1.Molecular Mechanisms of Salvia Miltiorrhiza and Its Active Ingredients against Colorectal Cancer: A Review
Jianing GUO ; Xiaochen NI ; Kaiyuan ZHANG ; Wei FAN ; Chuhang WANG ; Chao XU ; Jianbo HUANG ; Tao JIANG ; Guangji ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):307-314
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers, with its incidence ranking high among cancers. It stands as the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In the early stages, CRC lacks specific symptoms, and most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, making it a major research focus in the field of gastrointestinal tumors. Currently, clinical CRC treatments face several common challenges, including high surgical risks, frequent metastasis and recurrence, drug resistance, and significant side effects from chemotherapy and radiation therapy. With the development and application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it has been found that TCM and its active ingredients can effectively inhibit CRC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis, and promote apoptosis and autophagy, thereby slowing the progression of CRC. This has become a key focus of CRC treatment research. Salvia Miltiorrhiza has multiple pharmacological effects, including activating blood circulation to dispel blood stasis, unlocking meridians to relieve pain, clearing heat to calm irritability, and cooling blood to reduce abscesses. It contains a variety of chemical components, including diterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, nitrogen-containing compounds, steroids, and lactone compounds. This review summarized the molecular mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza and its active ingredients in the treatment of CRC. It is found that these ingredients exert anti-CRC effects through various molecular mechanisms, including cell cycle arrest, promotion of apoptosis, inhibition of cell invasion and migration, induction of autophagy, suppression of tumor angiogenesis, and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. The review aims to provide new insights for the drug development and clinical application of Salvia miltiorrhiza in CRC treatment.
2.Impact of early detection and management of emotional distress on length of stay in non-psychiatric inpatients: A retrospective hospital-based cohort study.
Wanjun GUO ; Huiyao WANG ; Wei DENG ; Zaiquan DONG ; Yang LIU ; Shanxia LUO ; Jianying YU ; Xia HUANG ; Yuezhu CHEN ; Jialu YE ; Jinping SONG ; Yan JIANG ; Dajiang LI ; Wen WANG ; Xin SUN ; Weihong KUANG ; Changjian QIU ; Nansheng CHENG ; Weimin LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Yansong LIU ; Zhen TANG ; Xiangdong DU ; Andrew J GREENSHAW ; Lan ZHANG ; Tao LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2974-2983
BACKGROUND:
While emotional distress, encompassing anxiety and depression, has been associated with negative clinical outcomes, its impact across various clinical departments and general hospitals has been less explored. Previous studies with limited sample sizes have examined the effectiveness of specific treatments (e.g., antidepressants) rather than a systemic management strategy for outcome improvement in non-psychiatric inpatients. To enhance the understanding of the importance of addressing mental health care needs among non-psychiatric patients in general hospitals, this study retrospectively investigated the impacts of emotional distress and the effects of early detection and management of depression and anxiety on hospital length of stay (LOS) and rate of long LOS (LLOS, i.e., LOS >30 days) in a large sample of non-psychiatric inpatients.
METHODS:
This retrospective cohort study included 487,871 inpatients from 20 non-psychiatric departments of a general hospital. They were divided, according to whether they underwent a novel strategy to manage emotional distress which deployed the Huaxi Emotional Distress Index (HEI) for brief screening with grading psychological services (BS-GPS), into BS-GPS ( n = 178,883) and non-BS-GPS ( n = 308,988) cohorts. The LOS and rate of LLOS between the BS-GPS and non-BS-GPS cohorts and between subcohorts with and without clinically significant anxiety and/or depression (CSAD, i.e., HEI score ≥11 on admission to the hospital) in the BS-GPS cohort were compared using univariable analyses, multilevel analyses, and/or propensity score-matched analyses, respectively.
RESULTS:
The detection rate of CSAD in the BS-GPS cohort varied from 2.64% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.49%-2.81%) to 20.50% (95% CI: 19.43%-21.62%) across the 20 departments, with a average rate of 5.36%. Significant differences were observed in both the LOS and LLOS rates between the subcohorts with CSAD (12.7 days, 535/9590) and without CSAD (9.5 days, 3800/169,293) and between the BS-GPS (9.6 days, 4335/178,883) and non-BS-GPS (10.8 days, 11,483/308,988) cohorts. These differences remained significant after controlling for confounders using propensity score-matched comparisons. A multilevel analysis indicated that BS-GPS was negatively associated with both LOS and LLOS after controlling for sociodemographics and the departments of patient discharge and remained negatively associated with LLOS after controlling additionally for the year of patient discharge.
CONCLUSION
Emotional distress significantly prolonged the LOS and increased the LLOS of non-psychiatric inpatients across most departments and general hospitals. These impacts were moderated by the implementation of BS-GPS. Thus, BS-GPS has the potential as an effective, resource-saving strategy for enhancing mental health care and optimizing medical resources in general hospitals.
Humans
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Retrospective Studies
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Male
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Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data*
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Adult
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Psychological Distress
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Inpatients/psychology*
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Aged
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Anxiety/diagnosis*
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Depression/diagnosis*
3.Regulation of histidine metabolism by Lactobacillus Reuteri mediates the pathogenesis and treatment of ischemic stroke.
Kangrui HU ; Zhihao ZHOU ; Haofeng LI ; Jijun XIAO ; Yun SHEN ; Ke DING ; Tingting ZHANG ; Guangji WANG ; Haiping HAO ; Yan LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):239-255
Increasing evidence has underscored the significance of post-stroke alterations along gut-brain axis, while its role in pathogenesis and treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effects and action targets of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on IS and explore a novel pathogenesis and treatment strategy of IS via profiling the microbial community and metabolic characteristics along gut-brain axis. Our findings revealed for the first time that the therapeutic effect of PNS on IS was microbiota-dependent. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) modeling significantly down-regulated Lactobacilli in rats, and PNS markedly recovered Lactobacilli, particularly Lactobacillus reuteri (L.Reu). Metabolomics showed a significant reduction in serum histidine (HIS) in clinical obsolete IS patients and rehabilitation period I/R rats. Meanwhile, the L.Reu colonization in I/R rats exhibited significant neuroprotective activity and greatly increased HIS in serum, gut microbiota, and brain. Moreover, exogenous HIS demonstrated indirect neuroprotective effects through metabolizing to histamine. Notably, vagus nerve severance in I/R rats was performed to investigate HIS's neuroprotective mechanism. The results innovatively revealed that PNS could promote HIS synthesis in gut by enhancing L.Reu proportion, thereby increasing intracerebral HIS through peripheral pathway. Consequently, our data provided novel insights into HIS metabolism mediated by L.Reu in the pathogenesis and treatment of IS.
4.Nanomedicine-driven tumor glucose metabolic reprogramming for enhanced cancer immunotherapy.
Chenwei JIANG ; Minglu TANG ; Yun SU ; Junjie XIE ; Qi SHANG ; Mingmei GUO ; Xiaoran AN ; Longfei LIN ; Ruibin WANG ; Qian HUANG ; Guangji ZHANG ; Hui LI ; Feihu WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):2845-2866
Tumors exhibit abnormal glucose metabolism, consuming excessive glucose and excreting lactate, which constructs a tumor microenvironment that facilitates cancer progression and disrupts immunotherapeutic efficacy. Currently, tumor glucose metabolic dysregulation to reshape the immunosuppressive microenvironment and enhance immunotherapy efficacy is emerging as an innovative therapeutic strategy. However, glucose metabolism modulators lack specificity and still face significant challenges in overcoming tumor delivery barriers, microenvironmental complexity, and metabolic heterogeneity, resulting in poor clinical benefit. Nanomedicines, with their ability to selectively target tumors or immune cells, respond to the tumor microenvironment, co-deliver multiple drugs, and facilitate combinatorial therapies, hold significant promise for enhancing immunotherapy through tumor glucose metabolic reprogramming. This review explores the complex interactions between tumor glucose metabolism-specifically metabolite transport, glycolysis processes, and lactate-and the immune microenvironment. We summarize how nanomedicine-mediated reprogramming of tumor glucose metabolism can enhance immunotherapy efficacy and outline the prospects and challenges in this field.
5.Research progress on the relationship between transporters in the stria vascularis and hearing loss
Kaidi SHEN ; Suhan GUO ; Depeng ZHANG ; Guangji WANG ; Fang ZHOU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(6):766-773
Stria vascularis(SV), located in the lateral wall of the cochlea, is a highly vascularized tissue that plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of endolymph and normal auditory function, with its core function relying on the transporter system distributed within it. These transporters in the SV precisely mediate the transport of ions, nutrients, and metabolites, constituting the cornerstone of the homeostasis of endolymph. Abnormal expression or dysfunction of transporters in the SV can lead to an imbalance in the inner ear microenvironment, which can lead to hearing loss. However, the effects of transporters in SV on hearing loss have not been fully clarified. In this paper, the function and distribution of different types of transporters in SV and their relationship with hearing loss are reviewed, providing a new perspective and prospect for exploring the molecular basis of hearing loss and targeted therapies of transporters in the future.
6. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of tetrahydropalmatine, nobiletin, and costunolide in rats after oral administration of Dalitong extract
Yuanmao ZHANG ; Ran ZHANG ; Ruiwei LIAO ; Xiuxiu MENG ; Chen XU ; Fang-Fang GAO ; Fang-Fang JIYE ; Guangji WANG ; Lin TAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2024;29(1):37-51
AIM: To investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of the main active components of Dalitong extract in SD rats after oral administration using UPLC-MS / MS. METHODS: An UPLC-MS / MS method was established to simultaneously detect tetrahydropalmatine, nobiletin and costunolide in the plasma and tissues of SD rats. The method was applied to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics and tissue distribution. RESULTS: After a single oral administration, the three active components were rapidly absorbed into the body, with a peak concentration (Cmax) of (13.73 ± 7.50), (27.01 ± 17.69) and (6.73 ± 29.94) ng / mL for tetrahydropalmatine, nobiletin, and costunolide, respectively. The time to reach the peak concentration (Tmax) was (1.40 ± 0.93), (0.63 ± 0.28) and (2.38 ± 8.81) h, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was (80.43±40.03), (41.30±28.69) and (303.90 ± 136.69) ng · h · mL
7.Targeting cAMP in D1-MSNs in the nucleus accumbens, a new rapid antidepressant strategy.
Yue ZHANG ; Jingwen GAO ; Na LI ; Peng XU ; Shimeng QU ; Jinqian CHENG ; Mingrui WANG ; Xueru LI ; Yaheng SONG ; Fan XIAO ; Xinyu YANG ; Jihong LIU ; Hao HONG ; Ronghao MU ; Xiaotian LI ; Youmei WANG ; Hui XU ; Yuan XIE ; Tianming GAO ; Guangji WANG ; Jiye AA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):667-681
Studies have suggested that the nucleus accumbens (NAc) is implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression; however, the regulatory strategy that targets the NAc to achieve an exclusive and outstanding anti-depression benefit has not been elucidated. Here, we identified a specific reduction of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in the subset of dopamine D1 receptor medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) in the NAc that promoted stress susceptibility, while the stimulation of cAMP production in NAc D1-MSNs efficiently rescued depression-like behaviors. Ketamine treatment enhanced cAMP both in D1-MSNs and dopamine D2 receptor medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) of depressed mice, however, the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine solely depended on elevating cAMP in NAc D1-MSNs. We discovered that a higher dose of crocin markedly increased cAMP in the NAc and consistently relieved depression 24 h after oral administration, but not a lower dose. The fast onset property of crocin was verified through multicenter studies. Moreover, crocin specifically targeted at D1-MSN cAMP signaling in the NAc to relieve depression and had no effect on D2-MSN. These findings characterize a new strategy to achieve an exclusive and outstanding anti-depression benefit by elevating cAMP in D1-MSNs in the NAc, and provide a potential rapid antidepressant drug candidate, crocin.
8.New Forms of Material Basis for Traditional Chinese Medicine and Their Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics Study
Xuan HUI ; Jingyan ZHANG ; An KANG ; Jingwei ZHANG ; Guangji WANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(10):1013-1023
Traditional Chinese medicine,as a treasure of the Chinese nation,has a long history and rich cultural connotations.O-ver the past few hundred years,a large number of active compounds with clear structure,significant activity and elucidated mechanism have been discovered.Their research constitutes the material basis for traditional Chinese medicine research.However,the natural components of traditional Chinese medicine have diverse skeletons and complex structures.In addition to small molecule monomer com-pounds,more and more recent studies have found that there are new forms of material basis for traditional Chinese medicines to exert their pharmacological effects,such as supramolecules formed by active monomer compounds,and bio-macromolecules with pharmaco-logical activity.This article focuses on new forms of the material basis of traditional Chinese medicine,and through analysis of new technologies,mechanisms,and applications,it aims to provide new ideas for research on the material basis of efficacy in traditional Chinese medicine and its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic correlation.
9.Influence of hepatitis B combined with hepatic fibrosis on endoge-nous and exogenous metabolism and therapeutic implications
Jie NI ; Xiaodan HONG ; Ke JI ; Yuanwei JIA ; Guangji WANG ; Jingwei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2024;29(8):853-860
AIM:To study the effect of hepatitis B combined with hepatic fibrosis on endogenous and exogenous metabolism of liver and the effect of glycyrrhizic acid combined with tenofovir(TFV)es-ter on anti-HBV efficacy.METHODS:Hepatitis B mouse was induced by chronic CCI4 to form a mod-el of hepatitis B with hepatic fibrosis.H&E staining,Sirius Red Staining,α-SMA immunohistochemistry were used to detect pathological changes in liver tissue.The changes of liver endogenous metabo-lism in mice with hepatitis B and hepatic fibrosis were detected by metabolomics.LC-MS/MS was used to investigate the plasma and liver concentra-tions of TFV and its active metabolite(TFV-DP),for investigating the changes of exogenous metabo-lism.RESULTS:HBV+CCl4 mice showed fibrosis symptoms such as liver injury and collagen deposi-tion.Hepatitis B combined with hepatic fibrosis af-fected nucleotide metabolism,amino acid metabo-lism,tricarboxylic acid cycle,pentose phosphate pathway and other endogenous metabolism,low-ered the hepatic level of TFV-DP,and decreased the antiviral efficacy.By combining with glycyrrhizic acid or forming a self-assembled preparation,the hepatic level of TFV-DP was improved,and the anti-viral efficacy was enhanced.CONCLUSIONS:Hepati-tis B combined with hepatic fibrosis affected both endogenous and exogenous metabolism of liver.Different forms of combination of glycyrrhizic acid and TFV could elevate the level of TFV-DP in liver and improve the antiviral efficacy in HBV+CCI4 mice.
10.Dual-function natural products:Farnesoid X receptor agonist/in-flammation inhibitor for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease therapy
Kang WANG ; Pengfei ZHANG ; Huiyong SUN ; Shuang CUI ; Lanjia AO ; Ming CUI ; Xiaowei XU ; Lin WANG ; Yuanyuan XU ; Guangji WANG ; Hong WANG ; Haiping HAO
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2024;22(11):965-976
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally,with only one Food and Drug Administration(FDA)-approved drug for its treatment.Given MASLD's complex pathophysiology,ther-apies that simultaneously target multiple pathways are highly desirable.One promising approach is dual-modulation of the famesoid X receptor(FXR),which regulates lipid and bile acid metabolism.However,FXR agonists alone are insufficient due to their limited anti-inflammatory effects.This study aimed to dto identify natural products capable of both FXR activation and inflammation inhibition to provide a comprehensive therapeutic approach for MASLD.Potential FXR ligands from the Natural Product Library were predicted via virtual screening using the Protein Preparation Wizard module in Schrodinger(2018)for molecular docking.Direct binding and regulation of candidate compounds on FXR were analyzed using surface plasmon resonance(SPR)binding assay,reporter gene ana-lysis,and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The anti-inflammatory properties of these compounds were eval-uated in AML12 cells treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α).Dual-function compounds with FXR agonism and inflamma-tion inhibition were further identified in cells transfected with Fxr siRNA and treated with TNF-α.The effects of these dual-function compounds on lipid accumulation and inflammation were evaluated in cells treated with palmitic acid.Results revealed that 17 natural products were predicted via computational molecular docking as potential FXR agonists,with 15 exhibiting a strong affinity for FXR recombinant protein.Nine isoflavone compounds significantly enhanced FXR reporter luciferase activity and the mRNA expressions of Shp and Ostb.Structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that introducing isopropyl or methoxy groups at the C7 position or a methoxy group at the C6 position could enhance the agonistic efficacy of isoflavones.Three compounds(2,6,and 8)were identified as dual-function natural products functioning as FXR agonists and inflammatory inhibitors,while one compound(12)acted as an FXR agonist to inhibit inflammation.These natural products protected hepatocytes against palmitic acid-induced lipid accumulation and in-flammation.In conclusion,compounds 2,6,and 8(genistein,biochanin A,and 7-methoxyisoflavone,respectively)were identified as dual-function bioactive products that transactivate FXR and inhibit inflammation,serving as potential candidates or lead compounds for MASLD therapy.

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