1.Effect of Spraying Nano-calcium Carbonate and Calcium Nitrate Tetrahydrate on Characters, Carbohydrate Components and Endogenous Hormones of Dendrobium officinale
Jing LI ; Rong ZHOU ; Yingyue HOU ; Wei CAI ; Xiaoyan ZHANG ; Shuang ZHANG ; Guangying DU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):208-216
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of foliar fertilizer of nano-calcium carbonate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate on the agronomic traits, carbohydrate and endogenous hormone contents of Dendrobium officinale planted for 1 year under greenhouse cultivation, in order to provide scientific basis for fertilization to improve the yield and quality of D. officinale. MethodsSingle-factor experimental design was adopted. Starting from early spring, D. officinale was treated with foliar spraying according to corresponding fertilizers. Three treatment groups were established based on different fertilizers, namely, a blank group(clear water), a nano-calcium carbonate group(0.727 g·L-1 nano-calcium carbonate water-soluble fertilizer), and a calcium nitrate tetrahydrate group(1.091 g·L-1 calcium nitrate tetrahydrate water-soluble fertilizer). The frequency of spraying was three times per month, and the entire treatment process lasted for nine months. The effects of various treatments on the traits and relative chlorophyll content of D. officinale were dynamically monitored. Sampling was conducted at three specific time points:August 2, 2023, September 8, 2023, and November 1, 2023, respectively. The contents of glucose and mannose in D. officinale stems were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), the content of soluble sugars in D. officinale stems and leaves was determined by phenol method, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the concentrations of cytokinin and auxin. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the treatments with nano-calcium carbonate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate could significantly increase stem length, stem node number, leaf number, and tiller number. Among them, during the harvesting period in November, the stem length and tiller number, which are indicators related to the yield of D. officinale, increased by 60.85% and 19.23% after treatment with calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, and by 32.54% and 28.85% after treatment with nano-calcium carbonate, respectively. Compared with the blank group, treatments with nano-calcium carbonate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate could promote the accumulation of sucrose in the stems and leaves of D. officinale to varying degrees, as well as the accumulation of polysaccharides, mannose, and glucose in the stems. In addition, nano-calcium carbonate treatment also facilitated the accumulation of fructose in the stems and leaves of D. officinale. Specifically, during the harvesting period in November, polysaccharides and mannose, which were the main active ingredients in D. officinale stems, increased by 28.48% and 29.36% after treatment with calcium nitrate tetrahydrate, and by 39.91% and 82.62% after treatment with nano-calcium carbonate, respectively. In addition, compared with the blank group, the concentrations of auxin in the stems and leaves of D. officinale were significantly increased after treatment with calcium nitrate tetrahydrate(P<0.05). Similarly, the concentrations of cytokinin and auxin in the stems of D. officinale were also elevated after treatment with nano-calcium carbonate. Correlation analysis further indicated that elongation growth and tillering of D. officinale stems after foliar spraying of nano-calcium carbonate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate might be related to the accumulation of carbohydrates in the stems and leaves and the synergistic effect of auxin and cytokinin. ConclusionIn production practice, spraying nano-calcium carbonate and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate can promote the accumulation of cytokinin, auxin, and carbohydrate contents in the stems and leaves of D. officinale, and promote tillering and elongation growth of the stems.
2.Diagnostic Techniques and Risk Prediction for Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
Song HOU ; Lin-Shan ZHANG ; Xiu-Qin HONG ; Chi ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Cai-Li ZHANG ; Yan ZHU ; Hai-Jun LIN ; Fu ZHANG ; Yu-Xiang YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2585-2601
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and metabolic disorders are the 3 major chronic diseases threatening human health, which are closely related and often coexist, significantly increasing the difficulty of disease management. In response, the American Heart Association (AHA) proposed a novel disease concept of “cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome” in October 2023, which has triggered widespread concern about the co-treatment of heart and kidney diseases and the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders around the world. This review posits that effectively managing CKM syndrome requires a new and multidimensional paradigm for diagnosis and risk prediction that integrates biological insights, advanced technology and social determinants of health (SDoH). We argue that the core pathological driver is a “metabolic toxic environment”, fueled by adipose tissue dysfunction and characterized by a vicious cycle of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which forms a common pathway to multi-organ injury. The at-risk population is defined not only by biological characteristics but also significantly impacted by adverse SDoH, which can elevate the risk of advanced CKM by a factor of 1.18 to 3.50, underscoring the critical need for equity in screening and care strategies. This review systematically charts the progression of diagnostic technologies. In diagnostics, we highlight a crucial shift from single-marker assessments to comprehensive multi-marker panels. The synergistic application of traditional biomarkers like NT-proBNP (reflecting cardiac stress) and UACR (indicating kidney damage) with emerging indicators such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Klotho protein facilitates a holistic evaluation of multi-organ health. Furthermore, this paper explores the pivotal role of non-invasive monitoring technologies in detecting subclinical disease. Techniques like multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) and impedance cardiography (ICG) provide a real-time window into microcirculatory and hemodynamic status, enabling the identification of early, often asymptomatic, functional abnormalities that precede overt organ failure. In imaging, progress is marked by a move towards precise, quantitative evaluation, exemplified by artificial intelligence-powered quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT). By integrating AI-QCT with clinical risk factors, the predictive accuracy for cardiovascular events within 6 months significantly improves, with the area under the curve (AUC) increasing from 0.637 to 0.688, demonstrating its potential for reclassifying risk in CKM stage 3. In the domain of risk prediction, we trace the evolution from traditional statistical tools to next-generation models. The new PREVENT equation represents a major advancement by incorporating key kidney function markers (eGFR, UACR), which can enhance the detection rate of CKD in primary care by 20%-30%. However, we contend that the future lies in dynamic, machine learning-based models. Algorithms such as XGBoost have achieved an AUC of 0.82 for predicting 365-day cardiovascular events, while deep learning models like KFDeep have demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting kidney failure risk with an AUC of 0.946. Unlike static calculators, these AI-driven tools can process complex, multimodal data and continuously update risk profiles, paving the way for truly personalized and proactive medicine. In conclusion, this review advocates for a paradigm shift toward a holistic and technologically advanced framework for CKM management. Future efforts must focus on the deep integration of multimodal data, the development of novel AI-driven biomarkers, the implementation of refined SDoH-informed interventions, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration to construct an efficient, equitable, and effective system for CKM screening and intervention.
3.Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chassis cells with different squalene content on triterpenoid synthesis.
Feng ZHANG ; Kang-Xin HOU ; Yue ZHANG ; Hong-Ping HOU ; Yue ZHANG ; Chao-Yue LIU ; Xue-Mi HAO ; Jia LIU ; Cai-Xia WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(8):2130-2136
Many triterpenoid compounds have been successfully heterologously synthesized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To increase the yield of triterpenoids, various metabolic engineering strategies have been developed. One commonly applied strategy is to enhance the supply of precursors, which has been widely used by researchers. Squalene, as a precursor to triterpenoid biosynthesis, plays a crucial role in the synthesis of these compounds. This study primarily investigates the effect of different squalene levels in chassis strains on the synthesis of triterpenoids(oleanolic acid and ursolic acid), and the underlying mechanisms are further explored using real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR) analysis. The results demonstrate that the chassis strain CB-9-5, which produces high levels of squalene, inhibits the synthesis of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. In contrast, chassis strains with moderate to low squalene production, such as Y8-1 and CNPK, are more conducive to the synthesis of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid. The qPCR analysis reveals that the expression levels of ERG1, βAS, and CrCYP716A154 in the oleanolic acid-producing strain CB-OA are significantly lower than those in the control strains C-OA and Y-OA, suggesting that high squalene production in the chassis strains suppresses the transcription of certain genes, leading to a reduced yield of triterpenoids. Our findings indicate that when constructing S. cerevisiae strains for triterpenoid production, chassis strains with high squalene content may suppress the expression of certain genes, ultimately lowering their production, whereas chassis strains with moderate squalene levels are more favorable for triterpenoid biosynthesis.
Squalene/analysis*
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics*
;
Triterpenes/metabolism*
;
Metabolic Engineering
;
Oleanolic Acid/biosynthesis*
;
Ursolic Acid
4.Application of motor behavior evaluation method of zebrafish model in traditional Chinese medicine research.
Xin LI ; Qin-Qin LIANG ; Bing-Yue ZHANG ; Zhong-Shang XIA ; Gang BAI ; Zheng-Cai DU ; Er-Wei HAO ; Jia-Gang DENG ; Xiao-Tao HOU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2631-2639
The zebrafish model has attracted much attention due to its strong reproductive ability, short research cycle, and ease of maintenance. It has always been an important vertebrate model system, often used to carry out human disease research. Its motor behavior features have the advantages of being simpler, more intuitive, and quantifiable. In recent years, it has received widespread attention in the study of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)for the treatment of sleep disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, fatigue, epilepsy, and other diseases. This paper reviews the characteristics of zebrafish motor behavior and its applications in the pharmacodynamic verification and mechanism research of TCM extracts, active ingredients, and TCM compounds, as well as in active ingredient screening and safety evaluation. The paper also analyzes its advantages and disadvantages, with the aim of improving the breadth and depth of zebrafish and its motor behavior applications in the field of TCM research.
Zebrafish/physiology*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Drug Evaluation, Preclinical/methods*
;
Animals
;
Sleep Wake Disorders/physiopathology*
;
Epilepsy/physiopathology*
;
Neurodegenerative Diseases/physiopathology*
;
Fatigue/physiopathology*
;
Behavior, Animal/physiology*
;
Motor Activity/physiology*
5.Research progress on the regulation of Hippo -YAP signaling pathway in osteoarthritis.
Xi-Yao TAI ; De-Cai HOU ; Jiang ZHANG ; Xiao-Lei DENG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(7):759-764
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease. Its pathological process is related to inflammatory response, chondrocyte apoptosis, and cartilage degeneration. Hippo-yes-associate protein(YAP) signaling pathway plays an important role in mediating organ size and tissue homeostasis. In recent years, the key effector protein YAP in the Hippo-YAP pathway has become a research hotspot in osteoarthritis. This article introduces the activation process of Hippo-YAP signaling pathway and the biological role of YAP. It reviews the progress of YAP in regulating osteoarthritis by influencing the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and the proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of articular chondrocytes. It analyzed the problems encountered in YAP research in OA, introduces the research potential of YAP in other orthopedic diseases, and provides new ideas for subsequent research in Osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis/metabolism*
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Humans
;
Signal Transduction
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/physiology*
;
Hippo Signaling Pathway
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/physiology*
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Animals
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Transcription Factors
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Chondrocytes/cytology*
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Cell Cycle Proteins
6.CarsiDock-Cov: A deep learning-guided approach for automated covalent docking and screening.
Chao SHEN ; Hongyan DU ; Xujun ZHANG ; Shukai GU ; Heng CAI ; Yu KANG ; Peichen PAN ; Qingwei ZHAO ; Tingjun HOU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):5758-5771
The interest in covalent drugs has resurged in recent decades, spurring the development of numerous specialized computational docking tools to facilitate covalent ligand design and screening. Herein, we present CarsiDock-Cov, a new paradigm distinguishing itself as the first deep learning (DL)-guided approach for covalent docking. CarsiDock-Cov retains the core components of its non-covalent predecessor, leveraging a DL model pretrained on millions of docking complexes to predict protein-ligand distance matrices, along with a dedicated-designed geometric optimization procedure to convert these distances into refined binding poses. Additionally, it incorporates several key enhancements specifically tailored to optimize the protocol for covalent docking applications. Our approach has been extensively validated on multiple public datasets regarding the docking and screening of covalent ligands, and the results indicate that our approach not only achieves comparably improved applicability compared to its non-covalent predecessor, but also exhibits competitive performance against various state-of-the-art covalent docking tools. Collectively, our approach represents a significant advance in covalent docking methodology, offering an automated and efficient solution that shows considerable promise for accelerating covalent drug discovery and design.
7.HIV Pretreatment Drug Resistance and Transmission Clusters among Newly Diagnosed Patients in the China-Myanmar Border Region, 2020-2023.
Huan LIU ; Yue Cheng YANG ; Xing DUAN ; Yi Chen JIN ; Yan Fen CAO ; Yi FENG ; Chang CAI ; He He ZHAO ; Hou Lin TANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):840-847
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of HIV pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) and the transmission clusters associated with PDR-related mutations in newly diagnosed, treatment-naive patients between 2020 and 2023 in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province, China.
METHODS:
Demographic information and plasma samples were collected from study participants. PDR was assessed using the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database. The Tamura-Nei 93 model within HIV-TRACE was employed to compute pairwise matches with a genetic distance of 0.015 substitutions per site.
RESULTS:
Among 948 treatment-naive individuals with eligible sequences, 36 HIV subtypes were identified, with unique recombinant forms (URFs) being the most prevalent (18.8%, 178/948). The overall prevalence of PDR was 12.4% (118/948), and resistance to non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and protease inhibitors (PIs) was 10.7%, 1.3%, and 1.6%, respectively. A total of 91 clusters were identified, among which eight showed evidence of PDR strain transmission. The largest PDR-associated cluster consisted of six CRF01_AE drug-resistant strains carrying K103N and V179T mutations; five of these individuals had initial CD4+ cell counts < 200 cells/μL.
CONCLUSION
The distribution of HIV subtypes in Dehong is diverse and complex. PDR was moderately prevalent (12.4%) between 2020 and 2023. Evidence of transmission of CRF01_AE strains carrying K103N and V179T mutations was found. Routine surveillance of PDR and the strengthening of control measures are essential to limit the spread of drug-resistance HIV strains.
Humans
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HIV Infections/virology*
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China/epidemiology*
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Drug Resistance, Viral
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Male
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Adult
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Female
;
Middle Aged
;
HIV-1/genetics*
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Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Myanmar/epidemiology*
;
Young Adult
;
Prevalence
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Adolescent
;
Mutation
8.Regulatory role of macrophage glycolysis in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease
Jiahan CHANG ; Yujie CAI ; Yixin HOU ; Juqiang HAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2130-2135
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease in clinical practice, and macrophages are directly involved in the development, progression, and prognosis of MAFLD. Studies have confirmed that glucose metabolic reprogramming in macrophages directly affects immune function, which in turn affects the local inflammatory environment of liver and hepatocyte metabolism. This article reviews the changes in glucose metabolism of macrophages and the corresponding key molecules in the pathogenesis of MAFLD, in order to provide new targets and strategies for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD in the future.
9.Spinal infection caused by Prevotella intermedia:analysis of misdiagnosis and literature review
Chong WANG ; Yi YANG ; Dai-Jun LI ; Hua-Hua FAN ; Jia-Qiang YAN ; Rui-Chun WANG ; Xiao-Jun CAI ; Yu-Qiang CAI ; Hou-Jie SUN
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(1):86-94
Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment scheme of patients with spinal infection caused by Prevotella intermedia(P.intermedia).Methods Clinical diagnosis and treatment processes of a patient with spinal infection caused by P.intermedia admitted to the spinal surgery department of a hospital were summa-rized,and relevant literature was retrieved from database for reviewing.Results The patient,a 50 year old male,was admitted to the hospital due to"lumbago pain complicated with pain in double lower extremities for 2 months".The lesion tissue was taken for metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS)detection,which detected P.in-termedia,and the patient was diagnosed with P.intermedia spondylitis.After treatments with open lesion clea-rance,tube rinsing+autologous bone transplantation fusion internal fixation,intravenous drip of ceftriaxone sodium and metronidazole,as well as metronidazole rinsing,infection was under control.A total of 16 available papers were retrieved,together with this case,a total of 17 patients were included,with 7 males and 10 females.The main risk factors were diabetes and history of corticosteroid use(35.3%).The most common invasion sites were lumbar ver-tebra(n=12)and thoracic vertebra(n=6).13 cases were positive for pathogen culture,3 cases were positive for molecular detection,and 1 case was positive for staining microscopy.17 patients received anti-anaerobic bacteria treatment,with 14 cases receiving combined surgical treatment.One case died,with a mortality of 5.9%;5 cases had partial neurological impairment,with a disability rate of 29.4%.The survival rate of patients who received treatment of anti-anaerobic bacteria combined with surgery was 92.8%,3 patients only with anti-anaerobic bacteria treatment but without surgery were all cured.Conclusion P.intermedia is an opportunistic pathogeanic bacteria which often causes infection in immunocomprised individuals and is prone to be misdiagnosed.It is recommended to perform mNGS detection to identify the pathogen as early as possible and seize the opportunity for treatment to reduce mortality.
10.Effects of Regulation of SHH/Gli1 Signaling Pathway by Baishile Capsules on Hippocampal Neurogenesis Depression Model Rats
Yan LUO ; Chuan CAI ; Guanghan HOU ; Xiaoyuan LIN ; Hui YANG ; Mei WU ; Pan MENG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(3):98-104
Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of Baishile Capsules regulating SHH/Gli1 signaling pathway on hippocampal neurogenesis of depression model rats.Methods Totally 32 SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,fluoxetine(5.4 mg/kg)group and Baishile Capsules(2.88 g/kg)group,with 8 rats in each group.A depression rat model was established using chronic unpredictable mild stress and single cage feeding method.The model was established and administered simultaneously for 21 consecutive days.Depression-like behavior in rats were evaluated by sucrose preference experiment and open field experiment,ELISA was used to detect brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)contents in rat serum and hippocampal tissue,the number of BrdU,BrdU/DCX,BrdU/NeuN positive cells in dentate gyrus of the hippocampus was observed by immunofluorescence,immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to detect the fluorescence intensity and protein expression of SHH,Gli1,Smo,Ptch in hippocampal tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the degree of sucrose preference significantly decreased in the model group(P<0.01),the number of horizontal and vertical movements significantly decreased(P<0.01),the contents of BDNF in serum and hippocampal tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),the number of BrdU,BrdU/DCX,BrdU/NeuN positive cells in dentate gyrus of the hippocampus significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the fluorescence intensity and protein expression of SHH,Gli1,Smo,Ptch in hippocampal tissue significantly decreased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the degree of sucrose preference and the number of horizontal and vertical movements in fluoxetine group and Baishile Capsule group increased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01),the contents of BDNF in serum and hippocampal tissue significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the number of BrdU,BrdU/DCX,BrdU/NeuN positive cells in dentate gyrus of the hippocampus significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05),the fluorescence intensity and protein expressions of SHH,Gli1,Smo,Ptch in hippocampal tissue significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Conclusion Baishile Capsule can promote the hippocampus neurogenesis in depression model rats by regulating SHH/Gli1 signaling pathway,and play an antidepressant role.

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