1.Clinical Efficacy of Tonifying Kidney and Replenishing Essence on Asthenospermia Patients with Syndrome of Kidney Essence Deficiency and Effect of This Method on Expression Levels of AMPK/mTORC1 Signaling Pathway-associated Proteins
Yuanjie FU ; Fuhao LI ; Chenghua PENG ; Dong XU ; Guoan YIN ; Xiaopeng HUANG ; Degui CHANG ; Liang DONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):141-147
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of tonifying kidney and replenishing essence on asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency and the effects of this method on the adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two eligible asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to January 2024 were selected and randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, with 36 patients in each group. The observation group received oral administration of Guilu Tianjing capsules, while the control group received oral administration of L-carnitine oral solution. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The observed indicators included sperm progressive motility rate (PR), total sperm motility (PR+NP), percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores before and after treatment in both groups. A three-month follow-up was instituted to record the conception status of the patients’ spouses. Additionally, eight patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients in the observation group, and four healthy males with normal semen routine examination results were included as the control group for the determination of protein expression. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression of AMPK, phosphorylated (p)-AMPK, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (RAPTOR) and p-RAPTOR, and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) in sperms from the observation group before and after treatment, as well as in the sperms of the control group. ResultsThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 9.09% (3/33), which was higher than that (3.33%, 1/30) in the control group. The total response rate was 84.8% (28/33) in the observation group and 66.7% (20/30) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference. After treatment, both groups were improved considering PR, PR+NP, MMP, and TCM symptom scores (P<0.01). Moreover, the observation group exhibited more pronounced decreases in TCM symptom scores than the control group (P<0.05), while the changes in PR, PR+NP, and MMP showed no statistical significance between groups. Compared with the control group, the asthenozoospermia group exhibited upregulations in phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK (P<0.01). The administration of Guilu Tianjing Capsules led to downregulations in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK1 (P<0.01). However, the protein levels of AMPK and RAPTOR demonstrated no significant difference between before and after treatment. During the study period, neither group of patients exhibited any notable adverse reactions. ConclusionGuilu Tianjing capsules can enhance the sperm motility and percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential in asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency by downregulating the AMPK/mTORC1 signaling pathway, lowering the protein level of PINK1, and inhibiting excessive activation of mitophagy.
2.Clinical Efficacy of Tonifying Kidney and Replenishing Essence on Asthenospermia Patients with Syndrome of Kidney Essence Deficiency and Effect of This Method on Expression Levels of AMPK/mTORC1 Signaling Pathway-associated Proteins
Yuanjie FU ; Fuhao LI ; Chenghua PENG ; Dong XU ; Guoan YIN ; Xiaopeng HUANG ; Degui CHANG ; Liang DONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):141-147
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of tonifying kidney and replenishing essence on asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency and the effects of this method on the adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-two eligible asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency treated in the Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from February 2023 to January 2024 were selected and randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, with 36 patients in each group. The observation group received oral administration of Guilu Tianjing capsules, while the control group received oral administration of L-carnitine oral solution. The treatment course lasted for 4 weeks in both groups. The observed indicators included sperm progressive motility rate (PR), total sperm motility (PR+NP), percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom scores before and after treatment in both groups. A three-month follow-up was instituted to record the conception status of the patients’ spouses. Additionally, eight patients were randomly selected from the eligible patients in the observation group, and four healthy males with normal semen routine examination results were included as the control group for the determination of protein expression. Western blotting was conducted to assess the expression of AMPK, phosphorylated (p)-AMPK, regulatory-associated protein of mTOR (RAPTOR) and p-RAPTOR, and PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) in sperms from the observation group before and after treatment, as well as in the sperms of the control group. ResultsThe pregnancy rate of spouses in the observation group was 9.09% (3/33), which was higher than that (3.33%, 1/30) in the control group. The total response rate was 84.8% (28/33) in the observation group and 66.7% (20/30) in the control group, with no statistically significant difference. After treatment, both groups were improved considering PR, PR+NP, MMP, and TCM symptom scores (P<0.01). Moreover, the observation group exhibited more pronounced decreases in TCM symptom scores than the control group (P<0.05), while the changes in PR, PR+NP, and MMP showed no statistical significance between groups. Compared with the control group, the asthenozoospermia group exhibited upregulations in phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK (P<0.01). The administration of Guilu Tianjing Capsules led to downregulations in the phosphorylation levels of AMPK and RAPTOR and protein level of PINK1 (P<0.01). However, the protein levels of AMPK and RAPTOR demonstrated no significant difference between before and after treatment. During the study period, neither group of patients exhibited any notable adverse reactions. ConclusionGuilu Tianjing capsules can enhance the sperm motility and percentage of normal mitochondrial membrane potential in asthenozoospermia patients with the syndrome of kidney essence deficiency by downregulating the AMPK/mTORC1 signaling pathway, lowering the protein level of PINK1, and inhibiting excessive activation of mitophagy.
3.Mechanism of Mitochondrial Autophagy and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Renal Fibrosis: A Review
Shuqi MIN ; Chenghua ZHANG ; Qiwang HE ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Zhiyi LI ; Meifeng ZHU ; Shenju WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):314-321
With the main pathological features of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, renal fibrosis is a key pathological process causing chronic kidney disease to progress to end-stage disease. As a cellular autophagic process, mitochondrial autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial mass and functional stability. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be one of the key factors driving the progression of fibrosis. Phosphatase and tension protein homologue (PTEN) induce various signalling pathways such as putative kinase 1/parkin, Nip3-like protein X/Bcl-2 interacting protein 3, and FUN14 structural domain-containing protein 1 to activate mitochondrial autophagy to participate in the regulation of fibrogenic factors, amelioration of oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory response and apoptosis, which in turn effectively slows down the progression of renal fibrosis. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound preparations, including phenolics, terpenoids, ketones, and alkaloids, can regulate mitochondrial autophagy-related signalling pathways and achieve significant clinical efficacy in intervening in the progression of renal fibrosis for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. This paper summarized the mechanism of mitochondrial autophagy and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in renal fibrosis to provide new ideas for the study of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treating renal fibrosis.
4.Mechanism of Mitochondrial Autophagy and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Renal Fibrosis: A Review
Shuqi MIN ; Chenghua ZHANG ; Qiwang HE ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Zhiyi LI ; Meifeng ZHU ; Shenju WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):314-321
With the main pathological features of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, renal fibrosis is a key pathological process causing chronic kidney disease to progress to end-stage disease. As a cellular autophagic process, mitochondrial autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining mitochondrial mass and functional stability. Mitochondrial dysfunction is considered to be one of the key factors driving the progression of fibrosis. Phosphatase and tension protein homologue (PTEN) induce various signalling pathways such as putative kinase 1/parkin, Nip3-like protein X/Bcl-2 interacting protein 3, and FUN14 structural domain-containing protein 1 to activate mitochondrial autophagy to participate in the regulation of fibrogenic factors, amelioration of oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory response and apoptosis, which in turn effectively slows down the progression of renal fibrosis. Studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound preparations, including phenolics, terpenoids, ketones, and alkaloids, can regulate mitochondrial autophagy-related signalling pathways and achieve significant clinical efficacy in intervening in the progression of renal fibrosis for the treatment of chronic kidney disease. This paper summarized the mechanism of mitochondrial autophagy and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine intervention in renal fibrosis to provide new ideas for the study of the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in treating renal fibrosis.
5.Ursodeoxycholic acid inhibits the uptake of cystine through SLC7A11 and impairs de novo synthesis of glutathione.
Fu'an XIE ; Yujia NIU ; Xiaobing CHEN ; Xu KONG ; Guangting YAN ; Aobo ZHUANG ; Xi LI ; Lanlan LIAN ; Dongmei QIN ; Quan ZHANG ; Ruyi ZHANG ; Kunrong YANG ; Xiaogang XIA ; Kun CHEN ; Mengmeng XIAO ; Chunkang YANG ; Ting WU ; Ye SHEN ; Chundong YU ; Chenghua LUO ; Shu-Hai LIN ; Wengang LI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):101068-101068
Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) is a naturally occurring, low-toxicity, and hydrophilic bile acid (BA) in the human body that is converted by intestinal flora using primary BA. Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) functions to uptake extracellular cystine in exchange for glutamate, and is highly expressed in a variety of human cancers. Retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RLPS) refers to liposarcoma originating from the retroperitoneal area. Lipidomics analysis revealed that UDCA was one of the most significantly downregulated metabolites in sera of RLPS patients compared with healthy subjects. The augmentation of UDCA concentration (≥25 μg/mL) demonstrated a suppressive effect on the proliferation of liposarcoma cells. [15N2]-cystine and [13C5]-glutamine isotope tracing revealed that UDCA impairs cystine uptake and glutathione (GSH) synthesis. Mechanistically, UDCA binds to the cystine transporter SLC7A11 to inhibit cystine uptake and impair GSH de novo synthesis, leading to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, UDCA can promote the anti-cancer effects of ferroptosis inducers (Erastin, RSL3), the murine double minute 2 (MDM2) inhibitors (Nutlin 3a, RG7112), cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor (Abemaciclib), and glutaminase inhibitor (CB839). Together, UDCA functions as a cystine exchange factor that binds to SLC7A11 for antitumor activity, and SLC7A11 is not only a new transporter for BA but also a clinically applicable target for UDCA. More importantly, in combination with other antitumor chemotherapy or physiotherapy treatments, UDCA may provide effective and promising treatment strategies for RLPS or other types of tumors in a ROS-dependent manner.
6.A DPAL method for the identification of the synergistic target of drugs.
Dongyao WANG ; Yuxiao TANG ; Na LI ; Chenghua WU ; Jianxin YANG ; Mengpu WU ; Feng LU ; Yifeng CHAI ; Chenqi LI ; Hui SHEN ; Xin DONG ; Changquan LING
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(11):101351-101351
Image 1.
7.Lamin B2 promotes migration of retroperitoneal liposarcoma cells by regulating AKT signaling pathway
Shixiang MA ; Mengmeng XIAO ; Xiangji LI ; Chenghua LUO
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2024;39(1):51-55
Objective:To investigate the effect of Lamins B2 (LMNB2) on the migration of human retroperitoneal liposarcoma (RPLS) cells SW872.Methods:Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the the differential expression levels of LMNB2 in 33 RPLS tissue samples . The correlation between LMNB2 expression and clinical prognosis and clinicopathological features was analyzed. siRNA was used to lower the expression level of LMNB2 in tumor cells, and the effect of LMNB2 on the scratch healing ability and migration ability of SW872 cells was examined by using wound-healing assay and transwell migration assay. The expression levels of p-AKT and AKT in each group cells were detected by Western blot.Results:Patients with high LMNB2 expression had a lower recurrence-free survival and overall survival compared to those with low LMNB2 expression, and were more likely to experience recurrence, ( χ2=4.872, P=0.027; χ2=4.180, P=0.041; χ2=7.127, P=0.008). The migration ability of cells was significantly reduced following the silencing of LMNB2 expression ( t=11.240, P<0.01; t=7.445, P<0.01). The expression level of p-AKT in the silencing group was significantly lower than that in the control group, while there was no significant difference in the expression level of AKT between the two groups ( t=9.784, P<0.01). Conclusion:LMNB2 may promote the migration of human retroperitoneal liposarcoma cells SW872 by regulating AKT signaling pathway.
8.Application of automatic slide-dropping instrument in bone marrow chromosomal karyotyping
Wei ZHANG ; Chenghua CUI ; Ji ZHOU ; Yanyi LYU ; Siping WANG ; Shenghua CHEN ; Huijun WANG ; Qi SUN ; Zhijian XIAO ; Chengwen LI
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(7):803-806
Objective:To explore the application of an automatic slide-dropping instrument in bone marrow chromosomal karyotyping.Methods:The effects of manual and automatic dropping methods under different environmental humidity were retrospectively analyzed, and the repeatability of the automatic dropping method was analyzed.Results:No statistical difference was found between the results of automatic and manual dropping methods under the optimum ambient humidity and high humidity ( P>0.05). At low humidity, there was a statistical difference between the two methods ( P<0.05). With regard to the repeatability, the coefficient of variations of the automatic dropping method for the number of split phases, the rate of good dispersion and the rate of overlap were all lower than those of the manual dropping method. A statistical difference was also found in the number of split phases ( P<0.05) but not in the discrete excellent rate and overlapping rate between the two methods ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Better effect can be obtained by the automatic dropping instrument. It is suggested to gradually replace manual work with machine.
9.Establishment and evaluation of a neutralizing antibody detection model for West Nile virus pseudovirus
Wanlu ZHU ; Nan CHEN ; Xiangjun HAO ; Junjuan FENG ; Xing LU ; Jing WANG ; Guojiang CHEN ; Chunxia QIAO ; Xinying LI ; Chenghua LIU ; Beifen SHEN ; Jiannan FENG ; Jun ZHANG ; He XIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2024;38(2):188-192
Objective:To establish an in vivo infection model of West Nile virus (WNV) pseudovirus and evaluate the neutralizing activity of antibody WNV-XH1.Methods:A stable cell line that can package the WNV pseudovirus was established in the early stage to prepare the pseudovirus supernatant. The supernatant was concentrated and infected BHK21 cells to detect the titer of the pseudovirus. After intraperitoneal injection of the pseudovirus into C57BL/J mice, bioluminescence imaging was performed to observe the infection status of the pseudovirus in the mice. After simultaneous infection, blood was collected and ELISA was used to detect NS1 levels in mouse serum. The in vivo functional activity of antibody WNV-XH1 was evaluated using the established mouse infection model.Results:Fluorescence was detected in C57BL/J mice infected with WNV pseudovirus, and the NS1 levels in the peripheral blood serum of mice infected with pseudovirus were significantly higher than those of non infected mice (1.453±0.09vs0.305±0.018). After intravenous administration of WNV-XH1 antibody before the attack, the fluorescence signal in the mice decreased and the serum NS1 level decreased (0.384±0.015).Conclusions:A successful in vivo infection model of WNV pseudovirus was established, and it was confirmed that the antibody WNV-XH1 had a protective effect against WNV pseudovirus infection in vivo.
10.Epidemiological characteristics of hemorrhoids in a healthy physical examination population in China
Chenghua GUO ; Xiaoyu CHE ; Zhi LIN ; Shan CAI ; Guozhen LIU ; Lang PAN ; Jun LV ; Liming LI ; Sailimai MAN ; Bo WANG ; Canqing YU
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2024;56(5):815-819
Objective:To describe the epidemiological distribution of hemorrhoids in a physical exami-nation population in China,which could provide evidence for precision prevention and early intervention of hemorrhoids.Methods:Chinese subjects over 18 years of age who underwent a physical examination in a nationwide chain of physical examination centers in 2018 were studied in a cross-sectional design,which collected information by a questionnaire and physical examination results from each subject.The epidemiological distribution of hemorrhoids was described using Logistic models.The gender-,age-,and region-detection rates of hemorrhoids were standardized to the Sixth National Population Census of the People's Republic of China(2010).Results:A total of 2 940 295 adult subjects were included in the study,of whom the average age was(41.7±14.0)years,and 52.6%were females.The standardized detection rate of hemorrhoids was higher for females(43.7%)than that for males(17.7%;P<0.001)in this study.In the females,the age distribution of hemorrhoids was inverted U-shaped,with the highest standardized detection rate of hemorrhoids in the age group of 30-39 years(63.5%).In the males,the standardized detection rate of hemorrhoids increased along with age,with the highest percentage of 17.2%in the age group of 50-59 years,and the standardized detection rate of hemorrhoids in the age group of 60 and above decreased slightly(P<0.001 for trend test).The participants with hypertension had a higher standardized detection rate of hemorrhoids than those with normal blood pressure in both males and females(P<0.001).The standardized detection rate of hemorrhoids showed a positive corre-lation with body mass index(P<0.001 for trend test in males).Conclusion:The detection rate of hemorrhoids varied to gender,age,obesity,and hypertension status,which could help to identify the risk factors and the high-risk sub-groups,and hence to strengthen health education and early detection accordingly,which could eventually reduce the incidence of hemorrhoids and improve the quality of life and health in the Chinese population.This study was conducted in a physical examination population,and the conclusions of this study should be extrapolated with caution.

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