1.Compatibility of cold herb CP and hot herb AZ in Huanglian Ganjiang decoction alleviates colitis mice through M1/M2 macrophage polarization balance via PDK4-mediated glucose metabolism reprogramming.
Yanyang LI ; Chang LIU ; Yi WANG ; Peiqi CHEN ; Shihua XU ; Yequn WU ; Lingzhi REN ; Yang YU ; Lei YANG
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(10):1183-1194
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and non-specific inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Huanglian Ganjiang decoction (HGD), derived from ancient book Beiji Qianjin Yao Fang, has demonstrated efficacy in treating UC patients traditionally. Previous research established that the compatibility of cold herb Coptidis Rhizoma + Phellodendri Chinensis Cortex (CP) and hot herb Angelicae Sinensis Radix + Zingiberis Rhizoma (AZ) in HGD synergistically improved colitis mice. This study investigated the compatibility mechanisms through which CP and AZ regulated inflammatory balance in colitis mice. The experimental colitis model was established by administering 3% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) to mice for 7 days, followed by CP, AZ and CPAZ treatment for an additional 7 days. M1/M2 macrophage polarization levels, glucose metabolites levels and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) expression were analyzed using flow cytometry, Western blot, immunofluorescence and targeted glucose metabolomics. The findings indicated that CP inhibited M1 macrophage polarization, decreased inflammatory metabolites associated with tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and suppressed PDK4 expression and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) (Ser-293) phosphorylation level. AZ enhanced M2 macrophage polarization, increased lactate axis metabolite lactate levels, and upregulated PDK4 expression and PDH (Ser-293) phosphorylation level. TCA cycle blocker AG-221 and adeno-associated virus (AAV)-PDK4 partially negated CP's inhibition of M1 macrophage polarization. Lactate axis antagonist oxamate and PDK4 inhibitor dichloroacetate (DCA) partially reduced AZ's activation of M2 macrophage polarization. In conclusion, the compatibility of CP and AZ synergistically alleviated colitis in mice through M1/M2 macrophage polarization balance via PDK4-mediated glucose metabolism reprogramming. Specifically, CP reduced M1 macrophage polarization by restoration of TCA cycle via PDK4 inhibition, while AZ increased M2 macrophage polarization through activation of PDK4/lactate axis.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Mice
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Macrophages/immunology*
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase/genetics*
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Male
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Humans
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Colitis/drug therapy*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Colitis, Ulcerative/drug therapy*
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Metabolic Reprogramming
2.Aerobic exercise modulates changes in cardiac function due to simulated weightlessness through the AMPK/ULK1/Beclin1 pathway
Yequn LIU ; Jianjun YANG ; Min YANG ; Hongli LI ; Fudong GAO ; Yuxuan HUANG ; Shuling ZHANG ; Junzhi SUN
Space Medicine & Medical Engineering 2024;35(4):235-240
Objective To explore the possible mechanisms of myocardial injury induced by simulated weightlessness in space flight and the recovery of myocardium in rats by aerobic exercise intervention.Methods The body weight of rats was weighed using an electronic balance;the cardiac function indexes of rats in each group were detected using echocardiography and isolated cardiac perfusion;and the expression of proteins related to the AMPK/ULK1/Beclin1 pathway in the myocardial tissues of rats in each group was detected using Western Blot.Results(1)When compared with the C1 group,the T1 group not statistically significant in body weight(P?>?0.05),and the wet weight of the flounder muscle,the wet weight-to-weight ratio of the flounder muscle,and the heart weight were all significantly decreased(P?0.01).(2)After 4 weeks of tail suspension and 4 weeks of aerobic exercise,significant changes in cardiac function-related indexes occurred,with a significant increase in the expression levels of AMPK and p-ULK1 in the T1 group(P?0.01),a significant increase in the expression of p-AMPK(P?0.05),and a slight,but not statistically significant,increase in the expression of ULK1 and Beclin1(P?>?0.05).After 4 weeks of aerobic exercise,when compared to group C2,group R showed a significant rise in the expression of AMPK and ULK1(P?0.05),a decrease in the expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1,but not statistically significant(P?>?0.05),and a rise in the expression of Beclin1,but not statistically significant(P?>?0.05);and group A showed a slight increase in the expression of AMPK,ULK1 and Beclin1 expression decreased slightly but not statistically significant(P?>?0.05),p-AMPK expression decreased significantly(P?0.05)and p-ULK1 expression decreased significantly(P?0.01)in Group A.When compared with group R,group C2 showed a significant decrease in the expression of cardiac protein AMPK(P?0.05),a slight increase in the expression of p-AMPK and p-ULK1,a statistically insignificant decrease in the expression of Beclin1(P?>?0.05),and a significant decrease in the expression of ULK1(P?0.01);and group A showed a significant decrease in the expression of AMPK,ULK1(P?0.01);the expression of p-AMPK and Beclin1 decreased slightly but not statistically significant(P?>?0.05);the expression of p-ULK1 decreased significantly(P?0.05).Conclusion(1)After 4 weeks of tail suspension,it was found that the wet weight,and wet weight to body weight ratio of the flounder muscle of rats were significantly reduced,the weight of the heart and cardiac function related indexes were also significantly reduced,and the expression of AMPK,p-AMPK,ULK1,p-ULK1 and Beclin1 increased;(2)After 4 weeks of aerobic exercise,it was found that the morphology of the myocardium of the rat with tail suspension,the myocardial ultrastructure and cardiac function related indexes increased,and cardiac function was improved.function-related indexes rose,cardiac function was somewhat improved,and the expression of AMPK,p-AMPK,ULK1,p-ULK1,and Beclin1 declined;(3)he damage and improvement of cardiac function were associated with the regulation of related proteins through the AMPK/ULK1/Beclin1 pathway,and the regulation of the expression of AMPK,p-AMPK,ULK1,p-ULK1,and Beclin1.
3.A systematic review of health literacy assessment tools for diabetic patients based on COSMIN guidelines
Suxiang LIU ; Li BIAN ; Yequn ZHANG ; Miaomiao QI
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2023;58(21):2670-2677
Objective To evaluate the methodological quality and measurement characteristics of health literacy assessment tools for diabetic patients and to provide references for medical staff to select the best assessment tools.Methods The PubMed,Embase,CINAHL,Web of Science,CNKI,VIP database,Wanfang Data,and Chinese Biomedical Database were searched from inception to December 31,2022.Data were screened and extracted independently by 2 researchers.The consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments(COSMIN)system evaluation guidelines were spontaneously used to evaluate the included assessment tools.Finally,recommendations were made.Results A total of 15 studies were included,involving 12 health literacy assessment tools for diabetic patients.Among them,KHLS-DM and DNT-15 have satisfactory content validity and internal consistency and are recommended as Grade A.HLSQ-3 has high-quality evidence to suggest that its internal consistency is"inadequate"and recommended as Grade C,while the other 9 scales are recommended as Grade B for content validity or internal consistency of uncertain/inadequate evidence at or above the intermediate level.Conclusion KHLS-DM can evaluate written literacy,numeracy,and critical literacy of patients,and each measurement characteristic has been comprehensively evaluated with high reliability and validity,so it is recommended to be applied first.DNT-15 focuses on evaluating the numeracy of patients,which can be used in combination with other scales to evaluate health literacy of patients more comprehensively.

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