1.Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Unraveled The Mechanism of Pachymic Acid in The Treatment of Neuroblastoma
Hang LIU ; Yu-Xin ZHU ; Si-Lin GUO ; Xin-Yun PAN ; Yuan-Jie XIE ; Si-Cong LIAO ; Xin-Wen DAI ; Ping SHEN ; Yu-Bo XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2376-2392
ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.
2.Research progress of CD73/NT5E in glioblastoma
Jiang SHAO ; Lin LI ; Yansong GUO ; Chengyuan SUN ; Xichao WEN ; Kebin ZHENG ; Yanfang SHI
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(3):428-431,438
Glioma is the most common primary central nervous system tumor,mainly derived from glial cells,with strong invasiveness,easy recurrence,and poor prognosis.Glioblastoma is a high-grade glioma with the highest degree of malignancy.The clinical treatment method is mainly surgical resection,supplemented by compre-hensive treatment such as radiotherapy,chemotherapy,and electric field therapy,but the treatment effect is not satisfactory.In recent years,with the rapid development of the field of tumor immunotherapy,CD73 is a novel immune checkpoint related to adenosine metabolism,which can promote tumor progression by inhibiting anti-tumor immune responses and promoting angiogenesis.This article systematically reviews the mechanism of action of CD73 and discusses its biological role and application in glioma,aiming to provide potential treatment options for glioma patients.
3.Effects of Electroacupuncture on Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Dynamics in SAMP8 Mice
Ruolan WEN ; Wanqing GUO ; Weiguo DONG ; Limin CHEN ; Jinquan LI ; Chenguang WEN ; Lan LIN ; Feng WANG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(2):104-109
Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on the motor function and mitochondrial dynamics of skeletal muscle of SAMP8 mice;To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in improving the motor dysfunction of Alzheimer disease(AD)from the perspective of mitochondrial dynamics.Methods Totally 18 SAMP8 mice were divided into model group and electroacupuncture group,with 9 mice in each group,and the SAMR1 mice with the same age were set as control group."Baihui","Dazhui"and"Shenshu"were selected in the electroacupuncture group,and electroacupuncture was performed daily for 20 min,8 d as a course of treatment.Each course of treatment was separated by 2 d,for a total of 3 courses of treatment.The model group and the control group were not intervened.The motor function of mice was tested by grip strength test,suspension test,hind limb extension test and Morris water maze experiment.The morphology and structure of gastrocnemius were observed by HE staining,ATP content in gastrocnemius was determined by colorimetry,the mRNA expression of optic atrophy 1(OPA1),mitofusin 2(MFN2)and dynamin-related protein 1(DRP1)in gastrocnemius were detected by real-time quantitative PCR,the expressions of OPA1,MFN2 and DRP1 in gastrocnemius were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the grip strength,the score in suspension test,and the average speed and maximum speed of Morris water maze experiment of mice in model group significantly decreased(P<0.01);the arrangement of fibers in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue was disordered,the gaps become wider,and the distribution of nuclei was uneven;the ATP content in the gastrocnemius muscle tissue was significantly decreased(P<0.01),the mRNA and protein expressions of OPA1 and MFN2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression of DRP1 mRNA and protein significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the grip strength,the score in suspension test,and the average speed and maximum speed of Morris water maze experiment in electroacupuncture group significantly increased(P<0.01);the arrangement of gastrocnemius muscle tissue was relatively neat,the gaps become narrower,and the distribution of nuclei was more uniform;the ATP content in gastrocnemius muscle tissue significantly increased(P<0.01),while the mRNA and protein expressions of OPA1 and MFN2 significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the expression of DRP1 mRNA and protein significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve the skeletal muscle morphological structure and motor dysfunction of SAMP8 mice,and the mechanism may be related to the correction of skeletal muscle mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and the increase of skeletal muscle ATP content.
4.Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults (version 2024)
Qingde WANG ; Yuan HE ; Bohua CHEN ; Tongwei CHU ; Jinpeng DU ; Jian DONG ; Haoyu FENG ; Shunwu FAN ; Shiqing FENG ; Yanzheng GAO ; Zhong GUAN ; Hua GUO ; Yong HAI ; Lijun HE ; Dianming JIANG ; Jianyuan JIANG ; Bin LIN ; Bin LIU ; Baoge LIU ; Chunde LI ; Fang LI ; Feng LI ; Guohua LYU ; Li LI ; Qi LIAO ; Weishi LI ; Xiaoguang LIU ; Hongjian LIU ; Yong LIU ; Zhongjun LIU ; Shibao LU ; Yong QIU ; Limin RONG ; Yong SHEN ; Huiyong SHEN ; Jun SHU ; Yueming SONG ; Tiansheng SUN ; Yan WANG ; Zhe WANG ; Zheng WANG ; Hong XIA ; Guoyong YIN ; Jinglong YAN ; Wen YUAN ; Zhaoming YE ; Jie ZHAO ; Jianguo ZHANG ; Yue ZHU ; Yingjie ZHOU ; Zhongmin ZHANG ; Wei MEI ; Dingjun HAO ; Baorong HE
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2024;40(2):97-106
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with lower cervical fracture is often categorized into unstable fracture, with a high incidence of neurological injury and a high rate of disability and morbidity. As factors such as shoulder occlusion may affect the accuracy of X-ray imaging diagnosis, it is often easily misdiagnosed at the primary diagnosis. Non-operative treatment has complications such as bone nonunion and the possibility of secondary neurological damage, while the timing, access and choice of surgical treatment are still controversial. Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture with or without dislocation. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults ( version 2024) in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, scientificity and practicality, in which 11 recommendations were put forward in terms of the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, typing and treatment, etc, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture.
5.Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates Tumor-associated Macrophages in Colorectal Cancer: A Review
Meixuan GUO ; Yuxing LIN ; Mengyuan CAI ; Aling SHEN ; Wen LU ; Li LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(22):279-288
Colorectal cancer (CRC), a most common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, is often manifested by abdominal pain, changes in stool quality, blood in the stool, and weight loss, with rising morbidity and mortality year by year. The onset and development of CRC involve a variety of mechanisms, in which tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have received increasing attention. TAMs influence the tumor development via immune escape and angiogenesis promotion and are associated with the prognosis of tumors. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely researched and applied in the treatment of cancers. Studies have discovered that TCM mainly exerts the therapeutic effects on CRC by inhibiting the proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, promoting the apoptosis, and inducing autophagy of tumor cells and boosting the immune function. TCM as an effective treatment approach can regulate TAMs to inhibit tumor growth. Moreover, the active components and targets of TCM can be taken as new research directions of immunotherapy. This review describes TAMs and their roles in CRC progression and summarizes the molecular targets and mechanisms of different active components, compound prescriptions, and novel preparations of TCM against CRC, aiming to provide a mechanism reference for the clinical treatment of CRC with TCM and give new insights into the in-depth research on the prevention and treatment of CRC-related diseases with TCM.
6.Meta-analysis of the role of fibular fixation in tibiofibular fractures
Lin-Lin CONG ; Pin-Pin JIANG ; Hua GUO ; Hang WANG ; Xian-Da CHE ; Chun-Fang WANG ; Wen-Jin LI ; Peng-Cui LI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(1):74-80
Objective To compare the role and importance of fibular fixation in tibiofibular fractures by Meta-analysis.Methods The literature related to the comparison of the efficacy of fixation of the fibula with or without fixation on the treatment of tibiofibular fractures was searched through the databases of China Knowledge Network,Wipu,Wanfang,The Cochrane Li-brary,Web of science and Pubmed,and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.The rates of malrotation,rotational deformity,internal/external deformity,anterior/posterior deformity,non-union,infection,secondary surgery and op-erative time were compared between the fibula fixation and non-fixation groups.Results A total of 11 publications were includ-ed,six randomised controlled trials and five case-control trials,eight of which were of high quality.A total of 813 cases were in-cluded,of which 383 were treated with fibula fixation and 430 with unfixed fibulae.Meta-analysis results showed that fixation of the fibulae in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures reduced the rates of postoperative rotational deformity[RR=0.22,95%CI(0.10,0.45),P<0.000 1]and internal/external deformity[RR=0.34,95%CI(0.14,0.84),P=0.02]and promoted fracture heal-ing[RR=0.76,95%CI(0.58,0.99),P=0.04].In contrast,the rates of poor reduction[RR=0.48,95%CI(0.10,2.33),P=0.36],anterior/posterior deformity[RR=1.50,95%CI(0.76,2.96),P=0.24],infection[RR=1.43,95%CI(0.76,2.72),P=0.27],sec-ondary surgery[RR=1.32,95%CI(0.82,2.11),P=0.25],and operative time[MD=10.21,95%CI(-17.79,38.21),P=0.47]were not statistically significant(P>0.05)for comparison.Conclusion Simultaneous fixation of the tibia and fibula is clinically more effective in the treatment of tibiofibular fractures.
7.Concept and strategy of traditional Chinese medicine balanced treatment of breast cancer from the perspective of "pathogenesis and state identification"
Guibin WANG ; Honglin SITU ; Li GUO ; Zhuobin WEN ; Hanguang JING ; Yi LIN
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(3):440-444
In view of the difficulties and blind spots of western medicine, how to make scientific decisions to standardize the treatment of breast cancer in traditional Chinese medicine and improve the participation of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of breast cancer is an important focus of innovative breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment. Based on the clinical experience of Professor LIN Yi, a master of traditional Chinese medicine, and on the basis of "disease identification and syndrome differentiation", this paper summarizes and refines the status of qi and blood imbalance, accumulation of phlegm and blood stasis, viscera deficiency, and cold heat cementation in breast cancer, and further proposes the "six views" of breast cancer balanced treatment: the pathogenesis view focuses on "evil invasion due to vital qi deficiency, and the proliferation of tumors", and the pathogenesis view focuses on "cancer toxin and imbalance of yin and yang", the diagnostic view focuses on "examining the underlying factors and understanding the causes and effects", the differentiation view focuses on "balancing qi, blood, yin, and yang to achieve harmony", the therapeutic view focuses on "supporting vital qi and eliminating evil, and considering the root cause and syndromes", and the rehabilitation view focuses on "adjusting balance to maintain a stable state". We are committed to holistic syndrome differentiation and treatment, balancing yin, yang, qi, and blood, thereby harmonizing the internal environment of the human body, and mobilizing the immune and rehabilitation functions of the body.
8.Research progress on the application of membrane biomimetic nanocarriers in targeted therapy of lung diseases
Wen-jing BAI ; Rong GUO ; Lin XIONG ; Leng-jing ZHU ; Jia-xin LI ; Ya-shi WANG ; Man LI ; Qin HE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(10):2730-2740
Pulmonary disease is one of the major threats to human health. However, the current clinical treatment drugs for lung diseases generally have problems such as low lung delivery efficiency, fast clearance rate and obvious toxic side effects. Recently, membrane biomimetic nanocarriers have attracted more and more attention. Due to their advantages of high targeting, long cycle time, good biocompatibility and strong immune escape ability, membrane biomimetic nanocarriers have become a major research hotspot in targeted therapy of lung diseases. In this review, we discuss the main preparation methods of membrane biomimetic nanoparticles, the characteristics of membrane biomimetic nanocarriers from different cell sources and their application in the targeted therapy of lung diseases. At the same time, according to the characteristics of different membranes, the shortcomings, current technical limitations and future prospects are discussed. This review is expected to provide references for the design of membrane biomimetic nanocarriers and their potential applications in the treatment of lung diseases.
9.Research on species identification of commercial medicinal and food homology scented herbal tea
Jing SUN ; Zi-yi HUANG ; Si-qi LI ; Yu-fang LI ; Yan HU ; Shi-wen GUO ; Ge HU ; Chuan-pu SHEN ; Fu-rong YANG ; Yu-lin LIN ; Tian-yi XIN ; Xiang-dong PU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(9):2612-2624
The adulteration and counterfeiting of herbal ingredients in medicinal and food homology (MFH) have a serious impact on the quality of herbal materials, thereby endangering human health. Compared to pharmaceutical drugs, health products derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are more easily accessible and closely integrated into consumers' daily life. However, the authentication of the authenticity of TCM ingredients in MFH has not received sufficient attention. The lack of clear standards emphasizes the necessity of conducting systematic research in this area. This study utilized DNA barcoding technology, combining ITS2,
10.Curative Effect of Standardized Comprehensive Pure Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Short-Course Sudden Deafness:An Observation of 516 Cases
Wen-Zhi LIN ; Peng LIU ; Wei-Ping HE ; Hui-Xian XU ; En-Qin GUO
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(7):1779-1785
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of standardized comprehensive pure traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)treatment for short-course sudden deafness and to explore the influencing factors of clinical efficacy.Methods The clinical data of 516 short-course sudden deafness inpatients(TCM group)who were given standardized comprehensive pure TCM treatment were retrospectively analyzed,and their efficacy were compared with the efficacy of 1 024 cases in the Chinese multicenter clinical study of sudden deafness(western medicine group).The analysis was carried out for the influence of the gender,left or right ear,age group,degree of deafness,type of hearing curve,concomitant symptoms(tinnitus,vertigo,and dullness of the ear),and the TCM syndrome types on the efficacy.Results(1)The comparison of baseline data showed that in comparison with the western medicine group,TCM group had relatively low proportion of low-frequency descending type while relatively high proportion of total deafness type,and had relatively high treatment difficulty.The course of treatment in TCM group was shortened by nearly 2/3 in comparison with the western medicine group(12.60 days vs 30 days).(2)Among the 516 patients of the TCM group,175 cases were cured,121 cases were markedly effective,90 cases were effective and 130 cases were ineffective,and the total effective rate was 74.80%.Compared with the 1 024 cases in the western medicine group,there was no significant difference in the overall efficacy or the efficacy evaluated with the hearing curve classification(P>0.05).(3)Analysis of influencing factors of curative effect showed that the type of hearing curve was closely related to the curative effect of sudden deafness(P<0.001).The curative effect of low frequency descent type was the best,and the curative effect of total deafness type was the worst.The cure of deafness was correlated with the degree of deafness,the milder the degree of deafness,the greater the likelihood of recovery(P<0.001).The curative effect of the patients without vertigo was superior to that of the patients with vertigo(P<0.001).The curative effect of adolescent patients was superior to that of middle-aged and elderly patients(P<0.05).There was no correlation between TCM syndrome types and curative effect(P>0.05).Conclusion Standardized comprehensive pure TCM treatment exerts certain curative effect on short-course sudden deafness,and may have some advantages compared with conventional western medicine treatment.The type of hearing curve,degree of deafness,accompanied by vertigo or not,and age group are the influencing factors of the efficacy.

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