1.Design, synthesis and anti-Alzheimer's disease activity evaluation of cinnamyl triazole compounds
Wen-ju LEI ; Zhong-di CAI ; Lin-jie TAN ; Mi-min LIU ; Li ZENG ; Ting SUN ; Hong YI ; Rui LIU ; Zhuo-rong LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):150-163
19 cinnamamide/ester-triazole compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity. Among them, compound
2.Clinical Prediction Models Based on Traditional Methods and Machine Learning for Predicting First Stroke: Status and Prospects
Zijiao ZHANG ; Shunjing DING ; Di ZHAO ; Jun LIANG ; Jianbo LEI
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):292-299
Stroke ranks as the third leading cause of death and the fourth leading cause of disability worldwide. Its high disability rate and prolonged recovery period not only severely impact patients' quality of life but also impose a significant burden on families and society. Primary prevention is the cornerstone of stroke control, as early intervention on risk factors can effectively reduce its incidence. Therefore, the development of predictive models for first-ever stroke risk holds substantial clinical value. In recent years, advancements in big data and artificial intelligence technologies have opened new avenues for stroke risk prediction. This article reviews the current research status of traditional methods and machine learning models in predicting first-ever stroke risk and outlines future development trends from three perspectives: First, emphasis should be placed on technological innovation by incorporating advanced algorithms such as deep learning and large models to further enhance the accuracy of predictive models. Second, there is a need to diversify data types and optimize model architectures to construct more comprehensive and precise predictive models. Lastly, particular attention should be given to the clinical validation of models in real-world settings. This not only enhances the robustness and generalizability of the models but also promotes physicians' understanding of predictive models, which is crucial for their application and dissemination.
3.The bridging role of programmed cell death in association between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis
GE Ruiyang ; ZHOU Yingying ; MAO Haowei ; HAN Lei ; CUI Di ; YAN Fuhua
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(6):457-465
Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are chronic inflammatory diseases that share similar inflammatory mechanisms and characteristics. Programmed cell death (PCD) has recently garnered attention for its crucial role in regulating inflammation and maintaining tissue homeostasis, as well as for its potential to link these two diseases. The various forms of PCD--including apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis--are closely controlled by signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) /NF-κB and MAPK. These pathways determine cell fate and influence inflammatory responses, tissue destruction, and repair, and they both play important roles in the pathogenesis of RA and periodontitis. In periodontitis, periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and its virulence factors, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induce pyroptosis and necroptosis in immune cells such as macrophages via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, which leads to an excessive release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Concurrently, these pathogens inhibit the normal apoptotic process of immune cells, such as neutrophils, prolonging their survival, exacerbating immune imbalance, and aggravating periodontal tissue destruction. Similarly, in RA synovial tissue, fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) acquire apoptosis resistance through signaling pathways such as the Bcl-2 family, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB, allowing for the consistent proliferation and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, the continuous activation of pyroptotic pathways in neutrophils and macrophages results in the sustained release of IL-1β, further exacerbating synovial inflammation and bone destruction. Notably, dysregulated PCD fosters inter-organ crosstalk through shared inflammatory mediators and metabolic networks. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and cytokines that originate from periodontal lesions can spread systemically, influencing cell death processes in synovial and immune cells, thereby aggravating joint inflammation and bone erosion. By contrast, systemic inflammation in RA can upregulate osteoclastic activity or interfere with the normal apoptosis of periodontal cells via TNF-α and IL-6, ultimately intensifying periodontal immune imbalance. This review highlights the pivotal bridging role of PCD in the pathogenesis of both periodontitis and RA, providing a reference for therapeutic strategies that target cell death pathways to manage and potentially mitigate these diseases.
4.Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Analysis of Causal Relationship Between Constipation and Pneumonia
Shuran LI ; Jing SUN ; Qiyue SUN ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Yanyan BAO ; Xiaolan CUI ; Lianlian LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):224-229
ObjectiveBidirectional and two-sample Mendelian randomization(MR) method was used to investigate the bidirectional causal relationship between constipation and pneumonia and to understand the potential relationship between the two diseases from a new perspective, providing new targets for future treatment strategies. MethodConstipation and pneumonia datasets were selected from the genome-wide association study(GWAS) website for the European population in 2021. The data related to constipation included 411 623 samples, and the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) data were 24 176 599. The pneumonia data contained 480 299 samples with a number of SNPs of 24 174 646. In this study, inverse variance weighting(IVW) was adopted as the main analysis method of MR, supplemented by weighted median method, simple model, weighted model and MR-Egger regression analysis results, and sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the results. ResultSeventeen SNPs highly correlated with constipation and 12 SNPs highly correlated with pneumonia were finally included. IVW analysis results of forward MR analysis showed that constipation increased the risk of pneumonia{odds ratio(OR)=1.143, 95% confidence interval(CI)[1.045, 1.249], P=0.003}, MR-Egger regression, simple model, weighted model and weighted median analysis all supported the result(P<0.05). IVW analysis by reverse MR analysis showed that pneumonia did not increase the risk of constipation{OR=1.138, 95%CI[0.974, 1.329], P=0.103}, MR-Egger regression, simple model, weighted model and weighted median analysis also supported this result. ConclusionThe bidirectional and dual-sample MR analysis method is used to confirm the causal relationship between constipation and pneumonia from the perspective of genetic variation, while there is no obvious causal relationship on the contrary. This study will be helpful for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of constipation and pneumonia, and provide a reference for the study of the pathogenesis between the two.
5.Exosomal miRNA-222 Alerts shRNA-PCSK9 Induction Brain Tau Hyperphosphorylation
Lei WANG ; Qian JIANG ; Hong WANG ; Ling YUAN ; Nan LYU ; Di HAO ; Xiaoxue CUI ; Zi WANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(5):636-643
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the microRNA-222(miRNA-222) carried by plasma exosomes can serve as an early warning marker for cognitive impairment induced by shRNA-PCSK9.
METHODS
The high-fat diet(HFD) was used to prepare a hypercholesterolemic mouse model group. The model group mice were divided into HFD-shRNA control group and HFD-shRNA-PCSK9 group. The shRNA-PCSK9 was constructed, injected intravenously into the body, and the expression of PCSK9 mRNA was detected by real-time PCR(RT-PCR). Tau protein and phosphorylation in brain tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Western blotting was used to detect Tau protein and P-Tau protein. Serum amyloid Aβ1-42Ab levels were determined by ELISA. The kits extracted plasma exosomes step by step, identify the exosome morphology by negative staining electron microscopy, and determined the size of exosomes by NTA technology. RT-PCR technique was used to detect the expression level of miRNA-222 carried in plasma exosomes.
RESULTS
The model mouse were prepared by feeding HFD for 13 weeks, whose total cholesterol(TC) and low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C) contents in serum were significantly increased. At the same time, the expression of PCSK9 mRNA in the brain tissue of model group was significantly increased. After shRNA-PCSK9 lentivirus interference, PCSK9 mRNA expression was inhibited, and IHC observed that shRNA-PCSK9 induced abnormal expression and hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein in brain tissue, indicating that the pathological changes of neurofibrillary tangles had occurred. However, at this time, serum Aβ1-42Ab had not been significantly increased, and it had not yet been of significance for the diagnosis of cognitive impairment. The miRNA in plasma exosomes was extracted, and RT-PCR results showed that the expression of miRNA-222 carried in the exosomes of the HFD-shRNA-PCSK9 group was significantly lower than that of the HFD-shRNA control group.
CONCLUSION
Plasma exosomes carried miRNA-222 provides an early warning marker for shRNA-PCSK9- induced cognitive impairment.
6.Mechanism of Xibining Ⅱ Combined with ADSC-Exos in Improving Knee Osteoarthritis by Regulating Mitochondrial Autophagy
Junfeng KANG ; Lishi JIE ; Houyu FU ; Taiyang LIAO ; Lei SHI ; Zishan SU ; Likai YU ; Yibao WEI ; Deren LIU ; Di TIAN ; Jun MAO ; Peimin WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):111-119
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Xibining (XBN) and adipose stem cell exosome (ADSC-Exos) in the cases of separate or joint application on cartilage degeneration and mitochondrial autophagy and explore its mechanism of action to improve knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodSD rats were divided into a sham operation group (sham group), a model group, an ADSC-Exos group (Exos group), an XBN group, and an ADSC-Exos+XBN group (Exos+XBN group). KOA model was established by using anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). The pain sensitivity status of rats was evaluated, and the degeneration degree of the knee joint and cartilage tissue was detected by Micro-CT and pathological staining. The expression of p62 and LC3B was observed by immunofluorescence, and the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-15 in rats were detected by ELISA. The Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS5, ColⅡ, TIMP, ACAN, PINK1, Parkin, p62, and LC3A/B. ResultCompared with the sham group, rats in the model group showed decreased cold-stimulated foot-shrinkage thresholds and mechanical pain sensitivity thresholds, varying degrees of abrasion and loss of cartilage tissue, degeneration of cartilage tissue, elevated serum IL-1β, IL-6, IL-15, and TNF-α levels (P<0.01), and increased protein expression of MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS5 in cartilage tissue. In addition, the protein expression of ColⅡ, TIMP1, and ACAN was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in each treatment group showed higher cold-stimulated foot-shrinkage thresholds and mechanical pain sensitivity thresholds, reduced cartilage tissue degeneration, lower serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-15, and TNF-α (P<0.05,P<0.01), decreased protein expression of MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS5, and higher protein expression of Cold, TIMP1, and ACAN in cartilage tissue (P<0.05,P<0.01). Moreover, the changes were the most obvious in the Exos+XBN group. ConclusionBoth ADSCs-Exos and XBN can increase the level of mitochondrial autophagy in chondrocytes and delay cartilage tissue degeneration by promoting the expression of the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway, and the combination of the two can enhance the therapeutic effect.
7.Improvement of Depression-like Behavior of Depression Model Mice by Sinisan via Regulating GSK-3β/A20/C/EBPβ to Inhibit Activation of Microglia
Hongyun CHEN ; Dongying YANG ; Huiqing LIAO ; Yanyan ZENG ; Linke PAN ; Shasha BAI ; Di DENG ; Yafei SHI ; Rong ZHANG ; Lei YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(12):16-23
ObjectiveTo investigate the antidepressant effect of Sinisan (SNS) by regulating glycogen aynthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3(A20)/CCAAT enhancer binding protein β(C/EBPβ) to inhibit the activation of microglia. MethodA total of 72 male C57/6J mice were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, fluoxetine group (5.0 mg·kg-1), low-dose Sinisan group (4.9 g·kg-1), medium-dose Sinisan group (9.8 g·kg-1), and high-dose Sinisan group (19.6 g·kg-1), with 12 mice in each group. After one week of adaptive feeding, chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was performed to establish the depression model. In the fifth week, drug treatment was conducted for four weeks. In the ninth week, behavioral tests were performed, including sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OPT), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and forced swimming test (FST). Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), GSK-3β, A20, and C/EBPβ in the cortex. The expression of M1-polarized ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68) in microglia was detected by immunofluorescence. ResultAfter eight weeks of CUMS, compared with the normal group, the mice in the model group had a significantly reduced sucrose preference rate (P<0.01), and the activity in the central area of the OPT was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The activity in the open arm area of the EPM test was significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the immobility time of FST was increased (P<0.01). The expression levels of inflammatory proteins IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS were increased (P<0.01), and the fluorescence co-localization index of Iba1 and CD68 was increased (P<0.05). The protein expression levels of GSK-3β and C/EBPβ were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). After four weeks of SNS intervention, compared with the model group, the mice in the SNS group had significantly increased sucrose preference rate (P<0.01), significantly increased activities in the central area and the open arm area in the OPT and the EPM test (P<0.05), and significantly reduced immobility time in the FST (P< 0.01). The protein expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and iNOS were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the fluorescence co-localization index of Iba1 and CD68 was decreased in the high-dose SNS group (P<0.05). The protein expression levels of GSK-3β and C/EBPβ in the medium-dose and high-dose SNS groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and that of A20 was significantly increased (P<0.01). ConclusionThe antidepressant effect of SNS is related to the regulation of GSK-3β/A20/C/EBPβ protein expression and the inhibition of M1-type activation of microglia.
8.Analysis of factors associated with erectile dysfunction after renal transplantation
Hongyang CHEN ; Kepu LIU ; Di WEI ; Pinxiao WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Geng ZHANG ; Changsheng CHEN ; Lin YANG ; Jianlin YUAN
Journal of Modern Urology 2024;29(2):108-113
【Objective】 To explore the factors influencing erectile dysfunction (ED) in male patients after renal transplantation, so as to provide basis for the prevention and treatment of this disease. 【Methods】 Kidney transplant recipients followed up in the Kidney Transplant Clinic of Xijing Hospital during Sep.1, 2022 and May 1, 2023 were selected as the study objects.Questionnaires were distributed, and the erectile function was measured with Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM).Factors associated with ED were analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. 【Results】 A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed, and 276 valid ones were collected, including 182 cases (65.9%) suffering from ED of varying degrees.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age [(<30 years/>50 years, OR: 0.120, 95%CI: 0.033-0.405, P<0.001), (30-40 years/>50 years, OR: 0.223, 95%CI: 0.102-0.463, P<0.001), (>40-50 years/>50 years, OR: 0.320, 95%CI: 0.139-0.719, P<0.01)], level of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) (OR: 1.95, 95%CI: 1.211-3.248, P<0.01), International Prostate Symptom Score-Quality of Life item (IPSS-QoL) (OR: 1.482, 95%CI: 1.201-1.854, P<0.01), and income [(≥10 000 Yuan/<3 000 Yuan, OR: 0.156, 95%CI: 0.053-0.429, P<0.001), (5 000-<10 000 Yuan/<3 000 Yuan, OR: 0.418, 95%CI: 0.199-0.864, P<0.05), (≥10 000 Yuan/3 000-<5 000 Yuan, OR: 0.205, 95%CI: 0.069-0.573, P<0.01)] were independent and significant factors of ED. 【Conclusion】 The prevalence of ED in renal transplantation recipients is high.Age, income, IPSS and IPSS-QoL are the influencing factors.ED after renal transplantation is not only determined by physical and functional factors, but also closely related to social and psychological factors.
9.Expression of miR-182-5p in patients with chronic heart failure and its correlation with left ventricular remodeling and prognosis
Xuelu TANG ; Lei GUI ; Jie ZHENG ; Xiuhua DI
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2024;26(2):132-136
Objective To investigate the serum expression level of miR-182-5p in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF),and analyze its correlation with left ventricular remodeling and prog-nosis.Methods A total of 138 CHF patients admitted to Liaocheng People's Hospital from Janu-ary 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled as CHF group,and another 120 healthy volunteers who took physical examinations at the same time served as the healthy group.The expression level of miR-182-5p in serum was detected in the two groups.Pearson analysis was used to analyze the correlation between its expression level and left ventricular remodeling.ROC curve was plotted to analyze the diagnostic value of miR-182-5p expression level.During 1 year of follow-up,their sur-vival status was collected and analyzed in the CHF patients.The prognostic value of miR-182-5p expression level was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival curve.Results The CHF patients had significantly lower LVEF value,but higher left ventricular remodeling index(LVRI)and miR-182-5p expression level than the healthy group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression level of miR-182-5p was negatively correlated with LVEF(r=-0.496,P=0.000)and positively with LVRI(r=0.460,P=0.000).The AUC value of miR-182-5p expression level in diagnosing CHF was 0.964,the cutoff value was 0.905,the sensitivity was 91.3%,and the specificity was 86.7%.Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the high expression level of miR-182-5p could predict the overall survival of CHF patients(P=0.039).Conclusion The expression level of miR-182-5p is higher in CHF patients than healthy people,and the patients with higher level indi-cate more serious left ventricular remodeling.Detecting the expression level of miR-182-5p is help-ful for the diagnosis and poorgnosis prediction of CHF patients.
10.Study Actuality of Medicinal Pteridophyes Literature via Visualized Bibliometrics
Mingyu ZHU ; Juan LI ; Lichun YE ; Di LEI ; Hegang LIU ; Yifei LIU ; Lin SEN
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;26(8):2154-2167
Objective The current article aimed to explore the previous focuses,highlight the latest progresses and analyze the future trends on the research of medicinal Pteridophyes.Methods 794 scientific names and 414 Chinese names of medical used ferns and lycopods were established as search term from five public documentary libraries(i.e.,Web of Science,PubMed,CNKI,WangFang and Cqvip),respectively.After data cleaning,5465 publications in English and 8918 publications in Chinese were refined as effective datasets.Subsequently,the up-to-date bibliometric methods and visualization software packages were employed to fulfill the graphical bibliometric analyses.Results The yearly publication numbers in both English and Chinese showed fluctuating upward patterns,and each of them has undergone three phases with distinct rates of rise(i.e.,embryonic stage,smoothly-rising stage and sharply-rising stage).Significant national and territorial discrepancies exist in the various types of literature.The topics in English literature on medicinal Pteridophyes mainly included ontogenetic process and phylogeny,plant-environment interactions,and the pharmacological activities of various metabolites(e.g.alkaloids).The Chinese literature is not only concerned with individual development and pharmacological effects,but also focuses on the application of new technologies,emphasizes the application of them in traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Chinese and Western medicine.Moreover,our results pointed out rising hotspot medicinal Pteridophyes species such as Drynaria roosii and Huperzia serrata.Conclusion Our present study implied that the medicinal Pteridophyes have aroused wide attention in domestic and foreign scholar and will be continuous concerned for a long time in the future.Currently,4 different aspects(i.e.,phytoremediation,phylogenetic analysis,pharmacological activity and clinical application)are the main research focal points towards this clade of medical plant species,and it is an important emerging tendency that we should apply the multi-omics technology to investigate the Pteridophyes species and unravel their medical values.


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