1.Quality Evaluation of Gegen Qinlian Tablets Based on HPLC Multi-component Quantification Combined with Chemical Pattern Recognition and TOPSIS Analysis
Ping QIN ; Yingying LU ; Wenming ZHANG ; Zifang FENG ; Lihong GU ; Chenjie XIA ; Minmin HU ; Xiaowei CHEN ; Zhenhua BIAN ; Xiwan LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):217-224
ObjectiveTo establish a high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) for the quantitative analysis of multiple components in Gegen Qinlian tablets, and to comprehensively evaluate the quality of samples from different manufacturers by integrating chemical pattern recognition and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution(TOPSIS), in order to provide a reference basis for quality evaluation and control of Gegen Qinlian tablets. MethodsHPLC was employed to determine the contents of 10 components in 28 batches of Gegen Qinlian tablets collected from 6 manufacturers, and taking the detection results as variables, SIMCA 14.1 and SPSS 26.0 were employed for cluster analysis(CA), principal component analysis(PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) to identify key components affecting the quality. Then, TOPSIS analysis was employed to rank the quality of Gegen Qinlian tablets from the 6 manufacturers and establish a comprehensive quality evaluation method. ResultsA quantitative method for Gegen Qinlian tablets was established. After methodological validation, the method was found to be stable and reliable, and could be used for the quantitative analysis of this preparation. The contents of 3′-hydroxy puerarin, puerarin, 3′-methoxy puerarin, daidzein, coptisine hydrochloride, epiberberine, jatrorrhizine hydrochloride, berberine hydrochloride, palmatine hydrochloride and baicalin in 28 batches of samples were 3.58-7.35, 24.88-42.32, 4.20-9.36, 4.33-7.60, 2.52-6.44, 0.93-4.10, 0.58-3.05, 10.68-22.92, 0.82-4.82, 11.73-60.16 mg·g-1, respectively. Among them, puerarin, berberine hydrochloride and baicalin all met the limit requirements for this preparation specified in the 2025 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China. CA and PCA clustered the 28 batches of samples into 5 categories, PCA extracted 2 principal components with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 90.588%, and OPLS-DA screened out 4 differential markers with variable importance in the projection(VIP) values>1.0, namely baicalin, 3′-hydroxy puerarin, coptisine hydrochloride and palmatine hydrochloride, which might be the main components affecting the quality of Gegen Qinlian tablets. TOPSIS analysis showed that the comprehensive score of each evaluation index(Ci) values of different manufacturers were different. Among them, the Ci of manufacturer B was ranked higher, indicating potentially superior quality, while the Ci of manufacturer A was ranked lower, suggesting potentially inferior quality. ConclusionThis study establishes a quantitative method for Gegen Qinlian tablets, and the content uniformity of the same manufacturer is good, while there are differences in the contents of active components among different manufacturers. Through the chemical pattern recognition analysis, it is found that the content differences of Gegen Qinlian tablets may be related to baicalin, 3′-hydroxy puerarin, coptisine hydrochloride and palmatine hydrochloride.
2.Study on the mechanism of hyperoside regulating hepatic lipid synthesis to ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice
Changrui LONG ; Shijian XIANG ; Zhenhua ZHANG ; Huixing WU ; Benjie ZHOU ; Chengyu LU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):668-673
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement mechanism of hyperoside (HYP) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal (NFD) group, model (HFD) group and HYP group, with 8 mice in each group. Except for NFD group, the mice in other groups were fed with HF60 high-fat diet to establish NAFLD model; HYP group was simultaneously given HYP 100 mg/kg intragastrically every day, for 16 consecutive weeks. The body weight and liver weight of mice in each group were recorded 16 h after the last medication; the histopathological changes and lipid accumulation in the liver were observed, and the contents of triglyceride (TAG) in liver tissue and serum contents of TAG, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured; LC-MS/MS method was adopted to detect lipid changes in the liver tissue of mice for lipidomics analysis, and protein expressions of lipid synthesis-associated proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were also tested. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 was divided into normal control group, model group, HYP low-concentration group (50 μmol/L), HYP high-concentration group (100 μmol/L), HYP low-concentration+GW6471 (PPARαinhibitor) group, and HYP high-concentration+GW6471 group. Except for normal control group, the remaining cells were induced with oleic acid and palmitic acid to establish a high-fat cell model. The accumulation of lipid droplets in each group of cells was observed, and the TAG content was detected. RESULTS Compared with HFD group, HYP group exhibited significant reductions in liver fat vacuoles, lipid accumulation, liver weight, and TAG content in liver tissue, as well as serum contents of ALT, AST and TAG (P<0.05). Additionally, the expression of PPARα protein in liver tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the pathological morphological changes associated with NAFLD were alleviated. Lipidomic analysis revealed that HYP significantly reduced the levels of TAG, diacylglycerol and other lipids in the liver. Compared with model group, cellular lipid droplet accumulation and TAG content decreased significantly in HYP low- and high-concentration groups (P<0.05); GW6471 could significantly reverse the improvement effect of HYP on above indicators (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HYP can effectively ameliorate NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet in mice, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of PPARα to regulate hepatic lipid synthesis.
3.The constituent elements, experiences, and popularization significance of the palliative care model of integrated elderly care and medical services
Zehuan HUANG ; Mengdong XIN ; Lidan QI ; Long ZHAO ; Minyu WANG ; Lu QIN ; Zhenhua LU ; Zhao LI ; Yue HE ; Xi ZENG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(7):914-923
Under the trend of increasing aging, integrated elderly care and medical services is an important measure to optimize the supply of elderly care services and promote the good death of the elderly. Using the cooperative production theory and the classical grounded theory, a qualitative analysis was conducted on 38 cases of elderly palliative care and 25 cases of hospital-based palliative care under the integrated elderly care and medical services model from a hospital in Nanning City using Nvivo 20.0 software. This paper found that the integrated elderly care and medical services mode emphasized the deep integration of medical and elderly care services by integrating resources and improving service efficiency, to achieve the basic experience of comprehensive health care for the elderly. The promotion of these experiences has a positive significance for building a multi-agent cooperative production system, strengthening personnel training, perfecting the performance distribution mechanism, and further promoting the development of the national palliative care pilot.
4.Research progress on central memory T cells.
Junwei HUANG ; Wei LU ; Jingxin YAO ; Hanwei DENG ; Ji BIN ; Yuexiang MA ; Zhenhua ZHU
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(5):468-474
Central memory T (Tcm) cells are a crucial subset in T cell development, playing an important role in long-term immune responses. Tcm cells exhibit strong proliferative capacity, long-term survival characteristics, and re-activation potential, enabling them to rapidly differentiate into effector T cells (Teff) upon antigen re-exposure, thus providing robust immune protection. The function of Tcm cells is regulated by various factors, including antigen exposure, cytokines, and metabolic conditions. A deeper understanding of their metabolic and epigenetic mechanisms under different pathological conditions will contribute to the development of more precise and effective immunotherapeutic strategies. This review elaborates on the origin and characteristics of Tcm cells, as well as their roles in antiviral responses, tumor immunity, and immunotherapy.
Humans
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Memory T Cells/cytology*
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Animals
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Immunologic Memory
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Neoplasms/therapy*
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Immunotherapy
5.Nanomaterials evoke pyroptosis boosting cancer immunotherapy.
Zhenhua LI ; Ziyue XI ; Chuanyong FAN ; Xinran XI ; Yao ZHOU ; Ming ZHAO ; Lu XU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):852-875
Cancer immunotherapy is currently a very promising therapeutic strategy for treating tumors. However, its effectiveness is restricted by insufficient antigenicity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITME). Pyroptosis, a unique form of programmed cell death (PCD), causes cells to swell and rupture, releasing pro-inflammatory factors that can enhance immunogenicity and remodel the ITME. Nanomaterials, with their distinct advantages and different techniques, are increasingly popular, and nanomaterial-based delivery systems demonstrate significant potential to potentiate, enable, and augment pyroptosis. This review summarizes and discusses the emerging field of nanomaterials-induced pyroptosis, focusing on the mechanisms of nanomaterials-induced pyroptosis pathways and strategies to activate or enhance specific pyroptosis. Additionally, we provide perspectives on the development of this field, aiming to accelerate its further clinical transition.
6.Cell softness reveals tumorigenic potential via ITGB8/AKT/glycolysis signaling in a mice model of orthotopic bladder cancer
Shi QIU ; Yaqi QIU ; Linghui DENG ; Ling NIE ; Liming GE ; Xiaonan ZHENG ; Di JIN ; Kun JIN ; Xianghong ZHOU ; Xingyang SU ; Boyu CAI ; Jiakun LI ; Xiang TU ; Lina GONG ; Liangren LIU ; Zhenhua LIU ; Yige BAO ; Jianzhong AI ; Tianhai LIN ; Lu YANG ; Qiang WEI
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(2):209-221
Background::Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a microbarrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells.Methods::The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results::Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts.Conclusions::The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.
7.Construction and validation of an in-hospital mortality risk prediction model for patients receiving VA-ECMO:a retrospective multi-center case-control study
Yue GE ; Jianwei LI ; Hongkai LIANG ; Liusheng HOU ; Liuer ZUO ; Zhen CHEN ; Jianhai LU ; Xin ZHAO ; Jingyi LIANG ; Lan PENG ; Jingna BAO ; Jiaxin DUAN ; Li LIU ; Keqing MAO ; Zhenhua ZENG ; Hongbin HU ; Zhongqing CHEN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(3):491-498
Objective To investigate the risk factors of in-hospital mortality and establish a risk prediction model for patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VA-ECMO).Methods We retrospectively collected the data of 302 patients receiving VA-ECMO in ICU of 3 hospitals in Guangdong Province between January,2015 and January,2022 using a convenience sampling method.The patients were divided into a derivation cohort(201 cases)and a validation cohort(101 cases).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital death of these patients,based on which a risk prediction model was established in the form of a nomogram.The receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve,calibration curve and clinical decision curve were used to evaluate the discrimination ability,calibration and clinical validity of this model.Results The in-hospital mortality risk prediction model was established based the risk factors including hypertension(OR=3.694,95%CI:1.582-8.621),continuous renal replacement therapy(OR=9.661,95%CI:4.103-22.745),elevated Na2+ level(OR=1.048,95%CI:1.003-1.095)and increased hemoglobin level(OR=0.987,95%CI:0.977-0.998).In the derivation cohort,the area under the ROC curve(AUC)of this model was 0.829(95%CI:0.770-0.889),greater than those of the 4 single factors(all AUC<0.800),APACHE Ⅱ Score(AUC=0.777,95%CI:0.714-0.840)and the SOFA Score(AUC=0.721,95%CI:0.647-0.796).The results of internal validation showed that the AUC of the model was 0.774(95%CI:0.679-0.869),and the goodness of fit test showed a good fitting of this model(χ2=4.629,P>0.05).Conclusion The risk prediction model for in-hospital mortality of patients on VA-ECMO has good differentiation,calibration and clinical effectiveness and outperforms the commonly used disease severity scoring system,and thus can be used for assessing disease severity and prognostic risk level in critically ill patients.
8.SIRT6 overexpression inhibits AngⅡ-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activating AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway
Zhenhua LU ; Jing SHEN ; Wenjun HUANG ; Wei SUN ; Yongxiang MA
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2024;32(8):663-668,676
Aim To investigate whether SIRT6 overexpression inhibits angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)-induced cardio-myocyte apoptosis by activating adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1(AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1)signaling pathway.Methods The experiment was divided into 4 groups:control group,AngⅡ group,Ang Ⅱ+SIRT6 group,Ang Ⅱ+empty vector(EV)group.The mRNA level of SIRT6 was detected by RT-PCR.The cell activity was measured by MTT assay.The cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cy-tometry.SIRT6,cardiomyocyte apoptosis related proteins(Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2),DNA damage related pro-teins(γ-H2AX,p-ATM),AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway related proteins(p-AMPK,Nrf2,HO-1)were measured by Western blot.The reactive oxygen species(ROS)content was determined by DCFH-DA staining.The changes of the above indexes among the groups were observed.Results Compared with control group,the mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of SIRT6 and cell activity were significantly decreased in Ang Ⅱ group.Apoptosis rate,the expressions of Bax,cleaved Caspase-3 were increased,and the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased.The expressions of γ-H2AX and p-ATM were increased,and the expressions of p-AMPK,Nrf2,HO-1 were decreased.The activity of ROS was increased(P<0.01).Compared with Ang Ⅱ+EV group,the expression of SIRT6 and cell activity were significantly increased in Ang Ⅱ+SIRT6 group.Apoptosis rate,the expressions of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 were decreased,and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased.The expressions of γ-H2AX and p-ATM were decreased,the expressions of p-AMPK,Nrf2,HO-1 were increased.The activity of ROS was decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion SIRT6 overexpression inhibits Ang Ⅱ-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through activation of AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.
9.Serum metabolomics-based study on the mechanism of action of bergapten in the treatment of liver fibrosis
Huixing WU ; Zhenhua ZHANG ; Changrui LONG ; Guifen GUO ; Yanyu WANG ; Yanchun CHEN ; Juxiong FU ; Shijian XIANG ; Benjie ZHOU ; Chengyu LU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(13):1570-1575
OBJECTIVE To study the effects of bergapten in the treatment of liver fibrosis and its mechanism based on serum metabolomics. METHODS Forty mice were divided into normal control group (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution), model group (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution), and BP low-dose and high-dose groups (50, 100 mg/kg), with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, the other three groups were all treated with carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis model; they were given relevant medicine/solution intragastrically, once a day, for consecutive 8 weeks. After the last medication, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were detected, and liver pathological changes were observed; the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Ⅰ were detected in liver tissue; the serum of the mice was collected for metabolomics analysis. RESULTS Compared with the model group, serum levels of ALT and AST and protein expressions of α-SMA and Collagen Ⅰ in liver tissue were decreased significantly in BP high-dose and low-dose groups (P<0.05), while liver fibrosis was improved significantly. Meanwhile, metabolomics analyses showed that there were a total of 175 serum differential metabolites in the BP high-dose group and model group, of which 18 substances were upregulated and 157 substances were downregulated; the main metabolic pathways involved in bergapten intervention were pyrimidine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, tyrosine metabolism, β-alanine metabolism, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide metabolism, glutathione metabolism, etc. CONCLUSIONS BP is effective in the treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating pyrimidine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, glutathione metabolism and so on in rats with liver fibrosis.
10.Influence of childhood abuse on the presence of depressive symptom in junior high school students: the effecting path of peer attachment and emotional resilience
Xinlong TANG ; Yang JIANG ; Zhenhua LU ; Wanqing YU ; Fan SONG ; Jun ZHANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2024;37(6):526-531
BackgroundDepression as a major mental health condition is commonly found in junior high school students. Peer attachment, emotional resilience and childhood abuse have been found to be associated with depressive symptoms, and it has been hypothesized that peer attachment and emotional resilience may play a chained effecting path in the relationship between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms in junior high school students. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between childhood abuse and depressive symptom in junior high school students, analyze the effecting path of peer attachment and emotional resilience, thus to provide references for improving the mental health of junior high school students. MethodsFrom May to July 2022, a cluster sampling technique was utilized to recruit 1 781 junior high school students from a junior high school in Anhui province. Childhood Trauma Questionnaire Short Form (CTQ-SF), Revised version of Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA-R), Adolescent' Emotional Resilience Questionnaire (AERQ) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were used as the measurement tools. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the correlation among above scales. Process4.2 and Bootstrapping method were employed to verify the effecting path of peer attachment and emotional resilience in the relationship between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms. ResultsCTQ-SF score was negatively correlated with IPPA-R peer attachment subscale score and AERQ score (r=-0.527, -0.495, P<0.01) and positively correlated with CES-D score (r=0.669, P<0.01) in junior high school students. IPPA-R peer attachment subscale score was positively correlated with AERQ score (r=0.556, P<0.01) and negatively correlated with CES-D score (r=-0.599, P<0.01) in junior high school students. AERQ score was negatively correlated with CES-D score (r=-0.698, P<0.01) in junior high school students. Childhood abuse in junior high school students was shown to be a positive predictor of depressive symptoms (β=0.675, P<0.01) and a negative predictor of peer attachment (β=-0.824, P<0.01) and emotional resilience (β=-0.305, P<0.01). Peer attachment and emotional resilience were independent effecting path between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms, with indirect effect size of 0.093 (95% CI: 0.066~0.122) and 0.108 (95% CI: 0.084~0.133), respectively. Peer attachment and emotional resilience affected as a chain effecting path between childhood abuse and depressive symptoms, with indirect effect size of 0.087 (95% CI: 0.071~0.105), accounting for 12.89% of the total effect. ConclusionChildhood abuse in junior high school students can affect the presence of depressive symptom both directly and indirectly through either separate or chained effecting path of peer attachment and emotional resilience. [Funded by 2020 Provincial General Scientific Research Project of West Anhui Health Vocational College (number, KJ2020B006); 2024 Provincial University Natural and Humanities Sciences Research Project of West Anhui Health Vocational College (number, 2024AH053467)]

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