulation,and multiple pathways imbalance.However,the interactions between these genes and immune cells,as well as their relationships with various pathways need to be further investigated.
2.Impact of Antibody Immune Response and Immune Cells on Osteoporosis and Fractures
Kangkang OU ; Jiarui CHEN ; Jichong ZHU ; Weiming TAN ; Cheng WEI ; Guiyu LI ; Yingying QIN ; Chong LIU
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(3):530-545
Background:
The immune system plays a critical role in the development and progression of osteoporosis and fractures. However, the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and these bone conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to explore these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We collected complete blood count data from patients with fractures and healthy individuals and analyzed their differences. Then, we conducted a 2-sample, 2-step MR analysis to investigate the causal effects of antibody immune responses on osteoporosis and fractures, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We also explored whether immune cells mediate the pathway between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures. Finally, we analyzed the functions and expression levels of key genes involved.
Results:
Overall, the fracture group exhibited increased white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count, platelet count, and their respective proportions, while absolute lymphocyte count, absolute eosinophil count, absolute basophil count, red blood cell count, and their proportions were decreased. We identified 44 causal relationships between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures, with 7 supported by multiple MR methods, and 5 showing odds ratios significantly deviating from 1 in the IVW analysis. Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies had a notable impact on osteoporosis and fractures. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family, particularly HLA-DPB1, emerged as a significant risk factor. However, immune cells were not found to mediate these effects.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and osteoporosis or fractures. The HLA gene family plays a crucial role in the interaction between antibodies and these bone conditions, with HLA-DPB1 identified as a key risk gene. Immune cells do not serve as mediators in this process. These findings provide valuable insights for future research.
3.Impact of Antibody Immune Response and Immune Cells on Osteoporosis and Fractures
Kangkang OU ; Jiarui CHEN ; Jichong ZHU ; Weiming TAN ; Cheng WEI ; Guiyu LI ; Yingying QIN ; Chong LIU
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(3):530-545
Background:
The immune system plays a critical role in the development and progression of osteoporosis and fractures. However, the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and these bone conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to explore these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We collected complete blood count data from patients with fractures and healthy individuals and analyzed their differences. Then, we conducted a 2-sample, 2-step MR analysis to investigate the causal effects of antibody immune responses on osteoporosis and fractures, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We also explored whether immune cells mediate the pathway between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures. Finally, we analyzed the functions and expression levels of key genes involved.
Results:
Overall, the fracture group exhibited increased white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count, platelet count, and their respective proportions, while absolute lymphocyte count, absolute eosinophil count, absolute basophil count, red blood cell count, and their proportions were decreased. We identified 44 causal relationships between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures, with 7 supported by multiple MR methods, and 5 showing odds ratios significantly deviating from 1 in the IVW analysis. Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies had a notable impact on osteoporosis and fractures. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family, particularly HLA-DPB1, emerged as a significant risk factor. However, immune cells were not found to mediate these effects.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and osteoporosis or fractures. The HLA gene family plays a crucial role in the interaction between antibodies and these bone conditions, with HLA-DPB1 identified as a key risk gene. Immune cells do not serve as mediators in this process. These findings provide valuable insights for future research.
4.Impact of Antibody Immune Response and Immune Cells on Osteoporosis and Fractures
Kangkang OU ; Jiarui CHEN ; Jichong ZHU ; Weiming TAN ; Cheng WEI ; Guiyu LI ; Yingying QIN ; Chong LIU
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(3):530-545
Background:
The immune system plays a critical role in the development and progression of osteoporosis and fractures. However, the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and these bone conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to explore these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We collected complete blood count data from patients with fractures and healthy individuals and analyzed their differences. Then, we conducted a 2-sample, 2-step MR analysis to investigate the causal effects of antibody immune responses on osteoporosis and fractures, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We also explored whether immune cells mediate the pathway between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures. Finally, we analyzed the functions and expression levels of key genes involved.
Results:
Overall, the fracture group exhibited increased white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count, platelet count, and their respective proportions, while absolute lymphocyte count, absolute eosinophil count, absolute basophil count, red blood cell count, and their proportions were decreased. We identified 44 causal relationships between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures, with 7 supported by multiple MR methods, and 5 showing odds ratios significantly deviating from 1 in the IVW analysis. Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies had a notable impact on osteoporosis and fractures. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family, particularly HLA-DPB1, emerged as a significant risk factor. However, immune cells were not found to mediate these effects.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and osteoporosis or fractures. The HLA gene family plays a crucial role in the interaction between antibodies and these bone conditions, with HLA-DPB1 identified as a key risk gene. Immune cells do not serve as mediators in this process. These findings provide valuable insights for future research.
5.Impact of Antibody Immune Response and Immune Cells on Osteoporosis and Fractures
Kangkang OU ; Jiarui CHEN ; Jichong ZHU ; Weiming TAN ; Cheng WEI ; Guiyu LI ; Yingying QIN ; Chong LIU
Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery 2025;17(3):530-545
Background:
The immune system plays a critical role in the development and progression of osteoporosis and fractures. However, the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and these bone conditions remain unclear. This study aimed to explore these relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
Methods:
We collected complete blood count data from patients with fractures and healthy individuals and analyzed their differences. Then, we conducted a 2-sample, 2-step MR analysis to investigate the causal effects of antibody immune responses on osteoporosis and fractures, using inverse-variance weighted (IVW) as the primary method. We also explored whether immune cells mediate the pathway between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures. Finally, we analyzed the functions and expression levels of key genes involved.
Results:
Overall, the fracture group exhibited increased white blood cell count, absolute neutrophil count, absolute monocyte count, platelet count, and their respective proportions, while absolute lymphocyte count, absolute eosinophil count, absolute basophil count, red blood cell count, and their proportions were decreased. We identified 44 causal relationships between antibodies and osteoporosis or fractures, with 7 supported by multiple MR methods, and 5 showing odds ratios significantly deviating from 1 in the IVW analysis. Epstein-Barr virus-related antibodies had a notable impact on osteoporosis and fractures. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene family, particularly HLA-DPB1, emerged as a significant risk factor. However, immune cells were not found to mediate these effects.
Conclusions
This study elucidated the causal relationships between antibody immune responses, immune cells, and osteoporosis or fractures. The HLA gene family plays a crucial role in the interaction between antibodies and these bone conditions, with HLA-DPB1 identified as a key risk gene. Immune cells do not serve as mediators in this process. These findings provide valuable insights for future research.
6.Efficiency comparison of different predictive models in the screening of anisometropia in children and adolescents
International Eye Science 2025;25(11):1859-1863
AIM: To compare the diagnostic efficiency of binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity(UCDVA), pre-cycloplegia refraction spherical equivalent(PR-SE), axial length(AL)difference, and their different combinations in the screening of anisometropia in children and adolescents, and to evaluate the practical value of different indicator combinations in simplifying the screening process when taking cycloplegic retinoscopy results as the gold standard for diagnosing anisometropia.METHODS: This was a retrospective study. A total of 500 consecutive cases of children and adolescents aged 6-18 years with known refractive status were included. Taking cycloplegic retinoscopy results as the gold standard for anisometropia diagnosis, the binocular UCDVA, PR-SE, and AL difference were incorporated into ROC curve analysis to assess the diagnostic efficacy of each indicator. Furthermore, predictive models were constructed and reliability analysis was performed.RESULTS: The average age of the included cases was 10.75±2.24 years, including 239 males and 261 females. The AUC of the interocular PR-SE difference(0.972, 95%CI: 0.960-0.984)was significantly higher than that of other indicators. The Youden index was the largest when the bincular UCDVA difference was 0.25, the PR-SE difference was 0.743, and the AL difference was 0.31. When the interocular PR-SE difference used 0.743 and 1.00 D as screening cutoffs, the former had a higher AUC(AUC=0.924, 95%CI: 0.895-0.953). Comparison of different constructed predictive models showed that when the binocular PR-SE difference was ≥0.743 D, the negative predictive value reached 98.89%, making it suitable for initial screening. The combination of UCDVA+PR-SE+AL had the highest specificity and positive predictive value, while the PR-SE+AL combination had the highest consistency rate.CONCLUSION: The binocular PR-SE difference is the best choice for single-indicator screening. Combining UCDVA and AL can increase the specificity to 98.00% and the positive predictive value to 88.24%. The PR-SE+AL combination can achieve the highest consistency rate.
7.Mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor alpha and complete Freund's adjuvant to construct a rat discogenic low back pain model
Zhongxiao HAN ; Yaying OU ; Xinqing ZHUANG ; Xiang ZHANG ; Biaoping LI ; Zhirui JIANG ; Jingyi ZHANG ; Jiashun YANG ; Ling TANG ; Wei XIAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(11):1672-1677
BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is an important cause of low back pain.At present,there are many modeling methods for disc degeneration in China and abroad,but there is not a model for low back pain due to disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effect of mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor α and complete Freund's adjuvant with a conventional disc mechanical puncture alone. METHODS:A total of 18 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,with 6 animals in each group.No treatment was given in the blank group.Animal models of intervertebral disc degeneration were made in the L4-5 segments of rats in the control using conventional mechanical puncture.In the experimental group,on the basis of mechanical puncture,tumor necrosis factor α+complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the L4-5 intervertebral discs using a microinjector to establish a model of disc degeneration induced by mechanical puncture combined with inflammatory factors.Four weeks after surgery,the pain threshold of rats was measured by the hot plate method for assessing the perception of heat injury in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration.MRI examination was performed to observe the disc degeneration in each group.ELISA was used to detect the levels of serum tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,interleukin 6 and prostaglandin E2.Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O-fast green staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the disc. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In terms of pain,the behavioral pain threshold of the experimental group was continuously decreased,and the levels of serum inflammatory factors were significantly higher compared with the control group.In terms of morphology,the MRI results showed that the L4-5 nucleus pulposus signal completely disappeared in the experimental group.Histopathological results showed that in the control group,the nucleus pulposus was intact,more notochord cells were visible,and some fiber rings were ruptured,while in the experimental group,there are fewer notochord cells and the structure of the nucleus pulposus and fibrous ring is disturbed,with the boundary disappearing.To conclude,mechanical puncture combined with tumor necrosis factor alpha and complete Freund's adjuvant can successfully establish a discogenic low back pain model in rats.This operation is simple and economical to achieve obvious disc degeneration and low back pain,with greatly shortened molding cycle.This model can be used as a reference for studying discogenic low back pain models.
8.Evidence-based evaluation of the global cancer-associated thromboembolism risk assessment tools
Xiaoli QIN ; Xiurong GAO ; Qin HE ; Shunlong OU ; Jing LUO ; Hua WEI ; Qian JIANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(3):333-338
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the global cancer-associated thromboembolism risk assessment tools based on evidence- based methods, and to provide methodological reference and evidence-based basis for constructing a specific tool in China. METHODS A comprehensive search was conducted on 6 databases, including CNKI, Wanfang data, VIP, CBM, PubMed, and Embase, as well as on the websites of NCCN, ASCO, ESMO and so on with a deadline of June 30, 2022. Furthermore, a supplementary search was conducted in January 2023. The essential characteristics and methodological quality of included risk assessment tools were described and analyzed qualitatively, focusing on comparing each assessment stratification ability. RESULTS Totally 14 risk assessment tools were included in the study, with a sample size of 208-18 956 cases and an average age distribution of 53.1-74.0 years. The applicable population included outpatient cancer student@sina.com patients, lymphoma patients, and multiple myeloma patients,etc. The common predictive factors were body mass index, venous thromboembolism history, and tumor site. All tools had undergone methodological validation, with 9 presented in a weighted scoring format. Only seven tools were used simultaneously for specificity, sensitivity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV) and area under the curve (AUC) or C statistical analysis. CONCLUSIONS The risk of bias in constructing existing tools is high, and the heterogeneity of tool validation results is significant. The overall methodological quality must be improved, and its risk stratification ability must also be investigated. There are still certain limitations in clinical practice in China.
9.Efficiency of the ratio of axial length to corneal curvature radius in the evaluation of myopia in children and adolescents
International Eye Science 2024;24(8):1314-1318
AIM: To evaluate the value of the ratio of axial length to corneal radius of curvature(AL/CR)in the diagnosis of myopia in children and adolescents.METHODS: The refraction and ocular biometric parameters of 2 182 cases of children and adolescents(4 364 eyes)who initially visited the optometry clinic of the Second People's Hospital of Beihai from January 2022 to December 2023 were collected and analyzed.RESULTS: The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve)showed that AL/CR had a higher area under the curve(AUC=0.925, 95%CI: 0.917-0.933)in diagnosing myopia. When AL/CR was 3.053, the Youden index was the largest. As the threshold of AL/CR decreased, the sensitivity of myopia diagnosis increased, while the specificity decreased. Compared with screening myopia, the sensitivity of AL/CR=3.053 in diagnosing myopia was low, but the specificity was high, especially in the cases of hyperopia and pre-myopia.CONCLUSION: The accuracy of AL/CR in diagnosing myopia is superior to that of axial length and average corneal curvature, with higher specificity. As the threshold of AL/CR decreases, the sensitivity of diagnosing myopia increases, but the specificity decreases. In cases of hyperopia and pre-myopia, the specificity of AL/CR in diagnosing myopia is higher than that of screening myopia.
10.Study on characteristic chromatogram of Yao medicine Kadsura longipedunculata and its anwulignan content and anti-inflammatory activity
Binglan TANG ; Wei GAO ; Chengjian ZHAO ; Chunli OU ; Xiaoli HOU ; Lu CHEN ; Dandan MO
China Pharmacy 2024;35(14):1727-1731
OBJECTIVE To establish characteristic chromatogram of Yao medicine Kadsura longipedunculata and the method for the content determination of its main component anwulignan, and evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of anwulignan. METHODS HPLC method was performed with acetonitrile-0.5% phosphoric acid solution as the mobile phase for gradient elution. The characteristic chromatogram of K. longipedunculata was established and similarity was evaluated by Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of TCM (2012 edition). The content of anwulignan in K. longipedunculata was determined. Lipopolysaccharide induced RAW264.7 macrophages were selected as inflammatory cell model to investigate the effects of anwulignan on the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6. RESULTS The similarities of characteristic chromatogram for 10 batches of K. longipedunculata ranged 0.901-0.994, and 9 common peaks were determined; 3 components were identified, such as changnan schisantherin E, kadsulactone A, anwulignan. The contents of anwulignan were (0.72±0.05)-(1.21±0.03) mg/g(n=3). Anwulignan of 0.125-0.5 μg/mL greatly decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the supernatant of inflammatory model cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS HPLC characteristic chromatogram of K. longipedunculata and the method for the content determination of anwulignan are all established, and anwulignan may be the active ingredient of anti-inflammatory effect in K. longipedunculata.

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