1.Improvement effects and mechanism of Achyranthes bidentata total saponins extract on vascular endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Ruifeng LIANG ; Wenjing GE ; Xiaobo KOU ; Ping TIAN ; Hongzhi AN ; Zheng WEI ; Mingli ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(3):331-337
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effects and mechanism of Achyranthes bidentata total saponins (ABS) extract on vascular endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) based on cytochrome P450 4A (CYP4A)/20-hydroxyeicosatetetraenoic acid (20-HETE)/G protein-coupled receptor 75 (GPR75) axis. METHODS Ten Wistar- Kyoto rats were taken as the normal control group. Forty SHR were first stratified by systolic blood pressure and then, within each stratum, randomly assigned using a random-number table to the model group (MOD group), captopril positive control group (CAP group, 10 mg/kg), ABS low- and high-dose extract groups (ABS-L group, ABS-H group, 60 and 120 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. Animals in each group were given the corresponding drug or equal volume of pure water by gavage, once a day, for 28 consecutive days. After the last administration, systolic blood pressure of rats was measured. The levels of vasoactive substances, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators in serum were measured. The pathological changes of rat thoracic aorta were observed. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aortic tissue was analyzed. The expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), CYP4A, GPR75, nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), phosphorylated NF-κB p65, p22phox, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4(NOX4) in thoracic aorta tissue were detected. RESULTS After 28 d of treatment, compared with MOD group, the systolic blood pressure of rats in the ABS-L and ABS-H groups decreased significantly. The levels of 20-HETE, angiotensin Ⅱ, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 and malondialdehyde in serum were significantly reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the levels of nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase were significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Intimal damage of thoracic aorta was reduced, and endothelial cell morphology was improved. The expressions of ROS, CYP4A, GPR75, p22phox, NOX4 and the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein in thoracic aorta were down-regulated or reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the expression of eNOS was up-regulated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS ABS extract may alleviate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in SHR effectively by down-regulating the expression of CYP4A, reducing the production of 20-HETE, inhibiting the activation of GPR75, and subsequently suppressing the activation of downstream NF-κB and NOX4, thereby improving hypertension-related vascular endothelial dysfunction.
2.Application and Value of Authentication Methods in the Study on Traditional Chinese Medicine Classics
Lufeng ZHENG ; Zheng GE ; Xiang LI ; Guangkun CHEN ; Fanglin HU ; Yanhong YANG ; Hongtao LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):349-354
This paper systematically reviewed the concept of authentication studies on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classics and the research achievements of scholars across historical and contemporary periods. We categorized the authentication studies on TCM classics into four types, including work-oriented authentication research, metho-dological studies on authentication, extended authentication research, and single-book authentication. Multiple methods were applied comprehensively, including investigating bibliographic documents of successive dynasties, analyzing the academic contents of medical books, studying the textual characteristics of medical books, examining the cited references in medical books, verifying the biographies of authors, and analyzing the interpolations and accretions in medical books, to distinguish the authenticity of TCM classics. The academic value of authenticity identification of TCM classics is concluded in three aspects,i.e. it serves as an important means to distinguish authenticity from falsehood in TCM classics, an important guarantee for inheriting the essence of TCM literature, and a key to unlocking the academic treasure trove of TCM classics and achieving inheritance-based innovation, which will lay a solid documentary foundation for constructing identification methodologies and standardized systems.
3.Effect of Optimized New Shengmai Powder (优化新生脉散方) on Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure of Qi Deficiency,Blood Stasis and Fluid Retention Syndrome:A Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial
Xianliang WANG ; Jingyi ZHANG ; Zhao GE ; Tongzuo LIU ; Maozhe ZHANG ; Shuai WANG ; Zhiqiang ZHAO ; Yingfei BI ; Ruijuan ZHOU ; Ying ZHENG ; Jingyuan MAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):425-431
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects and safety of the optimized new Shengmai Powder (优化新生脉散方) on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) of qi deficiency, blood stasis, and fluid retention syndrome. MethodsA randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 78 CHF patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and fluid retention syndrome were recruited and randomly assigned to a treatment group (39 cases) and a control group (39 cases). On the basis of conventional western medical therapy, patients in the treatment group additionally received the optimized new Shengmai Powder granules, while the control group was given an oral placebo of optimized new Shengmai Powder granules. Patients in both groups took 30.6 g each time, twice a day, mixed with water for administration, with a total treatment course of 4 weeks. The primary outcomes were 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and peak oxygen uptake (Peak VO2) measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary outcomes included New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, cardiac function indexes including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventri-cular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) scores, and scores of four diagnostic information of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). All indicators were assessed once before and after treatment respectively. Safety indicators were evaluated, and adverse events during the trial were recorded. ResultsAll patients in both groups were included in the full ana-lysis set (FAS) and safety set (SS). Compared with baseline, the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test in the treatment group significantly increased after treatment, while the MLHFQ scores, serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information significantly decreased, and the NYHA cardiac function grade significantly improved (P<0.01). After treatment, the 6MWD and Peak VO₂ of cardiopulmonary exercise test, as well as their changes from baseline in the treatment group were higher than those in the control group; the MLHFQ scores, serum BNP levels and scores of TCM four diagnostic information in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group; and the improvement of NYHA cardiac function grade in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P<0.01). There was no statistically significant differences in all indicators after treatment in the control group (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse events was 5.1% (2/39) in the treatment group and 2.6% (1/39) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference between groups (P>0.05). ConclusionOn the basis of conventional western medicine treatment, the addition of the optimized new Shengmai Powder can further improve exercise tolerance, cardiac function and quality of life in patients with CHF of qi deficiency, blood stasis and fluid retention syndrome, and show good safety.
4.Application and Challenges of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Technology in Research of Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Yunchen GE ; Bixia ZHENG ; Aihua ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2026;5(1):100-111
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of diseases caused by abnormal development of the brain and nervous system, mainly including global developmental disabilities/intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and others; at present, certain progress has been made in the research on common NDDs, and some effective therapeutic approaches have been developed, but for rare NDDs such as fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, and Dravet syndrome, the elucidation of their pathogenesis and the development of therapeutic strategies still face major challenges due to insufficient clinical samples, the complexity of the brain structure, and the limitations of existing research models. In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) technology has achieved breakthrough progress, where the directed differentiation of patient-derived iPSCs into neurons, glial cells, and cerebral organoids, combined with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9) gene-editing technology, provides a novel research model for exploring the pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of rare NDDs, and this paper reviews the research advances and challenges of iPSCs technology in the study of rare NDDs.
5.Molecular Mechanisms of Intraflagellar Transport in Regulating ciliogenesis and Ciliopathies
Ting-Ting GE ; Fan YANG ; Chang-Min NIU ; Ying ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(8):2179-2193
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a core mechanism for ciliary assembly, length maintenance, ciliary proteome homeostasis and signal transduction. Most proteins required for ciliary structure and function are synthesized in the cytoplasm. Because the ciliary compartment is separated from the cell body by the selective barrier of the transition zone, these proteins cannot freely equilibrate between the cytoplasm and the cilium. Consequently, axonemal components, membrane proteins and signaling molecules must be actively imported into cilia, retrieved from the ciliary compartment, and recycled or degraded through highly ordered transport and sorting pathways. The IFT system is mainly composed of the IFT-A complex, IFT-B complex, kinesin-2, dynein-2 and the Bardet-Biedl syndrome protein complex (BBSome). Through coordinated anterograde and retrograde transport, these modules mediate the dynamic trafficking of different classes of ciliary cargoes. Anterograde transport delivers structural and membrane-associated components from the ciliary base toward the ciliary tip, whereas retrograde transport retrieves IFT components and selected cargoes back toward the ciliary base and cytoplasm. In this way, IFT not only supports the construction of the axoneme but also contributes to the maintenance of ciliary composition and the regulation of ciliary signaling activity. In recent years, advances in cryo-electron microscopy, in situ cryo-electron tomography and single-molecule imaging have greatly improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IFT. These approaches have revealed how IFT trains are assembled at the ciliary base, how they move along axonemal microtubule tracks, how they undergo directional switching at the ciliary tip, and how cargoes are retrieved and recycled. Among the IFT modules, IFT-B acts as the major scaffold of IFT trains. It participates in cargo loading, motor coupling and initiation of anterograde transport. IFT-A is involved in retrograde transport, membrane protein adaptor function and train remodeling. The BBSome, through reversible association with the IFT system, regulates ciliary membrane protein sorting, signaling receptor clearance and renewal of the ciliary proteome. These functions indicate that the IFT machinery is not a simple linear transport pathway, but rather a dynamic and reconfigurable transport system. The conversion of transport direction is a key step in the IFT cycle. This process is closely associated with disassembly of anterograde trains, dissociation of kinesin-2, activation of dynein-2 at the ciliary tip and reassembly of retrograde trains. In terms of pathogenic mechanisms, IFT abnormalities may cause ciliopathies through four major pathways: defects in ciliary assembly and structure, abnormal localization of ciliary cargoes, dysregulation of signaling pathways, and impaired cargo unloading and retrieval. These defects can affect multiple organ systems, including the retina, kidney, skeleton, respiratory tract, reproductive system, and neuro-metabolic system. Current therapeutic strategies are still mainly based on symptomatic support and maintenance of organ function. Overall, IFT is a dynamic transport system jointly regulated by axonemal structure, motor activity, cargo selection and cellular signaling. It links ciliary architecture with protein turnover and signaling regulation, thereby playing a fundamental role in both ciliary homeostasis and ciliopathy pathogenesis. Further elucidation of IFT regulatory mechanisms and their relationships with disease phenotypes will help promote mechanism-based classification, genetic diagnosis and precision intervention for ciliopathies.
6.Changing antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in hospitals across China:results from CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program,2015-2021
Chunyue GE ; Yunjian HU ; Xiaoman AI ; Yang YANG ; Fupin HU ; Demei ZHU ; Yingchun XU ; Xiaojiang ZHANG ; Hui LI ; Ping JI ; Yi XIE ; Mei KANG ; Chuanqing WANG ; Pan FU ; Yuanhong XU ; Ying HUANG ; Ziyong SUN ; Zhongju CHEN ; Yuxing NI ; Jingyong SUN ; Yunzhuo CHU ; Sufei TIAN ; Zhidong HU ; Jin LI ; Yunsong YU ; Jie LIN ; Bin SHAN ; Yan DU ; Sufang GUO ; Lianhua WEI ; Fengmei ZOU ; Hong ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Chao ZHUO ; Danhong SU ; Dawen GUO ; Jinying ZHAO ; Hua YU ; Xiangning HUANG ; Wen'en LIU ; Yanming LI ; Yan JIN ; Chunhong SHAO ; Xuesong XU ; Chao YAN ; Shanmei WANG ; Yafei CHU ; Lixia ZHANG ; Juan MA ; Shuping ZHOU ; Yan ZHOU ; Lei ZHU ; Jinhua MENG ; Fang DONG ; Zhiyong LÜ ; Fangfang HU ; Han SHEN ; Wanqing ZHOU ; Wei JIA ; Gang LI ; Jinsong WU ; Yuemei LU ; Jihong LI ; Jinju DUAN ; Jianbang KANG ; Xiaobo MA ; Yanping ZHENG ; Ruyi GUO ; Yan ZHU ; Yunsheng CHEN ; Qing MENG ; Shifu WANG ; Xuefei HU ; Jilu SHEN ; Wenhui HUANG ; Ruizhong WANG ; Hua FANG ; Bixia YU ; Yong ZHAO ; Ping GONG ; Kaizhen WENG ; Yirong ZHANG ; Jiangshan LIU ; Longfeng LIAO ; Hongqin GU ; Lin JIANG ; Wen HE ; Shunhong XUE ; Jiao FENG ; Chunlei YUE
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2025;25(5):557-562
Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1%(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5%,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3%(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1%)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7%)and blood samples(8.1%).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1%.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4%in the patients<18 years old to 20.6%in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.
7.Molecular mechanisms and synergistic strategies of combination therapy in breast cancer
Jiahao SI ; Jinglu SHI ; Zheng WEI ; Jin GE ; Jiajia WU ; Min YANG ; Zichu LI ; Weiwei LIN ; Yan ZHANG ; Xueqin WANG ; Na LI ; Shaobo DUAN
Immunological Journal 2025;41(9):667-678
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide and has drawn extensive research attention.Owing to its molecular heterogeneity,drug resistance,and low therapeutic response,single-modality treatments often fail to achieve satisfactory efficacy or broad applicability.Combination therapy,designed based on the pathophysiological characteristics,related signaling pathways,and biomarkers of breast cancer,has emerged as a promising approach for improving therapeutic outcomes.With the advancement of research on combination strategies,the understanding of their molecular mechanisms—particularly key signaling pathways and biomarkers—has become increasingly important.However,comprehensive reviews addressing these molecular mechanisms and synergistic strategies remain scarce.This article summarizes recent advances in combination therapy for breast cancer,providing a comprehensive review of recent combination therapies for breast cancer and their underlying molecular mechanisms,and focusing on key signaling pathways involved in combination therapy and synergistic strategies,thereby providing theoretical insights and reference for researchers,graduate students,and clinicians engaged in the development of novel combination therapeutic strategies for breast cancer and related malignancies.
8.Mechanism of action of long non-coding RNA AC087388.1 targeting PABPC1 on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Han ZHONG ; Yan-lei GE ; Jun-qing GAN ; Ye JIN ; Xuan ZHENG ; Zi-qing LIU ; Guo-gui SUN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):926-935
Aim To explore the roles and mechanisms of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)AC087388.1 and poly(A)binding protein cytoplasmic 1(PABPC1)in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).Meth-ods The expression level of AC087388.1 in ESCC tissues and cells was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and fluorescence in situ hybridization experiments and its clinical relevance was analyzed.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8),clone formation,scratch and Transwell inva-sion assays were used to detect the effects of knock-down of AC087388.1 on the cell viability,prolifera-tion,migratory,and invasion of ESCC cells respectively ability,and sub-localization in cells.RNA pull down and Western blot experiments were employed to verify the interaction between AC087388.1 and PABPC1 in ESCC cells.Salvage experiments were performed to detect the effect of AC087388.1 targeting PABPC1 on ESCC cells.Results AC087388.1 was highly ex-pressed in ESCC tissues and cells and positively corre-lated with clinical stage of ESCC patients,mainly local-ized in cytoplasm.Knockdown AC087388.1 inhibited ESCC cell viability,proliferation,migration and inva-sionability.PABPC1 was selected from the results of RNA Pull Down-MS experiments for subsequent experi-ments,and AC087388.1 was verified to bind to PAB-PC1 by RNA Pull Down and Western blot experiments.Overexpression of AC087388.1 was verified by rescue experiment to reverse the effects of knockdown of PAB-PC1 on ESCC cell viability,proliferation,migration and invasion.Conclusions High expression of AC087388.1 correlates with clinical stage and may be a risk factor for ESCC progression.AC087388.1 pro-motes the cell viability,proliferation,migration and in-vasive ability of ESCC cells by targeting PABPC1,which may be a novel biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of ESCC.
9.circ_0071653 targeted miR-197-3p regulates proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Xuan ZHENG ; Yan-lei GE ; Jun-qing GAN ; Ye JIN ; Yi-shuang CUI ; Ya-nan WU ; Zi-qing LIU ; Guo-gui SUN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):888-898
Aim To investigate the effects of circ_0071653 targeting miR-197-3p on the proliferation and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ES-CC)cells.Methods The circular structure of circ_0071653 was confirmed by Sanger sequencing and ribo-nuclease R tolerance experiments.Real-time quantita-tive polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)and tissue fluorescence in situ hybridization assay were performed to detect the circ_0071653 expression levels and ana-lyze its clinical relevance.Cell fluorescence in situ hy-bridization and nuclear cytoplasmic separation assays were used to verify the subcellular localization of circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p.Bioinformatics analysis,dual luciferase reporter gene and RT-qPCR assays were conducted to validate the interactions between circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p.Moreover,the cell counting Kit-8(CCK-8),colony formation,scratch,Transwell invasion and subcutaneous tumor formation in nude mice assays were used to evaluate the effects of circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p on cell viability,prolifera-tion,migration,and invasion and in vivo tumorigenesi-sability.Results Circ_0071653 was a circular RNA,which showed high expression in ESCC cell lines and tissues.The expression of circ_0071653 was signifi-cantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and clini-cal stage of ESCC patients.Circ_0071653 and miR-197-3p were mainly localized in the cytoplasm.The databases predict that circ_0071653 had complementa-ry binding sites with miR-197-3p,and their binding were confirmed by dual luciferase reporter geneand RT-qPCR assays.Moreover,the activity,proliferation,migration,invasion and in vivo tumorigenesis abilities of ESCC cells were significantly reduced after knocking down circ_0071653,and this effect could be reversed by downregulating the expression of miR-197-3p.Con-clusions Circ_0071653 promotes the malignant pro-gression of ESCC through targeted regulation of miR-197-3p.
10.The application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing successfully prevented organ donation from a deceased donor infected with rabies virus : a case report
Chao LI ; Xin YE ; Wenqing GE ; Zheng ZHOU ; Liangliang WANG
Chinese Journal of Organ Transplantation 2025;46(8):610-612
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has emerged as a pivotal tool in the detection and characterization of infectious pathogens in clinical settings, and it has been applied to donor assessment. This case report describes the effective application of mNGS in preventing the transplantation of organs from a donor infected with the rabies virus, who presented with myocarditis. The rapid and accurate identification of the rabies virus through mNGS potentially averted the risk of transmission to organ recipients.

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