1.Strategies for Preventing and Treating Allergic Rhinitis in Children with Chinese Medicine
Qigang DAI ; Tao LI ; Xiang QIAN ; Yuzhu DOU ; Lingyin HUANG ; Jiawen GAO ; Shouchuan WANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(3):223-228
Allergic rhinitis is a common allergic disease in children.Its pathogenesis is complex and it is difficult to achieve radi-cal cure or effective and stable long-term treatment goals.Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in preventing and treating allergic rhinitis in children due to its wide range of targets,long-lasting effects and few adverse reactions.This paper proposes that the onset of allergic rhinitis is mostly caused by the dysfunction of the lung,spleen and kidney,the external wind triggering the latent wind,and the combination of the two winds.A staged prevention and treatment strategy of Chinese medicine should be adopted,which includes dispersing external wind,suppressing latent wind,and promoting lung-qi and clearing nasal orifice during the attack period to treat its symptoms,and preventing external wind,calming down latent wind,and regulating and tonifying the lung,spleen,and kidney during the remission period to treat its root cause;meanwhile,attention should be paid to avoiding the adverse effects of congenital endowment factors and the induction of acquired environmental factors,strengthening the body's health to protect against the evil wind,preventing the transformation of existing diseases and the recurrence of allergic rhinitis in children at all stages.
2.A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, and Placebo-parallel Controlled Trial of Tibetan Medicine Ruyi Zhenbaowan in Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Chunquan SUN ; Yanming XIE ; Jinghua GAO ; Weiheng CHEN ; Lianxin WANG ; Shangquan WANG ; Xiangdong TIAN ; Zujian XU ; Yuxin ZHENG ; Mingwang ZHOU ; Chungen LI ; Zhanwang XU ; Jiayi GUO ; Shuangqing DU ; Qigang CHEN ; Quan JI ; Zhiqiang BAI ; Jing XIAO ; Wanli QI ; Weiyi YANG ; Jingxiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(24):57-67
ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ruyi Zhenbaowan(RYZBW)in the treatment of initial and early knee osteoarthritis (KOA) through a prospective multicenter,randomized,double-blind,and placebo-parallel controlled trial. MethodFrom October 13th, 2021 to December 25th, 2021, 240 KOA subjects meeting the acceptance criteria were enrolled in 15 sub-centers including Wangjing Hospital, Chinese Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and they were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 120 cases in each group. The intervention measures for the observation group were RYZBW + health education, and the intervention measures for the control group were RYZBW placebo + health education. The intervention period in both groups was four weeks, and they were followed up for four weeks after the intervention. The primary outcome measure was the total score of Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index score (WOMAC score), and the secondary outcome measures were the response rate of visual scale (VAS) pain score, WOMAC sub item scores (joint pain, joint stiffness, and joint function), quality of life (SF-12) score, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score. Result(1) Efficacy evaluation. The marginal model results showed that the observation group was better than the control group in improving the WOMAC total score and WOMAC pain score in the treatment of KOA with RYZBW, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in improving VAS score response rate, WOMAC function score, WOMAC stiffness score, SF12-PCS (quality of life-physical health) score, SF12-MCS (quality of life-mental health) score, and TCM syndrome score. (2) Subgroup analysis. ① In terms of VAS score response rate, the response rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group for subjects with baseline VAS score of (4, 5], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ② In terms of TCM syndrome score, for subjects aged [56, 60] and [61, 65], the decrease in total TCM syndrome score in the observation group was better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionTibetan medicine RYZBW has good clinical efficacy in improving WOMAC total score, VAS score response rate, WOMAC pain score, WOMAC function score, and TCM syndrome score for patients with initial and early KOA, which can fill the lack of Tibetan medicine RYZBW in the treatment of KOA and make a demonstration study for the inheritance and development of ethnic medicine.
3.Professor WANG Shouchuan's Experience in Differentiating and Treating Children's Epistaxis from the Perspective of “Four Excess and Three Deficiency"
Tao LI ; Lili LIN ; Jianjian JI ; Qigang DAI ; Hui CHEN ; Zhao WANG ; Guangxin TAN ; Min WANG ;
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(19):1967-1971
This paper summarized professor WANG Shouchuan's experience in differentiating and treating children epistaxis from the perspective of "four excess and three deficiency". It is believed that the pathogenesis of children epistaxis is concluded as "four excess and three deficiency", of which the four excess syndromes are exuberant heat in the lung channel, intense stomach fire, heart fire hyperactivity, and liver fire flaming upward, while the three deficiency syndromes include qi, yin and yang deficiency. Seven methods for treating children epistaxis are summarized. For exuberant heat in the lung channel syndrome, it is recommended to clear lung and direct qi downward, using self-made Xiebai Zhiniu Decoction (泻白止衄汤). For intense stomach fire syndrome, the method of clearing stomach and draining fire can be used with self-made Qingwei Zhiniu Decoction (清胃止衄汤). In terms of heart fire hyperactivity syndrome, it is better to clear heart and drain fire, using self-made Daochi Zhiniu Decoction (导赤止衄汤). For liver fire flaming upward syndrome, it is advised to clear liver and drain fire, using self-made Yimu Zhiniu Decoction (抑木止衄汤). In terms of qi deficiency syndrome, the method of fortifying spleen and boosting qi and containing blood should be used with self-made Futu Zhiniu Decoction (扶土止衄汤). If there is yin deficiency syndrome, it is advised to supplement kidney, enrich yin and clear heat, using self-made Zishui Zhiniu Decoction (滋水止衄汤). If there is yang deficiency syndrome, the method of boosting qi, warming yang and nourishing blood can be used, using self-made Wenpi Zhiniu Decoction (温脾止衄汤).
4.Hepatic T cell subtypes and functional analysis among alveolar echinococcosis patients using single-cell RNA sequencing
Si CHEN ; Xiangqian WANG ; Wanzhong JIA ; Qigang CAI ; Xueyong ZHANG ; Qiang ZHANG ; Haibo ZHENG ; Linghong ZHU ; Bing LI ; Wei WANG ; Xiumin HAN
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2024;36(5):481-493
Objective To investigate T cell subtypes and their functions in liver immune microenvironments among patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Methods Four AE patients that were admitted to Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital in 2023 for hepatic surgery for the first time were enrolled, and liver specimens were sampled 1 cm (peri-lesion, PL group) and > 5 cm from AE lesions (distal lesion, DL group) among each patient. Finally, a total of eight liver specimens were sampled from four AE patients for scRNA-seq analysis. Genome and transcriptome data of liver specimens were processed using the software Cell Ranger and R package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their biological functions were analyzed using gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and the primary intercellular communication patterns and interaction mechanisms were identified among T cell subtypes in liver specimens using the CellChat package. In addition, the developmental stages of T cells were subjected to trajectory analysis with the monocle package to investigate the expression of genes associated with cell growth and tumor transformation, and to predict the developmental trajectories of T cells. Results All four AE patients were female, with a mean age of (25.00 ± 9.06) years, and there were three cases from Jiuzhi County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and one case from Chengduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The viability of single-cell samples from eight liver specimens was 90.41% to 96.33%, and a total of 81 763 cells were analyzed, with 19 cell types annotated. Of these cell types, 13 were immune cells (87.60%), and T cells (33.13%), neutrophils (15.40%), and natural killer cells (11.92%) were the three most common cell types. Re-clustering of 27 752 T cells and proliferative T cells identified 10 distinct T cell subtypes, with CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (23.43%), CD8+ naive T cells (12.80%), and CD4+ effector memory T cells (17.73%) as dominant cell types. The proportions of T helper 2 (Th2) cells (5.19% vs. 3.63%; χ2 = 38.35, P < 0.01) and CD4+ effector memory T cells (21.59% vs. 13.67%; χ2 = 244.70, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in liver specimens in the PL group than in the DL group, and the proportion of CD4+ helper T cells was significantly lower in the PL group than in the DL group (7.50% vs. 14.75%; χ2 = 330.52, P < 0.01). KEGG pathway analysis revealed that Th2 cells were significantly enriched in cell apoptosis and multiple cancer-associated pathways, and CD4+ effector memory T cells were significantly enriched in the regulation of cytokines and chronic inflammation, while CD4+ helper T cells were significantly enriched in immune responses regulation. Trajectory analysis of T cells showed that CD4+ helper T cells were at an earlier developmental stage relative to Th2 cells and CD4+ effector memory T cells, and the expression of inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3), thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) and heat shock protein family B (small) member 1 (HSPB1) genes appeared a tendency towards a decline over time. Conclusions CD4+ effector memory T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells are primary interacting cells in the liver specimens of AE patients. Reduced expression of Th2 cells and CD4+ helper T cells contributes to an inhibitory immune microenvironment, which promotes immune evasion by Echinococcus multilocularis, and Th2 cells are significantly enriched in multiple cancer-associated pathways, which may be linked to the invasive growth of E. multilocularis.
5.Proteome and genome integration analysis of obesity.
Qigang ZHAO ; Baixue HAN ; Qian XU ; Tao WANG ; Chen FANG ; Rui LI ; Lei ZHANG ; Yufang PEI
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(8):910-921
The prevalence of obesity has increased worldwide in recent decades. Genetic factors are now known to play a substantial role in the predisposition to obesity and may contribute up to 70% of the risk for obesity. Technological advancements during the last decades have allowed the identification of many hundreds of genetic markers associated with obesity. However, the transformation of current genetic variant-obesity associations into biological knowledge has been proven challenging. Genomics and proteomics are complementary fields, as proteomics extends functional analyses. Integrating genomic and proteomic data can help to bridge a gap in knowledge regarding genetic variant-obesity associations and to identify new drug targets for the treatment of obesity. We provide an overview of the published papers on the integrated analysis of proteomic and genomic data in obesity and summarize four mainstream strategies: overlap, colocalization, Mendelian randomization, and proteome-wide association studies. The integrated analyses identified many obesity-associated proteins, such as leptin, follistatin, and adenylate cyclase 3. Despite great progress, integrative studies focusing on obesity are still limited. There is an increased demand for large prospective cohort studies to identify and validate findings, and further apply these findings to the prevention, intervention, and treatment of obesity. In addition, we also discuss several other potential integration methods.
Humans
;
Proteome/metabolism*
;
Proteomics
;
Prospective Studies
;
Obesity/genetics*
;
Genomics
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
6.A metaheuristics-based automatic planning method for intensity-modulated radiation therapy
Xiaoyu YANG ; Yuqian ZHAO ; Zhen YANG ; Shuzhou LI ; Qigang SHAO ; Ying CAO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2023;43(1):15-22
Objective:To establish a metaheuristics-based automatic radiotherapy treatment planning method (ATP-STAR) and verify its effectiveness.Methods:The main process of the ATP-STAR method was as follows. First, the optimization parameters were vectorized for encoding and corrected using Gaussian convolution. Then, the candidate optimization parameter vector set was selected through simulated annealing. Finally, the optimal combination of optimization parameters was determined by combining the field fluence optimization to achieve automatic trial-and-error. Twenty cases with large individual differences in tumors were selected for testing. Clinical physicists with more than five years of experience were invited to perform manual planning. Both the manual and ATP-STAR plans were made utilizing the matRad open source software for radiation treatment planning, with the fields and prescribed doses consistent with those of the clinical treatment plans. The dosimetric differences of target volumes and organs at risk between the ATP-STAR and manual plans for different diseases were analyzed.Results:For the target volumes, the ATP-STAR plans showed superior homogeneity compared with the manual plans (brain tumors: z = 2.28, P = 0.022; lung cancers: z = 2.29, P = 0.022; liver cancers: z = 2.11, P = 0.035). The conformability of the ATP-STAR plans was comparable to that of the manual plans for brain tumors and liver cancer and was slightly lower than that of the manual plans for lung cancer ( z = 2.29, P = 0.022). The comparison result of doses to organs at risk (OARs) between the manual plans and STAR plans were as follows. For OARs of brain tumors, the ATP-STAR plans decreased the mean left lens Dmean from 2.19 Gy to 1.76 Gy ( z = 2.28, P = 0.022), decreased left optic nerve Dmean from 11.36 Gy to 10.22 Gy ( z = 2.28, P = 0.022), decreased right optic nerve Dmax from 32.92 Gy to 29.97 Gy ( z = 2.10, P = 0.036), and decreased pituitary Dmax from 39.53 Gy to 35.21 Gy ( z = 2.29, P = 0.022). For OARs of lung cancer, the ATP-STAR plans decreased the mean spinal cord Dmax from 38.00 Gy to 31.17 Gy ( z = 2.12, P = 0.034), decreased the bilateral lungs Dmean from 8.51 Gy to 8.07 Gy ( z = 2.29, P = 0.022), and decreased cardiac Dmean from 3.21 Gy to 2.69 Gy ( z =2.29, P = 0.022). For OARs of liver cancer, the ATP-STAR plans decreased spinal cord Dmax from 18.19 Gy to 14.76 Gy ( z = 2.11, P = 0.035), decreased liver Dmean from 15.61 Gy to 14.45 Gy ( z = 2.11, P = 0.035), and decreased kidneys Dmean from 4.76 Gy to 4.04 Gy ( z = 2.10, P = 0.036). Conclusions:The proposed ATP-STAR method relies little on the experience of manual planning and thus is easy to be widely applied. This method is expected to improve the quality and consistency of IMRT plans and save clinical labor and time costs.
7.A dosimetric study on off-target isocenter plans for stereotactic body radiotherapy of lung cancer
Xiaoyu YANG ; Yuqian ZHAO ; Zhen YANG ; Shuzhou LI ; Qigang SHAO ; Ying CAO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2023;43(8):633-638
Objective:To investigate the effects of off-target isocenter plans with different off-target distances on the plan quality and delivery accuracy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung cancer, aiming to provide a reference for the clinical plan design of SBRT for lung cancer.Methods:For 10 lung cancer patients treated with SBRT, isocenter reference plans were designed by setting the plan isocenters at the mass centers of tumors and 60 off-target isocenter plans by setting the isocenters at distances of 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 cm from the mass centers of tumors. The dosimetric differences between the off-target isocenter plans and the reference plans. Subsequently was analyzed, under different positional errors (0-5 mm). The gamma pass rates (GPRs) of these plans were measured using the Octavius 4D high-resolution dose verification system, and 240 verifications of these plans were completed. The robustness of the delivery accuracy of the reference plans and off-target isocenter plans were analyzed under different positional errors.Results:The off-target isocenter plans yielded slightly worse dose gradient indices than the isocenter reference plans, but there was no statistically significant differences. With an increase in the off-target distance, the mean lung dose (MLD), V20 of normal lungs, as well as the Dmax of bronchi, showed slight upward trends. Compared with the isocenter reference plans, the MLD of the off-target isocenter plans increased by 0.8%, 0.8%, and 1.9% at off-target distances of 1, 3, and 10 cm, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( z = -2.34 to -1.99, P < 0.05), and the V20 of the off-target isocenter plans increased by 2.0%, 2.5%, and 3.7% at off-target distances of 1, 5, and 10 cm, respectively, with statistically significant differences ( z =-2.11 to -1.99, P < 0.05). In the case of a positional error of up to 5 mm, the GPRs of plans with off-target distances of 5 cm and above decreased by more than 1.0% on average and up to a maximum of 3.5%, showing statistically significant differences ( z = 2.13-2.75, P < 0.05). Conclusions:Compared to the reference plans, the off-target isocenter plans showed slightly lower dosimetric quality and less robust delivery accuracy under different positional errors. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the plans and treatment with too large off-target distances (≥ 5 cm) as far as possible for SBRT of lung cancer.
8.Evaluation of high-throughput methods for the detection of neutralizing antibodies in serum samples from individuals infected with 2019-nCoV based on a microneutralization test
Xiaoxiao KONG ; Shihan ZHANG ; Zhifeng LI ; Huiyan YU ; Xin ZOU ; Hua TIAN ; Ke XU ; Qigang DAI ; Yin CHEN ; Jingxian LIU ; Hongxiong GUO ; Xiling GUO ; Changjun BAO ; Liguo ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2022;36(3):306-310
Objective:To evaluate the detection ability of two kinds of high-throughput method to determine neutralizing antibodies based on a microneutralization test (MNT).Methods:Serum samples were collected from the early phase and follow-up period (117 samples in total) for neutralizing antibody testing. They were tested using MNT, pseudovirus neutralization assay (PBNA), competitive inhibition assay (including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA)) to evaluate the correlation coefficients and threshold values for the effectiveness of these high-throughput neutralizing antibody assays.Results:The correlation coefficients for PBNA, ELISA, and CLIA relative to MNT were 0.760, 0.778, and 0.725, respectively, for individuals infected with 2019-nCoV. The area under the ROC curve was 0.901 for a cutoff value of 50 for the PBNA assay, 0.934 for a cutoff value of 1∶8 for the ELISA assay and 0.838 for a cutoff value of 1.28AU/ml for the CLIA assay when the threshold value for the microneutralization test was taken as 1: 10 (less than 1: 10 is considered negative).Conclusions:The high-throughput method for the detection of COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies are scientific and feasible, and provide an important technical tool for the regular prevention and control of the epidemic.
9.Analysis of ACAT1 gene variants in a patient with β-ketothiolase deficiency.
Chuntao SUN ; Qigang ZHANG ; Lingli KONG ; Yumei WANG ; Li ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2021;38(2):166-169
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the genetic etiology of a child suspected for β-ketothiolase deficiency by neonatal screening.
METHODS:
All coding exons and flanking sequences of the ACAT1 gene were subjected to targeted capture and high-throughput sequencing. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.
RESULTS:
The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the ACAT1 gene, namely c.121-3C>G and c.275G>A (p. Gly92Asp). The c.121-3C>G variant was also detected in his father and two sisters, while the c.275G>A (p. Gly92Asp) was a de novo variant. A c.334+ 172C>G (rs12226047) polymorphism was also detected in his mother and two sisters. Sanger sequencing has verified that the c.275G>A (p. Gly92Asp) and c.334+172C>G (rs12226047) variants are located on the same chromosome. Bioinformatics analysis suggested both c.121-3C>G and c.275G>A (p.G92D) variants to be damaging. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics standards and guidelines, the c.275G>A variant of the ACAT1 gene was predicted to be pathogenic (PS2+ PM2+ PM3+ PP3+PP4), the c.121-3C>G variant to be likely pathogenic (PM2+ PM3+ PP3+PP4).
CONCLUSION
The c.121-3C>G and c.275G>A variants of the ACAT1 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis of the child. Above finding has enriched the variant spectrum of the ACAT1 gene.
Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase/genetics*
;
Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase/genetics*
;
Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics*
;
Female
;
High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
;
Humans
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Male
;
Mutation
10.Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channels and substances addiction
Qigang SHU ; Hongming YE ; Yongli LU ; Zicheng LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2021;30(8):764-768
Substances addiction is one of the important factors that deeply affect human health.At present, there is still lack of effective treatment drugs in the clinic.Exploring mechanisms of substances addiction, finding new therapeutic targets and developing effective therapeutic drugs are important issues to be solved.Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide gated cation channels (HCN channels) participate in many advanced brain activities and are closely related to the occurrence and progression of various brain diseases.Among them, the researches on the role and mechanism of HCN channels in substances addiction are gradually gaining attention.Reviewing the researches regarding substances addiction, abnormal function and abnormal expression of HCN channels were observed in many brain regions under the condition of psychoactive substances addiction.However, it has not yet been able to fully understand the mechanism and the behavioral consequences of this change.Therefore, we review the neurobiological mechanisms of HCN channels in substances addiction induced by opioids, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, alcohol and tobacco, in order to provide new ideas for the mechanism researches and treatment of substance addiction.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail