1.Critical role of mitochondrial dynamics in chronic respiratory diseases and new therapeutic directions.
Xiaomei WANG ; Ziming ZHU ; Haocheng JIA ; Xueyi LU ; Yingze ZHANG ; Yingxin ZHU ; Jinzheng WANG ; Yanfang WANG ; Rubin TAN ; Jinxiang YUAN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(15):1783-1793
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) are both chronic progressive respiratory diseases that cannot be completely cured. COPD is characterized by irreversible airflow limitation, chronic airway inflammation, and gradual decline in lung function, whereas PH is characterized by pulmonary vasoconstriction, remodeling, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. These diseases have similar pathological features, such as vascular hyperplasia, arteriolar contraction, and inflammatory infiltration. Despite these well-documented observations, the exact mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of COPD and PH remain unclear. Evidence that mitochondrial dynamics imbalance is one major factor in the development of COPD and PH. Mitochondrial dynamics is precisely regulated by mitochondrial fusion proteins and fission proteins. When mitochondrial dynamics equilibrium is disrupted, it causes mitochondrial and even cell morphological dysfunction. Mitochondrial dynamics participates in various pathological processes for heart and lung disease. Mitochondrial dynamics may be different in the early and late stages of COPD and PH. In the early stages of the disease, mitochondrial fusion increases, inhibiting fission, and thereby compensatorily increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. With the development of the disease, mitochondria decompensation causes excessive fission. Mitochondrial dynamics is involved in the development of COPD and PH in a spatiotemporal manner. Based on this understanding, treatment strategies for mitochondrial dynamics abnormalities may be different at different stages of COPD and PH disease. This article will provide new ideas for the potential treatment of related diseases.
Humans
;
Mitochondrial Dynamics/physiology*
;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/metabolism*
;
Hypertension, Pulmonary/metabolism*
;
Mitochondria/metabolism*
;
Animals
2.Mechanism of total flavone of Abelmoschus manihot in treating ulcerative colitis and depression via intestinal flora-glycerophospholipid metabolism- macrophage polarization pathway.
Chang-Ye LU ; Xiao-Min YUAN ; Lin-Hai HE ; Jia-Rong MAO ; Yu-Gen CHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1286-1297
This study delves into the mechanism of total flavone of Abelmoschus manihot(TFA) in treating ulcerative colitis(UC) and depression via inhibiting M1 polarization of macrophages and reshaping intestinal flora and glycerolphospholipid metabolism. The study established a mouse model of UC and depression induced by chronic restraint stress(CRS) and dextran sulfate sodium(DSS). The fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT) experiment after TFA intervention was conducted. Mice in the FMT donor group were modeled and treated, and fecal samples were taken to prepare the bacterial solution. Mice in the FMT receptor group were treated with antibiotic intervention, and then administered bacterial solution by gavage from mice in the donor group, followed by UC depression modeling. After the experiment, behavioral tests were conducted to evaluate depressive-like behaviors by measuring the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the hippocampus of mice. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in the brain and colon tissue of mice were also measured, and the polarization status of macrophages was evaluated by measuring the mRNA levels of CD86 and CD206. 16S ribosomal RNA(16S rRNA) sequencing technology was used to analyze changes in the intestinal flora of mice. Wide target lipidomics was used to detect serum lipid metabolite levels in mice after FMT,and correlation analysis was conducted between lipids and differential intestinal flora significantly regulated by TFA. In vitro experiments, representative glycerophospholipid metabolites and glycerophospholipid inhibitors were used to intervene in Raw264.7 macrophages, and the mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,CD86,and CD206 were detected. The results showed that TFA and FMT after intervention could significantly improve depressive-like behavior and intestinal inflammation in mice with UC and depression, significantly downregulate pro-inflammatory cytokines and CD86 mRNA expression in brain and colon tissue, inhibiting M1 polarization of macrophages, and significantly upregulate CD206 mRNA expression, promoting M2 polarization of macrophages. In addition, the high-dose group had a more significant effect. After TFA intervention, FMT significantly corrected the metabolic disorder of glycerophospholipids in mice with UC and depression, and there was a significant correlation between differential intestinal flora and glycerophospholipids. In vitro experiments showed that glycerophospholipid metabolites, especially lysophosphatidylcholine(LPC),significantly upregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines and CD86 mRNA expression, promote M1 polarization of macrophages, while glycerophospholipid inhibitors had the opposite effect. The results indicate that TFA effectively treats depression and UC by correcting intestinal flora dysbiosis and reshaping glycerophospholipid metabolism, thereby inhibiting M1 polarization of macrophages.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Abelmoschus/chemistry*
;
Macrophages/metabolism*
;
Colitis, Ulcerative/immunology*
;
Flavones/administration & dosage*
;
Male
;
Depression/genetics*
;
Glycerophospholipids/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
3.Phenylpropanoids from roots of Berberis polyantha.
Dong-Mei SHA ; Shuai-Cong NI ; Li-Niu SHA-MA ; Hai-Xiao-Lin-Mo MA ; Xiao-Yong HE ; Bin HE ; Shao-Shan ZHANG ; Ying LI ; Jing WEN ; Yuan LIU ; Xin-Jia YAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1564-1568
The chemical constituents were systematically separated from the roots of Berberis polyantha by various chromatographic methods, including silica gel column chromatography, HP20 column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography, reversed-phase C_(18) column chromatography, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic techniques(1D NMR, 2D NMR, UV, MS, and CD). Four phenylpropanoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of B. polyantha, and they were identified as(2R)-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(1), methyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoate(2),(+)-syringaresinol(3), and syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(4). Compound 1 was a new compound, and other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated based on the release of nitric oxide(NO) in the culture of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. At a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), all the four compounds inhibited the LPS-induced release of NO in RAW264.7 cells, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Plant Roots/chemistry*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Berberis/chemistry*
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
;
Macrophages/immunology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
;
Nitric Oxide/metabolism*
;
Molecular Structure
;
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification*
4.Processing technology of calcined Magnetitum based on concept of QbD and its XRD characteristic spectra.
De-Wen ZENG ; Jing-Wei ZHOU ; Tian-Xing HE ; Yu-Mei CHEN ; Huan-Huan XU ; Jian FENG ; Yue YANG ; Xin CHEN ; Jia-Liang ZOU ; Lin CHEN ; Hong-Ping CHEN ; Shi-Lin CHEN ; Yuan HU ; You-Ping LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2391-2403
Guided by the concept of quality by design(QbD), this study optimizes the calcination and quenching process of calcined Magnetitum and establishes the XRD characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum, providing a scientific basis for the formulation of quality standards. Based on the processing methods and quality requirements of Magnetitum in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the critical process parameters(CPPs) identified were calcination temperature, calcination time, particle size, laying thickness, and the number of vinegar quenching cycles. The critical quality attributes(CQAs) included Fe mass fraction, Fe~(2+) dissolution, and surface color. The weight coefficients were determined by combining Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) and the criteria importance though intercrieria correlation(CRITIC) method, and the calcination process was optimized using orthogonal experimentation. Surface color was selected as a CQA, and based on the principle of color value, the surface color of calcined Magnetitum was objectively quantified. The vinegar quenching process was then optimized to determine the best processing conditions. X-ray diffraction(XRD) was used to establish the characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum, and methods such as similarity evaluation, cluster analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to evaluate the quality of the spectra. The optimized calcined Magnetitum preparation process was found to be calcination at 750 ℃ for 1 h, with a laying thickness of 4 cm, a particle size of 0.4-0.8 cm, and one vinegar quenching cycle(Magnetitum-vinegar ratio 10∶3), which was stable and feasible. The XRD characteristic spectra analysis method, featuring 9 common peaks as fingerprint information, was established. The average correlation coefficient ranged from 0.839 5-0.988 1, and the average angle cosine ranged from 0.914 4 to 0.995 6, indicating good similarity. Cluster analysis results showed that Magnetitum and calcined Magnetitum could be grouped together, with similar compositions. OPLS-DA discriminant analysis identified three key characteristic peaks, with Fe_2O_3 being the distinguishing component between the two. The final optimized processing method is stable and feasible, and the XRD characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum was initially established, providing a reference for subsequent quality control and the formulation of quality standards for calcined Magnetitum.
X-Ray Diffraction/methods*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Quality Control
;
Particle Size
5.Cognitive function disparities among atrial fibrillation patients with varying comorbidities.
Mei-Qi ZHAO ; Ting SHEN ; Man-Lin ZHAO ; Jia-Xin LIU ; Mei-Lin XU ; Xin LI ; Liu HE ; Yu KONG ; Chang-Sheng MA
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(10):859-870
BACKGROUND:
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is common in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients and may develop earlier in those with multiple cardiovascular comorbidities, potentially impairing self-management and treatment adherence. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and profile of MCI in AF patients, examine its associations with cardiovascular comorbidities, and assess how these comorbidities influence specific cognitive domains.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study analyzed data from AF patients who underwent cognitive assessment between 2017 and 2021. Cognitive status was categorized as MCI or non-MCI based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Associations between comorbidities and MCI were assessed by logistic regression, and cognitive domains were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.
RESULTS:
Of 4136 AF patients (mean age: 64.7 ± 9.4 years, 64.7% male), 33.5% of patients had MCI. Among the AF patients, 31.2% of patients had coronary artery disease, 20.1% of patients had heart failure, and 18.1% of patients had hypertension. 88.7% of patients had left atrial enlargement, and 11.0% of patients had reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Independent factors associated with higher MCI prevalence included older age (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03-1.05, P < 0.001), lower education level (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.31-1.73, P < 0.001), hypertension (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.07-1.52, P = 0.001), heart failure (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.48, P = 0.020), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.04-1.98, P = 0.028). A higher CHA2DS2-VASc score (OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.22-1.33, P < 0.001; ≥ 2 points vs. < 2 points), and greater atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease burden (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.02-2.08, P = 0.040; 2 types vs. 0 type) were linked to increased MCI risk. These above factors influenced various cognitive domains.
CONCLUSIONS
MCI is common in AF and closely associated with cardiovascular multimorbidity. Patients with multiple comorbidities are at higher risk, highlighting the importance of routine cognitive assessment to support self-management and integrated care.
6.Research Progress of Chinese Medicine Monomers in Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma.
Xiang WANG ; Xiao-Qing WANG ; Kai LUO ; He BAI ; Jia-Lin QI ; Gui-Xin ZHANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(2):170-182
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumor originating from cholangiocytes. However, it remains unclear about the pathogenesis of this carcinoma, which may be related to multiple factors. Currently, CCA is mainly treated by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Among them, surgery is the only potentially curative option for CCA. Nevertheless, the high malignancy and asymptomatic nature of CCA may lead to poor treatment outcomes. It has been demonstrated that Chinese medicine (CM) plays a significant role in various antitumor applications. Meanwhile, CM exhibits fewer side effects and high availability. Moreover, the in vitro application of CM monomers has been explored in many domestic and foreign studies. This article mainly reviews the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of CM monomers in the treatment of CCA in recent years. These findings are expected to provide new insights into the treatment of CCA.
Cholangiocarcinoma/drug therapy*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Bile Duct Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Animals
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
7.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.
8.Identification and anti-inflammatory activity of chemical constituents and a pair of new monoterpenoid enantiomers from the fruits of Litsea cubeba
Mei-lin LU ; Wan-feng HUANG ; Yu-ming HE ; Bao-lin WANG ; Fu-hong YUAN ; Ting ZHANG ; Qi-ming PAN ; Xin-ya XU ; Jia HE ; Shan HAN ; Qin-qin WANG ; Shi-lin YANG ; Hong-wei GAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(5):1348-1356
Eighteen compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of the fruits of
9.Determination of Organophosphate Esters and Metabolites in Serum and Urine by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Wen-Qi WU ; Xiao-Xia WANG ; Wen-Bin LIU ; Li-Rong GAO ; Yang YU ; Tian-Qi JIA ; Zhe-Yuan SHI ; Yun-Chen HE ; Jing-Lin DENG ; Chun-Ci CHEN
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(9):1346-1354,中插29-中插35
A new method was developed for simultaneous detection of total 19 kinds of organophosphate esters(OPEs)and their diester metabolites(di-OPEs)in human serum(1.0 mL)and urine(1.5 mL)with low volume of samples.The target compounds were determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)after acetonitrile liquid-liquid extraction combined with purification using an ENVI-18 solid-phase extraction(SPE)column.OPEs and di-OPEs were separated using a Shim-pack GIST C18 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,2 μm)with a Shim-pack GIST-HP(G)C18 guard column.An electrospray ionization source(ESI)was employed in mass spectrometry analysis,with positive/negative ion mode using the multiple reaction monitoring(MRM).All target compounds were separated within 15 min,and exhibited good linear relationships in the concentration range of 2-100 ng/mL,with correlation coefficients(R2)above 0.994.The method detection limits(MDL)in serum ranged from 0.001 to 0.178 ng/mL and the MDL in urine ranged from 0.001 to 0.119 ng/mL.The recoveries of the analytes spiked in serum and urine matrices at two concentration levels were 30.5%-126.8%,with the relative standard deviations(RSDs)ranged from 1%to 23%.In addition,paired serum and urine samples from 11 patients were analyzed.For all samples tested,the internal standards of OPEs exhibited recoveries between 61%and 114%,whereas the internal standards for di-OPEs had recoveries ranging from 43%to 103%.OPEs and di-OPEs exhibited high detection frequencies in 22 serum and urine samples.Triethyl phosphate(TEP),tributyl phosphate(TBP),tris(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate(TEHP),tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate(TBEP),tris(1-chloro-2-propyl)phosphate(TCIPP),triphenyl phosphate(TPHP),tri-m-tolyl-phosphate(TMTP)and 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate(EHDPP)were universally detected in all serum samples.TCIPP was identified at the highest concentrations(median 0.548 ng/mL)in serum samples.In urine samples,the detection frequency for 12 kinds of target compounds reached 100%.Notably,TBP emerged as the predominant OPE in urine,demonstrating a median concentration of 0.506 ng/mL.Regarding di-OPEs,bis(2-chloroethyl)phosphate(BCEP)and bis(2-butoxyethyl)hydrogen phosphate(BBOEP)were the most abundant in urine,with median concentrations of 6.404 and 2.136 ng/mL,respectively.The total concentrations of OPEs and di-OPEs in serum and urine were 1.580-3.843 ng/mL and 5.149-17.537 ng/mL,respectively.These results not only confirmed the effectiveness of the method in detection of OPEs and di-OPEs in biological matrices,but also revealed the widespread presence of OPE compounds in human body and pointed to potential exposure risks.
10.A phase Ⅱ clinical study of the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate combined with yiqibuvir for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in adults
Lai WEI ; Hongxin PIAO ; Jinglan JIN ; Shufen YUAN ; Xuan AN ; Jia SHANG ; Wenhua ZHANG ; Jiabao CHANG ; Tong SUN ; Yujuan GUAN ; Bo NING ; Jing ZHU ; Wentao GUO ; Qingwei HE ; Lin LUO ; Yulei ZHUANG ; Hongming XIE ; Yingjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2024;32(7):637-642
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg or 200 mg combined with yiqibuvir for 12 weeks in patients with various genotypes of chronic hepatitis C, without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis.Methods:Patients with chronic hepatitis C (without cirrhosis or compensated stage cirrhosis) were randomly assigned to the antaitasvir phosphate 100 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (100 mg group) or the antaitasvir phosphate 200 mg+yiqibuvir 600 mg group (200 mg group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The drugs were continuously administered once a day for 12 weeks and observed for 24 weeks after drug withdrawal. The drug safety profile was assessed concurrently with the observation of the sustained virological response (SVR12) in the two patient groups 12 weeks following the drug cessation. The intention-to-treat concept was used to define as closely as possible a full analysis set, including all randomized cases who received the experimental drug at least once. The safety set was collected from all subjects who received the experimental drug at least once (regardless of whether they participated in the randomization group) in this study. All efficacy endpoints and safety profile data were summarized using descriptive statistics. The primary efficacy endpoint was SVR12. The primary analysis was performed on a full analysis set. The frequency and proportion of cases were calculated in the experimental drug group (antaitasvir phosphate capsules combined with yiqibuvir tablets) that achieved "HCV RNA

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail