1.Yishen Tongluo Prescription Ameliorates Oxidative Stress Injury in Mouse Model of Diabetic Kidney Disease via Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 Signaling Pathway
Yifei ZHANG ; Xuehui BAI ; Zijing CAO ; Zeyu ZHANG ; Jingyi TANG ; Junyu XI ; Shujiao ZHANG ; Shuaixing ZHANG ; Yiran XIE ; Yuqi WU ; Zhongjie LIU ; Weijing LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):41-51
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yishen Tongluo prescription in protecting mice from oxidative stress injury in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) signaling pathway. MethodsSpecific pathogen-free (SPF) male C57BL/6 mice were assigned into a control group (n=10) and a modeling group (n=50). The DKD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The mice in the modeling group were randomized into a model group, a semaglutide (40 μg·kg-1) group, and high-, medium-, and low-dose (18.2, 9.1, 4.55 g·kg-1, respectively) Yishen Tongluo prescription groups, with 10 mice in each group. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. Blood glucose and 24-h urine protein levels were measured, and the kidney index (KI) was calculated. Serum levels of creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were assessed. The pathological changes in the renal tissue were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, periodic acid-silver methenamine, and Masson’s trichrome staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to measure the levels of β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the expression of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were employed to determine the mRNA and protein levels, respectively, of factors in the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway. ResultsCompared with the control group, the DKD model group showed rises in blood glucose, 24-h urine protein, KI, SCr, BUN, and ALT levels, along with glomerular hypertrophy, renal tubular dilation, thickened basement membrane, mesangial expansion, and collagen deposition. Additionally, the model group showed elevated levels of β2-MG, NGAL, KIM-1, L-FABP, NOS, and 8-OHdG, lowered levels of GSH and T-AOC, up-regulated expression of MDA and Keap1, and down-regulated expression of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the semaglutide group and the medium- and high-dose Yishen Tongluo prescription groups showed reductions in blood glucose, 24-h urine protein, KI, SCr, BUN, and ALT levels, along with alleviated pathological injuries in the renal tissue. In addition, the three groups showed lowered levels of β2-MG, NGAL, KIM-1, L-FABP, NOS, and 8-OHdG, elevated levels of GSH and T-AOC, down-regulated expression of MDA and Keap1, and up-regulated expression of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, and GCLC (P<0.05). ConclusionYishen Tongluo prescription exerts renoprotective effects in the mouse model of DKD by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway, mitigating oxidative stress, and reducing renal tubular injuries.
2.Mechanism of Yishen Tongluo Formula regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to ameliorate pyroptosis in diabetic nephropathy mice
Yifei ZHANG ; Zijing CAO ; Zeyu ZHANG ; Xuehui BAI ; Jingyi TANG ; Junyu XI ; Jiayi WANG ; Yiran XIE ; Yuqi WU ; Xi GUO ; Zhongjie LIU ; Weijing LIU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):21-33
Objective:
To investigate the mechanism of Yishen Tongluo Formula in ameliorating renal pyroptosis in diabetic nephropathy mice by regulating the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway.
Methods:
Sixty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control (10 mice) and intervention groups (50 mice) using random number table method. The diabetes nephropathy model was established by intraperitoneally injecting streptozotocin(50 mg/kg). After modeling, the intervention group was further divided into model, semaglutide (40 μg/kg), and high-, medium-, and low-dose Yishen Tongluo Formula groups (15.6, 7.8, and 3.9 g/kg, respectively) using random number table method. The high-, medium-, and low-dose Yishen Tongluo Formula groups were administered corresponding doses of medication by gavage, the semaglutide group received a subcutaneous injection of semaglutide injection, and the control group and model groups were administered distilled water by gavage for 12 consecutive weeks. Random blood glucose levels of mice in each group were monitored, and the 24-h urinary protein content was measured using biochemical method every 4 weeks; after treatment, the serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were measured using biochemical method. The weight of the kidneys was measured, and the renal index was calculated. Hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, periodic Schiff-methenamine, and Masson staining were used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissue. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels. Western blotting and real-time fluorescence PCR were used to detect the relative protein and mRNA expression levels of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1, gasdermin D (GSDMD), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the proportion of protein staining area of the TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in renal tissue.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the random blood glucose, 24-h urinary protein, serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and renal index of the model group increased, and the urine β2-MG, NGAL, and KIM-1 levels increased. The relative protein and mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, and IL-18 in renal tissue increased, and the proportion of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB protein positive staining areas increased (P<0.05). Pathological changes such as glomerular hypertrophy were observed in the renal tissue of the model group. Compared with the model group, the Yishen Tongluo Formula high-dose group showed a decrease in random blood glucose after 12 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). The Yishen Tongluo Formula high- and medium-dose groups showed a decrease in 24-h urinary protein, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and renal index, as well as decreased β2-MG, NGAL, and KIM-1 levels. NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1 β, and IL-18 relative protein and mRNA expression levels were also reduced, and the proportion of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB protein positive staining areas was reduced (P<0.05). Pathological damage to renal tissue was ameliorated.
Conclusion
Yishen Tongluo Formula may exert protective renal effects by inhibiting renal pyroptosis and alleviating tubular interstitial injury in diabetic nephropathy mice by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
3.Perturbation response scanning of drug-target networks:Drug repurposing for multiple sclerosis
Yitan LU ; Ziyun ZHOU ; Qi LI ; Bin YANG ; Xing XU ; Yu ZHU ; Mengjun XIE ; Yuwan QI ; Fei XIAO ; Wenying YAN ; Zhongjie LIANG ; Qifei CONG ; Guang HU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):1277-1290
Combined with elastic network model(ENM),the perturbation response scanning(PRS)has emerged as a robust technique for pinpointing allosteric interactions within proteins.Here,we proposed the PRS analysis of drug-target networks(DTNs),which could provide a promising avenue in network medicine.We demonstrated the utility of the method by introducing a deep learning and network perturbation-based framework,for drug repurposing of multiple sclerosis(MS).First,the MS comorbidity network was constructed by performing a random walk with restart algorithm based on shared genes between MS and other diseases as seed nodes.Then,based on topological analysis and functional annotation,the neurotransmission module was identified as the"therapeutic module"of MS.Further,perturbation scores of drugs on the module were calculated by constructing the DTN and introducing the PRS analysis,giving a list of repurposable drugs for MS.Mechanism of action analysis both at pathway and structural levels screened dihydroergocristine as a candidate drug of MS by targeting a serotonin receptor of se-rotonin 2B receptor(HTR2B).Finally,we established a cuprizone-induced chronic mouse model to evaluate the alteration of HTR2B in mouse brain regions and observed that HTR2B was significantly reduced in the cuprizone-induced mouse cortex.These findings proved that the network perturbation modeling is a promising avenue for drug repurposing of MS.As a useful systematic method,our approach can also be used to discover the new molecular mechanism and provide effective candidate drugs for other complex diseases.
4.Public Database-based Study to Explore the Expression and Role of DDB1 in Lung Adenocarcinoma.
Xinkai ZOU ; Ziyi HE ; Yanfei ZHANG ; Yi HU ; Xiaomin WANG ; Zhongjie WU
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(4):256-266
BACKGROUND:
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the predominant subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Damage-specific DNA binding protein 1 (DDB1), as a core protein of the CUL4-DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex, is involved in the regulation of DNA damage repair, epigenetic modification, and cell cycle checkpoint activation. While the involvement of DDB1 in tumour progression through DNA repair and RNA transcriptional regulation has been reported, its expression and role in LUAD remain to be elucidated. This study aims to investigate the expression and role of DDB1 in LUAD.
METHODS:
The expression, clinicopathological features and prognosis of DDB1 in LUAD were analysed using databases such as UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier Plotter and GEPIA; The interaction network and enriched functional pathways were constructed by GeneMANIA and Metascape; the correlation between DDB1 and immune cells by combining with TISIDB infiltration was evaluated, and the clustering results of cell subtypes and the expression of DDB1 in different immune cell subpopulations were analysed by single-cell sequencing; finally, tissue microarrays were used to further verify the expression and prognostic value of DDB1 in LUAD.
RESULTS:
The mRNA and protein expression of DDB1 in LUAD tissues were significantly higher than those in normal tissues (P<0.01), and the high expression correlated with later clinical stage (P<0.001), lymph node metastasis (P<0.001) and poor prognosis (P<0.001). Functional enrichment showed that DDB1 was involved in DNA repair and RNA transcriptional regulation, and TISIDB evaluation revealed that DDB1 was negatively correlated with the expression level of immune cells, suggesting the potential regulation of the immune microenvironment. Single cell analysis showed that DDB1 was mainly expressed in T cells, alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells. Tissue microarrays confirmed that overall survival was shorter in the DDB1 high expression group (P<0.001), and Cox multifactorial analysis showed that DDB1 was an independent predictor of LUAD prognosis.
CONCLUSIONS
DDB1 is highly expressed in LUAD, which is associated with poor prognosis, and is closely related to tumor immune cell infiltration, and is involved in tumourigenesis and development through DNA repair and RNA transcriptional regulation. DDB1 can be used as a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for LUAD.
Humans
;
Adenocarcinoma of Lung/immunology*
;
DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*
;
Lung Neoplasms/diagnosis*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
;
Prognosis
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
5.Diagnosis and treatment of special type of laryngeal foreign body with granuloma in children.
Dezhen TU ; Zongtong LIN ; Ling SHEN ; Deping CHEN ; Zhongjie YANG ; Qiaoyu LIAO
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(2):163-167
Objective:This article explores the diagnosis and treatment of a special type of laryngeal foreign body with granuloma in children, providing a clinical reference for standardized diagnosis and treatment. Methods:This article retrospectively analyzes one case admitted to our department and five other cases reported in relevant literature involving a special type of laryngeal foreign body with granuloma in children. It summarizes the clinical characteristics of this disease and explores its diagnosis and treatment. Results:①A total of 6 cases were misdiagnosed and had a long course of illness. Five cases had no clear history of foreign body at the first visit. One case had foreign body history but no foreign body was found. ②The clinical symptoms were diverse, which could be hoarseness, cough, wheezing, dyspnea, or no symptoms. ③A total of 3 cases were diagnosed by laryngoscopy, and 3 cases were diagnosed by laryngoscopy and imaging examination. ④Foreign bodies that were not wrapped in granulomas, were removed first and then the granulomas were treated; foreign bodies wrapped in granulomas were removed after the removal of granulomas. Conclusion:A special type of laryngeal foreign body with granuloma may lack of accurate foreign body history, resulting in long-term retention of foreign bodies, leading to granuloma formation and misdiagnosis. Electronic laryngoscopy combined with CT examination contribute to early diagnosis. Low temperature plasma under endoscope and anesthetic laryngoscope is conducive to the exposure and precise removal of foreign bodies and avoids tracheotomy to a certain extent.
Child
;
Child, Preschool
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Infant
;
Male
;
Foreign Bodies/surgery*
;
Granuloma, Foreign-Body/therapy*
;
Larynx/pathology*
;
Retrospective Studies
6.The efficacy of drug combination with immunotherapy in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and allergic rhinitis after surgery.
Zongtong LIN ; Ling SHEN ; Xinzhong GAO ; Qiaoyu LIAO ; Zhongjie YANG ; Pingfan LIU
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(12):1163-1170
Objective:To explore the efficacy of using drug combination and sublingual immunotherapy(SLIT) for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) and allergic rhinitis(AR) after adenotonsillectomy, in order to provide a more optimized treatment plan after the surgery. Methods:A total of 95 pediatric OSA combined with AR were selected. According to the treatment plan, they were divided into the SLIT group(postoperative medication combined with SLIT) and the control group(postoperative medication treatment only). The comparisons were made between the two groups regarding the scores of the 18-item Quality of Life Questionnaire for Obstructive Sleep Apnea(OSA-18) and the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) before and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after treatment; the monthly total medication scores(TMS) from 1 month to 3 months, 4 months to 6 months, 7 months to 1 year, and 1 year to 2 years after treatment, as well as the number of acute attacks of AR in the 1st year and 2nd year after treatment; and the Lund-Kennedy scores and nasal resistance grading of nasal endoscopy before and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after treatment. The effectiveness and safety were also analyzed. Results:After one year of treatment, the OSA-18 score, VAS score, TMS and Lund-Kennedy score in the SLIT group were significantly better than those in the control group. The nasal resistance was significantly reduced(P<0.05), and the frequency of AR attacks was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05). After 2 years of treatment, the VAS score, Lund-Kennedy score and nasal resistance classification in the SLIT group tended to stabilize, while the OSA-18 score continued to decline. Conclusion:After surgery for pediatric OSA combined with AR, the use of drugs combined with SLIT can effectively alleviate AR symptoms, further improve OSA-related symptoms and quality of life, reduce drug dependence, decrease the frequency of AR attacks, and enhance the long-term efficacy of the surgery.
Humans
;
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/surgery*
;
Rhinitis, Allergic/therapy*
;
Quality of Life
;
Child
;
Tonsillectomy
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Adenoidectomy
;
Sublingual Immunotherapy
;
Drug Therapy, Combination
;
Male
;
Female
7.Key questions of translational research on international standards of acupuncture-moxibustion techniques: an example from the WFAS Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for Drafting.
Shuo CUI ; Jingjing WANG ; Zhongjie CHEN ; Jin HUO ; Jing HU ; Ziwei SONG ; Yaping LIU ; Wenqian MA ; Qi GAO ; Zhongchao WU
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(8):1159-1165
OBJECTIVE:
To provide the experience and demonstration for the transformation of acupuncture-moxibustion techniques standards from Chinese national standards to international standards.
METHODS:
Questionnaire research, literature research, semi-structured interviews and expert consultation were used.
RESULTS:
The safety of acupuncture-moxibustion techniques was evaluated through literature research, and based on the results of the questionnaire survey, expert interviews, and expert consultation, 11 main bodies and structure of the former Chinese national standard, Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for Drafting, were adjusted and optimized in accordance with the requirements of international standard (including the language, normative references, purpose, scope, applicable environment, target population, work team, terms and definitions, general principles and basic requirements, structural elements and text structure, and compilation process); and the first international standard, World Federation of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Societis (WFAS) Technical Benchmark of Acupuncture and Moxibustion: General Rules for Drafting was formulated to specify the general rules for drafting.
CONCLUSION
The 3 key questions, "international compatibility", "technical operability" and "safety" should be solved technically on the basis of explicit international requirements. It is the core technical issue during transforming the national standards of technical benchmark of acupuncture and moxibustion into international standards.
Moxibustion/methods*
;
Acupuncture Therapy/methods*
;
Humans
;
Translational Research, Biomedical/standards*
;
Surveys and Questionnaires
;
China
;
Benchmarking/standards*
8.Perturbation response scanning of drug-target networks: Drug repurposing for multiple sclerosis.
Yitan LU ; Ziyun ZHOU ; Qi LI ; Bin YANG ; Xing XU ; Yu ZHU ; Mengjun XIE ; Yuwan QI ; Fei XIAO ; Wenying YAN ; Zhongjie LIANG ; Qifei CONG ; Guang HU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101295-101295
Combined with elastic network model (ENM), the perturbation response scanning (PRS) has emerged as a robust technique for pinpointing allosteric interactions within proteins. Here, we proposed the PRS analysis of drug-target networks (DTNs), which could provide a promising avenue in network medicine. We demonstrated the utility of the method by introducing a deep learning and network perturbation-based framework, for drug repurposing of multiple sclerosis (MS). First, the MS comorbidity network was constructed by performing a random walk with restart algorithm based on shared genes between MS and other diseases as seed nodes. Then, based on topological analysis and functional annotation, the neurotransmission module was identified as the "therapeutic module" of MS. Further, perturbation scores of drugs on the module were calculated by constructing the DTN and introducing the PRS analysis, giving a list of repurposable drugs for MS. Mechanism of action analysis both at pathway and structural levels screened dihydroergocristine as a candidate drug of MS by targeting a serotonin receptor of serotonin 2B receptor (HTR2B). Finally, we established a cuprizone-induced chronic mouse model to evaluate the alteration of HTR2B in mouse brain regions and observed that HTR2B was significantly reduced in the cuprizone-induced mouse cortex. These findings proved that the network perturbation modeling is a promising avenue for drug repurposing of MS. As a useful systematic method, our approach can also be used to discover the new molecular mechanism and provide effective candidate drugs for other complex diseases.
9.Effect of virtual reality combined with body weight-supported treadmill training on phantom limb pain and lower limb dynamics in amputees
Qiongying LI ; Simin LI ; Jingru ZENG ; Xuyi WU ; Zhongjie LEI ; Chunping DU
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(9):65-69,74
Objective To investigate the impact of virtual reality combined with body weight-supported treadmill training on phantom limb pain,lower limb dynamics,gait stability,balance func-tion,and quality of life in amputees.Methods A prospective study enrolled 100 unilateral lower limb amputees as participants,who were randomly divided into experimental group(n=50)and con-trol group(n=50).The experimental group received virtual reality combined with body weight-sup-ported treadmill training,while the control group received conventional rehabilitation training.Out-comes,including phantom limb pain intensity[Visual Analogue Scale(VAS),Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions(DN4)scores],lower limb dynamics[vertical ground reaction force(Fz),anteroposterior ground reaction force(Fy),joint moments],gait parameters,static balance(Berg Balance Scale score),dynamic balance(stability time,proportion of gait support time),quality of life[12-Item Short-form Health Survey(SF-12)score],and activities of daily living[Modified Barthel Index(MBI)score]were assessed before intervention and at 4,8,and 12 weeks post-intervention.Results At 4,8,and 12 weeks post-intervention,the experimental group exhibited significantly lower VAS and DN4 scores compared to baseline and the control group(P<0.05).Gait speed,stride length,ca-dence,stance time,Berg Balance Scale score,stability time,and proportion of gait support time improved in the experimental group compared to baseline and the control group(P<0.05).SF-12 score,MBI score,peak Fz,peak Fy,knee flexion moment,ankle abduction moment,and stance phase proportion also increased significantly in the experimental group compared to baseline and the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Virtual reality combined with body weight-supported tread-mill training effectively alleviates phantom limb pain,improves lower limb dynamics,gait stability,and balance function,and enhances quality of life in amputees.
10.Analysis of Self-assessed Health Changes and Influencing Factors among the Elderly People Based on CHARLS Database
Zhongjie WANG ; Yu XIA ; Hongrui ZHAO ; Xuelin XIANG ; Huadan WANG ; Min MA ; Liping HE
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(3):27-33
Objective To understand the changes in self-rated health among middle-aged and elderly individuals in China and the influencing factors,providing a reference for improving health and promoting healthy aging.Methods Using data from the China Health and Aged Care Tracking Survey(CHARLS)from 2011 to 2020,this study analyzed 3595 middle-aged and elderly individuals(≥45 years old)who participated in all five rounds of the survey from 2011 to 2020.Univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression were employed to analyze the influencing factors of self-rated health changes.Results Among the 3 595 middle-aged and elderly individuals,26.54%reported an increase in self-rated health,28.40%reported a decrease,and 45.06%reported no change.The multinomial logistic regression results indicated that compared to those with unchanged self-rated health,individuals whose self-rated health declined were more likely to have an increased number of Activities of Daily Living(ADLs),a higher number of chronic diseases,not engaging in at least 10 minutes of light physical activity per week,and a decline in life satisfaction levels.The odds ratios for these factors were 1.415(OR=1.415,95%CI:1.181~1.694),1.479(OR=1.479,95%CI:1.225~1.785),1.454(OR=1.486,95%CI:1.172~1.804),and 1.263(OR=1.237,95%CI:1.043~1.530),respectively.In contrast,individuals whose self-rated health improved,compared to those with unchanged health,were more likely to report an increase in life satisfaction levels,while an increase in ADLs and chronic diseases negatively impacted self-rated health improvement.The odds ratios for these factors were 1.698(OR=1.698,95%CI:1.425~2.023),0.769(OR=0.769,95%CI:0.646~0.915),and 0.689(OR=0.689,95%CI:0.549~0.865),respectively.Conclusion From 2011 to 2020,the self-rated health of middle-aged and elderly individuals in China has slightly declined,with a focus on improving physical health status,increasing physical activity,and addressing mental health as key areas for enhancing self-rated health among the elderly in China.


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