1.Early clinical efficacy of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction on ischemic cerebrovascular disease after interventional therapy
Qinghua WANG ; Gesheng WANG ; Ruiping LI ; Can ZHENG ; Wenjing LI ; Jiaqi CHEN ; Kaihang GUO ; Xiaobo DONG ; Wenxin WANG ; Rongjuan GUO ; Le WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):108-121
Objective:
To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the intervention of early traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes after ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) intervention.
Methods:
From October 2020 to July 2023, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to include 60 patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD interventional therapy. They were assigned to the Yiqi Tongluo Decoction treatment group (30 cases) and the TCM placebo routine treatment control group (30 cases) according to the randomized block design. Both groups received routine standardized treatment of Western medicine, including dual antiplatelet, lipid regulation, and control of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The treatment group was treated with Yiqi Tongluo Decoction based on the control group. The course of treatment was 60 days and follow-up was carried out 2 and 6 months after the operation. The improvement of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, phlegm syndrome score and TCM syndrome score, modified Rankin score (mRS), Barthel index (BI) score, Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) level, incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS) and incidence of adverse reactions, Head and neck CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination were collected. The clinical efficacy of the patients 2 months after the operation was taken as the main outcome index to preliminarily evaluate the early and long-term efficacy of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction after the ICVD intervention. The early and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of Western medicine standardized treatment combined with TCM Yiqi Tongluo Decoction on patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD intervention were evaluated. The safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the treatment of patients after ICVD intervention with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), plasminogen time (PT), recurrence of cerebral ischaemia and restenosis in patients at 2 and 6 months after treatment were evaluated.
Results:
Compared to the control group, the TCM syndrome scores for qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm syndrome in the treatment group reduced significantly, the clinical efficacy improved significantly, the mRS score and FABP4 were reduced, and the BI score was increased. Adverse events such as cerebral ischaemia were fewer in the treatment group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant; levels of CRP, WBC and PT were reduced, and levels of FIB were reduced at 6 months post-treatment, all P<0.01, and images were intuitively compared. The treatment group was superior to the control group.
Conclusion
Yiqi Tongluo Decoction combined with Western medicine standard treatment can improve the early clinical efficacy of ICVD patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after interventional surgery, improve neurological impairment and daily living ability, reduce the state of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome and phlegm syndrome after interventional surgery, and improve the clinical efficacy of TCM. At the same time, it can reduce the level of FABP4, the target of atherosclerosis and restenosis after interventional surgery, reduce the level of inflammation after interventional surgery in patients with ICVD, regulate coagulation function, and reduce the incidence of long-term recurrence of cerebral ischemia after interventional surgery, with good safety.
2.Mechanism of Xinnao shutong capsule alleviating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by regulating ferroptosis
Huani LI ; Changhe LIU ; Xiaoyan GUO ; Xin ZHONG ; Wei ZHANG ; Wenjing GE
China Pharmacy 2025;36(3):306-311
OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of Xinnao shutong capsule alleviating cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) in rats by regulating the ferroptosis pathway. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, Xinnao shutong low-dose, high-dose group (220, 440 mg/kg), Ginkgo biloba leaves extract group (positive control, 150 mg/kg). Each group of rats was orally administered with the corresponding medication/normal saline for 7 consecutive days. Transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was adopted to induce the CIRI model; the samples were taken 24 h after the operation; the cerebral infarction area of rats was detected, and the cerebral infarction rate was calculated. The pathological changes of brain tissues were observed, and the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in cerebral tissue were detected; mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were all detected in cerebral tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with model group, the cerebral infarction rate, the content of total iron in cerebral tissue and serum level of LPO (except for Ginkgo biloba leaves extract group and Xinnao shutong low-dose group) were all decreased significantly in G. biloba leaves extract group and Xinnao shutong groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the serum level of GSH, the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 were all increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The pathological damage to brain tissue was reduced, the number of nerve cells increased, the edema was alleviated, and the nuclear membrane was flattened. CONCLUSIONS Xinnao shutong capsule can inhibit ferroptosis and reduce CIRI, the mechanism of which may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway.
3.Network meta-analysis for efficacy and safety of aromatase inhibitors for postmenopausal hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer
Yujie LI ; Wenjing ZHANG ; Hongxin YANG ; Hao GUO
China Pharmacy 2025;36(12):1520-1524
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of three aromatase inhibitors (exemestane, anastrozole, letrozole) for postmenopausal hormone receptor (HR)-positive early breast cancer. METHODS PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Data, VIP and SinoMed were searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the above three drugs in the treatment of postmenopausal HR-positive early breast cancer patients. The retrieval time limit was from the establishment of the database to October 25, 2024. After literature screening, data extraction and literature quality evaluation, network meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 and Stata 18.0 software. RESULTS A total of 15 RCTs involving 44 055 patients were included. The results of network meta-analysis showed that the objective response rate of letrozole group was significantly higher than anastrozole group (P<0.05), and the order of surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) from high to low was letrozole (85.6%)>anastrozole (61.5%)>exemestane (2.8%). The disease-free survival rate of anastrozole group was significantly higher than exemestane and placebo groups (P<0.05), and the order of SUCRA from high to low was letrozole (85.8%)> anastrozole (67.3%)>exemestane (41.4%)>placebo (5.5%). The total incidence of adverse reactions in anastrozole group was significantly higher than letrozole and placebo groups (P<0.05), and the order of SUCRA from high to low was exemestane (87.4%)>letrozole (63.9%)>anastrozole (47.0%)>placebo (1.7%). The results of subgroup analysis according to the course of treatment≥104 weeks were consistent with them. CONCLUSIONS Compared with anastrozole, letrozole has better efficacy and safety in the treatment of postmenopausal HR-positive early breast cancer, and the efficacy of exemestane is limited.
4.Trend in disease burden of interstitial lung disease in China from 1990 to 2021
SUN Yuefeng ; GUO Sijia ; WEI Yuan ; HE Tiantian ; GUO An ; ZENG Zhaolu ; SUN Luyan ; DOU Wenjing ; SUN Zengtao
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(11):1124-1128
Objective:
To investigate the trend in disease burden of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in China from 1990 to 2021, so as to provide a reference for formulating prevention and control strategies for chronic respiratory diseases.
Methods:
Based on the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database, data on the number of incident cases, incidence, standardized incidence, number of deaths, mortality, standardized mortality, number of disability-adjusted life years (DALY), DALY rate, and standardized DALY rate of ILD in China were collected. The incidence, mortality, and DALY rate were used to analyze the disease burden of ILD. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was employed to assess the trend in standardized incidence, standardized mortality, and standardized DALY rate of ILD from 1990 to 2021. Rate decomposition analysis was applied to identify the main contributing factors affecting the trend in disease burden.
Results:
In 2021, China reported 48 514 cases, 7 674 deaths, and 222 288 person-years of DALY due to ILD, representing increases of 155.43%, 159.70%, and 97.34%, respectively, compared with 1990. From 1990 to 2021, the standardized incidence and standardized mortality of ILD in China showed upward trends (EAPC=1.106% and 0.239%, both P<0.05), while the standardized DALY rate showed a downward trend (EAPC=-0.230%, P<0.05). From 1990 to 2021, the standardized incidence and standardized mortality among males showed upward trends (EAPC=1.199% and 0.520%, both P<0.05), while the trend in the standardized DALY rate was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Among females, the standardized incidence of ILD showed an upward trend (EAPC=0.966%, P<0.05), while the standardized mortality and standardized DALY rate showed downward trends (EAPC=-0.306% and -0.760%, both P<0.05). In 2021, the incidence, mortality, and DALY rate of ILD in China increased with age, peaking in the group aged ≥95 years at 14.84/105, 13.90/105, and 124.71/105, respectively. Across all age groups aged ≥55 years, the incidence, mortality, and DALY rate of ILD were consistently higher in males than in females. The increase in the number of incident cases, deaths, and DALY due to ILD in China from 1990 to 2021 was primarily influenced by population aging, with contribution rates of 42.65%, 68.25%, and 69.79%, respectively.
Conclusions
From 1990 to 2021, the incidence and mortality risk of ILD in China showed upward trends, while the disability risk demonstrated a downward trend. Males bore a heavier disease burden of ILD, and aging was identified as the primary factor contributing to the increased burden of ILD in China.
5.Renal Protective Mechanism of Danggui Shaoyaosan in db/db Mice Based on RhoA/ROCK/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Luyu HOU ; Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Wenjing SHI ; Shilong GUO ; Zixuan WANG ; Linlin ZHENG ; Dengzhou GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):30-38
ObjectiveTo investigate whether Danggui Shaoyaosan (DSS) inhibits oxidative stress and alleviates inflammation via the Ras homolog family member A (RhoA)/Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK)/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, thereby delaying the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and exerting a nephroprotective effect. MethodsEight db/m mice were assigned to the normal group, and forty 8-week-old db/db mice were randomly divided into the model group, DSS low-dose group (8.39 g·kg-1), DSS medium-dose group (16.77 g·kg-1), DSS high-dose group (33.54 g·kg-1), and irbesartan group (0.025 g·kg-1), with eight mice in each group. All groups were administered the corresponding treatment by gavage once daily for 12 weeks. The normal and model groups received an equal volume of saline. During administration, changes in body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and 24 hour urinary protein (24 h UTP) were observed. After 12 consecutive weeks of administration, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining were used to observe renal histopathological changes in each group. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in renal tissue were detected using the dihydroethidium (DHE) method. The expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in renal tissue were determined. Serum interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of RhoA, ROCK1, and NF-κB p65 in renal tissues were detected by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). Protein expression levels of fibronectin (FN), Collagen Ⅳ(Col Ⅳ), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), RhoA, ROCK, and NF-κB p65 in renal tissues were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased body weight, FBG, and 24 h UTP levels (P<0.01), elevated serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels, enlarged glomerular volume, diffuse mesangial expansion, increased mesangial matrix, and marked collagen fiber proliferation in renal tissues. SOD activity was decreased, while MDA, ROS, RhoA, ROCK1, and NF-κB p65 mRNA expression levels were increased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of FN, Col Ⅳ, TGF-β1, RhoA, ROCK, and NF-κB p65 were also elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the DSS low-, medium-, and high-dose groups and the irbesartan group showed reductions in body weight, FBG, and 24 h UTP, decreased serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels, varying degrees of improvement in renal histopathology, increased SOD activity, decreased MDA levels, reduced ROS expression, and significantly downregulated RhoA, ROCK1, and NF-κB p65 mRNA expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), as well as reduced protein expression levels of FN, Col Ⅳ, TGF-β1, RhoA, ROCK, and NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDSS can alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation, reduce extracellular matrix deposition, and delay renal fibrosis progression in db/db mice. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the RhoA/ROCK/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on DKD.
6.Polymer-assisted PD-L1 degradation and targeted photodynamic therapy synergize to suppress immunodeficient tumors.
Changyong GUO ; Shipeng HE ; Huaxing SHEN ; Wei CONG ; Jinqiu LI ; Yajing JI ; Wenjing HUANG ; Fei GAO ; Honggang HU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3805-3818
Checkpoint blockade immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative approach in cancer treatment by activating tumor-infiltrating T cells. However, the efficacy of PD-L1 blockade is restricted in "cold" tumors, which are characterized by low immunogenicity, presenting a challenge to immunotherapy. This study introduces an innovative strategy, utilizing cathepsin-cleavable N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) polymer-assisted combined photodynamic therapy (PDT) and PD-L1 degradation for the first time, effectively treating T cell-deficient tumors. The degradable main-chain polymer, conjugated with photosensitizer porphyrin, facilitates the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), triggering immunogenic cell death (ICD) and promoting cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) infiltration into tumors. Multivalent peptide antagonists of PD-L1 promote PD-L1 degradation in lysosomes through receptor crosslinking, overcoming the adaptive cycling of PD-L1 to the tumor cell surface. These findings demonstrate that polymer-assisted PDT and PD-L1 crosslinking degradation represent a potential novel strategy for anti-tumor immunotherapy, providing valuable tools for expanding immunotherapy applications in immunosuppressive cancers.
7.Yeast-two-hybrid based high-throughput screening to discover SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors by targeting the HR1/HR2 interaction.
Jing ZHANG ; Dongsheng LI ; Wenwen ZHOU ; Chao LIU ; Peirong WANG ; Baoqing YOU ; Bingjie SU ; Keyu GUO ; Wenjing SHI ; Tin Mong TIMOTHY YUNG ; Richard Yi TSUN KAO ; Peng GAO ; Yan LI ; Shuyi SI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4829-4843
The continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants as well as other potential future coronavirus has challenged the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines. Therefore, there remains a need for alternative antivirals that target processes less susceptible to mutations, such as the formation of six-helix bundle (6-HB) during the viral fusion step of host cell entry. In this study, a novel high-throughput screening (HTS) assay employing a yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) system was established to identify inhibitors of HR1/HR2 interaction. The compound IMB-9C, which achieved single-digit micromolar inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 and its Omicron variants with low cytotoxicity, was selected. IMB-9C effectively blocks the HR1/HR2 interaction in vitro and inhibits SARS-CoV-2-S-mediated cell-cell fusion. It binds to both HR1 and HR2 through non-covalent interaction and influences the secondary structure of HR1/HR2 complex. In addition, virtual docking and site-mutagenesis results suggest that amino acid residues A930, I931, K933, T941, and L945 are critical for IMB-9C binding to HR1. Collectively, in this study, we have developed a novel screening method for HR1/HR2 interaction inhibitors and identified IMB-9C as a potential antiviral small molecule against COVID-19 and its variants.
8.Engineered plant extracellular vesicles: Emerging nanoplatforms for combinational cancer immunotherapy.
Fucai CHEN ; Rongrong BAO ; Wanyi YANG ; Yijing LU ; Jiaxin GUO ; Wenjing CHEN ; Jiale LI ; Kuanhan FENG ; Wen ZHANG ; Liuqing DI ; Liang FENG ; Ruoning WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):5663-5701
Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PDEVs), describe a group of nanoparticles released by plants. These particles are characterized by a lipid bilayer structure containing various proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and unique metabolites. Although the study on PDEVs is relatively new, having only been around for ten years, they have shown promising development prospects in both basic research and clinical transformation areas. Evidence suggests that PDEVs have excellent application prospects in regulating inflammation and treating tumors. Their distinctive, vesicle-mimicking architecture and stellar biocompatibility render them prime candidates for ferrying various anti-cancer agents, including RNA, proteins, and conventional chemotherapy drugs. Increasingly, studies have shown that PDEVs can be engineered as an innovative platform for combination cancer immunotherapy. Consequently, this paper provides an extensive summary of current developments in engineering methods and strategies for PDEVs in cancer treatment and combined cancer immune therapeutics. The essential characteristics of PDEVs, including the biogenesis process and components, as well as their anti-tumor activity and mechanism, are summarized. Finally, the in vivo safety of PDEVs as delivery vectors and the challenges of scale-up production and clinical transformation are discussed.
9.Efgartigimod alfa in the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis:a rapid health technology assessment
Gerile HUANG ; Yujie LI ; Wenjing ZHANG ; Hao GUO
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2024;33(10):1156-1163
Objective To evaluate the efficacy,safety and economy of efgartigimod alfa in the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis by rapid health technology assessment,and to provide evidence-based evidence for clinical rational drug use.Methods PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,CNKI,VIP,WanFang Data,SinoMed database and relevant databases of health technology assessment institutions were electronically searched to collect health technology assessment reports,systematic reviews/Meta-analysis and pharmacoeconomic literatures of efgartigimod alfa for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis from the inception to June 21,2024.Two researchers screened the literature,extracted data,and evaluated the quality of the literature,summarised the finding and performed qualitative descriptive analysis.Results A total of 6 literature were included,involving 5 systematic reviews/Meta-analysis and one pharmacoeconomic study.In terms of efficacy,efgartigimod alfa demonstrated a significant reduction in MG-ADL,QMGs,and MG-QOLs 15R compared to placebo among generalized myasthenia gravis patients,these differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).However,findings from different studies regarding comparisons with other biologics like batoclimab,ronzanolixizumab,and eculizumab yielded inconsistent conclusions.In terms of safety,the incidence of adverse events in adults generalized myasthenia gravis patients treated with efgartigimod alfa compared with that of the placebo was not statistically significant(P>0.05).However,compared with other biological agents,the conclusions drawn from each study were inconsistent.In terms of economics,efgartigimod alfa did not exhibit cost-effectiveness advantages over traditional therapies.Conclusion Efgartigimod alpha showed better efficacy than placebo in the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis,but there was no definitive conclusion compared with other biological agents.In terms of safety,the incidence of ADE in adult generalized myasthenia gravis patients treated with efgartigimod alpha was not statistically different from that of the placebo group,and no definite conclusion could be drawn when compared with other biological agents.According to U.S.drug economic data,efgartigimod alpha does not have economic advantages over traditional therapies.
10.Effect of SRS Treatment Timing on Survival of EGFR-mutated Lung Adenocarcinoma with Brain Metastasis
Wenjing GUO ; Guangcheng DING ; Changli SHI
Journal of Medical Research 2024;53(6):59-64
Objective To investigate the timing of stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS)in lung adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)mutation treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor(TKI).Methods A total of 90 patients with EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma patients with brain metastasis admitted to the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2018 to December 2020 were collected.All patients received TKI treatment and were divided into two treatment groups according to the timing of SRS treatment:those who received SRS immediately after the diagnosis of lung cancer brain metastasis were called early SRS group(n=52),and those who received TKI treatment and then SRS after the progression of brain metastasis were called deferred SRS group(n=38).Objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),intracranial progression-free survival(iPFS)and overall survival(OS)were compared between the two groups.Multivariate COX regression model was used to analyze the prognosis.Results There was no significant difference in ORR(59.6%vs 50.0%,P=0.365)and DCR(76.9%vs 73.7%,P=0.724)between the two groups.The median OS and iPFS of the whole group were 31.5months and 12.5months,respectively.The OS of the early SRS group was signifi-cantly longer than that of the late SRS group(35.5months vs 27.0months,P=0.001).iPFS was also significantly better in the early SRS group than in the late SRS group(15.0months vs 11.5months,P=0.004).The median OS was longer in patients with no symptoms of brain metastases than in patients with symptoms of brain metastases(35.5months vs 27.Omonths,P=0.011).Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that early SRS treatment was a protective factor for OS and iPFS(HR<1,P<0.05),and Lung-mol GPA score of 3.5-4.0 was a protective factor for OS(HR<1,P<0.01).Conclusion For patients with advanced EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastases,early SRS treatment after diagnosis of brain metastases has better intracranial control effect and greater survival benefit.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail