1.Dynamics of eosinophil infiltration and microglia activation in brain tissues of mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Fanna WEI ; Renjie ZHANG ; Yahong HU ; Xiaoyu QIN ; Yunhai GUO ; Xiaojin MO ; Yan LU ; Jiahui SUN ; Yan ZHOU ; Jiatian GUO ; Peng SONG ; Yanhong CHU ; Bin XU ; Ting ZHANG ; Yuchun CAI ; Muxin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(2):163-175
Objective To investigate the changes in eosinophil counts and the activation of microglial cells in the brain tissues of mice at different stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, and to examine the role of microglia in regulating the progression of angiostrongyliasis and unravel the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-day and 25-d infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. All mice in infection groups were infected with 30 stage III A. cantonensis larvae by gavage, and animals in the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline. Five mice were collected from each of infection groups on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. The general and focal functional impairment was scored using the Clark scoring method to assess the degree of mouse neurological impairment. Five mice from each of infection groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice from the control group were sacrificed on the day of oral gavage. Mouse brain tissues were sampled, and the pathological changes of brain tissues were dynamically observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunofluorescence staining with eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was used to assess the degree of eosinophil infiltration and the counts of microglial cells in mouse brain tissues in each group, and the morphological parameters of microglial cells (skeleton analysis and fractal analysis) were quantified by using Image J software to determine the morphological changes of microglial cells. In addition, the expression of M1 microglia markers Fcγ receptor III (Fcgr3), Fcγ receptor IIb (Fcgr2b) and CD86 antigen (Cd86), M2 microglia markers Arginase 1 (Arg1), macrophage mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1), chitinase-like 3 (Chil3), and phagocytosis genes myeloid cell triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), CD68 antigen (Cd68), and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay in the mouse cerebral cortex of mice post-infection. Results A large number of A. cantonensis larvae were seen on the mouse meninges surface post-infection, and many neuronal nuclei were crumpled and deeply stained, with a large number of bleeding points in the meninges. The median Clark scores of mouse general functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 0 (interquartile range, 0.5), 6 (interquartile range, 1.0), 14 (interquartile range, 8.5) points and 20 (interquartile range, 9.0) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.45, P < 0.01), and the median Clark scores of mouse focal functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 2 (interquartile range, 2.5), 7 (interquartile range, 3.0), 18 (interquartile range, 5.0) points and 25 (interquartile range, 6.5) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.72, P < 0.01). The mean scores of mice general and focal functional impairment were all higher in the infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant difference in the eosinophil counts in mouse brain tissues among the five groups (F = 40.05, P < 0.000 1), and the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in mouse brain tissues in the 14-d (3.08 ± 0.78) and 21-d infection groups (5.97 ± 1.37) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.28) (both P values < 0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of microglia immunofluorescence showed a significant difference in the counts of microglial cells among the five groups (F = 17.66, P < 0.000 1), and higher Iba1 levels were detected in mouse brain tissues in 14-d (5.75 ± 1.28), 21-d (6.23 ± 1.89) and 25-d infection groups (3.70 ± 1.30) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.30) (all P values < 0.05). Skeleton and fractal analyses showed that the branch length [(162.04 ± 34.10) μm vs. (395.37 ± 64.11) μm; t = 5.566, P < 0.05] and fractal dimension of microglial cells (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 1.41 ± 0.03; t = 5.266, P < 0.05) were reduced in mouse brain tissues in the 21-d infection group relative to the control group. In addition, there were significant differences among the 5 groups in terms of M1 and M2 microglia markers Fcgr3 (F = 48.34, P < 0.05), Fcgr2b (F = 55.46, P < 0.05), Cd86 (F = 24.44, P < 0.05), Arg1 (F = 31.18, P < 0.05), Mrc1 (F = 15.42, P < 0.05) and Chil3 (F = 24.41, P < 0.05), as well as phagocytosis markers Trem2 (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), Cd68 (F = 43.95, P < 0.05) and Apoe (F = 7.12, P < 0.05) in mice brain tissues. Conclusions A. cantonensis infections may induce severe pathological injuries in mouse brain tissues that are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration and persistent activation of microglia cells, thereby resulting in progressive deterioration of neurological functions.
2.Genotyping of M protein gene of group A streptococcus infections among children in Xicheng District of Beijing in 2011-2024
Di QIN ; Xiaokan WEI ; Xiaowen PENG ; Xiugang GUAN ; Yanhui CHU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(4):32-36
Objective To understand the distribution of M protein gene (emm) of group A streptococcus (GAS) infections among children in Xicheng District of Beijing. Methods Throat swab samples from scarlet fever and pharyngeal infection cases were collected in sentinel hospitals of Xicheng District, Beijing from 2011 to 2024. GAS strains were isolated and identified, and emm gene was amplified and sequenced by PCR to determine the genotype. The differences in emm genotype between different groups were compared. Results A total of 3 130 throat swab samples were collected, and 400 GAS strains were isolated, with a positive rate of 12.78%. The highest positive rate was 19.93% in 2011. The positive rate of scarlet fever (45.71%) was higher than that of pharyngeal infection (6.14%) (P<0.001). There were 391 emm gene positive strains, and the differences in the positive rate of emm gene among different cases were statistically significant (P<0.001). A total of 7 genotypes and 27 gene subtypes were detected. Among different groups, the emm genotypes were mainly emm12 and emm1. The emm gene subtypes were mainly emm12.00 and emm1.00. Except for some years, the genotypes and their subtypes were dominated by emm12 and emm12.00, and the distribution differences of the two major genotypes and their subtypes were statistically significant from 2011 to 2019 (P<0.001). There were differences in genotypes and subtypes among different age groups (P=0.002). Conclusion The dominant types of emm genes in group A streptococcus infections among children were emm12 and emm1 in Xicheng District of Beijing from 2011 to 2024, and the dominant gene subtypes were emm12.00 and emm1.00. It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen the monitoring of the epidemic situation and genotype, timely grasp the distribution and variation of emm gene.
3.Improvement effect and mechanism of desloratadine citrate disodium in hypersensitivity pneumonitis model mice
Wenjuan PENG ; Yan ZHAO ; Shaoyun YUE ; Yujiao WU ; Jiajia MO ; Zhaoxing CHU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(15):1882-1886
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effect and mechanism of desloratadine citrate disodium in mice with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). METHODS Sixty mice were randomly divided into blank control group (normal saline), model group (normal saline), prednisone group (positive control, 20 mg/kg) and desloratadine citrate disodium low-, medium- and high-dose groups (0.5, 1, 2 mg/kg), with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank control group, mice in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with ovalbumin (OVA) and exposed to OVA inhalation to establish the HP model. On day 22 post- modeling, mice in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or normal saline, once a day, for 11 consecutive days. After the last administration, lung function and airway hyperreactivity were assessed. The levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-4 and IL-6 in serum as well as the levels of IL-8, IL-13 and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined. Pathological changes in lung tissue of mice were evaluated using Masson staining. Furthermore, the expressions of fibrosis-related proteins, including transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), type Ⅲ collagen (Col-Ⅲ) and fibronectin (FN) were determined in lung tissues. RESULTS Compared with the blank control group, the model group showed significant deterioration in lung function (P< 0.01), while airway resistance and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6 and the levels of IL-8, IL-13 and IL-17A in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were increased significantly (P<0.01). The lung tissues exhibited alveolar collapse, atrophy, and structural disarray, along with the formation of extensive deposits of blue collagen fibers, the percentage of positive staining increased significantly (P<0.01). Additionally, the expression levels of TGF-β1, Col-Ⅲ, and FN proteins in the lung tissues were also increased significantly (P<0.01). After intervention with desloratadine citrate disodium, the pathological changes in the lung tissues of mice in each dosage group of desloratadine citrate disodium showed varying degrees of improvement, and most of the aforementioned indicator levels were significantly reversed (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Desloratadine citrate disodium can improve the lung function and airway hyperreactivity of HP mice, inhibit the release of inflammatory factors in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and reduce the deposition of collagen fibers. Its mechanism of action may be related to anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antifibrotic effects.
4.Fe-Co/ZIF-8@SLC-0111-HA composite nanoplatform enhances feasibility of tumor chemodynamic therapy
Zhenxin WANG ; Peng ZHOU ; Fuchao CHU ; Dazhen ZHANG ; Feng YUAN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(29):4612-4619
BACKGROUND:The low catalytic activity and lack of targeting of commonly used metal ions have severely limited the clinical application of chemodynamic therapy in tumor treatment.On the other hand,although the composite nanoplatforms are endowed with tumor-targeting functions by surface functionalization,the lack of tumor microenvironment acidity also severely weakens the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy. OBJECTIVE:To prepare novel composite nanoplatforms and assess their feasibility to enhance the effects of chemodynamic therapy at the cellular level. METHODS:SLC-0111-loaded zeolite imidazole framework-8 doped with divalent iron ions(Fe2+)and divalent cobalt ions(Co2+)(Fe-Co/ZIF-8@SLC-0111)was synthesized by ion-exchange reaction and self-assembly,and loaded with hyaluronic acid(HA)by electrostatic adsorption,followed by obtaining the target nanoparticles Fe-Co/ZIF-8@SLC-0111-HA(abbreviated as FC-S).Meanwhile,nanoparticles Fe-Co/ZIF-8-HA(abbreviated as FC)without SLC-0111 were synthesized by the same method.The nanocomposite platform was tested for particle size,zeta potential,surface morphology,in vitro reactive oxygen species generation,and ability to consume glutathione.Human osteosarcoma cell MG-63 and mouse fibroblast cell L929 were used as experimental subjects.The cytotoxicity of FC-S was detected by CCK-8 assay.Human osteosarcoma cell MG-63 was used as the experimental object to detect the cell internalization of FC-S.In addition to H2O2,the effects of FC-S and FC on intracellular pH,carbonic anhydrase 9 protein expression,cell viability and apoptosis,intracellular reactive oxygen species and glutathione content,and mitochondrial membrane potential were investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The FC-S composite nanoplatform was successfully prepared with a well-defined rhombic dodecahedral structure,uniform size and good dispersion.Its particle size was about 323 nm;zeta potential was about-11.1 mV,and the nanoplatform had a certain reactive oxygen species generation capacity in vitro.(2)FC-S nanoplatforms accumulated intracellularly in a time-dependent manner and could successfully escape from lysosomes.When the mass concentration of FC-S was≤20 μg/mL,there was no obvious cytotoxicity to MG-63 cells and L929 cells,and 20 μg/mL FC-S was selected to act on MG-63 cells in subsequent experiments.(3)Compared with FC group,the protein expression of carbonic anhydrase 9 in MG-63 cells in FC-S group was decreased(P<0.01);the intracellular acidic environment was enhanced;the content of reactive oxygen species was increased(P<0.001);the mitochondrial damage was aggravated;the number of dead cells was increased,and the apoptosis rate was increased(P<0.001).(4)The results indicate that FC-S,as a novel composite nanoplatform,can effectively improve the weakly acidic microenvironment in tumor cells and enhance the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species production,thus enhancing the efficacy of chemodynamic therapy.
5.Research on Automatic Microalgae Detection System Based on Deep Learning
Rui-Jie XIANG ; Hao LIU ; Zhen LU ; Ze-Yu XIAO ; Hai-Peng LIU ; Yin-Chu WANG ; Xiao PENG ; Wei YAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(1):177-189
ObjectiveThe scale of microalgae farming industry is huge. During farming, it is easy for microalgae to be affected by miscellaneous bacteria and other contaminants. Because of that, periodic test is necessary to ensure the growth of microalgae. Present microscopy imaging and spectral analysis methods have higher requirements for experiment personnel, equipment and sites, for which it is unable to achieve real-time portable detection. For the purpose of real-time portable microalgae detection, a real-time microalgae detection system of low detection requirement and fast detection speed is needed. MethodsThis study has developed a microalgae detection system based on deep learning. A microscopy imaging device based on bright field was constructed. With imaged captured from the device, a neural network based on YOLOv3 was trained and deployed on microcomputer, thus realizing real-time portable microalgae detection. This study has also improved the feature extraction network by introducing cross-region residual connection and attention mechanism and replacing optimizer with Adam optimizer using multistage and multimethod strategy. ResultsWith cross-region residual connection, the mAP value reached 0.92. Compared with manual result, the detection error was 2.47%. ConclusionThe system could achieve real-time portable microalgae detection and provide relatively accurate detection result, so it can be applied to periodic test in microalgae farming.
6.Interpretation of specification for service of cancer screening for workers
Hongda CHEN ; Bin LU ; Ying ZHENG ; Peng DU ; Xiao QI ; Kai ZHANG ; Yuying LIU ; Junli WEI ; Donghua WEI ; Jiyong GONG ; Yunchao HUANG ; Zhenya SONG ; Xi CHU ; Dong DONG ; Wenjing ZHENG ; Min DAI
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(4):486-489
As the backbone force of China's social and economic construction, the health status of workers is closely related to the nation's productivity and social development. Currently, cancers have become one of the major diseases threatening the health of workers. However, there are still many shortcomings in the cancer screening services for the workers. To standardize cancer screening services for workers, ensure the quality of screening services, and improve the overall screening effectiveness, 19 institutions, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, have jointly formulated the Group Standard "Specification for service of cancer screening for workers (T/CHAA 023-2023)". This standard follows the principles of "legality, scientific rigor, advancement, and feasibility" and combines the frontier scientific advances in cancer screening. It clarifies the relevant requirements for service principles, service design, service delivery, service management, service evaluation, and improving worker cancer screening. Implementing this group standard will help connect the common screening needs of workers, employers, and cancer screening service providers, standardize the screening process, improve screening quality, and ultimately increase the early diagnosis rate and survival rate of cancer patients. Consequently, this group standard will help safeguard workers' health rights and interests, ensure the labor force resources, promote the comprehensive coordinated and sustainable development of society, and contribute to realizing the "Healthy China 2030" strategic policy.
7.Predictive Value of Immune Inflammation Combined with Liver Function Hemato-logical Indicators for Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer
Xuelei CHU ; Chen AN ; Lingze XI ; Hongting XIE ; Mingtong ZONG ; Peng XUE ; Shijie ZHU
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2024;51(9):764-771
Objective To explore the predictive value of immune inflammation combined with liver function hematological indicators for the metastasis of colorectal cancer.Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data of 133 patients with colorectal cancer was conducted.The patients were divided into three groups based on disease progression after 24 months of postoperative follow-up:non-metastasis group(n=38),liver metastasis group(n=43),and non-liver distant metastasis group(n=52).The immune inflammatory markers and liver function hematological indicators of progression-free survival were analyzed.Nomogram prediction models were constructed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to identify risk factors for metastasis of colorectal cancer.The accuracy of the nomogram was validated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and calibration curve,and the clinical predictive efficacy was evaluated through decision curve and clinical impact curve.Results Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that pan-immune-inflammatory value(PIV),prognostic nutritional index(PNI),and bile acid(BA)were independent predictors of colorectal cancer metastasis.The area under the ROC curve of the combined prediction of metastasis was 0.84;neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and BA were independent predictors of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.The area under the ROC curve of the combined prediction of liver metastasis was 0.83;PIV and PNI were independent predictive factors for the occurrence of non-liver distant metastasis from colorectal cancer.The area under the ROC curve for the combined prediction of non-liver distant metastasis was 0.83.The calibration curve,decision curve,and clinical impact curve showed that the three models had good accuracy and net benefit value.Conclusion The nomogram constructed based on immune inflammation and liver function hematological indicators can predict the metastasis of patients with colorectal cancer and has high predictive efficacy and clinical application prospects.
8.Application of IgG antibody combination of wild strain and epidemic strain of COVID-19 in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection
Jinjin CHU ; Hua TIAN ; Chuchu LI ; Zhifeng LI ; Chen DONG ; Xiaoxiao KONG ; Jiefu PENG ; Ke XU ; Jianli HU ; Changjun BAO ; Liguo ZHU
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;58(9):1354-1359
Objective:To explore the application of COVID-19-specific IgG antibody in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection.Method:Omicron BF.7/BA.5 naturally infected population, healthy population vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and Omicron BF.7/BA.5 breakthrough cases were enrolled into this study. The serum WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG were detected by indirect ELISA, and the serum-specific IgG antibody levels of different populations were compared. The application value of the two antibody titers and the ratio of the two antibodies in identifying Omicron BA.5 epidemic strain infection were explored by the ROC curve, aiming to provide technical support for pathogen diagnosis.Results:The antibody titers of WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG in the breakthrough cases were higher than those in the naturally infected population and the healthy population ( P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection was 0.947 and 0.961, respectively. The AUC of BA.5-S-IgG and WT-S-IgG antibody titer ratio was 0.873. When the antibody titer ratio was 0.855, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.00% and 90.00%, respectively. According to the interval since the last infection, the AUC of the ratio of BA.5-S-IgG to WT-S-IgG antibody titer to identify the infection of epidemic strains less than 30 days and more than 30 days was 0.887 and 0.863, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity were both above 80%. Conclusion:Both BA.5-S-IgG and WT-S-IgG, as well as the combination of these two antibodies, are of high value in the identification of epidemic strains.
9.Efficacy and safety of tenofovir amibufenamide in the treatment of patients over 65 years of age with chronic hepatitis B
Sasa CHU ; Xing LIU ; Cheng XU ; Guozheng QIU ; Yao XU ; Jing DENG ; Meili FU ; Yulong PENG ; Feng GAO
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(10):904-909
Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of tenofovir amibufenamide in patients over 65 years old with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis.Methods:We recruited 45 patients in Linyi People's Hospital with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis who were treated with TMF antiviral therapy for 48 weeks, compared the virologic response rate and HBV DNA decrease level at 12, 24 and 48 weeks, and the changes in hepatitis B surface antigen, alanine aminotransferase, glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum phosphorus and blood lipids, and the changes in ALT normalization rate at 48 weeks. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results:The age of the enrolled patients was 69.0 (67.0, 72.5) years. At 12, 24, and 48 weeks of treatment, the complete virological response rates were 32.4% (12/37), 70.0% (28/40), and 84.6% (33/39) respectively, and the level of HBV DNA decreased from baseline ( P<0.05). After 48 weeks of treatment, the level of HBsAg decreased ( P<0.05), and there was no negative HBsAg conversion and seroconversion. After 48 weeks of treatment, the level of ALT decreased ( P<0.05). At 48 weeks of treatment, the rates of ALT reverted to normality were 88.9% (16/18) and 70.4% (19/27), respectively. There was no significant difference in the levels of glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, phosphorus, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol estimated at baseline before and after treatment ( P>0.05), and no serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions:For patients over 65 years old with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis, TMF can significantly inhibit HBV DNA replication, and the ALT normalization rate is high and well tolerated.
10.Research and Application Progress of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Analytical Technology in China in the Past Five Years
Pu CHEN ; Jian YANG ; Xiao-Li CHU ; Jing-Yan LI ; Yu-Peng XU ; Dan LIU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(9):1213-1224
Near infrared spectroscopy is a molecular absorption spectrum with rich compositional and structural information,and its applications are very extensive.In recent years,driven by the background of artificial intelligence,the Internet of Things,and smart factories,the near-infrared spectroscopy analysis technology in China has achieved rapid and high-quality development.Research and application in many fields have been further strengthened,achieving good results.In this paper,the research and application progresses of near infrared spectroscopy in China in the past five years(from 2019 to 2023)were reviewed with 105 references.The content involved methodology research,practical technology research,application research and so on,and some suggestions were put forward for the research and development of the key technologies of near infrared spectroscopy in the future.


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