1.rTMS Improves Cognitive Function and Brain Network Connectivity in Patients With Alzheimer’s Disease
Gui-Zhi XU ; Lin LIU ; Miao-Miao GUO ; Tian WANG ; Jiao-Jiao GAO ; Yong JI ; Pan WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2131-2145
ObjectiveRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing neurocognitive performance in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the neurobiological mechanisms linking synaptic pathology, neural oscillatory dynamics, and brain network reorganization remain unclear. This investigation seeks to systematically evaluate the therapeutic potential of rTMS as a non-invasive neuromodulatory intervention through a multimodal framework integrating clinical assessments, molecular profiling, and neurophysiological monitoring. MethodsIn this prospective double-blind trial, 12 AD patients underwent a 14-day protocol of 20 Hz rTMS, with comprehensive multimodal assessments performed pre- and post-intervention. Cognitive functioning was quantified using the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA), while daily living capacities and neuropsychiatric profiles were respectively evaluated through the activities of daily living (ADL) scale and combined neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI)-Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD). Peripheral blood biomarkers, specifically Aβ1-40 and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), were analyzed to investigate the effects of rTMS on molecular metabolism. Spectral power analysis was employed to investigate rTMS-induced modulations of neural rhythms in AD patients, while brain network analyses incorporating topological properties were conducted to examine stimulus-driven network reorganization. Furthermore, systematic assessment of correlations between cognitive scale scores, blood biomarkers, and network characteristics was performed to elucidate cross-modal therapeutic associations. ResultsClinically, MMSE and MOCA scores improved significantly (P<0.05). Biomarker showed that Aβ1-40 level increased (P<0.05), contrasting with p-tau181 reduction. Moreover, the levels of Aβ1-40 were positively correlated with MMSE and MOCA scores. Post-intervention analyses revealed significant modulations in oscillatory power, characterized by pronounced reductions in delta (P<0.05) and theta bands (P<0.05), while concurrent enhancements were observed in alpha, beta, and gamma band activities (all P<0.05). Network analysis revealed frequency-specific reorganization: clustering coefficients were significantly decreased in delta, theta, and alpha bands (P<0.05), while global efficiency improvement was exclusively detected in the delta band (P<0.05). The alpha band demonstrated concurrent increases in average nodal degree (P<0.05) and characteristic path length reduction (P<0.05). Further research findings indicate that the changes in the clinical scale HAMD scores before and after rTMS stimulation are negatively correlated with the changes in the blood biomarkers Aβ1-40 and p-tau181. Additionally, the changes in the clinical scales MMSE and MoCA scores were negatively correlated with the changes in the node degree of the alpha frequency band and negatively correlated with the clustering coefficient of the delta frequency band. However, the changes in MMSE scores are positively correlated with the changes in global efficiency of both the delta and alpha frequency bands. Conclusion20 Hz rTMS targeting dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) significantly improves cognitive function and enhances the metabolic clearance of β-amyloid and tau proteins in AD patients. This neurotherapeutic effect is mechanistically associated with rTMS-mediated frequency-selective neuromodulation, which enhances the connectivity of oscillatory networks through improved neuronal synchronization and optimized topological organization of functional brain networks. These findings not only support the efficacy of rTMS as an adjunctive therapy for AD but also underscore the importance of employing multiple assessment methods—including clinical scales, blood biomarkers, and EEG——in understanding and monitoring the progression of AD. This research provides a significant theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for further exploration of rTMS applications in AD treatment.
2.Systematic characterization and identification of the chemical constituents of the Schisandra chinensis decoction based on a hybrid scanning technique of UHPLC/IM-QTOF-MS
Li-li HONG ; Hong-da WANG ; Xiao-yan XU ; Wan-di HU ; Jing-yuan LIU ; Xiao-ying WANG ; Xiu-mei GAO ; Wen-zhi YANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(3):678-692
italic>Schisandra chinensis is a traditional Chinese medicine with the functions of reinforcing deficiency, strengthening, and inducing astringency, appliable to treat the chronic cough and deficiency in breath, palpitation, and insomnia,
3.Development and validation of a novel criterion of histologic healing in ulcerative colitis defined by inflammatory cell enumeration in lamina propria mucosa: A multicenter retrospective cohort in China
Han GAO ; Kangsheng PENG ; Yadi SHI ; Shenshen ZHU ; Ruicong SUN ; Chunjin XU ; Ping LIU ; Zhi PANG ; Lanxiang ZHU ; Weichang CHEN ; Baisui FENG ; Huili WU ; Guangxi ZHOU ; Mingsong LI ; Junxiang LI ; Baijing DING ; Zhanju LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(11):1316-1323
Background::Histological healing is closely associated with improved long-term clinical outcomes and lowered relapses in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). Here, we developed a novel diagnostic criterion for assessing histological healing in UC patients.Methods::We conducted a retrospective cohort study in UC patients, whose treatment was iteratively optimized to achieve mucosal healing at Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital of Tongji University from January 2017 to May 2022. We identified an inflammatory cell enumeration index (ICEI) for assessing histological healing based on the proportions of eosinophils, CD177 + neutrophils, and CD40L + T cells in the colonic lamina propria under high power field (HPF), and the outcomes (risks of symptomatic relapses) of achieving histological remission vs. persistent histological inflammation using Kaplan-Meier curves. Intrareader reliability and inter-reader reliability were evaluated by each reader. The relationships to the changes in the Nancy index and the Geboes score were also assessed for responsiveness. The ICEI was further validated in a new cohort of UC patients from other nine university hospitals. Results::We developed an ICEI for clinical diagnosis of histological healing, i.e., Y = 1.701X 1 + 0.758X 2 + 1.347X 3 - 7.745 (X 1, X 2, and X 3 represent the proportions of CD177 + neutrophils, eosinophils, and CD40L + T cells, respectively, in the colonic lamina propria under HPF). The receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis revealed that Y <-0.391 was the cutoff value for the diagnosis of histological healing and that an area under the curve (AUC) was 0.942 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.905-0.979) with a sensitivity of 92.5% and a specificity of 83.6% ( P <0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the intrareader reliability was 0.855 (95% CI: 0.781-0.909), and ICEI had good inter-reader reliability of 0.832 (95% CI: 0.748-0.894). During an 18-month follow-up, patients with histological healing had a substantially better outcome compared with those with unachieved histological healing ( P <0.001) using ICEI. During a 12-month follow-up from other nine hospitals, patients with histological healing also had a lower risk of relapse than patients with unachieved histological healing. Conclusions::ICEI can be used to predict histological healing and identify patients with a risk of relapse 12 months and 18 months after clinical therapy. Therefore, ICEI provides a promising, simplified approach to monitor histological healing and to predict the prognosis of UC.Registration::Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, No. ChiCTR2300077792.
4.Expert consensus on clinical application of 177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer
Guobing LIU ; Weihai ZHUO ; Yushen GU ; Zhi YANG ; Yue CHEN ; Wei FAN ; Jianming GUO ; Jian TAN ; Xiaohua ZHU ; Li HUO ; Xiaoli LAN ; Biao LI ; Weibing MIAO ; Shaoli SONG ; Hao XU ; Rong TIAN ; Quanyong LUO ; Feng WANG ; Xuemei WANG ; Aimin YANG ; Dong DAI ; Zhiyong DENG ; Jinhua ZHAO ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Yan FAN ; Zairong GAO ; Xingmin HAN ; Ningyi JIANG ; Anren KUANG ; Yansong LIN ; Fugeng LIU ; Cen LOU ; Xinhui SU ; Lijun TANG ; Hui WANG ; Xinlu WANG ; Fuzhou YANG ; Hui YANG ; Xinming ZHAO ; Bo YANG ; Xiaodong HUANG ; Jiliang CHEN ; Sijin LI ; Jing WANG ; Yaming LI ; Hongcheng SHI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2024;31(5):844-850,封3
177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)radio-ligand therapy has been approved abroad for advanced prostate cancer and has been in several clinical trials in China.Based on domestic clinical practice and experimental data and referred to international experience and viewpoints,the expert group forms a consensus on the clinical application of 177Lu-PSMA radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer to guide clinical practice.
5.Protective Effect of Dihydromyricetin Against Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Its Mechanism
Wu YING ; Wang DA-WEI ; Li JUN ; Xu XIAN-JIE ; Gao ZHI-DAN ; Li HONG-YAN ; Zhang YONG ; Liu PENG
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2024;39(1):46-53,中插5
Objective lo investigate the protective effect of dihydromyricetin(DHM)against exercise-induced muscle damage(EIMD)in mice and its potential mechanism. Methods Adult male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group(CG),exercise group(EG),and exercise+100 mg/kg weightd DHM(DHM)group.The intervention lasted for four weeks,during which the animals in the EG and DHM groups were subjected to exercise training for 1 h per day.The day after the training,a 90-min treadmill exercise(slope:0 and speed:18 m/min)was conducted in both EG and DHM groups.Samples of blood and gastrocnemius muscles were harvested from the three groups 24 h after the exercise,followed by the measurement of serum creatine kinase(CK)and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)activities,total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD)activity,malondialdehyde(MDA),and skeletal muscle mitochondrial enzyme complex Ⅰ and Ⅱ activities.Histological changes in the skeletal muscle were observed by transmission electron microscopy,and the protein expressions of mitochondrial function-related pathways were detected by Western blotting. Results Skeletal muscle morphological changes and mitochondrial damage were alleviated in the DHM group compared to those in the EG.The activities of EIMD markers CK and LDH and the level of lipid peroxidation were notably repressed and the serum T-SOD activity was enhanced after DHM intervention.Western blotting demonstrated that the expressions of sirtuin type 3(SIRT3),estrogen-related receptor alpha,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha in the skeletal muscle of mice increased after the DHM intervention. Conclusion DHM can relieve EIMD in mice,possibly by promoting the recovery of the mitochondrial structure and function in the skeletal muscle of mice after high-intensity exercise via the activation of the SIRT3 signaling pathway.
6.Correlation between posterior longitudinal ligament injury and vertebral body injury parameters in thoracolumbar burst fractures
Qiang HE ; Xuejun YANG ; Feng LI ; Baolong YU ; Shengxiang LIU ; Xu GAO ; Zhi HUANG ; Wenkai ZHENG ; Yifeng DA ; Zhi WANG ; Wenhua XING
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2024;44(22):1474-1481
Objective:To evaluate the correlation between the degree of posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL) injury and various parameters of vertebral body injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures.Methods:A total of 48 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures were admitted to the Spine Surgery Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between December 2022 and January 2024. The cohort consisted of 31 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 44.1±11.8 years (range, 18-65 years). Based on the PLL injury grading method proposed by Sun Zhaoyun, patients were classified into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe. However, due to an insufficient number of patients in the severe group ( n=3), the moderate and severe groups were combined for statistical analysis, resulting in two groups: mild, and moderate-to-severe. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected. Local kyphosis (LK), inversion angle (IA), horizontal rotation angle (HRA), increased interspinous distance (IISD), anterior vertebral body compression ratio (AVBCR), posterior vertebral body compression ratio (PVBCR), middle vertebral body compression ratio (MVBCR), the ratio of height of bone fragment (RHBF), the ratio of width of bone fragment (RWBF), and mid-sagittal canal diameter compression ratio (MSDCR) were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 25.0. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency (percentage) and analyzed using chi-square and Fisher exact tests. Continuous variables were tested for normality, with non-normally distributed data analyzed using the rank-sum test and expressed as median (interquartile range). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate predictive performance. Results:Among the 48 patients, only 3 were found to have severe PLL injury, necessitating the combination of the moderate and severe groups for statistical purposes. Patients in the moderate-to-severe group demonstrated significantly higher AVBCR, PVBCR, RHBF, MVBCR, MSDCR, and IA compared to the mild group ( P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression identified AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, and IA as independent risk factors for moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( OR>1, P<0.05). ROC curve analysis revealed that AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index could effectively predict moderate-to-severe PLL injury ( P<0.05). Notably, the combined index showed superior predictive performance (AUC=0.970) compared to individual parameters. Threshold values were determined as follows: AVBCR>45.30%, PVBCR>12.17%, MSDCR>27.13%, IA>5.90°, and the combined index >0.61, indicating PLL damage. Conclusion:AVBCR, PVBCR, MSDCR, IA, and their combined index are significantly associated with moderate-to-severe PLL injury in thoracolumbar burst fractures. The combined index demonstrates superior predictive ability compared to single parameters, providing a reliable tool for assessing PLL integrity.
7.Epidemiologic and clinical characterization of tick-borne diseases in an infectious disease hospital in Beijing over the past decade
Zi-Bo FAN ; Xu GAO ; Yuan-Yuan ZHANG ; Zhi-Hai CHEN ; Wei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(4):315-322
Epidemiological data and clinical characteristics of patients with tick-borne diseases were analyzed to improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes.The data of 32 patients(epidemiology and clinical characteristics)treated for tick-borne diseases at Beijing Ditan Hospital from January 2013 to June 2023 were retrospectively reviewed.Of the 32 patients,17 were diagnosed with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome(SFTS),5 with Lyme disease,and 10 with rick-ettsial disease.Disease was concentrated from May to Octo-ber each year.There were 14 local cases in Beijing(43.8%),with Pinggu District accounting for the highest proportion(4 cases,28.6%),16 imported cases from other provinces(50.0%),and 2 cases(6.3%)from people living abroad.The median time from disease onset to hospitalization was 8 days and the median length of hospitalization was 10 days.The mean age of patients with tick-borne diseases was 50.16±14.61(range,21-80)years.By occupation,farmers were at the greatest risk of tick-borne diseases(14 cases,43.8%).Erythema migrans(EM)was a typical skin lesion characteristic of Lyme disease,and fever was seen in all three groups,but mainly in patients with SFTS and rickettsial disease,who mainly presented with moderate fever.Decreased WBC and NEUT counts were most commonly seen in SFTS,whereas no WBC ab-normality was seen in patients with Lyme disease.Decreased EOS counts were seen in both SFTS and rickettsial disease,whereas no abnormality was seen in Lyme disease.Decreased PLT counts were typical of SFTS.Patients with rickettsial disease and SFTS showed significant liver damage with markedly elevated ALT and AST levels.Significant myocardial damage with ele-vated CK and CK-MB levels was seen in SFTS.Elevated CRP was mainly seen in rickettsial disease.Elevated PCT counts were mostly seen in rickettsial infections,followed by SFTS.The incidence of tick-borne diseases in Beijing continues to increase an-nually.Since diagnosis is often delayed,vigilant surveillance is key to improve diagnosis.Therefore,detailed epidemiological in-formation of each tick-borne disease based on clinical characteristics is needed to ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
8.Applications of high content screening technique in toxic substance detection and toxicity evaluation
Pengxia GAO ; Mengqiang GONG ; Zhi LI ; Bo MA ; Aibing CHEN ; Hua XU ; Lili WANG ; Jianwei XIE
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(9):710-720
Human beings are inevitably exposed to toxic substances as a result of influences of potential contamination factors in the environment,food and medicines,which poses a threat to human health.In order to effectively screen and prevent the exposure or intake of such substances,it is neces-sary to develop in vitro assays for the detection and toxicity evaluation of toxic substances.High content screening(HCS)has been recognized as an important tool for toxicity testing and risk assessment of compounds due to its high throughput and automation advantages,and has been widely used in in vitro toxicology research.In this review,we described the system components of HCS and its workflow in toxicity screening and toxicity evaluation by focusing on cases of their application in toxicity detection and evaluation studies,including the cytotoxicity,hepatotoxicity,nephrotoxicity,genotoxicity,neurotox-icity,cardiotoxicity,and developmental toxicity.In addition,the applications and developments of machine learning in HCS were explored,especially to the advantages of supervised and unsupervised machine learning strategies for high throughput image screening and data analysis.Finally,the future applications of HCS in toxicity screening and evaluation are outlined,especially in terms of binding new models and gene editing technology.
9.Clinical effects of Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction on patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy
Jian-En GUO ; Jia-Hua ZHANG ; Yuan ZHANG ; Pin-Chuan JI ; Zhi-Xu GAO ; Zhan-Hua GAO ; Li-Ping AN ; Jia-Qi YANG ; Bai CHANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(5):1514-1519
AIM To explore the clinical effects of Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction on patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy.METHODS Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned into control group(42 cases)for 12-week administration of Irbesartan Tablets,and observation group(41 cases)for 12-week administration of Shuilu Erxian Pills,Modified Didang Decoction and Irbesartan Tablets.The changes in clinical effects,TCM syndrome scores,blood glucose indices(FBG,HbA1c),blood lipid indices(TC,TG),renal function indices(BUN,Scr,24 h UTP,eGFR),inflammatory factors(IL-1β,hs-CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-18,TGF-β1),immune function indices(lymphocyte,neutrophil,CD8+,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+)and incidence of adverse reactions were detected.RESULTS The observation group demonstrated higher total effective rate than the control group(P<0.05).After the treatment,the observation group displayed decreased TCM syndrome scores,blood glucose indices,blood lipid indices,BUN,Scr,24 h UTP,inflammatory factors,CD8+(P<0.05),reduced lymphocyte,neutrophil(P<0.05),and increased eGFR,CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+(P<0.05),which were more obvious than those in the control group(except for HbA1c,TG,SCr,24 h UTP,lymphocyte,neutrophil)(P<0.05).No significant difference in incidence of adverse reactions was found between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION For the patients with early and middle stage diabetic nephropathy,Shuilu Erxian Pills combined with Modified Didang Decoction can safely and effectively improve clinical symptoms,whose mechanism may contribute to the reduction of inflammatory levels and improvement of immune functions.
10.Molecular features of 109 patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia in a single center.
Shi Qiang QU ; Li Juan PAN ; Tie Jun QIN ; Ze engF XU ; Bing LI ; Hui Jun WANG ; Qi SUN ; Yu Jiao JIA ; Cheng Wen LI ; Wen Yun CAI ; Qing Yan GAO ; Meng JIAO ; Zhi Jian XIAO
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2023;44(5):373-379
Objective: To explore the molecular features of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) . Methods: According to 2022 World Health Organization (WHO 2022) classification, 113 CMML patients and 840 myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients from March 2016 to October 2021 were reclassified, and the clinical and molecular features of CMML patients were analyzed. Results: Among 113 CMML patients, 23 (20.4%) were re-diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including 18 AML with NPM1 mutation, 3 AML with KMT2A rearrangement, and 2 AML with MECOM rearrangement. The remaining 90 patients met the WHO 2022 CMML criteria. In addition, 19 of 840 (2.3%) MDS patients met the WHO 2022 CMML criteria. At least one gene mutation was detected in 99% of CMML patients, and the median number of mutations was 4. The genes with mutation frequency ≥ 10% were: ASXL1 (48%), NRAS (34%), RUNX1 (33%), TET2 (28%), U2AF1 (23%), SRSF2 (21.1%), SETBP1 (20%), KRAS (17%), CBL (15.6%) and DNMT3A (11%). Paired analysis showed that SRSF2 was frequently co-mutated with ASXL1 (OR=4.129, 95% CI 1.481-11.510, Q=0.007) and TET2 (OR=5.276, 95% CI 1.979-14.065, Q=0.001). SRSF2 and TET2 frequently occurred in elderly (≥60 years) patients with myeloproliferative CMML (MP-CMML). U2AF1 mutations were often mutually exclusive with TET2 (OR=0.174, 95% CI 0.038-0.791, Q=0.024), and were common in younger (<60 years) patients with myelodysplastic CMML (MD-CMML). Compared with patients with absolute monocyte count (AMoC) ≥1×10(9)/L and <1×10(9)/L, the former had a higher median age of onset (60 years old vs 47 years old, P<0.001), white blood cell count (15.9×10(9)/L vs 4.4×10(9)/L, P<0.001), proportion of monocytes (21.5% vs 15%, P=0.001), and hemoglobin level (86 g/L vs 74 g/L, P=0.014). TET2 mutations (P=0.021) and SRSF2 mutations (P=0.011) were more common in patients with AMoC≥1×10(9)/L, whereas U2AF1 mutations (P<0.001) were more common in patients with AMoC<1×10(9)/L. There was no significant difference in the frequency of other gene mutations between the two groups. Conclusion: According to WHO 2022 classification, nearly 20% of CMML patients had AMoC<1×10(9)/L at the time of diagnosis, and MD-CMML and MP-CMML had different molecular features.
Humans
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Aged
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Middle Aged
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Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/genetics*
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Prognosis
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Splicing Factor U2AF/genetics*
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Mutation
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Myelodysplastic Syndromes/genetics*
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Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics*

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