1.Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Sleep Deprivation-induced Acceleration of Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology
Si-Ru YAN ; Ming-Yang CAI ; Ya-Xuan SUN ; Qing HUO ; Xue-Ling DAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2474-2485
Sleep deprivation (SD) has emerged as a significant modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with mounting evidence demonstrating its multifaceted role in accelerating AD pathogenesis through diverse molecular, cellular, and systemic mechanisms. SD is refined within the broader spectrum of sleep-wake and circadian disruption, emphasizing that both acute total sleep loss and chronic sleep restriction destabilize the homeostatic and circadian processes governing glymphatic clearance of neurotoxic proteins. During normal sleep, concentrations of interstitial Aβ and tau fall as cerebrospinal fluid oscillations flush extracellular waste; SD abolishes this rhythm, causing overnight rises in soluble Aβ and tau species in rodent hippocampus and human CSF. Orexinergic neurons sustain arousal, and become hyperactive under SD, further delaying sleep onset and amplifying Aβ production. At the molecular level, SD disrupts Aβ homeostasis through multiple converging pathways, including enhanced production via beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) upregulation, coupled with impaired clearance mechanisms involving the glymphatic system dysfunction and reduced Aβ-degrading enzymes (neprilysin and insulin-degrading enzyme). Cellular and histological analyses revealed that these proteinopathies are significantly exacerbated by SD-induced neuroinflammatory cascades characterized by microglial overactivation, astrocyte reactivity, and sustained elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6) through NF‑κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome activation, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of neurotoxicity. The synaptic and neuronal consequences of chronic SD are particularly profound and potentially irreversible, featuring reduced expression of critical synaptic markers (PSD95, synaptophysin), impaired long-term potentiation (LTP), dendritic spine loss, and diminished neurotrophic support, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) depletion, which collectively contribute to progressive cognitive decline and memory deficits. Mechanistic investigations identify three core pathways through which SD exerts its neurodegenerative effects: circadian rhythm disruption via BMAL1 suppression, orexin system hyperactivity leading to sustained wakefulness and metabolic stress, and oxidative stress accumulation through mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species overproduction. The review critically evaluates promising therapeutic interventions including pharmacological approaches (melatonin, dual orexin receptor antagonists), metabolic strategies (ketogenic diets, and Mediterranean diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids), lifestyle modifications (targeted exercise regimens, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia), and emerging technologies (non-invasive photobiomodulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation). Current research limitations include insufficient understanding of dose-response relationships between SD duration/intensity and AD pathology progression, lack of long-term longitudinal clinical data in genetically vulnerable populations (particularly APOE ε4 carriers and those with familial AD mutations), the absence of standardized SD protocols across experimental models that accurately mimic human chronic sleep restriction patterns, and limited investigation of sex differences in SD-induced AD risk. The accumulated evidence underscores the importance of addressing sleep disturbances as part of multimodal AD prevention strategies and highlights the urgent need for clinical trials evaluating sleep-focused interventions in at-risk populations. The review proposes future directions focused on translating mechanistic insights into precision medicine approaches, emphasizing the need for biomarkers to identify SD-vulnerable individuals, chronotherapeutic strategies aligned with circadian biology, and multi-omics integration across sleep, proteostasis and immune profiles may delineate precision-medicine strategies for at-risk populations. By systematically examining these critical connections, this analysis positions sleep quality optimization as a viable strategy for AD prevention and early intervention while providing a comprehensive roadmap for future mechanistic and interventional research in this rapidly evolving field.
2.Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Tripterygium wilfordii Multiglycoside in Mouse Models of Psoriasis Keratinocytes.
Shuo ZHANG ; Hong-Jin LI ; Chun-Mei YANG ; Liu LIU ; Xiao-Ying SUN ; Jiao WANG ; Si-Ting CHEN ; Yi LU ; Man-Qi HU ; Ge YAN ; Ya-Qiong ZHOU ; Xiao MIAO ; Xin LI ; Bin LI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2024;30(3):222-229
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the role of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (TGW) in the treatment of psoriatic dermatitis from a cellular immunological perspective.
METHODS:
Mouse models of psoriatic dermatitis were established by imiquimod (IMQ). Twelve male BALB/c mice were assigned to IMQ or IMQ+TGW groups according to a random number table. Histopathological changes in vivo were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Ratios of immune cells and cytokines in mice, as well as PAM212 cell proliferation in vitro were assessed by flow cytometry. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was determined using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS:
TGW significantly ameliorated the severity of IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse skin lesions and restrained the activation of CD45+ cells, neutrophils and T lymphocytes (all P<0.01). Moreover, TGW significantly attenuated keratinocytes (KCs) proliferation and downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor α, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Furthermore, it reduced the number of γ δ T17 cells in skin lesion of mice and draining lymph nodes (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
TGW improved psoriasis-like inflammation by inhibiting KCs proliferation, as well as the associated immune cells and cytokine expression. It inhibited IL-17 secretion from γ δ T cells, which improved the immune-inflammatory microenvironment of psoriasis.
Male
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Tripterygium
;
Psoriasis/drug therapy*
;
Keratinocytes
;
Skin Diseases/metabolism*
;
Cytokines/metabolism*
;
Imiquimod/metabolism*
;
Dermatitis/pathology*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Skin/metabolism*
4.Treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in very preterm infants in China.
Ai Min QIAN ; Rui CHENG ; Xin Yue GU ; Rong YIN ; Rui Miao BAI ; Juan DU ; Meng Ya SUN ; Ping CHENG ; K L E E shoo K LEE ; Li Zhong DU ; Yun CAO ; Wen Hao ZHOU ; You Yan ZHAO ; Si Yan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2023;61(10):896-901
Objective: To describe the current status and trends in the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) among very preterm infants (VPI) admitted to the neonatal intensive care units (NICU) of the Chinese Neonatal Network (CHNN) from 2019 to 2021, and to compare the differences in PDA treatment among these units. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on the CHNN VPI cohort, all of 22 525 VPI (gestational age<32 weeks) admitted to 79 tertiary NICU within 3 days of age from 2019 to 2021 were included. The overall PDA treatment rates were calculated, as well as the rates of infants with different gestational ages (≤26, 27-28, 29-31 weeks), and pharmacological and surgical treatments were described. PDA was defined as those diagnosed by echocardiography during hospitalization. The PDA treatment rate was defined as the number of VPI who had received medication treatment and (or) surgical ligation of PDA divided by the number of all VPI. Logistic regression was used to investigate the changes in PDA treatment rates over the 3 years and the differences between gestational age groups. A multivariate Logistic regression model was constructed to compute the standardized ratio (SR) of PDA treatment across different units, to compare the rates after adjusting for population characteristics. Results: A total of 22 525 VPI were included in the study, with a gestational age of 30.0 (28.6, 31.0) weeks and birth weight of 1 310 (1 100, 1 540) g; 56.0% (12 615) of them were male. PDA was diagnosed by echocardiography in 49.7% (11 186/22 525) of all VPI, and the overall PDA treatment rate was 16.8% (3 795/22 525). Of 3 762 VPI who received medication treatment, the main first-line medication used was ibuprofen (93.4% (3 515/3 762)) and the postnatal day of first medication treatment was 6 (4, 10) days of age; 59.3% (2 231/3 762) of the VPI had been weaned from invasive respiratory support during the first medication treatment, and 82.2% (3 092/3 762) of the infants received only one course of medication treatment. A total of 143 VPI underwent surgery, which was conducted on 32 (22, 46) days of age. Over the 3 years from 2019 to 2021, there was no significant change in the PDA treatment rate in these VPI (P=0.650). The PDA treatment rate decreased with increasing gestational age (P<0.001). The PDA treatment rates for VPI with gestational age ≤26, 27-28, and 29-31 weeks were 39.6% (688/1 737), 25.9% (1 319/5 098), and 11.4% (1 788/15 690), respectively. There were 61 units having a total number of VPI≥100 cases, and their rates of PDA treatment were 0 (0/116)-47.4% (376/793). After adjusting for population characteristics, the range of standardized ratios for PDA treatment in the 61 units was 0 (95%CI 0-0.3) to 3.4 (95%CI 3.1-3.8). Conclusions: From 2019 to 2021, compared to the peers in developed countries, VPI in CHNN NICU had a different PDA treatment rate; specifically, the VPI with small birth gestational age had a lower treatment rate, while the VPI with large birth gestational age had a higher rate. There are significant differences in PDA treatment rates among different units.
Infant
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Male
;
Humans
;
Female
;
Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/drug therapy*
;
Infant, Premature
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Ibuprofen/therapeutic use*
;
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
;
Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome
;
Infant, Premature, Diseases/therapy*
5.The Link between Exposure to Phthalates and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Study Based on NHANES Data and Bioinformatic Analysis.
Xue Kui LIU ; Shan Wen SI ; Yan YE ; Jia Yi LI ; He He LYU ; Ya Mei MA ; Cai Yan ZOU ; Hao Jie SUN ; Lei XUE ; Wei XU ; Hou Fa GENG ; Jun LIANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2023;36(9):892-896
6.Systematic comparison of two kinds of Bufonis Venenum derived from different Bufo gargarizans subspecies based on metabolomics and antitumor activity.
Bo SUN ; Ming-Li LI ; Yao-Hua DING ; Yong ZHANG ; Bo XIA ; Sheng-Ya GUO ; Shi-Lu WANG ; Bao-Lin BIAN ; Nan SI ; Hai-Yu ZHAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(5):1280-1288
This paper compared the differences between two kinds of Bufonis Venenum produced by Bufo gargarizans gargarizans and B. gararizans andrewsi, and verified the rationality of the market value orientation of Bufonis Venenum based on the zebrafish mo-del. Twenty batches of Bufonis Venenum from Jiangsu province, Hebei province, Liaoning province, Jilin province, and Liangshan, Sichuan province, including B. gargarizans gargarizans and B. gararizans andrewsi, were collected. The UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS combined with principal component analysis was used to compare the differences between two kinds of Bufonis Venenum. According to the limiting conditions of VIP>1, FC<0.5 or FC>2.0, and peak total area ratio>1%, 9 differential markers were determined, which were cinobufagin, cinobufotalin, arenobufagin, resibufogenin, scillaredin A, resibufagin, 3-(N-suberoylargininyl)-arenobufagin, 3-(N-suberoylargininyl)-marinobufagin, and 3-(N-suberoylargininyl)-resibufogenin. The content of 20 batches of Bufonis Venenum was determined according to the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the 2 batches of Bufonis Venenum, CS7(8.99% of total content) and CS9(5.03% of total content), with the largest difference in the total content of the three quality control indexes of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(bufalin, cinobufagin, and resibufogenin) were selected to evaluate their anti-liver tumor activity based on the zebrafish model. The tumor inhibition rates of the 2 batches were 38.06% and 45.29%, respectively, proving that only using the quality control indexes of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the value orientation of Bufonis Venenum market circulation was unreasonable. This research provides data support for the effective utilization of Bufonis Venenum resources and the establishment of a rational quality evaluation system of Bufonis Venenum.
Animals
;
Zebrafish
;
Bufanolides/analysis*
;
Bufonidae
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Quality Control
;
Cell Line, Tumor
7.Clinical study of using basement membrane biological products in pelvic floor reconstruction during pelvic exenteration.
Guo Liang CHEN ; Yu Lu WANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Yu TAO ; Ya Huang SUN ; Jun Nan CHEN ; Si Qi WANG ; Ning SU ; Zhi Guo WANG ; Jian ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2023;26(3):268-276
Objective: To investigate the value of reconstruction of pelvic floor with biological products to prevent and treat empty pelvic syndrome after pelvic exenteration (PE) for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer. Methods: This was a descriptive study of data of 56 patients with locally advanced or locally recurrent rectal cancer without or with limited extra-pelvic metastases who had undergone PE and pelvic floor reconstruction using basement membrane biologic products to separate the abdominal and pelvic cavities in the Department of Anorectal Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Military Medical University from November 2021 to May 2022. The extent of surgery was divided into two categories: mainly inside the pelvis (41 patients) and including pelvic wall resection (15 patients). In all procedures, basement membrane biologic products were used to reconstruct the pelvic floor and separate the abdominal and pelvic cavities. The procedures included a transperitoneal approach, in which biologic products were used to cover the retroperitoneal defect and the pelvic entrance from the Treitz ligament to the sacral promontory and sutured to the lateral peritoneum, the peritoneal margin of the retained organs in the anterior pelvis, or the pubic arch and pubic symphysis; and a sacrococcygeal approach in which biologic products were used to reconstruct the defect in the pelvic muscle-sacral plane. Variables assessed included patients' baseline information (including sex, age, history of preoperative radiotherapy, recurrence or primary, and extra-pelvic metastases), surgery-related variables (including extent of organ resection, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, and tissue restoration), post-operative recovery (time to recovery of bowel function and time to recovery from empty pelvic syndrome), complications, and findings on follow-up. Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Results: The median age of the 41 patients whose surgery was mainly inside the pelvis was 57 (31-82) years. The patients comprised 25 men and 16 women. Of these 41 patients, 23 had locally advanced disease and 18 had locally recurrent disease; 32 had a history of chemotherapy/immunotherapy/targeted therapy and 24 of radiation therapy. Among these patients, the median operative time, median intraoperative bleeding, median time to recovery of bowel function, and median time to resolution of empty pelvic syndrome were 440 (240-1020) minutes, 650 (200-4000) ml, 3 (1-9) days, and 14 (5-105) days, respectively. As for postoperative complications, 37 patients had Clavien-Dindo < grade III and four had ≥ grade III complications. One patient died of multiple organ failure 7 days after surgery, two underwent second surgeries because of massive bleeding from their pelvic floor wounds, and one was successfully resuscitated from respiratory failure. In contrast, the median age of the 15 patients whose procedure included combined pelvic and pelvic wall resection was 61 (43-76) years, they comprised eight men and seven women, four had locally advanced disease and 11 had locally recurrent disease. All had a history of chemotherapy/ immunotherapy and 13 had a history of radiation therapy. The median operative time, median intraoperative bleeding, median time to recovery of bowel function, and median time to relief of empty pelvic syndrome were 600 (360-960) minutes, 1600 (400-4000) ml, 3 (2-7) days, and 68 (7-120) days, respectively, in this subgroup of patients. Twelve of these patients had Clavien-Dindo < grade III and three had ≥ grade III postoperative complications. Follow-up was until 31 October 2022 or death; the median follow-up time was 9 (5-12) months. One patient in this group died 3 months after surgery because of rapid tumor progression. The remaining 54 patients have survived to date and no local recurrences have been detected at the surgical site. Conclusion: The use of basement membrane biologic products for pelvic floor reconstruction and separation of the abdominal and pelvic cavities during PE for locally advanced or recurrent rectal cancer is safe, effective, and feasible. It improves the perioperative safety of PE and warrants more implementation.
Male
;
Humans
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Pelvic Exenteration
;
Biological Products/therapeutic use*
;
Pelvic Floor/pathology*
;
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery*
;
Rectal Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Postoperative Complications/prevention & control*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Treatment Outcome
8.The Nucleus Accumbens CRH-CRHR1 System Mediates Early-Life Stress-Induced Sleep Disturbance and Dendritic Atrophy in the Adult Mouse.
Ting WANG ; Yu-Nu MA ; Chen-Chen ZHANG ; Xiao LIU ; Ya-Xin SUN ; Hong-Li WANG ; Han WANG ; Yu-Heng ZHONG ; Yun-Ai SU ; Ji-Tao LI ; Tian-Mei SI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2023;39(1):41-56
Adverse experiences in early life have long-lasting negative impacts on behavior and the brain in adulthood, one of which is sleep disturbance. As the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1) system and nucleus accumbens (NAc) play important roles in both stress responses and sleep-wake regulation, in this study we investigated whether the NAc CRH-CRHR1 system mediates early-life stress-induced abnormalities in sleep-wake behavior in adult mice. Using the limited nesting and bedding material paradigm from postnatal days 2 to 9, we found that early-life stress disrupted sleep-wake behaviors during adulthood, including increased wakefulness and decreased non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep time during the dark period and increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time during the light period. The stress-induced sleep disturbances were accompanied by dendritic atrophy in the NAc and both were largely reversed by daily systemic administration of the CRHR1 antagonist antalarmin during stress exposure. Importantly, Crh overexpression in the NAc reproduced the effects of early-life stress on sleep-wake behavior and NAc morphology, whereas NAc Crhr1 knockdown reversed these effects (including increased wakefulness and reduced NREM sleep in the dark period and NAc dendritic atrophy). Together, our findings demonstrate the negative influence of early-life stress on sleep architecture and the structural plasticity of the NAc, and highlight the critical role of the NAc CRH-CRHR1 system in modulating these negative outcomes evoked by early-life stress.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism*
;
Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism*
;
Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/metabolism*
;
Sleep
;
Sleep Wake Disorders
;
Stress, Psychological/complications*
9.Identification of the New Psychoactive Substance Eutylone.
Qian-Ya DENG ; Wen-Juan SUN ; Si-Yang HE ; Kua-Dou WANG ; Yong-Sheng CHEN ; Wei WANG ; Chen LIANG
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2022;38(4):473-477
OBJECTIVES:
To establish a method to identify unknown sample based on the combined use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS) and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR) technique.
METHODS:
The unknown sample was directly analyzed by FTIR. The unknown sample was dissolved in methanol solution containing internal standard SKF525A and the supernatant was detected by GC-QTOF-MS and UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS. The unknown sample was dissolved in methanol-d4 solution for structural analysis of 1H-NMR.
RESULTS:
The characteristic absorption peaks of FTIR spectra obtained from unknown sample were 1 682 (C=O bond), 1 503, 1 488, 1 436, 1 363, 1 256, 1 092, 1 035, 935, 840 and 800 cm-1, the characteristic fragment ions (m/z) of GC-QTOF-MS were 86.096 4 (base peak), 58.065 1, 149.023 5, 121.028 6 and 65.038 6, the accurate mass [M+H]+ detected by UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS was 236.127 7. The sample was identified as synthetic cathinone new psychoactive substance Eutylone by 1H-NMR.
CONCLUSIONS
The method established in this study can be used for structural confirmation of Eutylone.
Methanol
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
;
Mass Spectrometry
;
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods*
;
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
10.Effect of Trans-PRK combined with 0.02% MMC on corneal density in patients with moderate myopia
Tian-Xu PEI ; Lin JIN ; Chun-Jing YU ; Ya-Nan MU ; Chun-Xiao YAN ; Ji-Liang NING ; Ruo-Yu CHEN ; Ze-Qun XING ; Si-Yu SUN ; Li-Jun ZHANG
International Eye Science 2022;22(8):1345-1351
AIM: To evaluate the effect of 0.02% mitomycin-C(MMC)on the corneal density after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy(Trans-PRK). METHODS: Retrospective case analysis. Selected 28 patients with 56 eyes in moderate myopia who underwent Trans-PRK surgery from January 2021 to June 2021 in our hospital. They were divided into MMC group in 28 eyes with a combination of 0.02% MMC 20s during the surgery and the control group in 28 eyes was not use MMC during the surgery. The Pentacam anterior segment analyzer was used to measured the corneal density in different diameter ranges and different thickness layers before and after surgery at 14d, and after surgery at 1 and 3mo.RESULTS: The total corneal density value of MMC group was 16.60(15.70,17.10 )before the surgery, after the surgery at 14d was 16.63(15.90,17.50 ), at 1mo was 16.57(15.10,16.70 ), at 3mo was 16.04(14.60,16.60 ). The total corneal density value of control group was 16.30(15.50,17.30 )before the surgery, after the surgery at 14d was 16.20(15.20,17.10 ), at 1mo was 16.08(14.90,16.40 )and at 3mo was 15.60(14.60,16.40 ). In the zone of 0-2mm diameter was centered on the corneal vertex, the corneal density of the two groups at 14d after the surgery was higher than those before surgery(P<0.001 ). In the zone of 2-6mm diameter, the corneal density of the two groups at 1mo and 3mo after surgery was higher than those before the surgery(P<0.001). In the zone of 6-10mm, the corneal density of the two groups at 14d, 1 and 3mo after surgery was higher than those before the surgery(P<0.001). In the layer of anterior 120 μm, the corneal density of the two groups at 1mo and 3mo after the surgery was decreased than that before surgery(P<0.01). In the middle layer, the corneal density of the two groups at 1mo after the surgery was decreased than those before surgery(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:The use of 0.02% MMC during the operation can reduce the corneal density and increase the corneal light transmittance in the early postoperative period. The occurrence and prognosis of haze can be effectively quantified by observing the changes of corneal optical density in different ranges in different time periods after operation.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail