1.Determining the mechanism of Shuxuening injection against liver cirrhosis through network pharmacology and animal experiments
Qiyao Liu ; Tingyu Zhang ; Yongan Ye ; Xin Sun ; Huan Xia ; Xu Cao ; Xiaoke Li ; Wenying Qi ; Yue Chen ; Xiaobin Zao
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences 2025;2025(1):112-124
Objective:
To screen and identify the key active molecules, signaling pathways, and therapeutic targets of Shuxuening (SXN) injection for treating liver cirrhosis (LC) and to evaluate its therapeutic potential using a mouse model.
Methods:
Target genes of SXN and LC were retrieved from public databases, and enrichment analysis was performed. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING), and hub genes were identified using Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE). LC was induced in rats and mice via intraperitoneal injections of diethylnitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 12 weeks. Starting at week 7, SXN was administered intraperitoneally to the mice in the treatment group. Serum and liver tissues of the mice were collected for the detection of indicators, pathological staining, and expression analysis of hub targets using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
Results:
We identified 368 overlapping genes (OLGs) between SXN and LC targets. These OLGs were subsequently used to build a PPI network and to screen for hub genes. Enrichment analysis showed that these genes were associated with cancer-related pathways, including phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and various cellular processes, such as responses to chemicals and metabolic regulation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that SXN treatment significantly improved liver function and pathology in CCl4-induced LC mice by reducing inflammation and collagen deposition. Furthermore, qRT-PCR demonstrated that SXN regulated the expression of MAPK8, AR and CASP3 in the livers of LC mice.
Conclusion
This study highlighted the therapeutic effects of SXN in alleviating LC using both bioinformatics and experimental methods. The observed effect was associated with modulation of hub gene expression, particularly MAPK8, and CASP3.
2.Network Meta-analysis of single Hirudo prescriptions in treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
Zao-Fang YAN ; Rui-Hua SUN ; Yan-Fen CHEN ; Kang-da YU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(4):1108-1115
This study intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single Hirudo prescriptions in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease(ICVD) by frequency network Meta-analysis and traditional Meta-analysis. CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, EMbase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to collect the randomized controlled trial(RCT) of single Hirudo prescriptions for ICVD from the inception of the databases to May 2022. The quality of the included literature was evaluated by Cochrane risk of bias tool. Finally, 54 RCTs and 3 single Hirudo prescriptions were included. Statistical analysis was conducted by RevMan 5.3 and Stata SE 15. Network Meta-analysis showed that in terms of the clinical effective rate, the surface under the cumulative ranking curve(SUCRA) of intervention measures was as follows: Huoxue Tongmai Capsules+conventional treatment>Maixuekang Capsules+conventional treatment>Naoxuekang Capsules+conventional treatment>conventional treatment. Traditional Meta-analysis revealed that in terms of the safety of ICVD treatment, Maixuekang Capsules+conventional treatment had higher safety than conventional treatment alone. According to the network Meta-analysis and traditional Meta-analysis, it was found that conventional treatment combined with single Hirudo prescriptions improved the clinical efficacy of ICVD patients, and compared with that of conventional treatment alone, the incidence of adverse reactions of combined treatment was low and the safety was high. However, the methodological quality of the articles included in this study was generally low and there were large differences in the number of articles on the three combined medication. Therefore, the conclusion of this study needed to be confirmed by subsequent RCT.
Humans
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Animals
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Capsules
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Network Meta-Analysis
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Leeches
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Prescriptions
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Cerebrovascular Disorders
3. Analysis on the influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational workers of key industries in China
Hui-jie ZHANG ; Xin SUN ; Hua-dong ZHANG ; Rui-jie LING ; Yi-min LIU ; Gang LI ; Zao-liang REN ; Yan YIN ; Hua SHAO ; Heng-dong ZHANG ; Bing QIU ; Mei-bian ZHANG ; Da-yu WANG ; Qiang ZENG ; Ru-gang WANG ; Jian-chao CHEN ; Dan-ying ZHANG ; Liang-ying MEI ; Yong-quan LIU ; Ji-xiang LIU ; Cheng-yun ZHANG ; Tian-lai LI ; Qing XU ; Ying QU ; Xue-yan ZHANG ; Ning JIA ; Zhong-xu WANG
China Occupational Medicine 2021;48(05):481-487
OBJECTIVE: To explore the influencing factors of low back pain and the relationship of the influence of bad working posture, weight load and frequency of load and the dose-response relationship among the occupational workers of key industries in China. METHODS: A total of 57 501 employees from 15 key industries in China were selected as research subjects using stratified cluster sampling method. The occurrence of low back pain in the past one year, as well as occupational factors such as job type, labor organization and work posture were investigated by using the Chinese version Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire. RESULTS: The prevalence of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China was 16.4%(9 448/57 501). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of low back pain in females was higher than that in males(P<0.01). Married, obese, occasional and frequent smokers, and a history of lower back disease were associated with increased risk of low back pain(all P<0.05). The risk of low back pain was associated with older age, higher education level, and lower frequency of physical exercise(all P<0.01). The risk of low back pain was higher with longer working time, greater back curvature, and the high frequency of long standing and sitting position work, uncomfortable working posture, repeated operation per minute, and lifting>5 kg weight(all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The influencing factors of low back pain in the occupational population of key industries in China include bad working posture, high frequency load, weight load and other individual factors. There is a dose-response relationship with low back posture load and frequency of load.
4. Survival analysis of 198 patients with pancreatic cancer in Hainan, China: A multi-institution prospective study
Zao-Xi SUN ; Zheng-Ke SUN ; Kai LI ; Kai EMMANUEL ; Yan YANG ; Yong-Mei SHEN ; Yong-Jiang ZHOU ; Hai-Rong HUANG ; Yan YANG
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine 2019;12(14):25-31
Objective: To explore the survival status and prognostic factors of patients with pancreatic cancer in Hainan. Methods: Clinical data of patients who were diagnosed as pancreatic cancer and visited the First and Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University and Haikou People's Hospital from 2013 to 2017 were collected based on electronic medical records. Basic information was collected by a self-designed questionnaire. Data about admission examinations including blood routine examination, blood biochemistry tests, tumour markers tests, imaging examination and other clinical tests were also collected. The date of follow-up via telephone was 30 June 2018. The survival rate was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and the logrank test. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with COX regression model. Results: A total of 198 patients were included in the study. Kaplan-Meier results showed that the overall survival (OS) in 6 months and 1, 2, 3 and 5 years was 47.4%, 26.8%, 16.4%, 13.2%, and 8.7%, respectively. The median OS was 5.8 months. Log-rank test analysis found that there were significant differences in OS among patients with different age, surgery status, distant metastasis or absolute number of neutrophils, percentage of neutrophils, absolute number of lymphocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), CA199 and carcino-embryonic antigen (P<0.1). COX multivariate analysis showed that age, surgical presence, presence or absence of distant metastasis and NLR were significantly associated OS (P<0.05). Conclusions: Older age, higher NLR and liver or lung metastasis are independent risk factors, while surgical treatment is an independent protective factor for patients with pancreatic cancer.
5.Effects of Short-term High Dose Atorvastatin on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with First Time Attack of Anterior Acute Myocardial Infarction.
Zhi-Jian LIU ; Gao-Pin HU ; Mei-Ying FEI ; Zao YIN ; Quan-Xing SHI ; Fei SUN
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2018;33(2):84-90
Objects The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effect of short-term high-dose atorvastatin therapy on levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), malonaldehyde (MDA), endothelin-1(ET-1), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with first time attack of acute anterior myocardial infarction (AAMI) .Methods A hundred and three patients with first time attack of AAMI who underwent successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention were randomized to receive atorvastatin 40 mg once daily for 1 week followed by 20 mg once daily (intensive treatment group, IT group, n=49), or atorvastatin 20 mg once daily (standard treatment group, ST group, n=54). Plasma levels of hs-CRP, MDA, ET-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured on admission, at 1 week, 2 weeks and 6 months follow up and compared between the IT group and ST group. Echocardiography was performed on admission, at 2 week, and 1 year follow up. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured at each echocardiographic examination and compared between the IT group and ST group.Results Plasma levels of hs-CRP (F=7.718, P=0.009), ET-1 (F=7.882, P=0.006), MMP-9 (F=4.834, P=0.028) and pro-BNP (F=4.603, P=0.032) were significantly lower at 1 week after initial onset of AAMI in the IT group compared with the ST group. The changes of LVEDV, LVESV, and LVEF at the 1 year follow-up from the admission did not differ between the IT group and the ST group (t=0.722, P=0.444; t=1.228, P=0.221; t=1.354, P=0.187, repectively).Conclusions Short-term high-dose atorvastatin treatment for AAMI was associated with lower hs-CRP, ET-1 and MMP-9 levels compared to the standard dose treatment. However, this beneficial effect is not likely to related to the left ventricular remodeling.
6.Association of diabetic retinopathy with serum periostin and vascular endothelial growth factor
Shu-Jing LIU ; Guang-Ming WAN ; Shen-Zhi LIANG ; Cheng QIAN ; Jiong WANG ; Li-Chao LI ; Zao-He SUN
Recent Advances in Ophthalmology 2018;38(6):563-565
Objective To explore the changes in the serum periostin (PN) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the clinical significance.Methods The serum samples from 53 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) as case group and 50 healthy subjects as control group were collected and compared in this study.And the DM patients included 15 patients with DM without fundus lesions (DM group),18 patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR,NPDR group) and 20 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR,PDR group).The serum levels of PN and VEGF were analyzed by ELISA assay,and the correlation of DR with serum PN and VEGF levels was evaluated.Results The differences in serum PN and VEGF between the case group and control group were statistically significant (both P < 0.05).And there were significant difference in PN and VEGF levels among the DM group,NPDR group,PDR group and control group (all P < 0.05).Meanwhile,there was no significant difference in serum PN between the DM group and NPDR group (P > 0.05),but there were statistically significant differences among the other groups (all P < 0.05).There were statistically significant differences in serum VEGF among the four groups (all P < 0.05).And finally,positive correlations were found between PN and VEGF in the NPDR group and PDR group (r =0.483,0.509,both P < 0.05).Conclusion PN and VEGF play an active role in the initiation and development of DR,and they have a close correlation with the neovascularization and fibrovascular membrane of the advanced stage of DR.
7.Direct secretory expression of active microbial transglutaminase in Pichia pastoris.
Pengfei LI ; Hongbing SUN ; Lijin YOU ; Fuyu GONG ; Zao CHEN ; Ailian ZHANG ; Taicheng ZHU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2013;29(2):180-188
Direct secretory expression of active microbial transglutaminase (MTG) using heterologous hosts is a promising strategy, although its production level still needs to be improved for industrial production. Pichia pastoris is one of the most efficient expression systems developed in recent years. In this study, secretory expression of active MTG was successfully achieved by co-expressing the pro sequence and mature MTG genes in P. pastoris. Furthermore, we optimized the copy number of pro/MTG expression cassettes and the fermentation conditions. MTG production level reached 7.3 U/mL in 1-liter fermentor through high density fermentation, providing the feasiblity for industrial scale preparation of MTG.
Fermentation
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Genetic Vectors
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genetics
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Pichia
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enzymology
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genetics
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metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins
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biosynthesis
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genetics
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Streptomyces
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enzymology
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Transglutaminases
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biosynthesis
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genetics
9.The effect of adipose-derived stem cells on viability of random pattern skin flap in rabbits.
Guang-Zao LI ; Qing-Zhang SUN ; Zhu-You XIONG ; He HUANG ; Jing XU
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery 2011;27(2):119-123
OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) on the survival of random pattern skin flap in rabbits.
METHODSADSCs were isolated from fresh human fat and expanded in vitro for five passages. Then the characterization of ADSCs were determined by their CD marker profile and their ability to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages. On the back of the rabbits, two symmetric cephalic-based random pattern skin flaps were designed (6 cm x 2 cm). The right flaps were used as experimental groups with the contra-side flaps as control group. Human ADSCs were pre-labeled before seeding with fluorescent 3, 30-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate (DiO) dye. The experimental flaps evenly received 5-point injection of 2 x 10(6)Dio-labeled ADSCs resuspended in 0.5 ml of serum-free DMEM, while only 0.5 ml medium was injected into the control flaps. Seven days later, the survival rate of flaps was evaluated. The flaps underwent frozen section and were observed under the laser scanning confocal microscope to detect the fluorescence imaging. Flaps also underwent HE staining and were observed under light microscope to detect the vascular density.
RESULTSCompared with control group, there was a significant increase of flap survival rate in the experimental group (P < 0.01). Histological analysis also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in capillary density in the experimental group.
CONCLUSIONSIt suggests that ADSCs have a better immune compatibility and potential for enhancing the blood supply of random pattern skin flaps.
Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply


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