1.Serum Metabolomics of Simulated Weightless Rats Treated with Taikong Yangxin Pills
Xiaodi LIU ; Xuemei FAN ; Yiming WANG ; Mengjia YAN ; Yongzhi LI ; Jiaping WANG ; Junlian LIU ; Guoan LUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):147-153
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Taikong Yangxin Pills on the metabolism of simulated weightless rats based on metabolomics and discuss the metabolism mechanism. MethodsIn the simulated space capsule environment on the ground, the rat model of simulated weightlessness was established by the tail suspension method. Rats were randomly grouped as follows: out-of-capsule control, in-capsule control, model, and high (3.0 g·kg-1) and low (1.5 g·kg-1) doses of Taikong Yangxin Pills, and they were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 28 days. The serum levels of endogenous metabolites in rats were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS). The obtained data were processed by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) to screen for differential metabolites and potential biomarkers. MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for pathway enrichment analysis to explain the metabolic regulation mechanism of the drug. ResultsCompared with the out-of-capsule control group, the in-capsule control group showed elevated levels of thirteen metabolites, including 14-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid (P<0.05), which suggested that the space capsule environment mainly affected the metabolism of α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid in the rats. Compared with the in-capsule control group, the model group showed lowered levels of fourteen metabolites, including 4-imidazolone-5-propionic acid, isocitric acid/citric acid, and L-tyrosine (P<0.05), which were recovered after the treatment with Taikong Yangxin pills (P<0.05). The pathway enrichment analysis revealed that weightlessness induced by tail suspension and drug intervention mainly involved the phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle. ConclusionThe simulated space capsule environment and simulated weightlessness induced by tail suspension can both affect the metabolism level of rats. Taikong Yangxin pills can ameliorate the metabolic abnormality in the rat model of weightlessness by regulating various amino acids and energy metabolism-related pathways.
2.Application and challenge of ethical review of human organ donation and transplantation from ethical utilitarianism perspective
Qi YAO ; Renjie LÜ ; Xuemei LÜ ; Juan YAN
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(1):141-146
Ethical utilitarianism is a consequence-oriented ethical theory that pursues the maximization of happiness and fully considers the long-term impact of behavior. In the ethical review of human organ donation and transplantation, this theory is mainly applied in three aspects, ethical review supervision, process and content. However, in practice, it faces challenges such as the difficulty and subjectivity of utility calculation, the balance between individual rights and social welfare, the long-term impact of decision-making, and international cooperation under a global perspective. Therefore, governance strategies such as improving ethical review policy rules, refining the ethical review system by drawing on international experience, and strengthening public education and publicity are proposed. Despite many challenges, ethical utilitarianism still provides an important theoretical framework for the ethical review of human organ donation and transplantation. Therefore, this article reviews the application of ethical utilitarianism in the ethical review of human organ donation and transplantation and its challenges, aiming to provide a reference for related research on the ethical review of human organ donation and transplantation.
3.Yinqiao Powder affects macrophage polarization-mediated herpes simplex keratitis through the cGAS-STING-IRF3 molecular pathway
Ning YAO ; Rongli ZHAO ; Xuemei YANG ; Yuhuan LIU ; Yaqin DING ; Yan DAI
International Eye Science 2025;25(8):1227-1233
AIM: To investigate the specific molecular mechanism of Yinqiao Powder in affecting macrophage polarization in herpes simplex keratitis(HSK)through the cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase(cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes(STING)-interferon regulatory factor 3(IRF3)molecular pathway.METHODS:Human corneal epithelial cells(HCE-T)were divided into control, HSK, and HSK + Yinqiao Powder groups. M0 macrophages were grouped as Ctrl, HSV-1, HSV-1+oe-cGAS, HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder, and HSV-1+oe-cGAS+Yinqiao Powder. Conditional medium(CM)from each group of M0 macrophages was collected to intervene in HCE-T cells and divided into Ctrl-CM, HSV-1-CM, HSV-1+oe-cGAS-CM, and HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder-CM groups. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay, and apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay. ELISA was used to detect the concentrations of Arg-1 and iNOS in cell supernatants, and Western blotting was used to detect the relative protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3. Balb/c mice were divided into control, model, and drug groups. The model and drug groups were inoculated with HSV-1 on the cornea of Balb/c mice using the corneal scratch method to construct an HSK mouse model, and the drug group was treated with Yinqiao Powder. The incidence and mortality of the three groups were compared on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after modeling.RESULTS:Compared with the control group, the HCE-T cell viability in the HSK group was decreased but apoptosis was increased, which was reversed by Yinqiao Powder intervention. Compared with the Ctrl group, the Arg-1 concentration in the cell supernatant of the HSV-1 group was decreased, the iNOS concentration was increased, and the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3 were decreased. Compared with the HSV-1 group, the Arg-1 concentration was increased, the iNOS concentration was decreased, and the protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and IRF3 were enhanced in the HSV-1+oe-cGAS group and the HSV-1+Yinqiao Powder group, and the same results were obtained in the HSV-1+oe-cGAS+Yinqiao Powder group. Compared with the Ctrl-CM group, the HCE-T cell viability was decreased and apoptosis was increased in the HSV-1-CM group, which was reversed by overexpressing cGAS in macrophages or intervening with Yinqiao Powder. In vivo experiments found that Yinqiao Powder intervention could improve the pathological progression of keratitis.CONCLUSION:Yinqiao Powder inhibits M1 polarization of macrophages through the cGAS-STING-IRF3 molecular pathway, thereby delaying the progression of HSK.
4.Clinical features of recompensation in autoimmune hepatitis-related decompensated cirrhosis and related predictive factors
Xiaolong LU ; Lin HAN ; Huan XIE ; Lilong YAN ; Xuemei MA ; Dongyan LIU ; Xun LI ; Qingsheng LIANG ; Zhengsheng ZOU ; Caizhe GU ; Ying SUN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(9):1808-1817
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical features and outcomes of recompensation in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH)-related decompensated cirrhosis, to identify independent predictive factors, and to construct a nomogram prediction model for the probability of recompensation. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted among the adult patients with AIH-related decompensated cirrhosis who were admitted to The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from January 2015 to August 2023 (n=211). The primary endpoint was achievement of recompensation, and the secondary endpoint was liver-related death or liver transplantation. According to the outcome of the patients at the end of the follow-up, the patients were divided into the recompensation group (n=16) and the persistent decompensation group(n=150).The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data with homogeneity of variance, and the Mann-Whitney U rank sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data with heterogeneity of variance; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; the Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis; the Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to identify independent predictive factors, and a nomogram model was constructed and validated. ResultsA total of 211 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 55.0 years and a median follow-up time of 44.0 months, and female patients accounted for 87.2%. Among the 211 patients, 61 (with a cumulative proportion of 35.5%) achieved recompensation. Compared with the persistent decompensation group, the recompensation group had significantly higher white blood cell count, platelet count (PLT), total bilirubin (TBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bile acid, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio (INR), SMA positive rate, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, Child-Pugh score, and rate of use of glucocorticoids (all P0.05), as well as significantly lower age at baseline, number of complications, and death/liver transplantation rate (all P0.05). At 3 and 12 months after treatment, the recompensation group had continuous improvements in AST, TBil, INR, IgG, MELD score, and Child-Pugh score, which were significantly lower than the values in the persistent decompensation group (all P0.05), alongside with continuous increases in PLT and albumin, which were significantly higher than the values in the persistent decompensation group (P0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that baseline ALT (hazard ratio [HR]=1.067, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.010 — 1.127, P=0.021), IgG (HR=0.463,95%CI:0.258 — 0.833, P=0.010), SMA positivity (HR=3.122,95%CI:1.768 — 5.515, P0.001), and glucocorticoid therapy (HR=20.651,95%CI:8.744 — 48.770, P0.001) were independent predictive factors for recompensation, and the nomogram model based on these predictive factors showed excellent predictive performance (C-index=0.87,95%CI:0.84 — 0.90). ConclusionAchieving recompensation significantly improves clinical outcomes in patients with AIH-related decompensated cirrhosis. Baseline SMA positivity, a high level of ALT, a low level of IgG, and corticosteroid therapy are independent predictive factors for recompensation. The predictive model constructed based on these factors can provide a basis for decision-making in individualized clinical management.
5.Distribution of traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and its association with perinatal outcomes
Jin CHEN ; Dan YANG ; Qianrong LI ; Yan SANG ; Zhi YU ; Jiao XU ; Xuemei WANG ; Heying HUANG ; Xue TANG ; Lin ZHUANG ; Xiaoyin WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2343-2350
ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and its association with perinatal outcomes, and to provide a basis for precise treatment based on TCM syndrome differentiation. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 275 patients with ICP who were admitted to The Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April 2023 to April 2025. A hierarchical cluster analysis was used to summarize TCM syndromes. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the clinical features significantly associated with TCM syndrome. ResultsThe cluster analysis identified three core TCM syndromes among the 275 patients with ICP, i.e., liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome (45.8%), syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind (30.9%), and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome (23.3%). There was a significant difference in the distribution of TCM syndromes between different groups stratified by maternal age at delivery, parity, history of ICP recurrence, gestational weeks at disease onset, total bile acid (TBA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and comorbidity with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (all P<0.05). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that<34 gestational weeks at disease onset was significantly associated with all three syndromes (damp-heat: odds ratio [OR]=3.769, P<0.001; blood deficiency: OR=4.031, P<0.001; liver stagnation: OR=3.552, P<0.001). Liver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome was associated with maternal age ≥35 years at disease onset (OR=2.048, P=0.014), parity ≥2 times (OR=1.921, P=0.034), history of ICP recurrence (OR=2.404, P=0.030), ALT ≥200 U/L (OR=2.051, P=0.018), comorbidity with GDM (OR=1.944, P=0.029), and TBA ≥40 μmol/L (OR=2.542, P=0.024). The syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind syndrome was associated with maternal age ≥35 years (OR=2.939, P=0.003), parity ≥2 time (OR=3.222, P=0.003), history of ICP recurrence (OR=3.809, P=0.010), ALT ≥200 U/L (OR=2.889, P=0.006), comorbidity with GDM (OR=3.711, P=0.001), and comorbidity with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR=4.472, P=0.011). Liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome was associated with TBA ≥40 μmol/L (OR=2.995, P=0.044). The analysis of perinatal outcomes showed that there were significant differences in mode of delivery, gestational weeks at the time of delivery, postpartum blood loss, and neonatal birth weight between the three groups with different TCM syndromes (all P<0.05). ConclusionLiver-gallbladder damp-heat syndrome, syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind, and liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome are the main TCM syndrome types in ICP, and the distribution of TCM syndromes is closely associated with clinical factors and perinatal outcomes, which provides a basis for precise TCM syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment.
6.Prevalence and outcome of chronic hypertension and its complications with gestational diabetes
Xuemei YAN ; Xia XIAO ; Fanjuan KONG ; Lizhang CHEN
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2024;49(3):400-407
Objective:With the full liberalization of China's fertility policy,the gradual increase in maternal age during pregnancy,and the rising proportion of overweight and obesity among women of childbearing age,the number of pregnant women with chronic hypertension(CHTN)combined with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)is increasing,leading to a significantly increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.This study aims to analyze the prevalence of CHTN and CHTN complications with GDM,and compare the adverse pregnancy outcomes between the 2 conditions,providing a basis for intervention measures. Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study.A total of 378 366 cases from a large cohort of pregnant women between January 1,2016 to December 31,2020 were screened to identify 1 418 cases of pregnant women with CHTN,among which 1 027 were cases of CHTN alone and 391 were cases of CHTN combined with GDM.SAS9.4 was used to statistically analyze the basic characteristics,clinical data,and pregnant outcomes of pregnant women and to analyze the risk factors affecting the pregnancy outcomes of patients with CHTN and its complications with GDM. Results:The prevalence rate of CHTN with pregnancy was 3.8‰,and the prevalence rate of CHTN combined with GDM was 1.0‰.Patients with CHTN combined with GDM accounted for 27.57%(391/1 418)of all pregnant women with CHTN.Maternal age,number of pregnancies,parity,previous cesarean section,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,and mean arterial pressure at the time of enrollment were statistically significant differences between the 2 groups(all P<0.05).After adjusting for potential confounding factors such as maternal age,parity,and number of pregnancies,binary Logistic regression analysis showed that pregnant women with CHTN combined with GDM had a 1.348 times higher risk of cesarean section(OR=1.348,95%CI 1.043 to 1.741),a 2.029 times higher risk of placental adhesion(OR=2.029,95%CI 1.190 to 3.462),a 1.540 times higher risk of preeclampsia(OR=1.540,95%CI 1.101 to 2.152),and a 2.670 times higher risk of macrosomia(OR=2.670,95%CI 1.398 to 5.100)compared to pregnant women with CHTN alone. Conclusion:Pregnant women with CHTN combined with GDM have a high risk,and their pregnancy outcomes differ from those of pregnant women with CHTN alone in terms of cesarean section,placental adhesion,preeclampsia,and macrosomia.Prenatal care for this population,especially the management of blood pressure and blood sugar,needs to be given special attention.
7.Effects of Bazhen Decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi Decoction on glucose metabolism and estrogen levels in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome
Junjie CHEN ; Xuemei XU ; Yan LI ; Jinying FU
Tianjin Medical Journal 2024;52(2):154-161
Objective To study the regulation effects of Bazhen Decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi Decoction on glucose metabolism and estrogen level in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods The rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome was established by subcutaneous injection of human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)combined with insulin.Rats were randomly divided into the polycystic ovary syndrome group,the Baizhu Fuzi Tang group(6.4 g/kg),the Bazhen Tang group(9.2 g/kg),the Bazhen Tang combined with Baizhu Fuzi Tang group(11.55 g/kg)and the diethylstilbestrol group(0.5 mg/kg).A blank control group(unmodulated rats)was set up with 10 rats in each group.The uterine index of rats was determined and calculated.Fasting blood glucose(FBG),2 h postprandish blood glucose(2 h PBG)and fasting insulin(FINS)were determined and insulin sensitivity index(ISI)and insulin resistance index(IR)were calculated.Serum estradiol(E2),testosterone(T),luteinizing hormone(LH),follicle stimulating hormone(FSH),prolactin(PRL),anti-Mullerian tube hormone(AMH)and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1),C-reactive protein(CRP),interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,total peroxidase activity(T-AOC),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels in ovarian tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The pathological changes of ovarian tissue were detected by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)was used to determine mRNA levels of ARA70,CBP,SCR1 and HOXA10 in endometrium and mRNA expressions of AMPK,GLUT4 and PPARγ in ovarian tissue.Western blot assay was used to determine expression levels of AMPK,GLUT4 and PPARγ in ovarian tissue.Results Compared with the polycystic ovary syndrome group,uterine index,FINS,FBG,2 h PBG,IR levels,serum T,LH,FSH,PRL,AMH,IGF-1 levels,ovarian tissue CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,T-AOC and MDA level,endometrial ARA70,CBP,SCR1 mRNA level of rats decreased significantly in the Baizhu Fuzi decoction group,the Bazhen decoction group and the Bazhen decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi decoction group(P<0.05).ISI level,serum E2 level,ovarian tissue SOD level,endometrial HOXA10 mRNA level,ovarian tissue AMPK,GLUT4 and PPARγ mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased(P<0.05).The above indexes were significantly changed in the Bazhen decoction and Bazhu Fuzi decoction group than those of the Bazhu Fuzi decoction group and the Bazhen decoction group(P<0.05).Conclusion Bazhen Decoction combined with Baizhu Fuzi Decoction can regulate glucose metabolism,inhibit ovarian tissue oxidation and inflammatory damage,improve endometrium tolerance,regulate estrogen level,and improve the progression of polycystic ovary syndrome in rats.The mechanism may be related to the regulation of AMPK/GLUT4/PPARγ pathway.
8.Neuro-ophthalmic features of SARS-CoV-2 associated acute macular neuroretinopathy
Pei LIU ; Zhaojie CHU ; Bo LI ; Xuemei LIN ; Yan LIU ; Chensheng SONG ; Yan SUO ; Jun ZHAO ; Songdi WU
International Eye Science 2024;24(7):1173-1178
AIM: To explore the neuro-ophthalmological characteristics of acute macular neuroretinopathy(AMN)after SARS-CoV-2 infection.METHODS: A total of 8 patients(14 eyes), including 6 females and 2 males, who were diagnosed with AMN in the neuro-ophthalmology department of Xi'an No.1 Hospital(The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University)from December 27, 2022 to February 1, 2023 were included in the study. All patients had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection before the disease, and the results of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), non-contact indirect intraocular pressure measurement, fundus color photography, near infrared(IR), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), OCT angiography(OCTA), fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA), indocyanine green angiography(ICGA), visual field, visual evoked potential(VEP), and electroretinogram(ERG)were collected. Furthermore, the neuro-opthalmology characteristics of the included patients were analyzed and summarized.RESULTS: The included 8 patients aged from 20 to 43, with an average age of(30±6.63)years old. The patients had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection 3 to 11(mean 5±3.51)d before the disease, and 6 out of 8 patients developed visual symptoms within 5 d of infection with SARS-CoV-2, with manifestated with decreased vision or visual scotoma. The visual acuity varied from 0.08 to 1.0, with visual field defect characterized by central, paracentral or peripheral scotoma. VEP showed prolongation latency of P100 or P2, and ERG revealed impaired function of retinal photoreceptor cell. In the early stage of the disease, the size and shape of early visual acuity, visual field, and extraretinal lesions in patients with AMN associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection may not match, and the lower the visual acuity, the later the VEP peaks.CONCLUSION: The neuro-ophthalmic features of SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated AMN require the attention of clinicians. In addition to multi-mode fundus imaging, clinicians should use a variety of methods to comprehensively evaluate visual function and prognosis of patients.
9.Expert consensus on clinical application of 177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer
Guobing LIU ; Weihai ZHUO ; Yushen GU ; Zhi YANG ; Yue CHEN ; Wei FAN ; Jianming GUO ; Jian TAN ; Xiaohua ZHU ; Li HUO ; Xiaoli LAN ; Biao LI ; Weibing MIAO ; Shaoli SONG ; Hao XU ; Rong TIAN ; Quanyong LUO ; Feng WANG ; Xuemei WANG ; Aimin YANG ; Dong DAI ; Zhiyong DENG ; Jinhua ZHAO ; Xiaoliang CHEN ; Yan FAN ; Zairong GAO ; Xingmin HAN ; Ningyi JIANG ; Anren KUANG ; Yansong LIN ; Fugeng LIU ; Cen LOU ; Xinhui SU ; Lijun TANG ; Hui WANG ; Xinlu WANG ; Fuzhou YANG ; Hui YANG ; Xinming ZHAO ; Bo YANG ; Xiaodong HUANG ; Jiliang CHEN ; Sijin LI ; Jing WANG ; Yaming LI ; Hongcheng SHI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2024;31(5):844-850,封3
177Lu-prostate specific membrane antigen(PSMA)radio-ligand therapy has been approved abroad for advanced prostate cancer and has been in several clinical trials in China.Based on domestic clinical practice and experimental data and referred to international experience and viewpoints,the expert group forms a consensus on the clinical application of 177Lu-PSMA radio-ligand therapy in prostate cancer to guide clinical practice.
10.Progress of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway in acute myeloid leukemia
Pan ZHAO ; Yajiao LI ; Luwei YAN ; Xuemei DONG
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2024;33(5):317-320
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by malignant proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells, and its morbidity and mortality are increasing, which seriously threatens human health. In recent years, many studies have shown that PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway is involved in the management of various biological processes in cells, and its abnormal activation is closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. Therefore, this article reviews the recent research progress of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway in the pathogenesis, progression and treatment of AML.

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