1.Mechanism of vanillic acid against cardiac fibrosis induced by isoproterenol in mice based on Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways.
Hai-Bo HE ; Mian WU ; Jie XU ; Qian-Qian XU ; Fang-Zhu WAN ; Hua-Qiao ZHONG ; Ji-Hong ZHANG ; Gang ZHOU ; Hui-Lin QIN ; Hao-Ran LI ; Hai-Ming TANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(8):2193-2208
This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of vanillic acid(VA) against cardiac fibrosis(CF) induced by isoproterenol(ISO) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, VA group(100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc), ISO + VA group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO + dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) inhibitor(Mdivi-1) group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip), and ISO + VA + Mdivi-1 group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip). The treatment groups received the corresponding medications once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the day after the last administration, cardiac functions were evaluated, and serum and cardiac tissue samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), cardiac troponin I(cTnI), reactive oxygen species(ROS), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, as well as cardiac tissue catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) activities, and cytochrome C levels in mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, uranium acetate and lead citrate staining were used to observe morphological and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in the cardiac tissues, and myocardial injury area and collagen volume fraction were calculated. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the relative content and M1/M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage polarization markers [CD86, CD206, arginase 1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)], CF markers [type Ⅰ collagen(Coll Ⅰ), Coll Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)], and cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α) in cardiac tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, α-SMA, Drp1, p-Drp1, voltage-dependent anion channel(VDAC), hexokinase 1(HK1), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D(GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D(GSDMD-N), IL-1β, IL-18, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-xl(Bcl-xl), Bcl-2-associated death promoter(Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1), pro-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1), and cleaved-PARP-1 in cardiac tissues. The results showed that VA significantly improved cardiac function in mice with CF, reduced myocardial injury area and cardiac index, and decreased serum levels of AST, CK-MB, cTnI, LDH, ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. VA also lowered MDA and MPO levels, mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and mRNA and protein expressions of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA in cardiac tissues, and increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cardiac tissue levels of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC, and mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, VA ameliorated cardiac pathological damage, inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition, reduced collagen volume fraction, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. VA decreased the ratio of F4/80~+CD86~+ M1 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD86 and iNOS in cardiac tissue, and increased the ratio of F4/80~+CD206~+ M2 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD206 and Arg-1. VA also reduced protein expressions of p-Drp1, VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, IL-18, Bad, Bax, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP-1, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C, and increased the expressions of HK1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9 proteins, as well as the Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bad ratios and mitochondrial cytochrome C content. These results indicate that VA has a significant ameliorative effect on ISO-induced CF in mice, alleviates ISO-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways, suppression of myocardial cell inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, reduction of collagen volume fraction and CollⅠ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA expressions, thus mitigating CF.
Animals
;
Isoproterenol/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Vanillic Acid/administration & dosage*
;
Dynamins/genetics*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Fibrosis/genetics*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Mitochondria/metabolism*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
;
Myocardium/metabolism*
;
Humans
2.Optimization of extraction process for Shenxiong Huanglian Jiedu Granules based on AHP-CRITIC hybrid weighting method, grey correlation analysis, and BP-ANN.
Zi-An LI ; De-Wen LIU ; Xin-Jian LI ; Bing-Yu WU ; Qun LAN ; Meng-Jia GUO ; Jia-Hui SUN ; Nan-Yang LIU ; Hui PEI ; Hao LI ; Hong YI ; Jin-Yu WANG ; Liang-Mian CHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2674-2683
By employing the analytic hierarchy process(AHP), the CRITIC method(a weight determination method based on indicator correlations), and the AHP-CRITIC hybrid weighting method, the weight coefficients of evaluation indicators were determined, followed by a comprehensive score comparison. The grey correlation analysis was then performed to analyze the results calculated using the hybrid weighting method. Subsequently, a backpropagation-artificial neural network(BP-ANN) model was constructed to predict the extraction process parameters and optimize the extraction process for Shenxiong Huanglian Jiedu Granules(SHJG). In the extraction process, an L_9(3~4) orthogonal experiment was designed to optimize three factors at three levels, including extraction frequency, water addition amount, and extraction time. The evaluation indicators included geniposide, berberine, ginsenoside Rg_1 + Re, ginsenoside Rb_1, ferulic acid, and extract yield. Finally, the optimal extraction results obtained by the orthogonal experiment, grey correlation analysis, and BP-ANN method were compared, and validation experiments were conducted. The results showed that the optimal extraction process involved two rounds of aqueous extraction, each lasting one hour; the first extraction used ten times the amount of added water, while the second extraction used eight times the amount. In the validation experiments, the average content of each indicator component was higher than the average content obtained in the orthogonal experiment, with a higher comprehensive score. The optimized extraction process parameters were reliable and stable, making them suitable for subsequent preparation process research.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis*
;
Neural Networks, Computer
3.Research progress on treatment of non-small cell lung cancer with traditional Chinese medicine based on immunotherapy.
Ying-Ying ZHAO ; Zi-Yu LU ; Sheng-Long LI ; Mian-Hua WU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4415-4424
Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer worldwide, accounting for approximately 80%-85% of all lung cancer cases. Despite the clinical benefits of traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, challenges such as the high rate of postoperative recurrence and resistance of some patients to chemotherapy and targeted therapies limit their effectiveness, necessitating the exploration of more effective treatment options. In recent years, immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs), has revolutionized NSCLC treatment and significantly improved the survival prognosis of some patients. However, the efficacy of immunotherapy is limited by tumor immune escape, drug resistance, and immune-related adverse events(irAEs), which have not been effectively addressed. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), as a traditional therapeutic approach, has shown unique advantages in NSCLC treatment, with studies indicating its ability to enhance immune responses, regulate immune checkpoints, and improve the tumor microenvironment(TME), thus boosting the efficacy of immunotherapy. Additionally, the multi-target and multi-pathway effects of TCM help mitigate the side effects of immunotherapy, further improving efficacy and safety. This review summarizes the latest research progress of TCM in NSCLC immunotherapy, focusing on the research results of TCM in enhancing the effect of immunotherapy by regulating immune cells, optimizing the immune microenvironment, and being applied with ICIs, etc. The latest research progress of TCM in alleviating irAEs is also elucidated. The aim is to provide theoretical support for the clinical application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of NSCLC and the research and development of new drugs and promote the optimization and development of combined immunotherapy and TCM treatment models.
Humans
;
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/therapy*
;
Lung Neoplasms/therapy*
;
Immunotherapy/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Animals
;
Tumor Microenvironment/drug effects*
4.Practice and evaluation of hospital antimicrobial stewardship empowered by digital intelligence technology
Li-Mian LIANG ; Yun-Ni YU ; Miao-Na LIU ; Ting HUANG ; Yi-Mei TIAN
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(3):330-335
Objective To improve the efficiency of hospital antimicrobial management and ensure rational clinical use of antimicrobial agents with the aid of antimicrobial stewardship(AMS)empowered by digital intelligence tech-nology in hospital.Methods Information systems such as early warning of antimicrobial indexes,closed-loop ma-nagement of microbial detection information,and decision-making system of antimicrobial resistance monitoring data were applied to the traditional AMS system.Through hospital information systems(HIS)to collect data about thera-peutic antimicrobial use and healthcare-associated infection(HAI)quality control indexes of hospitalized patients in a tertiary first-class public hospital in Shenzhen City before and after digital technology improvement,indexes of 2021 and 2022 were as control group(before improvement)and observation group(after improvement)respective-ly,improvement trend of antimicrobial management was compared.Results After upgrading and renovating the hospital information system,hospital antimicrobial management indexes improved significantly compared to before the renovation.The use rate of antimicrobial agents and the preventive use rate of antimicrobial agents in class Ⅰincision surgery in patients in the observation group were both lower than those in the control group(27.0%vs 38.8%,20.9%vs 23.8%,respectively,both P<0.05).Antimicrobial use density in hospitalized patients in the observa-tion group was lower than that in the control group([33.27±3.03]DDDs vs[42.06±4.42]DDDs),difference was statistically significant(t=13.11,P<0.001).The observation group had a higher qualified rate for evaluating antimicrobial medical orders compared to the control group(98.5%vs 96.8%).The pathogenic detection rate of hospitalized patients before therapeutic antimicrobial use and pathogen detection rate related to HAI diagnosis were both higher than those in the control group(87.1%vs 84.5%,99.0%vs 95.4%,respectively),differences were both statistically significant(both P<0.05).Conclusion Empowering the hospital's AMS system with digital technology can promote more scientific,standardized,efficient,and rational antimicrobial management in hospitals.
5.Mechanism of Yangxin Dingji Capsules in Preventing Ventricular Arrhythmia Based on TAK1/MKK3/p38 MAPK Pathway
Mian LI ; Zheng ZHANG ; Xinyue LI ; Xue TIAN ; Wenlu ZHENG ; Jinwei WU ; Gang LIU ; Wenjie LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(20):86-95
ObjectiveTo explore the protective effect and mechanism of Yangxin Dingji capsules on isoproterenol (ISO)-induced ventricular arrhythmia in SD rat cardiomyocytes based on the transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3)-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway. MethodFifty male SPF-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a propranolol group, a low-dose Chinese medicine group, and a high-dose Chinese medicine group. The ventricular arrhythmia model was constructed using the ISO "6+1" method. The propranolol group received propranolol at 0.015 g·kg-1·d-1. The Chinese medicine groups received Yangxin Dingji capsules at doses of 0.5、 2 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively. The normal and model groups were given an equal volume of 0.9% NaCl solution. Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes in SD rats were recorded using the BL-420F biological function experimental system. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the heart. Serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of IL-1β and TNF-α was assessed using real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression was detected using immunofluorescence. Protein expression levels of TAK1, phosphorylated TAK1 (p-TAK1), MKK3, phosphorylated MKK3 (p-MKK3), p38 MAPK, phosphorylated p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), phosphorylated NF-κB (p-NF-κB), IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured using Western blot or immunohistochemistry. ResultCompared with normal group, the model group showed significant ventricular arrhythmia in ECG, with an increased arrhythmia score (P<0.01). Pathological damage to myocardial tissue was evident, and serum levels of cTnI, CK-MB, IL-1β, TNF-α, and TGF-β1 were elevated (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in myocardial tissue was also increased (P<0.01). ROS level and protein expression of p-TAK1, p-MKK3, p-p38 MAPK, and p-NF-κB were elevated in myocardial tissue (P<0.01). In the propranolol and Chinese medicine groups, the incidence of sustained ventricular tachycardia (SVT) and arrhythmia scores were significantly reduced compared to model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Pathological damage to cardiomyocytes was alleviated, and levels of myocardial injury markers and inflammatory factors in serum and myocardial tissue were decreased. The ROS level in myocardial tissue was also reduced (P<0.01), with a noticeable reduction in related molecules in the p38 MAPK pathway (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe expression of p38 MAPK pathway molecules was up-regulated in myocardial tissue of ISO-induced ventricular arrhythmia rats. Yangxin Dingji capsules may inhibit cardiac inflammation damage by regulating the expression of related molecules in the p38 MAPK pathway, thereby exerting a protective effect on myocardial cells, with TAK1 being a potential target.
6.Elastase quantitative analysis of elastin effect on mechanical response of anterior cruciate ligament
Wentian ZHANG ; Yuping DENG ; Xiaoyun LIU ; Caijuan LI ; Mian WANG ; Zeyu LIANG ; Liang XIONG ; Gang HUANG ; Guangxin CHEN ; Zitao LI ; Wenhua HUANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(22):3451-3456
BACKGROUND:The anterior cruciate ligament has unique nonlinear mechanical properties under a complex physiological loading environment.Elastin is an important contributor to the mechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament,but its mechanical response to the anterior cruciate ligament under axial tension is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To quantitatively analyze the effect of elastin on the tensile mechanical response of the anterior cruciate ligament. METHODS:Elastase solution and control buffer were prepared.The porcine anterior cruciate ligament samples were prepared into small-size samples and randomly soaked in 0,0.1,1.0,2.0,5.0,and 10.0 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours,and other small samples of the same size were soaked in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 0,1,3,6,9,and 12 hours.To determine suitable soaking conditions for elastin-targeted enzymes and verify the digestive effect,histological staining was used to compare the effects of enzyme treatment on tissue structure and composition.The ligament samples were randomly divided into elastase-treated group and PBS group,and immersed in 2 U/mL elastase solution and PBS buffer for 6 hours,respectively.A mechanical tensile test was performed before and after immersion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biochemical results showed that being treated in 2 U/mL elastase solution for 6 hours could reduce the elastin content by 31.1%,and had no significant effect on other mechanical-related components in the tissue.(2)The histological results showed that elastase was able to penetrate the tissue,and the loose degree of tissue increased after treatment.(3)In the mechanical results before and after treatment,the mechanical properties of the PBS group decreased significantly,only the low-tension elastic modulus increased significantly and the initial length increased significantly in the elastase-treated group.(4)The intergroup comparison results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in pre-treatment,but the low-tension elastic modulus,initial slopes,saturated slopes,and initial length of the elastase-treated group after treatment were significantly higher than those in the PBS group.(5)These results suggest that elastin degradation significantly affects the biomechanical properties of the anterior cruciate ligament and further complements our understanding of the structure-function relationship of the anterior cruciate ligament.
7.Research on the Influence Mechanism of Primary Physicians'Salary Satisfaction on the Turnover Tendency in Wuhan
Mian XIA ; Yining GAO ; Haomiao LI ; Meizhou JIANG ; Mingou WANG ; Shuai JIANG
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(5):13-17
Objective:To analyze the influence mechanism of primary physicians'salary satisfaction on the turnover tendency,explore the moderating role of professional identity,and to provide a basis for enhancing the stability of the primary care physician workforce.Methods:The questionnaire survey method was used to study the salary satisfaction,professional identity and turnover ten-dency among 298 primary care doctors in the main urban area of Wuhan,and 284 valid questionnaires were obtained.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:The propensity to leave scores of primary care physicians aged 40 to 50 years,with bachelor's de-gree and 11 to 15 years of work were(3.01±0.87),(3.02±0.90),and(3.03±0.86),respectively,with high were high turnover tendency;primary care physicians'salary satisfaction and professional identity had a negative effect on the propensity to leave(P<0.001);and professional identity had a negative effect on the salary satisfaction and turnover tendency(P<0.001).Conclusion:Primary physicians'propensity to leave is more pronounced in the high-quality human capital group,with moderate security but in-sufficient incentives for pay;higher levels of professional identity reduce the relationship between pay satisfaction and propensity to leave.
8.Research on the Influence Mechanism of Primary Physicians'Salary Satisfaction on the Turnover Tendency in Wuhan
Mian XIA ; Yining GAO ; Haomiao LI ; Meizhou JIANG ; Mingou WANG ; Shuai JIANG
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(5):13-17
Objective:To analyze the influence mechanism of primary physicians'salary satisfaction on the turnover tendency,explore the moderating role of professional identity,and to provide a basis for enhancing the stability of the primary care physician workforce.Methods:The questionnaire survey method was used to study the salary satisfaction,professional identity and turnover ten-dency among 298 primary care doctors in the main urban area of Wuhan,and 284 valid questionnaires were obtained.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:The propensity to leave scores of primary care physicians aged 40 to 50 years,with bachelor's de-gree and 11 to 15 years of work were(3.01±0.87),(3.02±0.90),and(3.03±0.86),respectively,with high were high turnover tendency;primary care physicians'salary satisfaction and professional identity had a negative effect on the propensity to leave(P<0.001);and professional identity had a negative effect on the salary satisfaction and turnover tendency(P<0.001).Conclusion:Primary physicians'propensity to leave is more pronounced in the high-quality human capital group,with moderate security but in-sufficient incentives for pay;higher levels of professional identity reduce the relationship between pay satisfaction and propensity to leave.
9.Correlation of milk tea consumption with comorbid overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms among college students
LI Shengpeng, LIANG Dingxiong, SU Fan, SONG Yongjing, SHA Mian, XU Jiali, SONG Jiancai, GONG Ling
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(11):1644-1647
Objective:
To explore the association of milk tea consumption with comorbid of overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms among college students, so as to provide a reference for promoting the physical and mental health of college students.
Methods:
A questionnaire survey was conducted from August to October 2023 using convenience sampling among 13 920 students from nine universities in Shanghai, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces (municipality directly under the central government). Information on college students demographic characteristics, milk tea consumption, overweight/obesity status, and depressive symptoms was collected. Chi square tests were used to compare the association between different demographic characteristics and milk tea consumption with comorbid overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to infer the strength of the association.
Results:
The detection rate of comorbidity of overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms was 5.8% among college students. The univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the detection rate of comorbidity of overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms among various groups, including gender, grade, parents education level, only child status, family economic status, meeting moderate to high levels of physical activity standards, sleep quality, and frequent fast food consumption ( χ 2= 82.10, 23.07, 8.91, 10.87 , 4.56, 47.60, 17.60, 386.74, 96.61, P <0.05). There were also statistically significant differences between groups based on milk tea consumption frequency and quantity ( χ 2=42.12, 38.76, P <0.01). Compared with the group of without consuming milk tea, Logistic regression analysis showed that college students who consumed milk tea 4-5 times and ≥6 times had higher risk of comorbid overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms ( OR =1.98, 2.46), and college students who consumed 1-1 500 mL and ≥3 000 mL of milk tea also had higher comorbidity risk ( OR =1.52, 1.22) ( P <0.05).
Conclusions
Frequent and excessive milk tea consumption among college students may increase the risk of comorbid of overweight/obesity and depressive symptoms. It is recommended to reduce the frequency and quantity of milk tea consumption to improve college students physical and mental health.
10.Research on the Influence Mechanism of Primary Physicians'Salary Satisfaction on the Turnover Tendency in Wuhan
Mian XIA ; Yining GAO ; Haomiao LI ; Meizhou JIANG ; Mingou WANG ; Shuai JIANG
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(5):13-17
Objective:To analyze the influence mechanism of primary physicians'salary satisfaction on the turnover tendency,explore the moderating role of professional identity,and to provide a basis for enhancing the stability of the primary care physician workforce.Methods:The questionnaire survey method was used to study the salary satisfaction,professional identity and turnover ten-dency among 298 primary care doctors in the main urban area of Wuhan,and 284 valid questionnaires were obtained.The data were statistically analyzed.Results:The propensity to leave scores of primary care physicians aged 40 to 50 years,with bachelor's de-gree and 11 to 15 years of work were(3.01±0.87),(3.02±0.90),and(3.03±0.86),respectively,with high were high turnover tendency;primary care physicians'salary satisfaction and professional identity had a negative effect on the propensity to leave(P<0.001);and professional identity had a negative effect on the salary satisfaction and turnover tendency(P<0.001).Conclusion:Primary physicians'propensity to leave is more pronounced in the high-quality human capital group,with moderate security but in-sufficient incentives for pay;higher levels of professional identity reduce the relationship between pay satisfaction and propensity to leave.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail