1.Shuangshi Tonglin Capsule Improves Prostate Fibrosis through Nrf2/TGF-β1 Signaling Pathways.
Zi-Qiang WANG ; Peng MAO ; Bao-An WANG ; Qi GUO ; Hang LIU ; Yong YUAN ; Chuan WANG ; Ji-Ping LIU ; Xing-Mei ZHU ; Hao WEI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(6):518-528
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect and mechanism of Shuangshi Tonglin Capsules (SSTL) in the treatment of prostate fibrosis (PF).
METHODS:
Human prostate stromal cells (WPMY-1) were used for in vitro experiments to establish PF cell models induced with estradiol (E2). The cell proliferation, migration and clonogenic capacity were determined by cell counting kit-8, scratch assay, and crystal violet staining, respectively. Sprague-Dawley rats were used for in vivo experiments. The changes in histomorphology and organ index of rat prostate by SSTL were determined. Pathologic changes and collagen deposition changes in rat prostate were observed by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to determine changes in rat PF markers fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), E2 and prostate specific antigen (PSA). Mechanistically, changes in oxidative stress indicators by SSTL were determined in WPMY-1 cells and PF rats. Then the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad pathway-related proteins as well as Nrf2 and TGF-β1 mRNA were further detected by Western blot or quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction both in vivo and in vitro.
RESULTS:
In the efficacy study, SSTL significantly reduced the proliferation, migration, and clonogenic ability of cells, improved the morphology of the glandular tissue, significantly reduced the prostate index, reduced glandular fibrous tissue and collagen deposition, and resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of FGF-23, E2 and PSA (P<0.01 or P<0.05). In the mechanistic study, SSTL ameliorated oxidative stress by significantly increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels and decreasing malondialdehyde level in WPMY-1 cells and rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05). SSTL significantly elevated the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO-1), and Smad7 proteins in both cells and rats, and significantly decreased the expressions of TGF-β1, collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin and Smad4 proteins (P<0.01 or P<0.05). SSTL also elevated the content of Nrf2 mRNA and decreased the content of TGF-β1 mRNA in cells and rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 was added in in vitro experiments to further validate the pathway relevance.
CONCLUSION
SSTL was effective in improving PF in vivo and in vitro, and its mechanism of action may function through the Nrf2/TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
Male
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Humans
;
Fibrosis
;
Prostate/drug effects*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Capsules
;
Cell Movement/drug effects*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Rats
2.Promoting Reform of Talent Evaluation Based on China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Kaige ZHANG ; Yong ZHU ; Jisheng WANG ; Liangzhen YOU ; Weijun HUANG ; Jie YANG ; Candong LI ; Genping LEI ; Chuan ZHENG ; Shuzhen GUO ; Longtao LIU ; Zhining TIAN ; Xinping QIU ; Wenli SU ; Zuo LI ; Wei YAN ; Hongcai SHANG ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(17):220-226
Talents are the main force for the development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and the construction of TCM talents and the reformation of talent evaluation system are essential to promote the inheritance and innovation of TCM. At present, we are still exploring and developing in the fields of the formulation, implementation and evaluation indicators of TCM talent evaluation system. However, there are shortcomings and difficulties. For instance, insufficient stratification in the evaluation, excessive emphasis on the quantity of achievements, neglecting the quality of the achievements and the actual contribution, imperfect assessment indicators, and the weak characteristics of TCM. Therefore, national ministries and commissions have jointly issued a document requesting to break the four only and set a new standard, in order to promote the construction of a scientific and technological talent evaluation system oriented by innovation value, ability and contribution. For the evaluation of TCM clinical talents, China Association for Science and Technology commissioned China Association of Chinese Medicine to build the China Clinical Cases Library of TCM(CCCL-TCM), which aims at collecting the most authoritative and representative TCM clinical cases and exploring the advantages of applying clinical cases as masterpiece of achievement in TCM clinical talents evaluation. CCCL-TCM can promote the construction of a talent evaluation system that is more in line with the development characteristics of TCM industry, and to carry out relevant pilot in TCM colleges and institutions across the country in order to promote the reformation of TCM talent evaluation system.
3.A Novel Signature Combing Cuproptosis- and Ferroptosis-Related Genes in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
Rou-Rou FANG ; Qi-Fan YANG ; Jing ZHAO ; Shou-Zhu XU
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2024;39(4):261-272
OBJECTIVES:
To identify cuproptosis- and ferroptosis-related genes involved in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and to determine the diagnostic value of hub genes.
METHODS:
The gene expression dataset GSE89632 was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group and the healthy group using the 'limma' package in R software and weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Gene ontology, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway, and single-sample gene set enrichment analyses were performed to identify functional enrichment of DEGs. Ferroptosis- and cuproptosis-related genes were obtained from the FerrDb V2 database and available literatures, respectively. A combined signature for cuproptosis- and ferroptosis-related genes, called CRF, was constructed using the STRING database. Hub genes were identified by overlapping DEGs, WGCNA-derived key genes, and combined signature CRF genes, and validated using the GSE109836 and GSE227714 datasets and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A nomogram of NASH diagnostic model was established utilizing the 'rms' package in R software based on the hub genes, and the diagnostic value of hub genes was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. In addition, immune cell infiltration in NASH versus healthy controls was examined using the CIBERSORT algorithm. The relationships among various infiltrated immune cells were explored with Spearman's correlation analysis.
RESULTS:
Analysis of GSE89632 identified 236 DEGs between the NASH group and the healthy group. WGCNA highlighted 8 significant modules and 11,095 pivotal genes, of which 330 genes constituted CRF. Intersection analysis identified IL6, IL1B, JUN, NR4A1, and PTGS2 as hub genes. The hub genes were all downregulated in the NASH group, and this result was further verified by the NASH validation dataset and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the diagnostic efficacy of these hub genes with areas under the curve of 0.985, 0.941, 1.000, 0.967, and 0.985, respectively. Immune infiltration assessment revealed that gamma delta T cells, M1 macrophages, M2 macrophages, and resting mast cells were predominantly implicated.
CONCLUSIONS
Our investigation underscores the significant association of cuproptosis- and ferroptosis-related genes, specifically IL6, IL1B, JUN, NR4A1, and PTGS2, with NASH. These findings offer novel insights into the pathogenesis of NASH, potentially guiding future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology*
;
Humans
;
Ferroptosis/genetics*
;
Copper/metabolism*
;
Gene Ontology
;
Gene Expression Profiling
4.An Fe-Cu bimetallic organic framework as a microwave sensitizer for treating tumors using combined microwave thermotherapy and chemodynamic therapy
Zhu XINYANG ; He CHAO ; Tan LONGFEI ; Qi XUN ; Niu MENG ; Meng XIANWEI ; Zhong HONGSHAN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(7):1063-1075
Microwave thermotherapy(MWTT),as a treatment for tumors,lacks specificity and requires sensitizers.Most reported microwave sensitizers are single metal-organic frameworks(MOFs),which must be loaded with ionic liquids to enhance the performance in MWTT.Meanwhile,MWTT is rarely combined with other treatment modalities.Here,we synthesized a novel Fe-Cu bimetallic organic framework FeCuMOF(FCM)by applying a hydrothermal method and further modified it with methyl polyethylene glycol(mPEG).The obtained FCM@PEG(FCMP)showed remarkable heating performance under low-power microwave irradiation;it also acted as a novel nanospheres enzyme to catalyze H2O2 decompo-sition,producing abundant reactive oxygen species(ROS)to deplete glutathione(GSH)and prevent ROS clearance from tumor cells during chemodynamic treatment.The FCMP was biodegradable and demonstrated excellent biocompatibility,allowing it to be readily metabolized without causing toxic effects.Finally,it was shown to act as a suitable agent for T2 magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in vitro and in vivo.This new bimetallic nanostructure could successfully realize two tumor treatment modalities(MWTTand chemodynamic therapy)and dual imaging modes(T2 MRI and microwave thermal imaging).Our findings represent a breakthrough for integrating the diagnosis and treatment of tumors and pro-vides a reference for developing new microwave sensitizers.
5.Dead heart of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix: a study based on multi-omics.
Jin-Xiu QIAN ; Ya-Peng WANG ; Huai-Zhu LI ; Yan-Meng LIU ; Yi-Han WANG ; Li-Ping KANG ; Tie-Gui NAN ; Jin-Fu TANG ; Zhi-Lai ZHAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(17):4634-4646
Dead heart is an important trait of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix. The purpose of this study was to clarify the scientific connotation of the dead heart using multi-omics. Metabolomics and transcriptomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis such as principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) were used to systematically compare the differences in chemical composition and gene expression among phloem, outer xylem and near-dead xylem of pith-decayed Scutella-riae Radix. The results revealed significant differences in the contents of flavonoid glycosides and aglycones among the three parts. Compared with phloem and outer xylem, near-dead xylem had markedly lowered content of flavonoid glycosides(including baicalin, norwogonin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, oroxylin A-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and wogonoside) while markedly increased content of aglycones(including 3,5,7,2',6'-pentahydroxy dihydroflavone, baicalin, wogonin, and oroxylin A). The differentially expressed genes were mainly concentrated in KEGG pathways such as phenylpropanoid metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, ABC transporter, and plant MAPK signal transduction pathway. This study systematically elucidated the material basis of the dead heart of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix with multiple growing years. Specifically, the content of flavonoid aglycones was significantly increased in the near-dead xylem, and the gene expression of metabolic pathways such as flavonoid glycoside hydrolysis, interxylary cork development and programmed apoptosis was significantly up-regulated. This study provided a theoretical basis for guiding the high-quality production of pith-decayed Scutellariae Radix.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Scutellaria baicalensis/chemistry*
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Glucuronides
;
Multiomics
;
Flavonoids/chemistry*
6.Impact of COVID-19 epidemic on inventory of red blood cells in local and municipal blood stations in China
Weina CHEN ; Jianling ZHONG ; Yueping DING ; Weizhen LYU ; Jian ZHANG ; Lin BAO ; Feng YAN ; Li LI ; Dexu CHU ; Guanlin HU ; Ruijuan YANG ; Bo LI ; Xiaofeng ZHEN ; Youhua SHEN ; Wen ZHANG ; Jie YANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Yunfei LI ; Liang BAI ; Ning LI ; Yian LIANG ; Lili ZHU ; Qingsong YUAN ; Qingjie MA
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2023;36(10):903-906
【Objective】 To evaluate and analyze the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on inventory of red blood cells (RBCs)in local and municipal blood stations in China, and to provide reference for the management of public health emergencies. 【Methods】 Relevant data from 2018 to 2021 were collected, and the differences in the volume of qualified RBCs, the usage efficiency of inventory RBCs, the average daily distribution of RBCs,the blood distribution rate of RBCs prepared by 400 mL whole blood, the difference in the average storage days of RBCs at the time of distribution, the average daily inventory of RBCs and the time of the average daily inventory of RBCs to maintain the distribution in 24 local and municipal blood stations in China during the COVID-19 epidemic and non-epidemic periods were retrospectively analyzed. 【Results】 Compared with non-epidemic periods, the volume of qualified RBCs [(117 525.979 ±52 203.175)U] and the average daily distribution of RBCs [( 156. 468 ± 70. 186) U ] increased significantly, but the usage efficiency of inventory RBCs decreased(97.24%±0.51%) significantly (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the blood distribution rate of RBCs prepared by 400 mL whole blood(73.88%±20.30%), the average storage days of RBCs distribution(13.040 ±3.486), the average daily stock quantity of RBCs[(2 280.542 ±1 446.538) U ] and the time of the average daily inventory of RBCs to maintain the distribution[(15.062 ±7.453) d] (P>0.5). 【Conclusion】 During the COVID-19 epidemic, the inventory management of RBCs operated well, the overall inventory remained relatively stable, the stock composition and storage period showed no significant change.
7.Professional Quality of Life of Chinese Nurses and Its Correlation with Benefit Findings
Zhaozhao HUI ; Xin LI ; Hailu ZHU ; Zhenxiang ZHANG ; Fang LIANG ; Niuniu SUN ; Jing LI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2023;36(1):49-56
【Objective:】 To understand the current situation of nurses’ professional quality of life in China and its correlation with benefit findings, so as to provide reference for formulating targeted measures to improve nurses’ professional quality of life in China. 【Methods:】 Questionnaire star was used to conduct a cross-sectional survey of 11 924 registered nurses in China from January 2022 to April 2022 using the General Information Questionnaire, the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) and the General Benefit Discovery Scale (GBFS). SPSS 22.0 software was used for data analysis. 【Results:】 The scores of various dimensions of nurses’ ProQOL scale were: compassion satisfaction was (32.71±6.81) points, burnout was (27.38±5.20) points, secondary traumatic stress was (28.44±6.67) points, and the total score of GBFS was (100.90±18.04) points. The results of multiple linear stepwise regression showed that the main influencing factors of compassion satisfaction were marital status, position, work unit level and educational background (P<0.05). The main influencing factors of burnout were position, professional title, work unit level and whether there were children to be taken care of at home (P<0.05). The main influencing factors of secondary traumatic stress were education background, marital status, professional title, whether there was an old person to be taken care of at home, whether to take care of COVID-19 patients, whether to be an epidemic support staff and position (P<0.05). Benefit finding independently predicted the three dimensions of nurses’ professional quality of life (P<0.001). 【Conclusions:】 Chinese nurses’ professional quality of life was at a moderate level and it was significantly affected by benefit finding. Attention should be paid to factors such as marital status, work unit level, position, professional title, education background, whether there was an old person to be taken care of at home, whether to take care of COVID-19 patients, so as to improve the level of nurses’ benefit finding, promote their personal growth, provide good job guarantee, and improve Chinese nurses’ professional quality of life.
8.Analysis on the Ethical Principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Preservation Thought from the Perspective of Healthy China: Taking Master Lyu’s Spring and Autumn Annals as an Example
Meng YANG ; Xueyuan ZHU ; Yajun LI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2023;36(6):646-650
"Healthy China 2030" states that health is a necessary requirement for all-round human development and a basic condition for economic and social development. Achieving national health and longevity is an important symbol of national prosperity and rejuvenation, and also the common aspiration of the people of all ethnic groups in China. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) health preservation has been fully integrated into the construction of "Healthy China", and the development of TCM health preservation culture and thought has a profound historical origin. Starting from the development of TCM health preservation culture thought and ethical principles, this paper analyzed the TCM health preservation thought contained in Master Lyu’s Spring and Autumn Annals, and further discussed and summarized the ethical principles contained in them, with a view to comprehensively and systematically promoting the development of TCM health preservation culture and providing a theoretical basis for people to use health preservation ethical principles to achieve physical fitness, disease prevention and longevity.
9.Mechanism of tryptanthrin in treatment of ulcerative colitis in mice based on serum metabolomics.
Jie ZHU ; Bao-Long HOU ; Wen CHENG ; Ting WANG ; Zheng WANG ; Yan-Ni LIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(8):2193-2202
This study aims to explore the effect of tryptanthrin on potential metabolic biomarkers in the serum of mice with ulcerative colitis(UC) induced by dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) and predict the related metabolic pathways. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into a tryptanthrin group, a sulfasalazine group, a control group, and a model group. The mouse model of UC was established by free drinking of 3% DSS solution for 11 days, and corresponding drugs were adminsitrated at the same time. The signs of mice were observed and the disease activity index(DAI) score was recorded from the first day. Colon tissue samples were collected after the experiment and observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The levels of interleukin-4(IL-4), interleukin-10(IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), and interleukin-8(IL-8) in the serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The serum samples were collected from 6 mice in each group for widely targeted metabolomics. The metabolic pathways were enriched by MetaboAnalyst 5.0. The results showed that compared with the model group, tryptanthrin treatment decreased the DAI score(P<0.05), alleviated the injury of the colon tissue and the infiltration of inflammatory cells, lowered the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and elevated the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the serum. The metabolomic analysis revealed 28 differential metabolites which were involved in 3 metabolic pathways including purine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. Tryptanthrin may restore the metabolism of the mice with UC induced by DSS to the normal level by regulating the purine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. This study employed metabolomics to analyze the mechanism of tryptanthrin in the treatment of UC, providing an experimental basis for the utilization and development of tryptanthrin.
Mice
;
Animals
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Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy*
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Tryptophan
;
Arachidonic Acid/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Colon
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Cytokines/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-6/metabolism*
;
Metabolomics
;
Purines/therapeutic use*
;
Dextran Sulfate/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Colitis/chemically induced*
10.Advances in the study of structural modification and biological activities of asiatic acid
Bin LIU ; Wen-qiang TANG ; Hong-juan TONG ; Zhou-jing ZHU ; Chu TANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2022;57(7):1962-1976
Asiatic acid (AA) is a ursane pentacyclic triterpenoids, which possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial. Due to poor solubility and low bioavailability, clinical application of asiatic acid is limited. To address these defects, the structural modifications of AA have been carried out, and large numbers of AA-based derivatives with novel structure and eximious biological activity have been developed. In this paper, the research progress of structural modifications, biological activity, structure-activity relationship and mechanism studies in recent twenty years are reviewed, which provides reference for development of AA-related drugs.

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