1.Mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 improving liver inflammation in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet
Haiyang ZHU ; Jingshu CUI ; Liu YANG ; Mengting ZHOU ; Jian TONG ; Hongmei HAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):254-262
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on the level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) in the liver, the phenotype of hepatic macrophages, and liver inflammation in a rat model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as the mechanism of 1,25(OH)2D3 improving liver inflammation. MethodsAfter 1 week of adaptive feeding, 24 specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group [choline-supplemented L-amino acid-defined (CSAA) diet], normal+1,25(OH)2D3 group [CSAA diet+1,25(OH)2D3], model group [choline-deficient L-amino acid-defined diet (CDAA) diet], and model+1,25(OH)2D3 group [CDAA diet+1,25(OH)2D3], with 6 rats in each group. The dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 was 5 μg/kg for intraperitoneal injection twice a week for 12 weeks. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured, liver histopathology was observed, and SAF score was assessed. M1 hepatic macrophages and M2 hepatic macrophages were measured to analyze in the change in the phenotype of hepatic macrophages, and ELISA was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in liver tissue, and qPCR was used to measure the mRNA level of PPAR-γ. The two-factor analysis of variance was use for comparison between groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison; the Pearson method was used for correlation analysis. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model rats with CDAA diet-induced NASH had significant increases in the serum levels of AST and ALT (P=0.019 and P<0.001), the SAF score of liver histopathology (P<0.001), the level of M1 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), and the ratio of M1 and M2 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), as well as a significant increase in the level of TNF-α (P<0.001) and a significant reduction in the level of IL-4 in liver tissue (P=0.025). The 1,25(OH)2D3 group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT (P<0.001), the SAF score of liver histopathology (P<0.001), the level of M1 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), and the ratio of M1 and M2 hepatic macrophages (P=0.001), the level of IL-1β (P<0.001) and a significant increase in the level of M2 hepatic macrophages (P=0.017), the level of IL-10 (P=0.039), the level of IL-4 (P<0.001), the level of PPAR-γ (P=0.016). There were significant interactions between CDAA diet-induced NASH model and 1,25(OH)2D3 in serum the levels of AST and ALT (P=0.007 and P=0.008), the SAF scores of liver histopathology (P<0.001), the level of M1 hepatic macrophages (P<0.001), the level of M2 hepatic macrophages (P=0.008), the ratio of M1 and M2 of hepatic macrophages (P=0.005), the level of TNF-α (P<0.001), the level of IL-10 (P=0.038), the level of IL-4 (P<0.001) and the level of PPAR-γ (P=0.009). The correlation analysis showed that PPAR-γ was negatively correlated with the ratio of M1 and M2 hepatic macrophages (r=-0.415, P=0.044) and was positively correlated with M2 hepatic macrophages (r=0.435, P=0.033), IL-10 (r=0.433, P=0.035), and IL-4 (r=0.532, P=0.007). ConclusionThis study shows that 1,25(OH)2D3 improves liver inflammation in NASH by activating PPAR-γ to regulate the phenotypic transformation of hepatic macrophages.
2.Differentiation and Treatment of Lipid Turbidity Disease Based on Theory of "Spleen Ascending and Stomach Descending"
Yun HUANG ; Wenyu ZHU ; Wei SONG ; Xiaobo ZHANG ; Xin ZHOU ; Lele YANG ; Tao SHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):244-252
Lipid turbidity disease is a metabolic disease featuring lipid metabolism disorders caused by many factors such as social environment, diet, and lifestyle, which is closely related to many diseases in modern medicine, such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, fatty liver, atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, with a wide range of influence and far-reaching harm. According to the Huangdi Neijing, lipid turbidity disease reflects the pathological change of the body's physiologic grease. Grease is the thick part of body fluids, which has the function of nourishing, and it is the initial state and source of important substances in the human body such as brain, marrow, essence, and blood. Once the grease of the human body is abnormal, it can lead to lipid turbidity disease. The Huangdi Neijing also points out the physiological relationship between the transportation and transformation of body fluids and the rise and fall of the spleen and stomach, which can deduce the pathological relationship between the occurrence of lipid turbidity disease and the abnormal rise and fall of the spleen and stomach functions. Lipid turbidity disease is caused by overconsumption of fatty and sweet foods or insufficient spleen and stomach endowments, leading to disorders of the function of promoting clear and reducing turbidity in the spleen and stomach. This leads to the transformation of thick grease in body fluids into lipid turbidity, which accumulates in the body's meridians, blood vessels, skin pores, and organs, forming various forms of metabolic diseases. The research team believed that the pathological basis of lipid turbidity disease was the abnormal rise and fall of the spleen and stomach and the obstruction of the transfer of grease. According to the different locations where lipid turbidity stays, it was divided into four common pathogenesis types: ''inability to distinguish between the clear and turbid, turbid stagnation in the Ying blood'', ''spleen not rising clear, turbid accumulation in the vessels'', ''spleen dysfunction, lipid retention in the pores'', ''spleen failure to transportation and transformation, and grease accumulation in the liver''. According to the pathogenesis, it could be divided into four common syndromes, namely, turbid stagnation in the Ying blood, turbid accumulation in the vessels, lipid retention in the pores, and grease accumulation in the liver, and the corresponding prescriptions were given for syndrome differentiation and treatment, so as to guide clinical differentiation and treatment of the lipid turbidity disease.
3.Platelet Metabolomics Analysis in Rats of Coronary Heart Disease with Blood Stasis Syndrome by Overexpression of Fibrinogen
Manli ZHOU ; Jiale ZHU ; Liping WANG ; Weixiong JIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(6):230-237
ObjectiveTo analyze the metabolomic characteristics of platelets in fibrinogen(FIB) overexpression rats of coronary heart disease with blood stasis syndrome(CHD-BSS), explore potential biomarkers, and investigate the mechanism of FIB overexpression on CHD-BSS. MethodsSD rats were randomly divided into BSS group and BSS+FIB overexpression group(BSS+FIB group), with 10 rats in each group. Both the BSS+FIB group and the BSS group were fed a high-fat diet combined with oral administration of vitamin D3 and subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol, but rats in the BSS+FIB group were overexpressed with FIB during the initial modeling stage by transfection with adeno-associated virus(AAV). The overexpression level of FIB in rat liver and plasma samples was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real time PCR), as well as the expression level of liver FIB A(FGA) mRNA. The characteristics of metabolites in rat platelet samples were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbital trap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS), and the differential metabolites between groups were screened by principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and the enriched pathways were analyzed. The accuracy of potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of CHD-BSS was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve. The expression of autophagy related proteins phosphorylated adenosine monophosphate(AMP) activated protein kinase(p-AMPK)/AMPK, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR)/mTOR, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3) Ⅱ/Ⅰ and p62 in platelets were detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the BSS group, the expression levels of FIB in liver and plasma samples of the BSS+FIB group were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression level of FIB mRNA in the liver was remarkably increased(P<0.01), indicating successful overexpression of FIB. Platelet metabolomics results showed significant differences in metabolic profiles between the BSS+FIB group and the BSS group, and a total of 25 significantly enriched metabolic pathways and 8 metabolites involved in these metabolic pathways, among which uric acid, guanosine and ribose 1-phosphate levels were up-regulated, while adenosine diphosphate(ADP), AMP, guanosine diphosphate(GDP), adenylosuccinate and norepinephrine levels were down-regulated. The diagnostic ability analysis of differential metabolites showed that all 8 differential metabolites had good diagnostic ability, with an area under the curve(AUC)>0.85. Western blot results showed that compared with the BSS group, the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 proteins in platelets of the BSS+FIB group was significantly reduced(P<0.01), while the expression levels of p-AMPK/AMPK and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ proteins were increased, but the difference was not statistically significant. ConclusionOverexpression of FIB can change the metabolic characteristics of CHD-BSS rat model, involving multiple aspects such as vascular endothelial injury, platelet activation and myocardial function damage. Among them, overexpression of FIB may enhance the occurrence of platelet autophagy, thereby inducing platelet activation and promoting thrombus formation.
4.Static navigation-assisted treatment of acute periapical periodontitis with pulp canal obliteration: a case report and literature review
WANG Haiyue ; ZHU Qi ; ZHOU Zhuanyuan ; LIU Wei
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(2):137-144
Objective :
To explore the advantages of static navigation in locating calcified root canal therapy, and to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment of calcified teeth.
Methods:
A case of acute periapical periodontitis of anterior teeth with full-length calcification of root canal was reported. A lingual minimally invasive approach was used as a conservative method of controlling the infection of teeth and preserving the incisors through the digital guide plate. The diagnosis and treatment of this type of case were analyzed retrospectively with reference to the literature.
Results:
One patient complained that the pain of left anterior teeth was aggravated for 2 days. After examination, he was diagnosed with acute periapical periodontitis of 21 teeth with total root canal calcification. With the assistance of static navigation, the root canal was located after 10 minutes, the calcification was dredged for 15 minutes, and the acute pain symptoms of the patient were relieved that day. After one year of follow-up, there was no discomfort in the teeth, and the range of low-density shadow in the apical film was reduced. After 3 years of follow-up, there was no discomfort in the teeth, and the low-density shadow of the apical root was further reduced by apical film examination. As shown by the results of the literature review, static navigation technology is advantageous because the success rate of dredging calcified root canals is neither associated with the operator’s treatment experience nor the use of microscope and ultrasonic equipment. Regardless of the degree of calcification, this method can significantly reduce the iatrogenic risk, but it is closely related to the accuracy and stability of the guide plate. However, this method is not suitable for calcified teeth with calcification under root canal curvature and limited operating space. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is recommended to locate calcified root canals, and the imaging quality is an important factor that affects the correct preoperative planning. When performing static navigation endodontic treatment, thermal damage can be reduced by selecting a drill with a small diameter that matches the guide ring and cooling the drill with frozen irrigation solution.
Conclusion
Static navigation-assisted treatment of calcified root canals is accurate and minimally invasive, which reduces clinical treatment time, preserves the lingual approach at the incisal ridge to further ensure the integrity of teeth, and ensures the long-term preservation of affected teeth.
5.Effect of Wenshen Tongluo Zhitong formula on mouse H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system
Shijie ZHOU ; Muzhe LI ; Li YUN ; Tianchi ZHANG ; Yuanyuan NIU ; Yihua ZHU ; Qinfeng ZHOU ; Yang GUO ; Yong MA ; Lining WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(1):8-15
BACKGROUND:Bone relies on the close connection between blood vessels and bone cells to maintain its integrity.Bones are in a physiologically hypoxic environment.Therefore,the study of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in hypoxic environment is closer to the microenvironment in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To explore the influence of Wenshen Tongluo Zhitong(WSTLZT)formula on H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell co-culture system in hypoxia environment and its related mechanism. METHODS:Enzyme digestion method and flow sorting technique were used to isolate and identify H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells.Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and obtained by bone marrow adhesion method.H-type bone microvascular endothelial cell/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell hypoxic co-culture system was established using Transwell chamber and anoxic culture workstation.WSTLZT formula powder was used to intervene in each group at a mass concentration of 50 and 100 μg/mL.The angiogenic function of H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells in the co-culture system was evaluated by scratch migration test and tube formation test.The osteogenic differentiation ability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the co-cultured system was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining.The protein and mRNA expression changes of PDGF/PI3K/AKT signal axis related molecules in H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells in the co-cultured system were detected by Western Blotting and q-PCR,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the normal oxygen group,the scratch mobility and new blood vessel length of H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells were significantly higher(P<0.05);the osteogenic differentiation capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was higher(P<0.05);the expression of PDGF/PI3K/AKT axis-related molecular protein and mRNA increased(P<0.05)in the hypoxia group.(2)Compared with the hypoxia group,scratch mobility and new blood vessel length were significantly increased in the H-type bone microvascular endothelial cells(P<0.05);bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had stronger osteogenic function(P<0.05);the expression of PDGF/PI3K/AKT axis-related molecular proteins and mRNA further increased(P<0.05)after treatment with different dose concentrations of WSTLZT formula.These findings conclude that H-type angiogenesis and osteogenesis under hypoxia may be related to the PDGF/PI3K/AKT signaling axis,and WSTLZT formula may promote H-type vasculo-dependent bone formation by activating the PDGF/PI3K/AKT signaling axis,thereby preventing and treating osteoporosis.
6.Mitophagy regulates bone metabolism
Hanmin ZHU ; Song WANG ; Wenlin XIAO ; Wenjing ZHANG ; Xi ZHOU ; Ye HE ; Wei LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(8):1676-1683
BACKGROUND:In recent years,numerous studies have shown that autophagy and mitophagy play an important role in the regulation of bone metabolism.Under non-physiological conditions,mitophagy breaks the balance of bone metabolism and triggers metabolism disorders,which affect osteoblasts,osteoclasts,osteocytes,chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,etc. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the mechanism of mitophagy in regulating bone metabolic diseases and its application in clinical treatment. METHODS:PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI,WanFang and VIP databases were searched by computer using the keywords of"mitophagy,bone metabolism,osteoblasts,osteoclasts,osteocytes,chondrocytes,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells"in English and Chinese.The search time was from 2008 to 2023.According to the inclusion criteria,90 articles were finally included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mitophagy promotes the generation of osteoblasts through SIRT1,PINK1/Parkin,FOXO3 and PI3K signaling pathways,while inhibiting osteoclast function through PINK1/Parkin and SIRT1 signaling pathways.Mitophagy leads to bone loss by increasing calcium phosphate particles and tissue protein kinase K in bone tissue.Mitophagy improves the function of chondrocytes through PINK1/Parkin,PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways.Modulation of mitophagy shows great potential in the treatment of bone diseases,but there are still some issues to be further explored,such as different stages of drug-activated mitophagy,and the regulatory mechanisms of different signaling pathways.
7.Relationship of family function with sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors among preschool children
LU Yanping, GUO Shi, ZHOU Mingyue, ZHU Dongmei, YU Yizhen
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(1):106-110
Objective:
To explore the relationship of family function with sleep and externalizing problem behaviors of preschool children, so as to provide a guidance for externalizing problem prevention and intervention among preschool children.
Methods:
From October 2023 to January 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to select 5 138 preschool children from kindergartens in 8 districts of Wuhan City, Hubei Province. Parents completed the survey for Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale, children s sleep habits and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation of family function with scores of sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors among preschool children. A mediation model analysis and bootstrap test were conducted to further investigate the mediating role of sleep quality between family function and externalizing problem behaviors. Mplus 8.7 software was used for latent profile analysis of family function.
Results:
The reported rates of poor sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors among preschool children were 11.8% ( n =607), 20.0% ( n =1 026). The relevant analysis results showed that family function was negatively correlated with sleep quality and externalizing problem behaviors ( r = -0.20, -0.23), and sleep quality was positively correlated with externalizing problem behaviors ( r =0.27) ( P <0.01). The mediation effect test showed that family function negatively predicted externalizing problem behaviors ( β =-0.079) and sleep quality ( β = -0.075), while sleep quality positively predicted externalizing problem behaviors ( β =0.215) ( P <0.01). The latent profile analysis results showed that family function could be classified into 4 categories: high family function group (23.01%), upper middle family function group (44.65%), moderate family function group (26.24%) and low family function group (6.11%). Compared to high family function, the other three categories significantly positively predicted externalizing problem behaviors, and the mediating effects of sleep quality on different categories of family function were statistically significant [upper middle family function: mediation effect value was 0.022 (95% CI =0.004-0.041) and direct effect value was 0.329 (95% CI =0.263-0.396); middle family function: mediation effect value was 0.087 (95% CI =0.063-0.115) and direct effect value was 0.491 (95% CI =0.416-0.565); low family function: mediation effect value was 0.144 (95% CI =0.107-0.185) and direct effect 0.621 (95% CI =0.503-0.740)] ( P < 0.05 ).
Conclusion
Family function negatively predicts the externalizing problem behaviors of preschool children, and sleep quality plays a partial mediating role.
8.Key Genes in Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis Pathway of Lonicera macranthoides Based on Transcriptome and Metabolome Conjoint Analysis
Jiawei HE ; Jingyu ZHANG ; Juan ZENG ; Jiayuan ZHU ; Simin ZHOU ; Meiling QU ; Ribao ZHOU ; Xiangdan LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):167-175
ObjectiveBased on the conjoint analysis of transcriptome and metabolome, the key genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway of Lonicera macranthoides were explored, which provided a basis for further exploring the synthesis and regulation mechanism of phenylpropanoid compounds in "Xianglei" L. macranthoides. MethodsThe stem, leaves, and three flowering flowers of "Xianglei" L. macranthoides were selected as experimental materials to construct transcriptome and metabolome. The transcriptome and metabolomics were conjointly analyzed by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA), and the key genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway of L. macranthoides were explored. ResultsIn this study, 77 differential phenylpropanoids and 315 differential genes were found. Through the joint analysis of transcription and metabolism, nine key differential metabolites and four key genes related to them were finally discovered. Among them, cinnamic acid, 5-O-caffeoylshikimic acid,sinapyl alcohol, and chlorogenic acid were higher in flowers, and the content of the iconic effective component, namely chlorogenic acid,decreased sharply during the withering period. Caffeic acid,ferulic acid, 5-hydroxyconiferaldehyde,p-coumaryl alcohol, and syringin were higher in leaves. These four key genes belong to the cinnamic alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) family, 4-coumaric acid: Coenzyme A (4CL) family, hydroxycinnamyl transferase (HCT) family, and L-phenylalanine ammonlyase (PAL) family genes. ConclusionAmong the four key genes excavated from L. macranthoides, TRINITY_DN42767_c0_g6 is related to the synthesis of p-coumaryl alcohol and sinapyl alcohol. TRINITY_DN43525_c4_g1 uses caffeic acid,ferulic acid,and cinnamic acid as substrates to catalyze the next reaction. TRINITY_DN47958_c3_g4 correlates with the synthesis of 3-p-coumaroyl quinic acid and caffeoyl-CoA, and TRINITY_DN52595_c1_g2 correlates with cinnamic acid synthesis. These findings provide a basis for further exploring the synthesis and regulation mechanism of phenylpropanoids in "Xianglei" L. macranthoides.
9.Exploration on the relation between tumors and anaphylactic reaction from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine constitution
Yuhan ZONG ; Huaiyu WANG ; Mengru ZHOU ; Haoyue JIANG ; Luyao JIN ; Xihuan ZHU ; Ji WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):240-245
The etiology of tumors is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including the host and environmental conditions. Allergy is primarily driven by the immune response of helper T cell 2 (Th2). Research has shown that the Th2 immune response is closely related to tumors, which is specifically manifested through Th2 antibodies, allergy-related effector cells and mediators within the tumors, as well as tumor immune-related functions. This internal interaction mechanism will increase the complexity and challenges associated with the clinical diagnosis and treatment of tumors and allergy. The formation of allergic constitution is shaped by both congenital and acquired factors, and its physical state is closely linked to the occurrence and progression of allergic diseases. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the relationship between tumors and allergic reactions from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitution theory. Based on the four basic principles of the TCM constitution, including endowment inheritance theory, environment constraint theory, body-spirit composition theory, and life process theory, this exploration will focus on four aspects: genetic factors and internal disease causes, inflammatory environments and functional regulation, psychological disorders and emotional pathogenesis, as well as age structure and disease risk. Furthermore, from the perspective of constitution-disease relation of chronic disease prevention, this paper will discuss the significant importance of adjusting allergic constitution to improve both subjective symptoms and objective indicators of allergic reactions in tumor patients.
10.Investigation and analysis of the current situation of occupational stress of radiation workers in China
Qi ZHANG ; Jianfei LU ; Peng TONG ; Haoran SUN ; Shanshan KOU ; Xiaolan ZHOU ; ·Yusufu AIKEBAIER ; Weiguo ZHU ; Changsong HOU
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(1):46-54
Objective To investigate and analyze the occupational stress levels and influencing factors among radiation workers in China, and provide a reference for alleviating occupational stress and promoting mental health. Methods Using the general situation questionnaire, Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire, and radiation protection knowledge questionnaire, a convenience sampling method was adopted to investigate the occupational stress of 243 radiation workers in Liaoning, Fujian, Guangdong, and Xinjiang provinces. The independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square test, and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors. Results The average score of Effort-Reward Imbalance was 0.97 ± 0.22, and 100 (41.15%) radiation workers had occupational stress. There were significant differences in the detection rate of occupational stress among radiation workers of different ages, working years in radiation positions, monthly incomes, daily sleep durations, and daily working hours (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified daily working hours as a factor contributing to occupational stress. Conclusion The occupational stress among radiation workers in China is relatively severe. It is recommended to pay attention to the associated risks and implement targeted intervention measures to reduce the impact of occupational stress.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail