The brain is the most complex human organ,and commonly used models,such as two-dimensional-cell cultures and animal brains,often lack the sophistication needed to accurately use in research.In this context,human cereb...The brain is the most complex human organ,and commonly used models,such as two-dimensional-cell cultures and animal brains,often lack the sophistication needed to accurately use in research.In this context,human cerebral organoids have emerged as valuable tools offering a more complex,versatile,and human-relevant system than traditional animal models,which are often unable to replicate the intricate architecture and functionality of the human brain.Since human cerebral organoids are a state-of-the-art model for the study of neurodevelopment and different pathologies affecting the brain,this field is currently under constant development,and work in this area is abundant.In this review,we give a complete overview of human cerebral organoids technology,starting from the different types of protocols that exist to generate different human cerebral organoids.We continue with the use of brain organoids for the study of brain pathologies,highlighting neurodevelopmental,psychiatric,neurodegenerative,brain tumor,and infectious diseases.Because of the potential value of human cerebral organoids,we describe their use in transplantation,drug screening,and toxicology assays.We also discuss the technologies available to study cell diversity and physiological characteristics of organoids.Finally,we summarize the limitations that currently exist in the field,such as the development of vasculature and microglia,and highlight some of the novel approaches being pursued through bioengineering.展开更多
In vitro liver disease modelling,a rapidly evolving field,has become a multidimensional endeavour aimed at more precisely and effectively recapitulating the complexity of hepatic pathophysiology.This review systematic...In vitro liver disease modelling,a rapidly evolving field,has become a multidimensional endeavour aimed at more precisely and effectively recapitulating the complexity of hepatic pathophysiology.This review systematically outlines the essential structural and cellular components of the liver as foundational elements for model design.Emphasising pathophysiological states rather than disease hallmarks,we discuss key liver injury paradigms,including hepatic steatosis,drug-induced hepatotoxicity,fibrogenesis,tumourigenesis and cholestatic injury.Each section integrates cellular mechanisms with model development strategies,highlighting advances in co-culture systems,multicellular organoids and liver-on-a-chip platforms.Although challenges persist,emerging platforms are increasingly capable of capturing multicellular crosstalk,structural heterogeneity and injury-response dynamics.Moving forward,model utility will depend not only on structural mimicry but on the ability to produce biologically meaningful outputs under experimentally controlled conditions.展开更多
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.Although increasing evidence suggests that disruptions in lipid metabolism are closely associated with the disease,the overall profile of lipid and sterol chan...Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.Although increasing evidence suggests that disruptions in lipid metabolism are closely associated with the disease,the overall profile of lipid and sterol changes that occur in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear.In this study,we compared brain tissues extracted from 32-week-old male wild-type mice and 5×FAD transgenic Alzheimer’s disease model mice,which carry mutations in the amyloid precursor protein(APP)and presenilin 1(PS1)genes.Using untargeted lipidomics and sterolomics techniques,we investigated the metabolic profiles of lipids,with a focus on sterols specifically,in three brain regions:cerebellum,hippocampus,and olfactory bulb.Our results revealed significant alterations in various lipids,particularly in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb,suggesting changes in energy levels in these regions.Further pathway analysis indicated notable disruptions in key metabolic processes,particularly those related to fatty acids and cell membrane components.Additionally,we observed decreased expression of 15 genes involved in lipid and sterol regulation.Collectively,these findings provide new insights into how imbalances in lipid and sterol metabolism may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,highlighting potential metabolic pathways involved in the development of this debilitating disease.展开更多
Genetically modified animal models are important for understanding the pathogenesis of human disease and developing therapeutic strategies. Although genetically modified mice have been widely used to model human disea...Genetically modified animal models are important for understanding the pathogenesis of human disease and developing therapeutic strategies. Although genetically modified mice have been widely used to model human diseases, some of these mouse models do not replicate important disease symptoms or pathology. Pigs are more similar to humans than mice in anatomy, physiology, and genome. Thus, pigs are considered to be better animal models to mimic some human diseases. This review describes genetically modified pigs that have been used to model various diseases including neurological, cardiovascular, and diabetic disorders. We also discuss the development in gene modification technology that can facilitate the generation of transgenic pig models for human diseases,展开更多
Nonhuman primates （NHPs） provide powerful experimental models to study human development, cognitive functions and disturbances as well as complex behavior, because of their genetic and physiological similarities to ...Nonhuman primates （NHPs） provide powerful experimental models to study human development, cognitive functions and disturbances as well as complex behavior, because of their genetic and physiological similarities to humans. Therefore, NHPs are appropriate models for the study of human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson＇s, Alzheimer＇s and Huntington＇s diseases, which occur as a result of genetic mutations. However, such diseases afflicting humans do not occur naturally in NHPs. So transgenic NHPs need to be established to understand the etiology of disease pathology and pathogenesis. Compared to rodent genetic models, the generation of transgenic NHPs for human diseases is inefficient, and only a transgenic monkey model for Huntington＇s disease has been reported. This review focuses on potential approaches and contributing factors for generating transgenic NHPs to study human diseases.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the prognostic value of the model for end-stage liver disease （MELD） and three new MELD-based models combination with serum sodium in decompensated cirrhosis patients-the MELD with the incorpora...AIM： To investigate the prognostic value of the model for end-stage liver disease （MELD） and three new MELD-based models combination with serum sodium in decompensated cirrhosis patients-the MELD with the incorporation of serum sodium （MELD-Na）, the integrated MELD （iMELD）, and the MELD to sodium （MESO） index. METHODS： A total of 166 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled into the study. MELD, MELD- Na, iMELD and MESO scores were calculated for each patient following the original formula on the first day of admission. All patients were followed up at least 1 year. The predictive prognosis related with the four models was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUC） of the four parameters. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were made using the cut-offs identified by means of receiver operating characteristic （ROC）. RESULTS： Out of 166 patients, 38 patients with significantly higher MELD-Na （28.84 ± 2.43 vs 14.72 ± 0.60）, iMELD （49.04 ± 1.72 vs 35.52 ± 0.67）, MESO scores （1.59 ± 0.82 vs 0.99 ± 0.42） compared to the survivors died within 3 mo （P 〈 0.001）. Of 166 patients, 75 with markedly higher MELD-Na （23.01 ± 1.51 vs 13.78 ± 0.69）, iMELD （44.06 ± 1.19 vs 34.12 ± 0.69）, MESO scores （1.37 ± 0.70 vs 0.93 ± 0.40） than the survivors died within 1 year （P 〈 0.001）. At 3 mo of enrollment, the iMELD had the highest AUC （0.841）, and was followed by the MELD-Na （0.766）, MESO （0.723）, all larger than MELD （0.773）; At year, the iMELD still had the highest AUC （0.783）, the difference between the iMELD and MELD was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. Survival curves showed that the three new models were all clearly discriminated the patients who survived or died in short-term as well as intermediate-term （P 〈 0.001）. CONCLUSION： Three new models, changed with serum sodium （MELD-Na, iMELD, MESO） can exactly predict the prognosis of patients with decompensated cirrhosis for short and intermediate period, and may enhance the prognostic accuracy of MELD. The iMELD is better prognostic model for outcome prediction in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.展开更多
Cardiovascular disease,predominantly coronary heart disease and stroke,leads to high morbidity and mortality not only in developed worlds but also in underdeveloped regions.The dominant pathologic foundation for cardi...Cardiovascular disease,predominantly coronary heart disease and stroke,leads to high morbidity and mortality not only in developed worlds but also in underdeveloped regions.The dominant pathologic foundation for cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis and,as to coronary heart disease,coronary atherosclerosis and resulting lumen stenosis,even total occlusions.In translational research,several animals,such as mice,rabbits and pigs,have been used as disease models of human atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders.However,coronary lesions are either naturally rare or hard to be fast induced in these models,hence,coronary heart disease induction mostly relies on surgical or pharmaceutical interventions with no or limited primary coronary lesions,thus unrepresentative of human coronary heart disease progression and pathology.In this review,we describe the progress of animal models of coronary heart disease following either spontaneous or diet-accelerated coronary lesions.展开更多
Melanins are widely used in medicine, pharmacology and cosmetics. Different technologies have been used to obtain melanin including： chemical synthesis based on oxidation of tyrosine and its derivatives; extraction f...Melanins are widely used in medicine, pharmacology and cosmetics. Different technologies have been used to obtain melanin including： chemical synthesis based on oxidation of tyrosine and its derivatives; extraction from animal materials; alkaline extraction from plant material; and microbiological synthesis. A few number of works have been published that were focused on purification of water insoluble 3,4-dihy- droxy-phenylalanine-melanins （Kukulianskaia et al., 2002）. The majority of synthetic and natural melanins are insoluble in wa- ter that significantly complicates preparation of pharmacolog- ical and cosmetic preparations. Obtaining of low-cost soluble biotechnological melanin can speed up application of melanin in medicine and other fields. For the first time, melanin-syn-thesizing strain with high level of pigment synthesis - Bacillus thuringiensis was obtained. The ecologically safe technology of biosynthesis, isolation and purification of the bacterial melanin has been elaborated.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Central adrenergic nerve and 5-serotonergic nerve can influence central cholinergic nerve on learning and memory and make easy for study; however, ginsenoside of stem and leaf （GSL） can improve function...BACKGROUND： Central adrenergic nerve and 5-serotonergic nerve can influence central cholinergic nerve on learning and memory and make easy for study; however, ginsenoside of stem and leaf （GSL） can improve functions of central adrenergic nerve; moreover, 5-serotonergic nerve and the combination with choline can produce synergistic effect and enhance learning and memory ability so as to improve learning and memory disorder of patients with Alzheimer disease （AD）. OBJECTIVE ： To observe the effects of GSL combining with choline on learning and memory of AD model rats DESIGN ： Randomized grouping design and controlled animal study SETIING ： Department of Pharmacology, Taishan Medical College MATERIALS ： The experiment was carried out in the Pharmacological Department of Medical College of Jilin University from October 1996 to January 1997. Forty healthy male Wistar rats of clean grade were randomly divided into 5 groups, including sham-injury group, model group, GSL group, choline group and combination group, with 8 rats in each group. Main medications： GSL with the volume more than 92.8% was provided by Department of Chemistry, Norman Bethune Medical College of Jilin University. Panaxatriol, the main component, was detected with thin layer scanning technique and regarded as the index of GSL quality [（55±1）%, CV= 2%, n = 5]. Choline was provided by the Third Shanghai Laboratory Factory. METHODS ： 150 nmol quinolinic acid was used to damage bilateral Meynert basal nuclei of adult rats so as to establish AD models. Rats in GSL, choline and combination groups were intragastric administrated with 400 mg/kg GSL, 200 mg/kg choline （20 mL/kg）, and both respectively last for 17 days starting from two days before operation. Rats in sham-injury group and model group were perfused with the same volume of distilled water once in each morning for the same days. （1） Passive avoidance step-down test： Five minutes later, rats jumped up safe platform when they were shocked with 36 V alternating current. If rats jumped down from the platform and the feet touched railings, the response was wrong. Numbers of wrong response were recorded within 3 minutes, and then the test was redone after 24 hours. （2） Morris water-maze spatial localization task： Swimming from jumping-off to platform directly was regarded as right response. Additionally, 4 successively right responses were regarded as the standard. Each rat was trained 10 times a day with 120 s per time for 3 successive days. The interval was 30 s. Three days later, numbers of right response were recorded. The training times were increased to 30 for unlearned rats. （3） Measurement of activity of choline acetylase in cerebral cortex： Rats were sacrificed at 17 days after operation to obtain cerebral cortex to measure activity of choline acetylase with radiochemistry technique. （4） Synergistic effect： It was expressed as Q value： Q value = factual incorporative effect/anticipant incorporative effect; Q ≥ 1 was regarded as synergistic effect. Anticipant incorporative effect = （EA＋EB-EA·EB）, EA and EB were single timing effect, respectively in GSL group and choline group. E（step-down test and Morris water maze test） = （x in model group - factual value in medicine groups）/x in model group; E （activity of choline acetylase） = （factual value in medicine groups -xin model group）/xin model group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： （1） Passive avoidance step-down test and Morris water-maze spatial localization task in the study of learning and memory; （2） activity of choline acetylase. RESULTS ： All 40 rats were involved in the final analysis. （1） Passive avoidance response： At learning phase on first day and retesting phase on the next day, numbers of wrong responses within 3 minutes were more in model group than sham operation group, and there was significant difference [（5.88±1.46）, （2.25±0.87） times; （2.63±1.06）, （0.50±0.53） times; P 〈 0.01]; numbers of wrong responses within 3 minutes were less in combination group than model group, and there was significant difference [learning phase： （1.12±0.83）, （5.88±1.46） times; retesting phase： （0.38±0.74）, （2.63±1.06）times, P 〈 0.01]; moreover, effect was stronger than that in GSL group and choline group. The Q value was 1.07 and 1.59, respectively and it showed synergistic effect. Spatial localization task： Training times were more in model group than sham operation group, and there was significant difference [（2.9±2.5）, （12.6±3.5） times; P 〈 0.01]. Training times were less in combination group than model group, and there was significant difference [（11.8±2.4）, （27.9±2.5） times, P 〈 0.01]; moreover, effect was stronger than that in GSL group and choline group. The Q value was 1.07 and it showed synergistic effect. （3） Activity of choline acetylase： Activity was lower in model group than sham operation group, and there was significant difference [（30.56±8.33）, （61.11 ±8.33） nkat/g; P 〈 0.01]. Activity was higher in combination group than model group and there was significant difference [（50.00±8.33）, （30.56±8.33） nkat/g, P 〈 0.01];moreover, effect was stronger than that in GSL group and choline group. The Q value was 1.5 and it showed synergistic effect. CONCLUSZON： GSL in combination with choline can synergically improve the disorder of learning and memory of AD model rats. Its mechanism may be involved in enhancing the function of central cholinergic system.展开更多
Primates and animal models are major areas of coverage for Zoological Research （ZR）. Over the past few years, ZR has released a series of special issues/topics addressing various aspects of these areas, e.g., ge- ne...Primates and animal models are major areas of coverage for Zoological Research （ZR）. Over the past few years, ZR has released a series of special issues/topics addressing various aspects of these areas, e.g., ge- netics, immunology, and physiology neuroscience. A special issue for 2017 focusing on ＂Animal Models of Infectious Diseases＂ is under preparation and, so far, includes original research articles and reviews on filo- viruses and coxsackievirus involving guinea pigs, mice, and other species. Further to this, ZR would like to extend a very warm invitation to all peer researchers in the field to submit outstanding work to the journal on this special issue.展开更多
Mouse and non-human primate models of neurodegenerative disease：The prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases continues to increase with ever increasing aging population over the age of 60.Although the dif...Mouse and non-human primate models of neurodegenerative disease：The prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases continues to increase with ever increasing aging population over the age of 60.Although the difficulties associated with neurodegenerative diseases present an urgent global issue,there is no effective treatment for these conditions.展开更多
The eye is an immune-privileged and sensory organ in humans and animals.Anatomical,physiological,and pathobiological features share significant similarities across divergent species(1).Each compartment of the eye has ...The eye is an immune-privileged and sensory organ in humans and animals.Anatomical,physiological,and pathobiological features share significant similarities across divergent species(1).Each compartment of the eye has a unique structure and function.The anterior and posterior compartments of the eye contain endothelium(cornea),epithelium(cornea,ciliary body,iris),muscle(ciliary body),vitreous and neuronal(retina)tissues,which make the eye suitable to evaluate efficacy and safety of tissue specific drugs(2).展开更多
Alzheimer'sdisease(AD)isaprogressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and distinct neuropathological features,including amyloid-βplaques,neurofibrillary tangles,and reactive astrog...Alzheimer'sdisease(AD)isaprogressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and distinct neuropathological features,including amyloid-βplaques,neurofibrillary tangles,and reactive astrogliosis.Developing effective diagnostic,preventative,and therapeutic strategies for AD necessitates the establishment of animal models that accurately recapitulate the pathophysiological processes of the disease.Existing transgenic mouse models have significantly contributed to understanding AD pathology but often fail to replicate the complexity of human AD.Additionally,these models are limited in their ability to elucidate the interplay among amyloid-βplaques,neurofibrillary tangles,and reactive astrogliosis due to the absence of spatially and temporally specific genetic manipulation.In this study,we introduce a novel AD mouse model(APP/PS1-TauP301L-Adeno mice)designed to rapidly induce pathological symptoms and enhance understanding of AD mechanisms.Neurofibrillary tangles and severe reactive astrogliosis were induced by injecting AAVDJ-EF1a-hTauP301L-EGFP and Adeno-GFAP-GFP viruses into the hippocampi of 5-month-old APP/PS1 mice.Three months post-injection,these mice exhibited pronounced astrogliosis,substantial amyloid-βplaque accumulation,extensiveneurofibrillarytangles,accelerated neuronal loss,elevated astrocytic GABA levels,and significant spatial memory deficits.Notably,these pathological features were less severe in AAVTauP301L-expressing APP/PS1 mice without augmented reactive astrogliosis.These findings indicate an exacerbating role of severe reactive astrogliosis in amyloid-βplaque and neurofibrillary tangle-associated pathology.The APP/PS1-TauP301L-Adeno mouse model provides a valuable tool for advancing therapeutic research aimed at mitigating the progression of AD.展开更多
Huntington＇s disease （HD） is an inherited autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by pro- gressive motor deficits, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. It is caused by a pathological expa...Huntington＇s disease （HD） is an inherited autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by pro- gressive motor deficits, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. It is caused by a pathological expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in exon 1 of the HD gene, resulting in the translation of a mutant form of huntingtin protein （mutant Htt） with an expanded polyglutamine domain in the N-terminal region [1 ]. Despite great progress in understanding the pathogenesis of HD using multiple mouse models, the exact mechanisms by which mutant Htt induces neuronal dysfunction and death are still not completely clear, and there is no curative treatment for this disease. An important reason is that the mouse, which is the most widely used animal model in HD research, differs from the human in many aspects, including the physiology, drug metabolism, blood-brain barrier, life span, brain volume, and neuroanatomical organization [2]. Thus, it is necessary to establish HD models with higher species than rodents, such as the dog, pig, and non- human primate, so as to bridge the gap between preclinical mouse models and clinical studies.展开更多
Osteosarcoma(OS),chondrosarcoma(CS),and Ewing sarcoma(ES)represent primary malignant bone tumors and pose significant challenges in oncology research and clinical management.Conventional research methods,such as two-d...Osteosarcoma(OS),chondrosarcoma(CS),and Ewing sarcoma(ES)represent primary malignant bone tumors and pose significant challenges in oncology research and clinical management.Conventional research methods,such as two-dimensional(2D)cultured tumor cells and animal models,have limitations in recapitulating the complex tumor microenvironment(TME)and often fail to translate into effective clinical treatments.The advancement of three-dimensional(3D)culture technology has revolutionized the field by enabling the development of in vitro constructed bone tumor models that closely mimic the in vivo TME.These models provide powerful tools for investigating tumor biology,assessing therapeutic responses,and advancing personalized medicine.This comprehensive review summarizes the recent advancements in research on 3D tumor models constructed in vitro for OS,CS,and ES.We discuss the various techniques employed in model construction,their applications,and the challenges and future directions in this field.The integration of advanced technologies and the incorporation of additional cell types hold promise for the development of more sophisticated and physiologically relevant models.As research in this field continues to evolve,we anticipate that these models will play an increasingly crucial role in unraveling the complexities of malignant bone tumors and accelerating the development of novel therapeutic strategies.展开更多
Background:Prion diseases(PrDs)are fatal transmissible neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded prion protein,which is highly expressed in the brain.Drosophila has been employed as a model system for studying m...Background:Prion diseases(PrDs)are fatal transmissible neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded prion protein,which is highly expressed in the brain.Drosophila has been employed as a model system for studying mammalian neurodegenerative diseases.Methods:Drosophila transgenic for hamster prion protein(HaPrP)was generated by Valium20 transformation.Locomotion,longevity,protease resistance,and histology were assessed,and nontargeted metabolomics analyses were performed to investigate the changes in Drosophila metabolism with the HaPrP expression and metformin treatment.Results:The Drosophila model exhibited pan-neuronal expression of HaPrP,with expression levels increasing with age.Flies displayed reduced climbing ability,shortened lifespan,and vacuolar structures in the brain.Additionally,HaPrP expressed in older flies demonstrated resistance to digestion by 5μg/mL Proteinase K.The Drosophila model also displayed alterations in protein,lipid,and carbohydrate metabolism.We hypothesize that glutamate,N-acetylaspartate,ceramide,phosphatidylethanolamine,dihydroxyacetone phosphate,ribose-5-phosphate,and pyruvate are key metabolites potentially related to PrDs.Metformin improved locomotor activity,reduced PrP res formation,and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction in flies,which may be associated with alterations in succinate,pyruvate,choline,and sphingomyelin levels.Conclusions:We generated a Drosophila model of PrDs that recapitulates key pathological features observed in mammals.Preliminary applications have demonstrated that the Drosophila model is suitable for PrDs research and the highthroughput screening of potential therapeutic compounds.展开更多
Multiorgan-on-a-chip(MOoC)systems are advanced microfluidic devices that integrate multiple organ models into a single modular unit,each composed of cells derived from various tissues or organs.These systems enable in...Multiorgan-on-a-chip(MOoC)systems are advanced microfluidic devices that integrate multiple organ models into a single modular unit,each composed of cells derived from various tissues or organs.These systems enable interorgan communication and accurately replicate physiological conditions,providing a more physiologically relevant modeling framework for constructing disease models and predicting drug efficacy and toxicity.MOoC systems also provide significant advantages in terms of flexibility,cost-effectiveness,and reproducibility,making them valuable tools for drug development and toxicity assessment.In this review,we first provide an overview of the MOoC technology,covering cell sources,stimulations,materials and fabrication techniques,and biosensors.We then examine the application of MOoC systems in disease modeling,focusing on cancer metastasis,metabolic disorders,and cardiovascular disease.We next discuss the use of MOoC systems in drug toxicity evaluation and drug screening,emphasizing their role in providing comprehensive assessments of drug effects.Finally,we address the challenges it faces and the future perspectives of the MOoC technology.展开更多
BACKGROUND Liver transplantation aims to increase the survival of patients with end-stage liver diseases and improve their quality of life.The number of organs available for transplantation is lower than the demand.To...BACKGROUND Liver transplantation aims to increase the survival of patients with end-stage liver diseases and improve their quality of life.The number of organs available for transplantation is lower than the demand.To provide fair organ distribution,predictive mortality scores have been developed.AIM To compare the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV(APACHE IV),balance of risk(BAR),and model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)scores as predictors of mortality.METHODS Retrospective cohort study,which included 283 adult patients in the postoperative period of deceased donor liver transplantation from 2014 to 2018.RESULTS The transplant recipients were mainly male,with a mean age of 58.1 years.Donors were mostly male,with a mean age of 41.6 years.The median cold ischemia time was 3.1 hours,and the median intensive care unit stay was 5 days.For APACHE IV,a mean of 59.6 was found,BAR 10.7,and MELD 24.2.The 28-day mortality rate was 9.5%,and at 90 days,it was 3.5%.The 28-day mortality prediction for APACHE IV was very good[area under the curve(AUC):0.85,P<0.001,95%CI:0.76-0.94],P<0.001,BAR(AUC:0.70,P<0.001,95%CI:0.58–0.81),and MELD(AUC:0.66,P<0.006,95%CI:0.55-0.78),P<0.008.At 90 days,the data for APACHE IV were very good(AUC:0.80,P<0.001,95%CI:0.71–0.90)and moderate for BAR and MELD,respectively,(AUC:0.66,P<0.004,95%CI:0.55–0.77),(AUC:0.62,P<0.026,95%CI:0.51–0.72).All showed good discrimination between deaths and survivors.As for the best value for liver transplantation,it was significant only for APACHE IV(P<0.001).CONCLUSION The APACHE IV assessment score was more accurate than BAR and MELD in predicting mortality in deceased donor liver transplant recipients.展开更多
In this editorial,we comment on the article by Teerasarntipan et al published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.Dengue infection is a major mosquito-borne disease with global significance.Deng...In this editorial,we comment on the article by Teerasarntipan et al published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.Dengue infection is a major mosquito-borne disease with global significance.Dengue-induced severe hepatitis(DISH)is a rare complication though severe,as it can lead to acute liver failure(ALF)with an incidence rate between 0.7%and 2.0%and mortality rates from 47.0%to 58.8%.In this context,the identification of patients at risk of ALF could improve prognosis in DISH patients.Teerasarntipan et al retrospectively enrolled 2532 dengue patients,counting 193 DISH and 20 ALF.The authors explored the prognostic role of liver-specific scores,as the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score,albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score,easy(EZ)-ALBI score,and platelet-ALBI(PALBI)score.Univariate analysis identified international normalized ratio(INR),total bilirubin,albumin,and creatinine as independent laboratory factors associated with ALF,while age,gender,and liver comorbidities were not linked to in-hospital mortality.The presence of dengue shock syndrome significantly increased mortality,with an odds ratio(OR)of 28.05(95%CI:7.21-109.18,P<0.001).High INR and low albumin were laboratory markers associated with death from DISH,with ORs of 5.83(95%CI:2.59-13.12,P<0.001)and 0.15(95%CI:0.05-0.44,P<0.001),respectively.Multivariate analysis confirmed that INR remained the only significant predictor of both ALF and death,with adjusted ORs of 19.54(95%CI:3.37-113.38,P<0.001)and 3.86(95%CI:1.13-13.18,P=0.031),respectively.Among prognostic models,the MELD score performed best in predicting ALF,with a very high accuracy[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)of 0.929,87.5%sensitivity,89.3%specificity at a cutoff of 16],followed by the EZ-ALBI,ALBI,and PALBI scores,with AUROCs of 0.865,0.832,and 0.797,respectively.As MELD remains the best scoring system for predicting poor outcomes in DISH-related ALF,EZ-ALBI is a valid adjunct tool that could improve medical care in these patients.展开更多
Traumatic optic neuropathy is a form of optic neuropathy resulting from trauma.Its pathophysiological mechanisms involve primary and secondary injury phases,leading to progressive retinal ganglion cell loss and axonal...Traumatic optic neuropathy is a form of optic neuropathy resulting from trauma.Its pathophysiological mechanisms involve primary and secondary injury phases,leading to progressive retinal ganglion cell loss and axonal degeneration.Contributing factors such as physical trauma,oxidative stress,neuroinflammation,and glial scar formation exacerbate disease progression and retinal ganglion cell death.Multiple forms of cell death—including apoptosis,pyroptosis,necroptosis,and ferroptosis—are involved at different disease stages.Although current treatments,such as corticosteroid therapy and surgical interventions,have limited efficacy,cell-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach that simultaneously promotes neuroprotection and retinal ganglion cell regeneration.This review summarizes recent advances in cell-based therapies for traumatic optic neuropathy.In the context of cell replacement therapy,retinal ganglion cell-like cells derived from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells—via chemical induction or direct reprogramming—have demonstrated the ability to integrate into the host retina and survive for weeks to months,potentially improving visual function.Mesenchymal stem cells derived from various sources,including bone marrow,umbilical cord,placenta,and adipose tissue,have been shown to enhance retinal ganglion cell survival,stimulate axonal regeneration,and support partial functional recovery.Additionally,neural stem/progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells offer neuroprotective effects and function as“neuronal relays,”facilitating reconnection between damaged regions of the optic nerve and the visual pathway.Beyond direct cell transplantation,cell-derived products,such as extracellular vesicles and cell-extracted solutions,have demonstrated promising neuroprotective effects in traumatic optic neuropathy.Despite significant progress,several challenges remain,including limited integration of transplanted cells,suboptimal functional vision recovery,the need for precise timing and delivery methods,and an incomplete understanding of the role of the retinal microenvironment and glial cell activation in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration.Furthermore,studies with longer observation periods and deeper mechanistic insights into the therapeutic effects of cell-based therapies remain scarce.Two Phase I clinical trials have confirmed the safety and potential benefits of cell-based therapy for traumatic optic neuropathy,with reported improvements in visual acuity.However,further studies are needed to validate these findings and establish significant therapeutic outcomes.In conclusion,cell-based therapies hold great promise for treating traumatic optic neuropathy,but critical obstacles must be overcome to achieve functional optic nerve regeneration.Emerging bioengineering strategies,such as scaffold-based transplantation,may improve cell survival and axonal guidance.Successful clinical translation will require rigorous preclinical validation,standardized protocols,and the integration of advanced imaging techniques to optimize therapeutic efficacy.展开更多
基金supported by the Grant PID2021-126715OB-IOO financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and"ERDFA way of making Europe"by the Grant PI22CⅢ/00055 funded by Instituto de Salud CarlosⅢ(ISCⅢ)+6 种基金the UFIECPY 398/19(PEJ2018-004965) grant to RGS funded by AEI(Spain)the UFIECPY-396/19(PEJ2018-004961)grant financed by MCIN (Spain)FI23CⅢ/00003 grant funded by ISCⅢ-PFIS Spain) to PMMthe UFIECPY 328/22 (PEJ-2021-TL/BMD-21001) grant to LM financed by CAM (Spain)the grant by CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel)through the PDSE program (Programa de Doutorado Sanduiche no Exterior)to VSCG financed by MEC (Brazil)
文摘The brain is the most complex human organ,and commonly used models,such as two-dimensional-cell cultures and animal brains,often lack the sophistication needed to accurately use in research.In this context,human cerebral organoids have emerged as valuable tools offering a more complex,versatile,and human-relevant system than traditional animal models,which are often unable to replicate the intricate architecture and functionality of the human brain.Since human cerebral organoids are a state-of-the-art model for the study of neurodevelopment and different pathologies affecting the brain,this field is currently under constant development,and work in this area is abundant.In this review,we give a complete overview of human cerebral organoids technology,starting from the different types of protocols that exist to generate different human cerebral organoids.We continue with the use of brain organoids for the study of brain pathologies,highlighting neurodevelopmental,psychiatric,neurodegenerative,brain tumor,and infectious diseases.Because of the potential value of human cerebral organoids,we describe their use in transplantation,drug screening,and toxicology assays.We also discuss the technologies available to study cell diversity and physiological characteristics of organoids.Finally,we summarize the limitations that currently exist in the field,such as the development of vasculature and microglia,and highlight some of the novel approaches being pursued through bioengineering.
基金supported by the German Research Foundation(DFG Ta434/8-1,CRC/TR 412 Project-ID 535081457 and SFB1382,Project-ID 403224013 and ID 556479455).
文摘In vitro liver disease modelling,a rapidly evolving field,has become a multidimensional endeavour aimed at more precisely and effectively recapitulating the complexity of hepatic pathophysiology.This review systematically outlines the essential structural and cellular components of the liver as foundational elements for model design.Emphasising pathophysiological states rather than disease hallmarks,we discuss key liver injury paradigms,including hepatic steatosis,drug-induced hepatotoxicity,fibrogenesis,tumourigenesis and cholestatic injury.Each section integrates cellular mechanisms with model development strategies,highlighting advances in co-culture systems,multicellular organoids and liver-on-a-chip platforms.Although challenges persist,emerging platforms are increasingly capable of capturing multicellular crosstalk,structural heterogeneity and injury-response dynamics.Moving forward,model utility will depend not only on structural mimicry but on the ability to produce biologically meaningful outputs under experimentally controlled conditions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82200784,32271311Qizhen Foundation,No.226‐2023‐00008(all to LH).
文摘Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia.Although increasing evidence suggests that disruptions in lipid metabolism are closely associated with the disease,the overall profile of lipid and sterol changes that occur in the brain during Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear.In this study,we compared brain tissues extracted from 32-week-old male wild-type mice and 5×FAD transgenic Alzheimer’s disease model mice,which carry mutations in the amyloid precursor protein(APP)and presenilin 1(PS1)genes.Using untargeted lipidomics and sterolomics techniques,we investigated the metabolic profiles of lipids,with a focus on sterols specifically,in three brain regions:cerebellum,hippocampus,and olfactory bulb.Our results revealed significant alterations in various lipids,particularly in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb,suggesting changes in energy levels in these regions.Further pathway analysis indicated notable disruptions in key metabolic processes,particularly those related to fatty acids and cell membrane components.Additionally,we observed decreased expression of 15 genes involved in lipid and sterol regulation.Collectively,these findings provide new insights into how imbalances in lipid and sterol metabolism may contribute to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,highlighting potential metabolic pathways involved in the development of this debilitating disease.
基金supported by the grants from the National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program) awarded to N.L.(No.2011CBA01000) and L.L.(No. 2011CB944203)
文摘Genetically modified animal models are important for understanding the pathogenesis of human disease and developing therapeutic strategies. Although genetically modified mice have been widely used to model human diseases, some of these mouse models do not replicate important disease symptoms or pathology. Pigs are more similar to humans than mice in anatomy, physiology, and genome. Thus, pigs are considered to be better animal models to mimic some human diseases. This review describes genetically modified pigs that have been used to model various diseases including neurological, cardiovascular, and diabetic disorders. We also discuss the development in gene modification technology that can facilitate the generation of transgenic pig models for human diseases,
基金supported by the grants from the Major State Basic Development Program(No. 2012CBA01300)the National High Technology Research and Development Program(No.2012AA020701)+1 种基金the National Science and Technology Major Project(No.2009ZX09501- 028)the Social Science and Technology Development Program of Yunnan Province(No.2007GH)
文摘Nonhuman primates （NHPs） provide powerful experimental models to study human development, cognitive functions and disturbances as well as complex behavior, because of their genetic and physiological similarities to humans. Therefore, NHPs are appropriate models for the study of human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson＇s, Alzheimer＇s and Huntington＇s diseases, which occur as a result of genetic mutations. However, such diseases afflicting humans do not occur naturally in NHPs. So transgenic NHPs need to be established to understand the etiology of disease pathology and pathogenesis. Compared to rodent genetic models, the generation of transgenic NHPs for human diseases is inefficient, and only a transgenic monkey model for Huntington＇s disease has been reported. This review focuses on potential approaches and contributing factors for generating transgenic NHPs to study human diseases.
文摘AIM： To investigate the prognostic value of the model for end-stage liver disease （MELD） and three new MELD-based models combination with serum sodium in decompensated cirrhosis patients-the MELD with the incorporation of serum sodium （MELD-Na）, the integrated MELD （iMELD）, and the MELD to sodium （MESO） index. METHODS： A total of 166 patients with decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled into the study. MELD, MELD- Na, iMELD and MESO scores were calculated for each patient following the original formula on the first day of admission. All patients were followed up at least 1 year. The predictive prognosis related with the four models was determined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve （AUC） of the four parameters. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were made using the cut-offs identified by means of receiver operating characteristic （ROC）. RESULTS： Out of 166 patients, 38 patients with significantly higher MELD-Na （28.84 ± 2.43 vs 14.72 ± 0.60）, iMELD （49.04 ± 1.72 vs 35.52 ± 0.67）, MESO scores （1.59 ± 0.82 vs 0.99 ± 0.42） compared to the survivors died within 3 mo （P 〈 0.001）. Of 166 patients, 75 with markedly higher MELD-Na （23.01 ± 1.51 vs 13.78 ± 0.69）, iMELD （44.06 ± 1.19 vs 34.12 ± 0.69）, MESO scores （1.37 ± 0.70 vs 0.93 ± 0.40） than the survivors died within 1 year （P 〈 0.001）. At 3 mo of enrollment, the iMELD had the highest AUC （0.841）, and was followed by the MELD-Na （0.766）, MESO （0.723）, all larger than MELD （0.773）; At year, the iMELD still had the highest AUC （0.783）, the difference between the iMELD and MELD was statistically significant （P 〈 0.05）. Survival curves showed that the three new models were all clearly discriminated the patients who survived or died in short-term as well as intermediate-term （P 〈 0.001）. CONCLUSION： Three new models, changed with serum sodium （MELD-Na, iMELD, MESO） can exactly predict the prognosis of patients with decompensated cirrhosis for short and intermediate period, and may enhance the prognostic accuracy of MELD. The iMELD is better prognostic model for outcome prediction in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
文摘Cardiovascular disease,predominantly coronary heart disease and stroke,leads to high morbidity and mortality not only in developed worlds but also in underdeveloped regions.The dominant pathologic foundation for cardiovascular disease is atherosclerosis and,as to coronary heart disease,coronary atherosclerosis and resulting lumen stenosis,even total occlusions.In translational research,several animals,such as mice,rabbits and pigs,have been used as disease models of human atherosclerosis and related cardiovascular disorders.However,coronary lesions are either naturally rare or hard to be fast induced in these models,hence,coronary heart disease induction mostly relies on surgical or pharmaceutical interventions with no or limited primary coronary lesions,thus unrepresentative of human coronary heart disease progression and pathology.In this review,we describe the progress of animal models of coronary heart disease following either spontaneous or diet-accelerated coronary lesions.
文摘Melanins are widely used in medicine, pharmacology and cosmetics. Different technologies have been used to obtain melanin including： chemical synthesis based on oxidation of tyrosine and its derivatives; extraction from animal materials; alkaline extraction from plant material; and microbiological synthesis. A few number of works have been published that were focused on purification of water insoluble 3,4-dihy- droxy-phenylalanine-melanins （Kukulianskaia et al., 2002）. The majority of synthetic and natural melanins are insoluble in wa- ter that significantly complicates preparation of pharmacolog- ical and cosmetic preparations. Obtaining of low-cost soluble biotechnological melanin can speed up application of melanin in medicine and other fields. For the first time, melanin-syn-thesizing strain with high level of pigment synthesis - Bacillus thuringiensis was obtained. The ecologically safe technology of biosynthesis, isolation and purification of the bacterial melanin has been elaborated.
文摘BACKGROUND： Central adrenergic nerve and 5-serotonergic nerve can influence central cholinergic nerve on learning and memory and make easy for study; however, ginsenoside of stem and leaf （GSL） can improve functions of central adrenergic nerve; moreover, 5-serotonergic nerve and the combination with choline can produce synergistic effect and enhance learning and memory ability so as to improve learning and memory disorder of patients with Alzheimer disease （AD）. OBJECTIVE ： To observe the effects of GSL combining with choline on learning and memory of AD model rats DESIGN ： Randomized grouping design and controlled animal study SETIING ： Department of Pharmacology, Taishan Medical College MATERIALS ： The experiment was carried out in the Pharmacological Department of Medical College of Jilin University from October 1996 to January 1997. Forty healthy male Wistar rats of clean grade were randomly divided into 5 groups, including sham-injury group, model group, GSL group, choline group and combination group, with 8 rats in each group. Main medications： GSL with the volume more than 92.8% was provided by Department of Chemistry, Norman Bethune Medical College of Jilin University. Panaxatriol, the main component, was detected with thin layer scanning technique and regarded as the index of GSL quality [（55±1）%, CV= 2%, n = 5]. Choline was provided by the Third Shanghai Laboratory Factory. METHODS ： 150 nmol quinolinic acid was used to damage bilateral Meynert basal nuclei of adult rats so as to establish AD models. Rats in GSL, choline and combination groups were intragastric administrated with 400 mg/kg GSL, 200 mg/kg choline （20 mL/kg）, and both respectively last for 17 days starting from two days before operation. Rats in sham-injury group and model group were perfused with the same volume of distilled water once in each morning for the same days. （1） Passive avoidance step-down test： Five minutes later, rats jumped up safe platform when they were shocked with 36 V alternating current. If rats jumped down from the platform and the feet touched railings, the response was wrong. Numbers of wrong response were recorded within 3 minutes, and then the test was redone after 24 hours. （2） Morris water-maze spatial localization task： Swimming from jumping-off to platform directly was regarded as right response. Additionally, 4 successively right responses were regarded as the standard. Each rat was trained 10 times a day with 120 s per time for 3 successive days. The interval was 30 s. Three days later, numbers of right response were recorded. The training times were increased to 30 for unlearned rats. （3） Measurement of activity of choline acetylase in cerebral cortex： Rats were sacrificed at 17 days after operation to obtain cerebral cortex to measure activity of choline acetylase with radiochemistry technique. （4） Synergistic effect： It was expressed as Q value： Q value = factual incorporative effect/anticipant incorporative effect; Q ≥ 1 was regarded as synergistic effect. Anticipant incorporative effect = （EA＋EB-EA·EB）, EA and EB were single timing effect, respectively in GSL group and choline group. E（step-down test and Morris water maze test） = （x in model group - factual value in medicine groups）/x in model group; E （activity of choline acetylase） = （factual value in medicine groups -xin model group）/xin model group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES ： （1） Passive avoidance step-down test and Morris water-maze spatial localization task in the study of learning and memory; （2） activity of choline acetylase. RESULTS ： All 40 rats were involved in the final analysis. （1） Passive avoidance response： At learning phase on first day and retesting phase on the next day, numbers of wrong responses within 3 minutes were more in model group than sham operation group, and there was significant difference [（5.88±1.46）, （2.25±0.87） times; （2.63±1.06）, （0.50±0.53） times; P 〈 0.01]; numbers of wrong responses within 3 minutes were less in combination group than model group, and there was significant difference [learning phase： （1.12±0.83）, （5.88±1.46） times; retesting phase： （0.38±0.74）, （2.63±1.06）times, P 〈 0.01]; moreover, effect was stronger than that in GSL group and choline group. The Q value was 1.07 and 1.59, respectively and it showed synergistic effect. Spatial localization task： Training times were more in model group than sham operation group, and there was significant difference [（2.9±2.5）, （12.6±3.5） times; P 〈 0.01]. Training times were less in combination group than model group, and there was significant difference [（11.8±2.4）, （27.9±2.5） times, P 〈 0.01]; moreover, effect was stronger than that in GSL group and choline group. The Q value was 1.07 and it showed synergistic effect. （3） Activity of choline acetylase： Activity was lower in model group than sham operation group, and there was significant difference [（30.56±8.33）, （61.11 ±8.33） nkat/g; P 〈 0.01]. Activity was higher in combination group than model group and there was significant difference [（50.00±8.33）, （30.56±8.33） nkat/g, P 〈 0.01];moreover, effect was stronger than that in GSL group and choline group. The Q value was 1.5 and it showed synergistic effect. CONCLUSZON： GSL in combination with choline can synergically improve the disorder of learning and memory of AD model rats. Its mechanism may be involved in enhancing the function of central cholinergic system.
文摘Primates and animal models are major areas of coverage for Zoological Research （ZR）. Over the past few years, ZR has released a series of special issues/topics addressing various aspects of these areas, e.g., ge- netics, immunology, and physiology neuroscience. A special issue for 2017 focusing on ＂Animal Models of Infectious Diseases＂ is under preparation and, so far, includes original research articles and reviews on filo- viruses and coxsackievirus involving guinea pigs, mice, and other species. Further to this, ZR would like to extend a very warm invitation to all peer researchers in the field to submit outstanding work to the journal on this special issue.
文摘Mouse and non-human primate models of neurodegenerative disease：The prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases continues to increase with ever increasing aging population over the age of 60.Although the difficulties associated with neurodegenerative diseases present an urgent global issue,there is no effective treatment for these conditions.
文摘The eye is an immune-privileged and sensory organ in humans and animals.Anatomical,physiological,and pathobiological features share significant similarities across divergent species(1).Each compartment of the eye has a unique structure and function.The anterior and posterior compartments of the eye contain endothelium(cornea),epithelium(cornea,ciliary body,iris),muscle(ciliary body),vitreous and neuronal(retina)tissues,which make the eye suitable to evaluate efficacy and safety of tissue specific drugs(2).
基金supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT&Future Planning (2022R1A2C2006229,2022R1A6A3A01086868)Korea Dementia Research Project through the Korea Dementia Research Center (KDRC)funded by the Ministry of Health&Welfare and Ministry of Science and ICT,Republic of Korea (RS-2024-00345328)KIST Institutional Grant (2E32851)。
文摘Alzheimer'sdisease(AD)isaprogressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and distinct neuropathological features,including amyloid-βplaques,neurofibrillary tangles,and reactive astrogliosis.Developing effective diagnostic,preventative,and therapeutic strategies for AD necessitates the establishment of animal models that accurately recapitulate the pathophysiological processes of the disease.Existing transgenic mouse models have significantly contributed to understanding AD pathology but often fail to replicate the complexity of human AD.Additionally,these models are limited in their ability to elucidate the interplay among amyloid-βplaques,neurofibrillary tangles,and reactive astrogliosis due to the absence of spatially and temporally specific genetic manipulation.In this study,we introduce a novel AD mouse model(APP/PS1-TauP301L-Adeno mice)designed to rapidly induce pathological symptoms and enhance understanding of AD mechanisms.Neurofibrillary tangles and severe reactive astrogliosis were induced by injecting AAVDJ-EF1a-hTauP301L-EGFP and Adeno-GFAP-GFP viruses into the hippocampi of 5-month-old APP/PS1 mice.Three months post-injection,these mice exhibited pronounced astrogliosis,substantial amyloid-βplaque accumulation,extensiveneurofibrillarytangles,accelerated neuronal loss,elevated astrocytic GABA levels,and significant spatial memory deficits.Notably,these pathological features were less severe in AAVTauP301L-expressing APP/PS1 mice without augmented reactive astrogliosis.These findings indicate an exacerbating role of severe reactive astrogliosis in amyloid-βplaque and neurofibrillary tangle-associated pathology.The APP/PS1-TauP301L-Adeno mouse model provides a valuable tool for advancing therapeutic research aimed at mitigating the progression of AD.
文摘Huntington＇s disease （HD） is an inherited autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by pro- gressive motor deficits, cognitive decline, and psychiatric symptoms. It is caused by a pathological expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in exon 1 of the HD gene, resulting in the translation of a mutant form of huntingtin protein （mutant Htt） with an expanded polyglutamine domain in the N-terminal region [1 ]. Despite great progress in understanding the pathogenesis of HD using multiple mouse models, the exact mechanisms by which mutant Htt induces neuronal dysfunction and death are still not completely clear, and there is no curative treatment for this disease. An important reason is that the mouse, which is the most widely used animal model in HD research, differs from the human in many aspects, including the physiology, drug metabolism, blood-brain barrier, life span, brain volume, and neuroanatomical organization [2]. Thus, it is necessary to establish HD models with higher species than rodents, such as the dog, pig, and non- human primate, so as to bridge the gap between preclinical mouse models and clinical studies.
基金supported by the Zhejiang Province Basic Public Welfare Research Program(No.TGD24H160005),China。
文摘Osteosarcoma(OS),chondrosarcoma(CS),and Ewing sarcoma(ES)represent primary malignant bone tumors and pose significant challenges in oncology research and clinical management.Conventional research methods,such as two-dimensional(2D)cultured tumor cells and animal models,have limitations in recapitulating the complex tumor microenvironment(TME)and often fail to translate into effective clinical treatments.The advancement of three-dimensional(3D)culture technology has revolutionized the field by enabling the development of in vitro constructed bone tumor models that closely mimic the in vivo TME.These models provide powerful tools for investigating tumor biology,assessing therapeutic responses,and advancing personalized medicine.This comprehensive review summarizes the recent advancements in research on 3D tumor models constructed in vitro for OS,CS,and ES.We discuss the various techniques employed in model construction,their applications,and the challenges and future directions in this field.The integration of advanced technologies and the incorporation of additional cell types hold promise for the development of more sophisticated and physiologically relevant models.As research in this field continues to evolve,we anticipate that these models will play an increasingly crucial role in unraveling the complexities of malignant bone tumors and accelerating the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
基金National Key Research and Development Program,Grant/Award Number:2022YFD1800505Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund,Grant/Award Number:ZDYF2024XDNY198+1 种基金Beijing Municipal Natural Science Foundation,Grant/Award Number:6232025Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:32272960。
文摘Background:Prion diseases(PrDs)are fatal transmissible neurodegenerative disorders caused by misfolded prion protein,which is highly expressed in the brain.Drosophila has been employed as a model system for studying mammalian neurodegenerative diseases.Methods:Drosophila transgenic for hamster prion protein(HaPrP)was generated by Valium20 transformation.Locomotion,longevity,protease resistance,and histology were assessed,and nontargeted metabolomics analyses were performed to investigate the changes in Drosophila metabolism with the HaPrP expression and metformin treatment.Results:The Drosophila model exhibited pan-neuronal expression of HaPrP,with expression levels increasing with age.Flies displayed reduced climbing ability,shortened lifespan,and vacuolar structures in the brain.Additionally,HaPrP expressed in older flies demonstrated resistance to digestion by 5μg/mL Proteinase K.The Drosophila model also displayed alterations in protein,lipid,and carbohydrate metabolism.We hypothesize that glutamate,N-acetylaspartate,ceramide,phosphatidylethanolamine,dihydroxyacetone phosphate,ribose-5-phosphate,and pyruvate are key metabolites potentially related to PrDs.Metformin improved locomotor activity,reduced PrP res formation,and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction in flies,which may be associated with alterations in succinate,pyruvate,choline,and sphingomyelin levels.Conclusions:We generated a Drosophila model of PrDs that recapitulates key pathological features observed in mammals.Preliminary applications have demonstrated that the Drosophila model is suitable for PrDs research and the highthroughput screening of potential therapeutic compounds.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32371475)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,Major Project(No.BK20222008).
文摘Multiorgan-on-a-chip(MOoC)systems are advanced microfluidic devices that integrate multiple organ models into a single modular unit,each composed of cells derived from various tissues or organs.These systems enable interorgan communication and accurately replicate physiological conditions,providing a more physiologically relevant modeling framework for constructing disease models and predicting drug efficacy and toxicity.MOoC systems also provide significant advantages in terms of flexibility,cost-effectiveness,and reproducibility,making them valuable tools for drug development and toxicity assessment.In this review,we first provide an overview of the MOoC technology,covering cell sources,stimulations,materials and fabrication techniques,and biosensors.We then examine the application of MOoC systems in disease modeling,focusing on cancer metastasis,metabolic disorders,and cardiovascular disease.We next discuss the use of MOoC systems in drug toxicity evaluation and drug screening,emphasizing their role in providing comprehensive assessments of drug effects.Finally,we address the challenges it faces and the future perspectives of the MOoC technology.
文摘BACKGROUND Liver transplantation aims to increase the survival of patients with end-stage liver diseases and improve their quality of life.The number of organs available for transplantation is lower than the demand.To provide fair organ distribution,predictive mortality scores have been developed.AIM To compare the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation IV(APACHE IV),balance of risk(BAR),and model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)scores as predictors of mortality.METHODS Retrospective cohort study,which included 283 adult patients in the postoperative period of deceased donor liver transplantation from 2014 to 2018.RESULTS The transplant recipients were mainly male,with a mean age of 58.1 years.Donors were mostly male,with a mean age of 41.6 years.The median cold ischemia time was 3.1 hours,and the median intensive care unit stay was 5 days.For APACHE IV,a mean of 59.6 was found,BAR 10.7,and MELD 24.2.The 28-day mortality rate was 9.5%,and at 90 days,it was 3.5%.The 28-day mortality prediction for APACHE IV was very good[area under the curve(AUC):0.85,P<0.001,95%CI:0.76-0.94],P<0.001,BAR(AUC:0.70,P<0.001,95%CI:0.58–0.81),and MELD(AUC:0.66,P<0.006,95%CI:0.55-0.78),P<0.008.At 90 days,the data for APACHE IV were very good(AUC:0.80,P<0.001,95%CI:0.71–0.90)and moderate for BAR and MELD,respectively,(AUC:0.66,P<0.004,95%CI:0.55–0.77),(AUC:0.62,P<0.026,95%CI:0.51–0.72).All showed good discrimination between deaths and survivors.As for the best value for liver transplantation,it was significant only for APACHE IV(P<0.001).CONCLUSION The APACHE IV assessment score was more accurate than BAR and MELD in predicting mortality in deceased donor liver transplant recipients.
文摘In this editorial,we comment on the article by Teerasarntipan et al published in a recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.Dengue infection is a major mosquito-borne disease with global significance.Dengue-induced severe hepatitis(DISH)is a rare complication though severe,as it can lead to acute liver failure(ALF)with an incidence rate between 0.7%and 2.0%and mortality rates from 47.0%to 58.8%.In this context,the identification of patients at risk of ALF could improve prognosis in DISH patients.Teerasarntipan et al retrospectively enrolled 2532 dengue patients,counting 193 DISH and 20 ALF.The authors explored the prognostic role of liver-specific scores,as the model for end-stage liver disease(MELD)score,albumin-bilirubin(ALBI)score,easy(EZ)-ALBI score,and platelet-ALBI(PALBI)score.Univariate analysis identified international normalized ratio(INR),total bilirubin,albumin,and creatinine as independent laboratory factors associated with ALF,while age,gender,and liver comorbidities were not linked to in-hospital mortality.The presence of dengue shock syndrome significantly increased mortality,with an odds ratio(OR)of 28.05(95%CI:7.21-109.18,P<0.001).High INR and low albumin were laboratory markers associated with death from DISH,with ORs of 5.83(95%CI:2.59-13.12,P<0.001)and 0.15(95%CI:0.05-0.44,P<0.001),respectively.Multivariate analysis confirmed that INR remained the only significant predictor of both ALF and death,with adjusted ORs of 19.54(95%CI:3.37-113.38,P<0.001)and 3.86(95%CI:1.13-13.18,P=0.031),respectively.Among prognostic models,the MELD score performed best in predicting ALF,with a very high accuracy[area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)of 0.929,87.5%sensitivity,89.3%specificity at a cutoff of 16],followed by the EZ-ALBI,ALBI,and PALBI scores,with AUROCs of 0.865,0.832,and 0.797,respectively.As MELD remains the best scoring system for predicting poor outcomes in DISH-related ALF,EZ-ALBI is a valid adjunct tool that could improve medical care in these patients.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2022YFA1105502(to PG)the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.82271123(to PG),32200618(to ZT)。
文摘Traumatic optic neuropathy is a form of optic neuropathy resulting from trauma.Its pathophysiological mechanisms involve primary and secondary injury phases,leading to progressive retinal ganglion cell loss and axonal degeneration.Contributing factors such as physical trauma,oxidative stress,neuroinflammation,and glial scar formation exacerbate disease progression and retinal ganglion cell death.Multiple forms of cell death—including apoptosis,pyroptosis,necroptosis,and ferroptosis—are involved at different disease stages.Although current treatments,such as corticosteroid therapy and surgical interventions,have limited efficacy,cell-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach that simultaneously promotes neuroprotection and retinal ganglion cell regeneration.This review summarizes recent advances in cell-based therapies for traumatic optic neuropathy.In the context of cell replacement therapy,retinal ganglion cell-like cells derived from embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells—via chemical induction or direct reprogramming—have demonstrated the ability to integrate into the host retina and survive for weeks to months,potentially improving visual function.Mesenchymal stem cells derived from various sources,including bone marrow,umbilical cord,placenta,and adipose tissue,have been shown to enhance retinal ganglion cell survival,stimulate axonal regeneration,and support partial functional recovery.Additionally,neural stem/progenitor cells derived from human embryonic stem cells offer neuroprotective effects and function as“neuronal relays,”facilitating reconnection between damaged regions of the optic nerve and the visual pathway.Beyond direct cell transplantation,cell-derived products,such as extracellular vesicles and cell-extracted solutions,have demonstrated promising neuroprotective effects in traumatic optic neuropathy.Despite significant progress,several challenges remain,including limited integration of transplanted cells,suboptimal functional vision recovery,the need for precise timing and delivery methods,and an incomplete understanding of the role of the retinal microenvironment and glial cell activation in neuroprotection and neuroregeneration.Furthermore,studies with longer observation periods and deeper mechanistic insights into the therapeutic effects of cell-based therapies remain scarce.Two Phase I clinical trials have confirmed the safety and potential benefits of cell-based therapy for traumatic optic neuropathy,with reported improvements in visual acuity.However,further studies are needed to validate these findings and establish significant therapeutic outcomes.In conclusion,cell-based therapies hold great promise for treating traumatic optic neuropathy,but critical obstacles must be overcome to achieve functional optic nerve regeneration.Emerging bioengineering strategies,such as scaffold-based transplantation,may improve cell survival and axonal guidance.Successful clinical translation will require rigorous preclinical validation,standardized protocols,and the integration of advanced imaging techniques to optimize therapeutic efficacy.
