1.Signaling Pathways Related to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Regulation by Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Manman YAO ; Liya MA ; Dawei ZHANG ; Xuelin ZHANG ; Xuan ZHOU ; Yu TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):301-312
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent gynecological diseases, and its incidence is increasing year by year, seriously affecting the physical and mental health of female patients. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and has not been fully clarified. At present, PCOS is mainly treated by Western medicine, which, however, has poor efficacy and induces various adverse reactions. Therefore, developing safe and effective therapies has become a difficult problem that needs to be solved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smads, secreted glycoprotein/β-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and advanced glycation endproduct/receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (AGE/RAGE) signaling pathways to ameliorate insulin resistance, inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress, regulate endocrine hormone disorders, and intervene in apoptosis and autophagy, thus alleviating the symptoms, slowing down the disease progression, and improving the ovarian function. The treatment of PCOS with TCM has demonstrated definite effects and high safety. Therefore, exploring this disease from cellular and molecular perspectives can provide a theoretical basis for its clinical treatment and new drug development. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews on the modulation of relevant signaling pathways by TCM in the treatment of PCOS. This article reviews the research progress in the treatment of PCOS with the active ingredients and compound prescriptions of TCM by regulating relevant signaling pathways in recent years, with the aim of providing evidence to support the promotion of TCM for treating PCOS in the future.
2.Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography
Meng-Meng MIAO ; Yu-Xuan REN ; Wen-Wei WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Xiang-Hong LIN ; Hui-Dan LIN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):244-257
ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
3.Comparison of 3 evaluation criteria for potentially inappropriate medications in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture
Xuan ZHANG ; Yu SUN ; Yang GAO ; Yirou JIANG ; Hua ZHU ; Wei GONG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(6):762-766
OBJECTIVE To analyze the prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures at admission and compare the concordance of 3 evaluation criteria. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted to review the data of elderly patients with femoral neck fractures admitted to the Department of Orthopedics in Northern Jiangsu People’s Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023. The PIMs were identified according to the Criteria of Potentially Inappropriate Medications for Older Adults in China:2017 edition (hereinafter referred to as Chinese criteria), American Geriatrics Society 2023 Updated AGS Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication in Older Adults (hereinafter referred to as 2023 Beers criteria), third version criteria for screening tool of older people’s prescriptions for potentially inappropriate medication (hereinafter referred to as STOPP criteria version 3). The concordance of the 3 evaluation criteria was compared by using Kappa statistics. RESULTS A total of 246 patients were included in this study; 49 patients (19.92%) with 77 PIMs were detected by the Chinese criteria, 64 patients (26.02%) with 118 PIMs were detected by the 2023 Beers criteria, and 41 patients (16.67%) with 67 PIMs were detected by the STOPP criteria version 3; 22 patients met all three criteria simultaneously. The concordance among the three criteria showed moderate agreement (0.417≤Kappa≤0.486) when compared in pairs. CONCLUSIONS There are certain differences in the PIM evaluated by the three criteria, but the prevalence of PIMs is below 30% according to the different H202134) criteria. Benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, and other drugs may increase the risk of patients falling again.
4.Bibliometrics study on the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma
Yan CHEN ; Hongmin ZHUO ; Fan ZHANG ; Xuan ZHOU ; Chengzhi YUAN ; Chang YU ; Qinghua PENG ; Meiyan ZENG ; Houpan SONG
International Eye Science 2024;24(5):704-711
AIM: To understand the publication status, research trends, and cutting-edge and hot topics in this field by conducting a bibliometrics analysis of relevant literatures on the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma(POAG)in the past 30 a.METHODS:A total of 986 relevant literatures on the pathogenesis of POAG published on the core databases of China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and Web of Science(WOS)from 1 September 1993 to 1 September 2023 were retrieved. CiteSpace(6.2.R.4)and VOSviewer(1.6.18)software were used to conduct knowledge graph analysis on the retrieved literature, including publication volume, author, research institution, country/region, and keywords.RESULTS:The United States(243 articles)has the highest number of publications, followed by China(121 articles). The foreign institution with the highest number of publications is Harvard University(37 articles), while domestic institutions such as Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, ophthalmology department of Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, and Peking University First Hospital tied for the highest number of publications. Louis R. Pasquale(21 articles)is the most prolific English author. Wang Ningli is the most active Chinese researcher in this field. Keywords include trabecular meshwork, intraocular pressure, aqueous humor, glucocorticoid, hemorheology, etc.CONCLUSION: The research on the pathogenesis of POAG is in a period of vigorous development. The United States has the largest number of publications in this field, and Harvard University is a leading institution in this field. The research focus in the field of POAG has shifted from the structural aspect to the genetic level, and gene research and traditional Chinese medicine treatment have broad application prospects in this field.
5.Regulatory effect of C12ORF66 on viability of MYCN amplified high-risk neuroblastoma cells
Anna JIA ; Shijia ZHAN ; Xuan ZHANG ; Jinxin GUO ; Yongbo YU ; Yongli GUO ; Yan CHANG
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(3):288-294
Objective To explore the effect of open reading frame 66(C12ORF66)located at chromosome 12 on the viability of MYCN amplified NB cell lines.Methods DDatasets GSE16476 and GSE49710 in R2 database were analyzed for expression level of C12ORF66 in MYCN amplified and MYCN non-amplified NB cells and its potential correlation with the prognosis of pediatric patients.C12ORF66 mRNA expression level in normal tissue immortalized cell lines,MYCN amplified and MYCN non-amplified cell lines were detected by RT-qRCR.Transient or stable knockdown of C12ORF66 cell lines were constructed to compare the difference in real time cellular analysis(RTCA),colony formation,Ki67 positive cells between the control group and the C12ORF66 knockdown group.Results By analyzing R2 datasets,C12ORF66 level in MYCN amplified samples was significantly higher than that in MYCN non-amplified samples,and the expression of C12ORF66 was negatively correlated with the prognosis of pediatric patients(P<0.05).C12ORF66 highly expressed in MYCN-amplified BE(2)-C and SK-N-BE(2)cell lines than in MYCN non-amplified CHLA-255 and SH-SY5Y cell lines(P<0.001).Transient or stable knockdown of C12ORF66 resulted in significant slow down of proliferation of MYCN amplified NB cells(P<0.001),the colony formation ability was significantly reduced(P<0.001),and the proportion of Ki67 positive cells was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusions C12ORF66 was highly expressed in MYCN amplified clinical NB samples and cell lines which is believed to be correlated with poor prognosis of pediatric patients.C12ORF66 knockdown signifi-cantly inhibits cell viability of NB cells.
6.Effect and mechanism of transplantation bone marrow stromal stem cells transfected NRG1 gene on repair of hemi-transected spinal cord injury in rats
Yu-Xuan FU ; Jun CHEN ; Fu-Sheng ZHAO ; Yuan-Yuan LI ; Ke-Xin ZHANG ; Geng WU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(2):204-213
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of transplantation of neuregulin1(NRG1)gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)on the repair of hemi-transected spinal cord injury(SCI)in rats.Methods Isolated and cultured rat BMSCs,followed by transfection with the NRG1 gene.The levels of NRG1 in BMSCs lysate and culture supernatant was deected by ELISA method,and the proliferation activity of the BMSCs was detected by cell counting method.Forty-three healthy 8-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into control group(n=10),SCI model group(n=10),BMSCs group(n=10),and NRG1-BMSCs group(n=13).After establishing the spinal cord hemisection model,animals received in-situ transplantation of BMSCs or NRG1-BMSCs.On the 1,7,14,21,and 28 days after transplantation,the hind limb motor function was evaluated using BBB score and inclined plate test;on the 7th day after transplantation,the migration and distribution of transplanted cells was monitored using a fluorescence microscope;on the 28th day after transplantation,the pathological changes of rat spinal cord tissues was examined using HE staining and Nissl staining;cell apoptosis using TUNEL staining,and levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins[X-box binding protein 1(XBP1),C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP),activating transcription factor 4(ATF4),ATF6,glucose-regulated protein 78(GRP78)]and apoptosis-related proteins[B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)and Bcl-2-associated protein X(Bax)]in rat spinal cord tissues using Western blotting.Results BMSCs were successfully isolated,cultured,and transfected with the NRG1 gene.ELISA method results showed that the NRG1 contents in the NRG1-BMSCs lysate and culture supernatant were significantly higher than that of BMSCs in a time-dependent manner(P<0.05).The proliferation activity of NRG1-BMSCs was significantly higher than that of BMSCs(P<0.05).On the 21 and 28 days after transplantation,the BBB score and the slope angle of the inclined plate in NRG1-BMSCs group were higher than those in SCI model group or BMSCs group(P<0.05).However,it did not reverse to the level in control group(P<0.05).On the 28th day after transplantation,compared with the SCI model group and BMSCs group,neuronal pyknosis reduced,the Nissl body density increased,the expression levels of XBP1,CHOP,ATF4,ATF6,GRP78,and Bax,and the rate of TUNEL-positive cells significantly reduced in NRG1-BMSCs group(P<0.05),and the expression level of Bcl-2 significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion Transplantation of NRG1 gene-modified BMSCs can alleviate SCI and improve the recovery of motor function in rats.The mechanism may be related to promoting the proliferation activity of BMSCs,inhibiting cell apoptosis,and mitigating endoplasmic reticulum stress.
7.Predictive value of early thyroid function changes for the curative effect of 131I therapy in patients with Graves′ disease
Yan WANG ; Feng YU ; Renfei WANG ; Zhaowei MENG ; Guizhi ZHANG ; Ruiguo ZHANG ; Danyang SUN ; Xuan WANG ; Jian TAN ; Wei ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2024;44(1):30-34
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of early thyroid function changes on the efficacy of patients with Graves′ disease (GD) after 131I therapy. Methods:Data of patients with GD (59 males, 214 females; age (37.4±11.4) years) who underwent single therapy of 131I in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from November 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Symptoms, signs and laboratory tests (serum free triiodothyronine (FT 3) and serum free thyroxine (FT 4)) of patients were observed to assess the efficacy of 131I treatment. Efficacy was divided into complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), non-remission (NR) or relapse. The changes of thyroid function (ΔFT 3=FT 3 before treatment-FT 3 after treatment)/FT 3 before treatment×100%; ΔFT 4=FT 4 before treatment-FT 4 after treatment)/FT 4 before treatment×100%) 1 month after 131I therapy in each efficacy group and differences among them were compared by using independent-sample t test, χ2 test, one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference t test. ROC curves were drawn to analyze the predictive values of early thyroid function changes on the efficacy of 131I treatment for GD. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the influencing factors for the efficacy of 131I therapy. Results:CR rate and total effective rate of 273 GD patients after single therapy of 131I were 67.03%(183/273) and 92.67%(253/273), respectively. After 1 month, CR rate of euthyroidism group ( n=95) was significantly higher than that of hyperthyroidism group ( n=178; 81.05%(77/95) vs 59.55%(106/178); χ2=4.60, P=0.032). ΔFT 3 and ΔFT 4 at the first month were statistically significant and decreased sequentially in the CR group ( n=183), PR group ( n=70), NR or relapse groups ( n=20; F values: 15.40, 12.54, both P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that patients with ΔFT 3≥73.64% and (or) ΔFT 4≥59.03% had a higher probability of achieving CR, with sensitivities of 84.3% and 86.7%, and specificities of 62.6% and 62.6%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that 24 h radioactive iodine uptake (odds ratio ( OR)=1.095, 95% CI: 1.031-1.139), dose of 131I given per gram of thyroid tissue ( OR=1.562, 95% CI: 1.321-1.694), ΔFT 3 ( OR=1.354, 95% CI: 1.295-1.482), ΔFT 4 ( OR=1.498, 95% CI: 1.384-1.608) were factors affecting the outcome of patients with GD treated with 131I treatment (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Effects of 131I treatment can be predicted based on the change of the thyroid function at the first month after 131I treatment in patients with GD.
8.Radon concentration and related employees’ chromosome aberration and micronuclei in subways in a city of Zhejiang Province
Zhiqiang XUAN ; Xinyu HUANG ; Zhongjun LAI ; Jiadi GUO ; Xiaoji HAO ; Shunfei YU ; Yiyao CAO ; Donghang WANG ; Duo ZHANG ; Jihua NIE
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(9):1025-1031
Background Excessive radon exposure is considered the second risk factor for lung cancer. Since the opening of the subway in a city of Zhejiang Province, the exposure level of radioactive gas radon in subway stations and its impact on occupational health have become one of the important issues of public concern. Objective To monitor the radon concentration of subways in a city in Zhejiang Province and explore the effect of radon exposure on chromosome aberration and micronuclei in the working population. Methods A total of 55 vehicle control rooms of 55 stations affiliated to two different subway lines in a city were measured for one year; the 110 ticket offices and 55 security checkpoints from the same 55 stations were measured from 16 March to 14 June. The radon concentrations were compared by job types, subway lines, and seasons referring to Measurement methods for determination of radon in environmental air (HJ 1212-2021). Peripheral blood lymphocyte chromosome aberration and micronucleus analyses were conducted in 165 subway workers from monitoring sites for three different job types, then the influencing factors were analyzed. The detection methods were adopted from the standards of Test and assessment of chromosomal aberrations on occupational health examinations for radiation workers (GBZ/T 248-2014) and Standard for the method of micronucleus detection in lymphocytes on occupational health examination for radiation workers and exposure dose estimation (GBZ/T 328-2023). Results The radon concentration range of the target subways in Zhejiang Province was 10-320 Bq·m−3, all lower than the national limit (≤400 Bq·m−3). The differences in radon radioactivity levels among different lines, job types, and time segments were statistically significant (P<0.05). The rates of chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation among the 165 subjects were 0.224% and 0.024%, respectively. There were significant differences in the rates of chromosome aberration and micronuclei among different jobs (vehicle control room, ticket office, security checkpoint) (P<0.05), but the abnormal rates were lower than the limits of the corresponding national standard. No significant correlation was found between jobs and chromosomal aberrations or micronuclei (P>0.05). Chromosome aberration and micronuclei varied by age, subway station seniority, and smoking (P<0.05). No effect of the above factors on chromosome aberration and micronuclei was observed by logistic regression (P>0.05). Conclusion The radon concentration in the target subway system is at a normal level. The rates of chromosomal aberration and micronucleus formation vary by jobs, but both are lower than the corresponding national limits. Therefore, radon exposure has not yet caused outstanding health impact on the subway workers.
9.Perioperative results of cardiac valve surgery in patients with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
Xiaochen WANG ; Hailei SUN ; Chaoyu ZHANG ; Zhengchun ZHOU ; Yu WEI ; Haiyang XUAN ; Guangcun CHENG ; Jianjun GE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;31(07):962-966
Objective To analyze the perioperative outcomes of cardiac valve surgery in patients with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods The perioperative clinical data of patients receiving heart valve replacement in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China from November 2022 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to whether the patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2, they were divided into a non-infected group and an asymptomatic group. The perioperative data of the patients were compared between the two groups, and the effect of asymptomatic infection on the result of heart valve replacement surgery was analyzed. Results A total of 66 patients were enrolled including 36 males and 30 females with a mean age of 58.0±11.1 years. There were 51 patients in the non-infected group and 15 patients in the asymtomatic group. There were 2 patients of mitral valve replacement, 20 patients of aortic valve replacement, 1 patient of double valve replacement, 3 patients of aortic valve replacement with tricuspid valvoplasty, 22 patients of mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valvoplasty, 18 patients of double valve replacement and tricuspid valvoplasty. Asymptomatic infected patients received more emergency surgery than uninfected patients (26.7% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the duration of extracorporeal circulation, aortic occlusion, mechanical ventilation time after the surgery, ICU stay, postoperative drainage volume, or postoperative complications between the two groups. Conclusion Perioperative results of cardiac valve surgery in patients with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and non-infection are almost the same.
10.Full-length transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of Polygonatum kingianum
Qi MI ; Yan-li ZHAO ; Ping XU ; Meng-wen YU ; Xuan ZHANG ; Zhen-hua TU ; Chun-hua LI ; Guo-wei ZHENG ; Jia CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(6):1864-1872
The purpose of this study was to enrich the genomic information and provide a basis for further development and utilization of

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