1.The Effect of Qishao Tongbi Capsule (芪芍通痹胶囊) on the Wnt/β-catenin Pathway in a Rat Model of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Yumen XUE ; Xilin XU ; Wei HAN ; Jiaben XU ; Wenting XU ; Zelin LIU ; Xiaofeng ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(1):79-88
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Qishao Tongbi Capsule (芪芍通痹胶囊, QTC) in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). MethodsSeventy-five rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, low-dose QTC group, high-dose QTC group, high-dose QTC +agonist group, with 15 rats in each group. Except for the control group, all other groups were subjected to a fibrous ring puncture to prepare an IDD model. After modeling, rats in low-dose QTC group and high-dose QTC group were given QTC at doses of 0.2 and 0.8 g/(kg·d) by gavage, respectively. Rats in high-dose QTC+ agonist group was given QTC at 0.8 g/(kg·d) and SKL2001 solution at 10 mg/(kg·d) by gavage. The control group and model group were given 10 ml/(kg·d) distilled water by gavage. All treatments were given once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. After treatment, X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to detect IDD degree. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Safranin O-Fast Green staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the intervertebral disc tissue. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the levels of proteoglycan, type Ⅱ collagen (COL Ⅱ), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in the intervertebral disc tissue. Western blotting was used to detect the extracellular matrix (ECM)-related proteins (proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13), aging-related proteins (P53, P21, P16), apoptosis related proteins, including B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2 (BCL-2), BCL-2 related X protein (BAX), Cleaved Caspase-3, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway related proteins such as Wnt3a, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue. Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assess the mRNA expression of Wnt3a, GSK-3β, and β-catenin in intervertebral disc tissue. ResultsCompared with the model group, rats in the low-dose QTC group and high-dose QTC group exhibited improved DHI, decreased Pfirmann grading, and alleviated IDD. The structural integrity of the NP and annulus fibrosus increased, and the number of the NP increased. The levels of proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, BCL-2 and GSK-3β increased, while the levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, P53, P21, P16, BAX, Cleaved Caspase-3, Wnt3a and β-catenin protein decreased. The mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin mRNA decreased, while GSK-3β mRNA expression increased (P<0.05). Compared with the low-dose QTC group, the high-dose QTC group showed further improvements in DHI, decrease in Pfirrmann grading (P<0.05), and greater alleviation of IDD. The structural integrity of NP and annulus fibrosus was further enhanced, and the number of NP cells further increased. The levels of proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, BCL-2 and GSK-3β were higher, while the levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, P53, P21, P16, BAX, Cleaved Caspase-3, Wnt3a and β-catenin were lower. The mRNA expression of Wnt3a and β-catenin decreased, while GSK-3β mRNA expression increased (P<0.05). Compared with the high-dose QTC group, the high-dose QTC +agonist group showed a decrease of DHI, an increase of Pfirmann grading (P<0.05), significant aggravation of IDD, reduction in structural integrity of the NP and annulus fibrosus, a decrease of NP cell count, lower levels of proteoglycan, COL Ⅱ, BCL-2 and GSK-3β, and higher levels of MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, P53, P21, P16, BAX and Cleaved Caspase-3. Additionally, GSK-3β mRNA expression decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionQTC can inhibit NP cell aging, apoptosis, and ECM degradation in IDD rats, and its therapeutic effect may be mediated through the inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
2.A unicenter real-world study of the correlation factors for complete clinical response in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Zhanhong LAI ; Jiachen LI ; Zelin YUN ; Yonggang ZHANG ; Hao ZHANG ; Xiaoyan XING ; Miao SHAO ; Yue-Bo JIN ; Naidi WANG ; Yimin LI ; Yuhui LI ; Zhanguo LI
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2024;56(2):284-292
Objective:To investigate the correlation factors of complete clinical response in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies(IIMs)patients receiving conventional treatment.Methods:Patients diagnosed with IIMs hospitalized in Peking University People's Hospital from January 2000 to June 2023 were in-cluded.The correlation factors of complete clinical response to conventional treatment were identified by analyzing the clinical characteristics,laboratory features,peripheral blood lymphocytes,immunological indicators,and therapeutic drugs.Results:Among the 635 patients included,518 patients finished the follow-up,with an average time of 36.8 months.The total complete clinical response rate of IIMs was 50.0%(259/518).The complete clinical response rate of dermatomyositis(DM),anti-synthetase syn-drome(ASS)and immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy(IMNM)were 53.5%,48.9%and 39.0%,respectively.Fever(P=0.002)and rapid progressive interstitial lung disease(RP-ILD)(P=0.014)were observed much more frequently in non-complete clinical response group than in complete clinical re-sponse group.The aspartate transaminase(AST),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),D-dimer,erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reaction protein(CRP)and serum ferritin were significantly higher in non-complete clinical response group as compared with complete clinical response group.As for the treat-ment,the percentage of glucocorticoid received and intravenous immunoglobin(IVIG)were significantly higher in non-complete clinical response group than in complete clinical response group.Risk factor analysis showed that IMNM subtype(P=0.007),interstitial lung disease(ILD)(P=0.001),eleva-ted AST(P=0.012),elevated serum ferritin(P=0.016)and decreased count of CD4+T cells in peripheral blood(P=0.004)might be the risk factors for IIMs non-complete clinical response.Conclu-sion:The total complete clinical response rate of IIMs is low,especially for IMNM subtype.More effec-tive intervention should be administered to patients with ILD,elevated AST,elevated serum ferritin or decreased count of CD4+T cells at disease onset.
3.Molluscicidal effect of spraying different formulations of niclosamide ethanolamine salt with drones against Oncomelania hupensis in ditches
Zelin ZHU ; Xia ZHANG ; Junyi HE ; Ying CHEN ; Weisi WANG ; Hehua HU ; Chunli CAO ; Ziping BAO ; Suying GUO ; Liping DUAN ; Yi YUAN ; Jing XU ; Shizhu LI ; Xiaonong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2024;36(5):527-530
Objective To evaluate the molluscicidal effect of spraying different formulations of niclosamide ethanolamine salt with drones against Oncomelania hupensis in ditches. Methods A semi-dry and semi-wet ditch with O. hupensis snails was selected in the second branch field of Jiangbei Farm, Jiangling County, Hubei Province in May 2023, and divided into 4 experimental areas, named groups A1, A2, B1 and B2. Environmental cleaning was performed in groups A1 and B2, and was not conducted in groups A2 or B2. Then, 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt was sprayed with drones at an effective dose of 2 g/m2 in groups A1 and A2, and 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granule was sprayed with drones at an effective dose of 2 g/m2 in groups B1 and B2. O. hupensis snails were surveyed using the systematic sampling method 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 days after spraying, and the natural mortality and corrected mortality of O. hupensis snails were calculated. Results The occurrence of frames with living snails, mean density of living snails and natural mortality of snails were 97.50% (117/120), 6.30 snails/0.1 m2 and 1.18% (9/765) in the test ditch before spraying, respectively. There were significant differences in the mortality of snails among four groups 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after spraying niclosamide formulations with drones (χ2 = 17.230, 51.707, 65.184, 204.050 and 34.435, all P values < 0.01). The overall mortality rates of snails were 94.51% (1 051/1 112), 79.44% (908/1 143), 96.54% (977/1 012) and 88.55% (1 021/1 153) in groups A1, A2, B1 and B2 (χ2 = 207.773, P < 0.05), respectively. In addition, there was no significant difference in the overall snail mortality between groups A1 and B1 (P > 0.05), and the snail mortality in groups A1 and B1 were both statistically different from that in groups A2 and B2 (all P values < 0.05). Conclusion Both 50% wettlable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt and 5% niclosamide ethanolamine salt granule sprayed with drones are active against O. hupensis snails in ditches, and environmental cleaning may improve the molluscicidal effect.
4.Causal relationship between sleep phenotype and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus:a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Weitao ZHONG ; Weisong LI ; Zelin LI ; Qiang WANG ; Wangming ZHANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(8):1612-1619
Objective To explore the causal relationship between sleep phenotype and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus(iNPH)using two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization.Methods The exposure data including 8 sleep phenotypes used in this study were obtained from GWAS catalog,FinnGenR10 and MRCIEU GWAS.The outcome data for idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus were obtained from FinnGen R10.We used the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method to perform the principal analyses.Cochrane Q-statistics test was used to assess the heterogeneity and MR Egger-intercept test performed to evaluate the pleiotropy for sensitivity analyses.Results IVW result showed that frequent daytime nap was associated with higher odds of iNPH(OR=3.3393,95 CI%:1.0646-10.4742,P=0.0270).Cochrane Q-statistics test and MR Egger-intercept test showed that the MR analysis had no pleiotropy or heterogeneity(P>0.05).The external validation reproduced this result(OR=2.5660,95 CI%:1.1680-5.6373,P=0.0189;OR=4.0424,95 CI%:1.5709-10.4024,P=0.0038).Reverse Mendelian randomization suggested that iNPH did not have significant impact on sleep phenotype.Conclusion The frequency of daytime naps is causally associated with iNPH,and reducing the frequency of weekly daytime naps can reduce the risk of iNPH in the elderly population.
5.Treatment status of tyrosine kinase inhibitor for newly-diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia: a domestic multi-centre retrospective real-world study
Xiaoshuai ZHANG ; Bingcheng LIU ; Xin DU ; Yanli ZHANG ; Na XU ; Xiaoli LIU ; Weiming LI ; Hai LIN ; Rong LIANG ; Chunyan CHEN ; Jian HUANG ; Yunfan YANG ; Huanling ZHU ; Ling PAN ; Xiaodong WANG ; Guohui LI ; Zhuogang LIU ; Yanqing ZHANG ; Zhenfang LIU ; Jianda HU ; Chunshui LIU ; Fei LI ; Wei YANG ; Li MENG ; Yanqiu HAN ; Li'e LIN ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Chuanqing TU ; Caifeng ZHENG ; Yanliang BAI ; Zeping ZHOU ; Suning CHEN ; Huiying QIU ; Lijie YANG ; Xiuli SUN ; Hui SUN ; Li ZHOU ; Zelin LIU ; Danyu WANG ; Jianxin GUO ; Liping PANG ; Qingshu ZENG ; Xiaohui SUO ; Weihua ZHANG ; Yuanjun ZHENG ; Qian JIANG
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2024;45(3):215-224
Objective:To retrospectively analyze the treatment status of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in China.Methods:Data of chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) CML patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2022 from 77 centers, ≥18 years old, and receiving initial imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib-therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China with complete data were retrospectively interrogated. The choice of initial TKI, current TKI medications, treatment switch and reasons, treatment responses and outcomes as well as the variables associated with them were analyzed.Results:6 893 patients in CP ( n=6 453, 93.6%) or AP ( n=440, 6.4%) receiving initial imatinib ( n=4 906, 71.2%), nilotinib ( n=1 157, 16.8%), dasatinib ( n=298, 4.3%) or flumatinib ( n=532, 7.2%) -therapy. With the median follow-up of 43 ( IQR 22-75) months, 1 581 (22.9%) patients switched TKI due to resistance ( n=1 055, 15.3%), intolerance ( n=248, 3.6%), pursuit of better efficacy ( n=168, 2.4%), economic or other reasons ( n=110, 1.6%). The frequency of switching TKI in AP patients was significantly-higher than that in CP patients (44.1% vs 21.5%, P<0.001), and more AP patients switched TKI due to resistance than CP patients (75.3% vs 66.1%, P=0.011). Multi-variable analyses showed that male, lower HGB concentration and ELTS intermediate/high-risk cohort were associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular responses rate and poor outcomes in CP patients; higher WBC count and initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher response rates; Ph + ACA at diagnosis, poor PFS. However, Sokal intermediate/high-risk cohort was only significantly-associated with lower CCyR and MMR rates and the poor PFS. Lower HGB concentration and larger spleen size were significantly-associated with the lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates in AP patients; initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher treatment response rates; lower PLT count, higher blasts and Ph + ACA, poorer TFS; Ph + ACA, poorer OS. Conclusion:At present, the vast majority of newly-diagnosed CML-CP or AP patients could benefit from TKI treatment in the long term with the good treatment responses and survival outcomes.
6.Population genetics analysis of Oncomelania hupensis in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, 2022
Weiling GU ; Hanqi PENG ; Hanxiang ZHANG ; Zelin XIANG ; Zhongwen CHEN ; Xiaofei FU ; Yunpeng QI ; Liang XIE ; Jie HU ; Dabing LYU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(6):559-562
ObjectiveTo genotype Oncomelania hupensis, based on microsatellites, in different snail-bearing environments in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, for population genetics analysis in order to explore the reasons and influencing factors for the existence or proliferation of snails and to provide scientific basis for effective monitoring and control of snails. MethodsA total of 90 snail samples from three populations were collected in Yaobang Village (YB) and Sanxing Village (SX) in Pinghu City, and Yunhe Farm (YH) in Xiuzhou District, all were selected for snail checking in key snail habitats of Jiaxing City in 2022. DNA of the snails was genotyped and analyzed for population genetics using nine microsatellite loci. ResultsA total of 84 alleles were observed, and the mean number of alleles (Na) was 7.889, 5.667, and 3.778 for YB, SX, and YH respectively; the number of effective alleles (NeA) was 4.807, 3.329, and 2.294, respectively; and the coefficients of inbreeding (FIS) were 0.400, 0.377, and 0.493, respectively. Under the Infinite Allele Model (IAM), the SX and YH might have a recent bottleneck. The NEstimator and LDNe software calculated effective population sizes (Ne) were above 31.9. AMOVA analysis showed that the variation of snails in the three populations mainly existed among individuals, accounting for 41.4% of the total variation. The value of the index of genetic differentiation between populations (FST) was 0.286, indicating a high degree of genetic differentiation. The results of the principal component analysis and phylogenetic tree were consistent, and the three populations were divided into two lineages, YB and SX were one lineage, and YH belonged to another independent lineage. Population history and dynamics analysis showed that the gene flow of the three populations was insufficient, population divergence history indicated that YH might have diverged from SX first, and YB was produced by the contact fusion of SX and YH. ConclusionThe genetic diversity of snail populations in Jiaxing City is generally low, and the snail populations are unstable, with a great degree of genetic differentiation and insufficient gene flow among populations. This study can provide a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of the control of the snail as well as monitoring the trend of the spread of the snail.
7.Causal relationship between sleep phenotype and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus:a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Weitao ZHONG ; Weisong LI ; Zelin LI ; Qiang WANG ; Wangming ZHANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(8):1612-1619
Objective To explore the causal relationship between sleep phenotype and idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus(iNPH)using two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization.Methods The exposure data including 8 sleep phenotypes used in this study were obtained from GWAS catalog,FinnGenR10 and MRCIEU GWAS.The outcome data for idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus were obtained from FinnGen R10.We used the inverse-variance weighted(IVW)method to perform the principal analyses.Cochrane Q-statistics test was used to assess the heterogeneity and MR Egger-intercept test performed to evaluate the pleiotropy for sensitivity analyses.Results IVW result showed that frequent daytime nap was associated with higher odds of iNPH(OR=3.3393,95 CI%:1.0646-10.4742,P=0.0270).Cochrane Q-statistics test and MR Egger-intercept test showed that the MR analysis had no pleiotropy or heterogeneity(P>0.05).The external validation reproduced this result(OR=2.5660,95 CI%:1.1680-5.6373,P=0.0189;OR=4.0424,95 CI%:1.5709-10.4024,P=0.0038).Reverse Mendelian randomization suggested that iNPH did not have significant impact on sleep phenotype.Conclusion The frequency of daytime naps is causally associated with iNPH,and reducing the frequency of weekly daytime naps can reduce the risk of iNPH in the elderly population.
8.Stratified Treatment in Pediatric Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Result of a Prospective Open-Label Multiple-Institution Study
Tingting CHEN ; Chenggong ZENG ; Juan WANG ; Feifei SUN ; Junting HUANG ; Jia ZHU ; Suying LU ; Ning LIAO ; Xiaohong ZHANG ; Zaisheng CHEN ; Xiuli YUAN ; Zhen YANG ; Haixia GUO ; Liangchun YANG ; Chuan WEN ; Wenlin ZHANG ; Yang LI ; Xuequn LUO ; Zelin WU ; Lihua YANG ; Riyang LIU ; Mincui ZHENG ; Xiangling HE ; Xiaofei SUN ; Zijun ZHEN
Cancer Research and Treatment 2024;56(4):1252-1261
Purpose:
The risk stratification of pediatric anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has not been standardized. In this study, new risk factors were included to establish a new risk stratification system for ALCL, and its feasibility in clinical practice was explored.
Materials and Methods:
On the basis of the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Berlin–Frankfurt–Munster 95 (NHL-BFM-95) protocol, patients with minimal disseminated disease (MDD), high-risk tumor site (multiple bone, skin, liver, and lung involvement), and small cell/lymphohistiocytic (SC/LH) pathological subtype were enrolled in risk stratification. Patients were treated with a modified NHL-BFM-95 protocol combined with an anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor or vinblastine (VBL).
Results:
A total of 136 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age was 8.8 years. The 3-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival of the entire cohort were 77.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.0% to 83.9%) and 92.3% (95% CI, 86.1% to 95.8%), respectively. The 3-year EFS rates of low-risk group (R1), intermediate-risk group (R2), and high-risk group (R3) patients were 100%, 89.5% (95% CI, 76.5% to 95.5%), and 67.9% (95% CI, 55.4% to 77.6%), respectively. The prognosis of patients with MDD (+), stage IV cancer, SC/LH lymphoma, and high-risk sites was poor, and the 3-year EFS rates were 45.3% (95% CI, 68.6% to 19.0%), 65.7% (95% CI, 47.6% to 78.9%), 55.7% (95% CI, 26.2% to 77.5%), and 70.7% (95% CI, 48.6% to 84.6%), respectively. At the end of follow-up, one of the five patients who received maintenance therapy with VBL relapsed, and seven patients receiving anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor maintenance therapy did not experience relapse.
Conclusion
This study has confirmed the poor prognostic of MDD (+), high-risk site and SC/LH, but patients with SC/LH lymphoma and MDD (+) at diagnosis still need to receive better treatment (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03971305).
9.Research progress in antenna technology for microwave imaging of stroke
Haisheng ZHANG ; Xu NING ; Lin XU ; Wei ZHUANG ; Zelin BAI ; Lilong ZHOU ; Jia XU ; Feng WANG ; Mingsheng CHEN
International Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2023;46(3):231-239
The diagnostic technology of acute stroke by microwave imaging has the advantages of being non-ionizing, fast, small, and low-cost. Therefore, this technology is expected to become an auxiliary or alternative means to CT and MRI technology. As the signal transmitting and receiving device of the microwave imaging system, the antenna has an important influence on the performance of the imaging system. At present, there are many antennas with different performances used in imaging systems, but there is a lack of clear evaluation criteria for them. In this paper, several typical antennas were introduced, their advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of bandwidth and near-field were analyzed, and the common requirements of imaging systems for antennas and the performance indicators of various types of imaging systems were summarized. Moreover, the development trend of antenna technology for microwave imaging was pointed out to provide a reference for the study of stroke microwave imaging technology.
10.More attention should be paid to rare male sexual dysfunction
Hu HAN ; Zelin LI ; Yang YE ; Xiaodong ZHANG ; Long TIAN
Chinese Journal of Urology 2023;44(12):881-884
The World Health Organization defines sexual health as a state of physical, emotional, mental and social health related to sex, which is not just the absence of disease, dysfunction, etc. In clinical practice, in addition to common male sexual dysfunction such as erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation, rare forms of male sexual dysfunction may also be encountered. Perhaps due to our lack of understanding of this type of disease, it is easy to overlook or miss diagnosis in clinical practice. Based on the latest literature reports and our clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment, this article elaborates on its definition, clinical symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, and possible pathogenesis. It is hoped that clinician can pay attention to and accurately diagnose rare male sexual dysfunction.

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