1.Analysis of core functional components in Yinchenhao Decoction and their pathways for treating liver fibrosis
Xingmei CHEN ; Qinwen LIU ; Yi LI ; Xiaoyu ZHONG ; Qiling FAN ; Ke MA ; Liuting LUO ; Daogang GUAN ; Zhibo ZHU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(8):1508-1517
Objective To analyze the core functional component groups(CFCG)in Yinchenhao Decoction(YCHD)and their possible pathways for treating hepatic fibrosis based on network pharmacology.Methods PPI data were extracted from DisGeNET,Genecards,CMGRN and PTHGRN to construct a weighted network using Cytoscape 3.9.1.The data of the chemical components in YCHD were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),and the potential active components and targets were selected using PreADMET Web server and SwissTargetPrediction.A fusion model was constructed to obtain the functional effect space and evaluate the effective proteins to identify the CFCG followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses for all the targets.In cultured human hepatic stellate cells(LX-2 cells),the cytotoxicity of different compounds in YCHD was tested using CCK-8 assay;the effects of these compounds on collagen α1(Col1a1)mRNA expression and the pathways in 20 ng/mL TGF-β1-stimulated cells were analyzed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results A total of 1005 pathogenic genes,226 potential active components and 1529 potential targets in YCHD and 52 potential targets of CFCG were obtained.Benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid were selected for CCK-8 verification,and they all showed minimal cytotoxicity below the concentration of 200 μmol/L.Clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid all effectively inhibited TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cell activation.At the concentration of 200 μmol/L,all these 4 components inhibited PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,p-ERK,P38 MAPK and p-P38 MAPK expressions in TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cells.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of YCHD on hepatic fibrosis is probably mediated by its core functional components including benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid,which inhibit the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways in hepatic stellate cells.
2.Analysis of core functional components in Yinchenhao Decoction and their pathways for treating liver fibrosis
Xingmei CHEN ; Qinwen LIU ; Yi LI ; Xiaoyu ZHONG ; Qiling FAN ; Ke MA ; Liuting LUO ; Daogang GUAN ; Zhibo ZHU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(8):1508-1517
Objective To analyze the core functional component groups(CFCG)in Yinchenhao Decoction(YCHD)and their possible pathways for treating hepatic fibrosis based on network pharmacology.Methods PPI data were extracted from DisGeNET,Genecards,CMGRN and PTHGRN to construct a weighted network using Cytoscape 3.9.1.The data of the chemical components in YCHD were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),and the potential active components and targets were selected using PreADMET Web server and SwissTargetPrediction.A fusion model was constructed to obtain the functional effect space and evaluate the effective proteins to identify the CFCG followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses for all the targets.In cultured human hepatic stellate cells(LX-2 cells),the cytotoxicity of different compounds in YCHD was tested using CCK-8 assay;the effects of these compounds on collagen α1(Col1a1)mRNA expression and the pathways in 20 ng/mL TGF-β1-stimulated cells were analyzed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results A total of 1005 pathogenic genes,226 potential active components and 1529 potential targets in YCHD and 52 potential targets of CFCG were obtained.Benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid were selected for CCK-8 verification,and they all showed minimal cytotoxicity below the concentration of 200 μmol/L.Clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid all effectively inhibited TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cell activation.At the concentration of 200 μmol/L,all these 4 components inhibited PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,p-ERK,P38 MAPK and p-P38 MAPK expressions in TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cells.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of YCHD on hepatic fibrosis is probably mediated by its core functional components including benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid,which inhibit the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways in hepatic stellate cells.
3.Establishing reference ranges of serum vitamin K in healthy children
Yuqing CHEN ; Shuanfeng FANG ; Xing LIU ; Yujun CHEN ; Xin FAN ; Yanping CHEN ; Liming LIU ; Yan LI ; Qianqi LIU ; Jinzhun WU ; Qiling HUANG ; Fang WANG ; Dong BAI ; Chunhua JIN
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(9):847-852
Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.
4.Transplant outcomes of 100 cases of living-donor ABO-incompatible kidney transplantation.
Saifu YIN ; Qiling TAN ; Youmin YANG ; Fan ZHANG ; Turun SONG ; Yu FAN ; Zhongli HUANG ; Tao LIN ; Xianding WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2022;135(19):2303-2310
BACKGROUND:
Although ABO-incompatible (ABOi) kidney transplantation (KT) has been performed successfully, a standard preconditioning regimen has not been established. Based on the initial antidonor ABO antibody titers, an individualized preconditioning regimen is developed, and this study explored the efficacy and safety of the regimen.
METHODS:
From September 1, 2014, to September 1, 2020, we performed 1668 consecutive living-donor KTs, including 100 ABOi and 1568 ABO-compatible (ABOc) KTs. ABOi KT recipients (KTRs) with a lower antibody titer (≤1:8) were administered oral immunosuppressive drugs (OIs) before KT, while patients with a medium titer (1:16) received OIs plus antibody-removal therapy (plasma exchange/double-filtration plasmapheresis), patients with a higher titer (≥1:32) were in addition received rituximab (Rit). Competing risk analyses were conducted to estimate the cumulative incidence of infection, acute rejection (AR), graft loss, and patient death.
RESULTS:
After propensity score analyses, 100 ABOi KTRs and 200 matched ABOc KTRs were selected. There were no significant differences in graft and patient survival between the ABOi and ABOc groups (P = 0.787, P = 0.386, respectively). After using the individualized preconditioning regimen, ABOi KTRs showed a similar cumulative incidence of AR (10.0% υs . 10.5%, P = 0.346). Among the ABOi KTRs, the Rit-free group had a similar cumulative incidence of AR ( P = 0.714) compared to that of the Rit-treated group. Multivariate competing risk analyses revealed that a Rit-free regimen reduced the risk of infection (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12-0.78, P = 0.013). Notably, antibody titer rebound was more common in ABOi KTRs receiving a Rit-free preconditioning regimen ( P = 0.013) than those receiving Rit. ABOi KTRs with antibody titer rebound had a 2.72-fold risk of AR (HR: 2.72, 95% CI: 1.01-7.31, P = 0.048). ABOi KTRs had similar serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to those of ABOc KTRs after the first year.
CONCLUSIONS
An individualized preconditioning regimen can achieve comparable graft and patient survival rates in ABOi KT with ABOc KT. Rit-free preconditioning effectively prevented AR without increasing the risk of infectious events in those with lower initial titers; however, antibody titer rebound should be monitored.
Humans
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Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects*
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Living Donors
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Kidney
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Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use*
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Rituximab/therapeutic use*
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ABO Blood-Group System
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Graft Rejection
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Graft Survival