1.Zhuluan Decoction Ameliorates Premature Ovarian Insufficiency by Inhibiting Excessive Autophagy of KGN Through Regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Yao CHEN ; Sainan TIAN ; Jing ZENG ; Xingxing YI ; Wen'e LIU ; Lei LEI ; Li TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):89-98
ObjectiveTo elucidate the underlying mechanism through which Zhuluan decoction suppresses excessive autophagy in human ovarian granulosa cells (KGN) and ameliorates premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. MethodsThe optimal concentration of cyclophosphamide for inducing a POI model in KGN cells was identified via the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Subsequently, the impacts of varying concentrations of Zhuluan decoction-containing serum on the viability of the KGN cell model were assessed. After the optimal drug concentration was determined, KGN cells were categorized into the following groups: blank control (20% blank serum), model (20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide), Zhuluan decoction-containing serum (20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide), autophagy inhibitor (20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L-1 chloroquine phosphate), autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum (20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L-1 chloroquine phosphate), and estradiol valerate (20% estradiol valerate-containing serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide). Following 48 hours of incubation, flow cytometry was utilized to measure the apoptosis rate of KGN cells in each group. Western blotting was employed to quantify the protein levels of PI3K, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, Akt, p-mTOR, and mTOR, along with the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins such as Beclin1, autophagy-related 5 homolog (ATG5), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), in each group. Additionally, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining was performed to evaluate the extent of autophagy in each group. ResultsIncubation of KGN cells with 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide for 48 h successfully established a POI model, marked by a significant inhibition of KGN cell proliferation. Notably, the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation exhibited a positive correlation with its concentration. Zhuluan decoction-containing serum at 20% and 30% promoted cell proliferation and mitigated the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation, with comparable therapeutic efficacy observed at both concentrations. Compared with the blank control group, the model group displayed an elevated apoptosis rate (P<0.01), reduced protein levels of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR (P<0.01), increased protein levels of Beclin1, LC3, and ATG5 (P<0.01), no significant alterations in the protein levels of Akt and mTOR, and an enhanced MDC autophagy fluorescence intensity (P<0.01). In comparison to that the model group, the apoptosis rates in the blank control group, model group, Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group, autophagy inhibitor group, autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group, and estradiol valerate group all reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the most pronounced reduction observed in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. The protein levels of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were higher in other groups than in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), being the highest in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoctio-containing serum group (P<0.01). The protein levels of Beclin1 and ATG5 were lower in other groups than in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression level of LC3 declined in the Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group and the estradiol valerate group (P<0.05, P<0.01), while it decreased without statistical significance in the autophagy inhibitor group and the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. ConclusionZhuluan decoction may activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit excessive autophagy and counteract the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide on the KGN cell model, thus managing POI.
2.Zhuluan Decoction Ameliorates Premature Ovarian Insufficiency by Inhibiting Excessive Autophagy of KGN Through Regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Yao CHEN ; Sainan TIAN ; Jing ZENG ; Xingxing YI ; Wen'e LIU ; Lei LEI ; Li TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):89-98
ObjectiveTo elucidate the underlying mechanism through which Zhuluan decoction suppresses excessive autophagy in human ovarian granulosa cells (KGN) and ameliorates premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. MethodsThe optimal concentration of cyclophosphamide for inducing a POI model in KGN cells was identified via the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Subsequently, the impacts of varying concentrations of Zhuluan decoction-containing serum on the viability of the KGN cell model were assessed. After the optimal drug concentration was determined, KGN cells were categorized into the following groups: blank control (20% blank serum), model (20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide), Zhuluan decoction-containing serum (20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide), autophagy inhibitor (20% blank serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L-1 chloroquine phosphate), autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum (20% Zhuluan decoction-containing serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide + 20 μmol·L-1 chloroquine phosphate), and estradiol valerate (20% estradiol valerate-containing serum + 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide). Following 48 hours of incubation, flow cytometry was utilized to measure the apoptosis rate of KGN cells in each group. Western blotting was employed to quantify the protein levels of PI3K, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, Akt, p-mTOR, and mTOR, along with the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins such as Beclin1, autophagy-related 5 homolog (ATG5), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), in each group. Additionally, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining was performed to evaluate the extent of autophagy in each group. ResultsIncubation of KGN cells with 5 μmol·L-1 cyclophosphamide for 48 h successfully established a POI model, marked by a significant inhibition of KGN cell proliferation. Notably, the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation exhibited a positive correlation with its concentration. Zhuluan decoction-containing serum at 20% and 30% promoted cell proliferation and mitigated the inhibitory effect of cyclophosphamide on KGN cell proliferation, with comparable therapeutic efficacy observed at both concentrations. Compared with the blank control group, the model group displayed an elevated apoptosis rate (P<0.01), reduced protein levels of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR (P<0.01), increased protein levels of Beclin1, LC3, and ATG5 (P<0.01), no significant alterations in the protein levels of Akt and mTOR, and an enhanced MDC autophagy fluorescence intensity (P<0.01). In comparison to that the model group, the apoptosis rates in the blank control group, model group, Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group, autophagy inhibitor group, autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group, and estradiol valerate group all reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the most pronounced reduction observed in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. The protein levels of PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were higher in other groups than in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), being the highest in the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoctio-containing serum group (P<0.01). The protein levels of Beclin1 and ATG5 were lower in other groups than in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expression level of LC3 declined in the Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group and the estradiol valerate group (P<0.05, P<0.01), while it decreased without statistical significance in the autophagy inhibitor group and the autophagy inhibitor + Zhuluan decoction-containing serum group. ConclusionZhuluan decoction may activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to inhibit excessive autophagy and counteract the detrimental effects of cyclophosphamide on the KGN cell model, thus managing POI.
3.Construction of the Diagnosis and Treatment System of "Sinew Prescription Correspondence" under the Guidance of Systematic Dialectical Sphygmology
Feng ZHANG ; Baoqiang DONG ; Xingxing LIN ; Yapeng LIU ; Lujia XIAO ; Bodong XING ; Yiyun CAO ; Wenhui ZHANG ; Wenqian QI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(10):1038-1043
"Sinew prescription correspondence" is the principle of selecting prescriptions for channel sinew diseases. On the basis of the theory of syndrome differentiation and treatment, the pulse manifestation corresponds to the channel sinew syndrome, which can improve the flexibility and standardization of clinical prescriptions. From the perspective of systematic dialectical sphygmology, this paper explains the dialectical relationship between channel sinew theory and pulse body elements, pulse wall elements, pulse elements and blood flow elements, and clarifies the internal relationship between pulse manifestation and prescriptions at the level of channel sinew disease. The prescription is derived from the method, while the method is established with the syndrome, and the prescription is unified by the method. According to the theory of "sinew prescription correspondence", the treatment ideas of channel sinew diseases were analyzed from the perspective of channel sinew distribution, functional characteristics and structural changes. On this basis, the diagnosis of channel sinew disease and the application of prescriptions are expanded, and the research on the internal treatment and diagnosis mode of "pulse manifestation-channel sinew-zang fu (脏腑)" is prospected, so as to expand the differentiation and treatment methods of channel sinew theory.
4.Qualitative study on newly employed nurses′ cognition and experience of reflective practice
Mingxing LIANG ; Xingxing ZHOU ; Ling LIU ; Rui ZHANG ; Xinping TAN ; Yuan YUAN
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(10):790-795
Objective:To deeply understand newly employed nurses' cognition and experience of reflective practice (RP) and explore its application in clinical settings, providing a scientific basis for constructing an RP training system.Methods:A descriptive phenomenological research method was used, with purposive sampling to select newly employed nurses from the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University between October and December 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and traditional content analysis was used to analyze the data.Results:Fourteen newly employed nurses were interviewed, including 3 males and 11 females, aged 22-25 (22.92 ± 0.92) years old. A total of 190 000 words of interview data were transcribed. Four themes and eight sub-themes were extracted: understanding of RP, attitudes toward RP, differences in RP abilities, and challenges in the clinical application of RP.Conclusions:Newly employed nurses have some understanding of RP, but there are issues such as insufficient learning pathways, negative attitudes toward RP, differences in RP abilities, and challenges in clinical application. RP learning should be incorporated into the training of newly employed nurses to promote the improvement of their RP abilities.
5.Application of voice training in the treatment of speech disorders in patients with Parkinson′s disease
Xingxing AI ; Ziwen WANG ; Xiaoling LIN ; Yinglian LI ; Tianning LIU ; Xianghua YUAN ; Jiewei HUANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(15):1196-1201
This article summarized the overview of voice training, common training forms, and the application effect of voice training in the treatment of speech disorders in Parkinson′s disease patients, analyzed the shortcomings of its application and put forward prospects for future research, aiming to provide valuable references for both patients and healthcare workers.
6.CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique for repair of antithrombin gene SERPINC1 c.318_319insT mutation
Haixiao XIE ; Xingxing ZHOU ; Qiyu XU ; Ke ZHANG ; Siqi LIU ; Mingshan WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science 2025;43(6):405-409
Objective To discuss the preliminary application of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology in repair of antithrombin gene(SERPINC1)c.318_319insT mutation.Methods The single guide RNA(sgRNA)was designed by CRISPR online design website,and AT c.318_319 insT mutant and CRISPR-Cas9 repairsome were constructed.The gene fragments from the wild-type gene,AT c.318_319 insT mutant and CRISPR-Cas9 repairsome were transferred into lentiviral expression vectors,and then PCR sequencing was performed for verification.The successfully constructed lentiviral recombinant plasmids were transfected into the human embryonic kid-ney cells(HEK293T).After cell culture,HEK293T cells were lysed.The AT:Ag levels in the cell lysing reagents from wild-type gene,CRISPR-Cas9 repairsome and mutant were compared by ELISA and Western blot,respectively.The recombinant AT protein was characterized in vitro by cellular immunofluorescence assay.Results Both the AT c.318_319insT mutant and CRISPR-Cas9 repair-some were successfully constructed.The results of experiments with HEK293T cells in vitro showed that the wild-type AT:Ag in the cell lysing reagents was set as 100%,the AT:Ag of CRISPR-Cas9 repairsome was 47%,and the AT:Ag of AT c.318_319insT was 22%,which were consistent with the results of western blot and cellular immunofluorescence assay.Conclusion The cellular experiments in vitro verified that CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology could effectively repair the SERPINC1 c.318_319 insT mutation in situ,which might provide the experimental support for the application of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology in the gene therapy of hereditary thrombotic diseases.
7.Relationship between serum TMAO,Endocan and cardiac function and pregnancy outcome in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy
Xingxing ZHANG ; Xijing TAO ; Caihong LIU ; Xiao LI ; Panpan WU ; Cuier HAN
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(1):75-80
Objective To investigate the relationship between serum trimethylamine oxide(TMAO),endo-thelial cell specific molecule 1(Endocan)and cardiac function and pregnancy outcome in patients with hyper-tensive disorders of pregnancy(HDP).Methods A total of 182 patients with HDP admitted to Handan Ma-ternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2021 to June 2023(HDP group)and 98 healthy pregnant women admitted to this hospital during the same period(control group)were selected as research subjects.Serum TMAO,Endocan and left ventricular cardiac function indexes[left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV)and left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV)]were compared between the two groups.According to pregnancy outcome,HDP patients were divided into poor outcome group(78 cases)and good outcome group(104 cases).Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum TMAO and Endocan and cardiac function indexes in HDP patients,and multi-factor Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes in HDP patients.The predictive value of serum TMAO and Endocan for adverse pregnancy outcomes in HDP patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with control group,serum TMAO,Endocan,LVEDV and LVESV were increased in HDP group,and LVEF was decreased(P<0.05).Serum TMAO and Endocan in HDP patients were negatively correlated with LVEF(P<0.05),and positively correlated with LVEDV and LVESV(P<0.05).The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in 182 HDP patients was 42.86%(78/182).Preeclampsia(PE),severe preeclampsia(SPE),24 h urine protein increase,LVEDV increase,LVESV increase,TMAO increase,Endocan increase were independent risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in HDP patients,and LVEF increase was protective factor(P<0.05).The area under the curve of serum TMAO combined with Endocan in predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes in HDP patients was 0.880,which was greater than 0.793 and 0.788 predicted by serum TMAO and Endocan a-lone.Conclusion The increase of serum TMAO and Endocan levels in HDP patients are relate to the decrease of cardiac function and adverse pregnancy outcomes,and the combined detection of the two has high predictive value for adverse pregnancy outcomes in HDP patients.
8.Relationship between serum PSG1,Sestrin 2,Gas6 and uterine artery blood flow parameters and fetal growth restriction in patients with gestational hypertension
Xingxing ZHANG ; Xijing TAO ; Caihong LIU ; Xiao LI ; Panpan WU ; Cui'e HAN
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(12):1472-1478
Objective To explore the relationship between serum pregnancy-specific protein 1(PSG1),stress-induced protein 2(Sestrin 2),growth arrest-specific protein 6(Gas6)and uterine artery blood flow pa-rameters and fetal growth restriction(FGR)in patients with gestational hypertension(GH).Methods A to-tal of 485 GH patients admitted to Handan Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2020 to October 2023 were selected as the research objects and divided into the occurrence group(81 cases)and the non-occur-rence group according to whether FGR occurred.The correlations between serum PSG1,Sestrin 2,Gas6 and uterine artery blood flow parameters[pulse index(PI),resistance index(RI),ratio of peak systolic velocity to end diastolic velocity(S/D)]was analysed,as well as the related influencing factors of FGR in GH patients.In addition,a Nomogram model based on the influencing factors was constructed to analyze the predictive value.Results The serum PSG1 level in occurrence group was significantly lower than that in non-occurrence group,and the serum Sestrin 2,Gas6 levels and PI,RI,S/D values were significantly higher than those in non-occurrence group(P<0.05).Pearson correlation results showed that serum PSG1 was negatively correlated with the uterine artery blood flow parameters PI,RI,and S/D,and the levels of serum Sestrin 2 and Gas6 were positively correlated with the uterine artery blood flow parameters PI,RI,and S/D(P<0.05).Gestational di-abetes mellitus,umbilical cord abnormalities,high Sestrin 2,high Gas6,high PI,high RI,and high S/D were independent risk factors for the occurrence of FGR in GH patients(P<0.05),and increased PSG1 level was protective factor for the occurrence of FGR in GH patients(P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the Nomogram prediction model con-structed based on the influencing factors for predicting the occurrence of FGR in GH patients was 0.982,and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.943 and 0.938,respectively.The internal verification of the Bootstrap method shows that the Bias-corrected prediction curve basically coincides with the Ideal line,and the consis-tency index(C-index)was 0.964,indicating that the model was relatively stable.The decision curve shows that the threshold probability of this model was 0.01-1.00 and the net return rate was above 0.Conclusion Ser-um PSG1,Sestrin 2 and Gas6 in GH patients are closely related to uterine artery blood flow parameters and FGR,and the three are the influencing factors for the occurrence of FGR in GH patients.The constructed No-mogram model has a good predictive efficacy for FGR.
9.Independent component analysis for assessing functional abnormalities in frontoparietal attention network of patients with traumatic brain injury and analyzing neural mechanism of attention disorders
Gaiyun ZHANG ; Xingxing JIN ; Hongxia WANG ; Wangyi LIU ; Jinhui DUAN ; Ruifang YAN
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(7):1062-1067
Objective To assess functional abnormalities in frontoparietal attention network of patients with traumatic brain injury(TBI),and to analyze neural mechanism of its attention disorders based on independent component analysis(ICA).Methods Totally 84 TBI patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into mild(n=33),moderate(n=27)and severe TBI groups(n=24)according to symptoms,non-contrast enhanced MRI findings,Glasgow coma scale(GCS)and Mayo craniocerebral trauma grading criteria.ICA was used to extract and analyze the optimal independent components(IC)of the dorsal attention network(DAN)and ventral attention network(VAN).Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the correlations of functional connectivity(FC)of brain regions being significantly different among groups within attention network and the scores of trail making test A/B(TMT-A/B).Results Compared with control group and mild TBI group,spatial distribution of DAN(especially bilateral frontal eye field[FEF])in moderate and severe TBI groups were significantly smaller,the clusters tended to be discrete,and the intensity were significantly weakened.The right temporal parietal junction(TPJ)and right ventral frontal cortex(VFC)of VAN in control group,mild and moderate TBI groups were significantly affected,and VFC connection strength was the highest in severe TBI group.FC intensity in right VFC of TBI patients was positively correlated with TMT-A score(r=0.654,P<0.001),which in left FEF was negatively correlated with TMT-B score(r=—0.383,P<0.001).Conclusion FC of frontoparietal attention network was abnormal in TBI patients,which might be neural mechanism for its attention behavior disorders.
10.A case of myocardial infarction induced by ulcerative colitis complicated by amebic infection
Jing LIU ; Qiaoli GUO ; Xingxing ZHAO ; Shuai LI ; Xingxing CHE ; Xiaoyin BAI ; Junjie REN
Chinese Journal of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2025;09(6):504-506
This article reports a patient with long-term ulcerative colitis (UC) who was initially diagnosed as eosinophilic gastroenteritis due to a increase in peripheral blood eosinophils. During the diagnosis and treatment process, acute myocardial infarction was repeatedly induced. The patient was eventually diagnosed as UC complicated by amoebic infection and improved after anti-infective therapy. Through case analysis and literature review, this article discusses the diagnosis and treatment strategies for UC complicated by rare opportunistic infections.

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