1.Yijingtang Reduces Ovarian Inflammatory Responses in Rat Model of Diminished Ovarian Reserve via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Heng HU ; Jijun CHU ; Zhe LI ; Haijing CHU ; Jing YU ; Chengcheng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):20-30
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yijingtang (YJT) in treating diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in rats by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty female SD rats with normal estrous cycles were randomly allocated into blank, model, low- and high-dose (12.579 and 25.158 g·kg-1, respectively) YJT, and dehydroepiandrosterone (7.487 5 mg·kg-1) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in other groups except the blank group were administrated with the tripterygium glycosides tablet suspension (5 mg·kg-1) by gavage for 14 days for the modeling of DOR. The rats in the drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage from day 15 for 30 consecutive days, and those in the blank and model groups received equal volumes of distilled water. The vaginal exfoliated cell smears were observed to assess the changes in the estrous cycle. The wet weight of bilateral ovaries was weighed for calculation of the ovarian index. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes in the ovaries and the proportions of follicles at various levels were calculated. The serum levels of sex hormones [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB profilin α (IκBα), NF-κB and inflammatory factors in the ovarian tissue. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of factors related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the ovarian tissue. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed disturbed estrous cycles, increased inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, decreases in ovarian index and proportion of presinusoidal follicles, and an increase in the proportion of atretic follicles (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the model group showed elevated serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, up-regulated mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.01), lowered serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, down-regulated mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.01), and massive nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. Compared with the model group, dehydroepiandrosterone and low and high doses of YJT restored the disturbed estrous cycle, reduced inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, increased the ovarian index (P<0.01), and changed the follicular composition ratio (P<0.01). Furthermore, the drugs lowered the serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, down-regulated the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01), raised the serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ConclusionYJT may inhibit the release and expression of inflammatory factors by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate the inflammatory responses in the ovarian tissue, thereby improving the ovarian function in DOR rats.
2.Yijingtang Reduces Ovarian Inflammatory Responses in Rat Model of Diminished Ovarian Reserve via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Heng HU ; Jijun CHU ; Zhe LI ; Haijing CHU ; Jing YU ; Chengcheng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):20-30
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yijingtang (YJT) in treating diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in rats by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty female SD rats with normal estrous cycles were randomly allocated into blank, model, low- and high-dose (12.579 and 25.158 g·kg-1, respectively) YJT, and dehydroepiandrosterone (7.487 5 mg·kg-1) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in other groups except the blank group were administrated with the tripterygium glycosides tablet suspension (5 mg·kg-1) by gavage for 14 days for the modeling of DOR. The rats in the drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage from day 15 for 30 consecutive days, and those in the blank and model groups received equal volumes of distilled water. The vaginal exfoliated cell smears were observed to assess the changes in the estrous cycle. The wet weight of bilateral ovaries was weighed for calculation of the ovarian index. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes in the ovaries and the proportions of follicles at various levels were calculated. The serum levels of sex hormones [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB profilin α (IκBα), NF-κB and inflammatory factors in the ovarian tissue. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of factors related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the ovarian tissue. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed disturbed estrous cycles, increased inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, decreases in ovarian index and proportion of presinusoidal follicles, and an increase in the proportion of atretic follicles (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the model group showed elevated serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, up-regulated mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.01), lowered serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, down-regulated mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.01), and massive nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. Compared with the model group, dehydroepiandrosterone and low and high doses of YJT restored the disturbed estrous cycle, reduced inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, increased the ovarian index (P<0.01), and changed the follicular composition ratio (P<0.01). Furthermore, the drugs lowered the serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, down-regulated the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01), raised the serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ConclusionYJT may inhibit the release and expression of inflammatory factors by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate the inflammatory responses in the ovarian tissue, thereby improving the ovarian function in DOR rats.
3.The mechanism of Medicoscab tincture in the treatment of second-degree burns based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology
Qiang ZHANG ; Jing LI ; Yue LIU ; Xiaoqin CHU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(8):377-382
Objective To explore the mechanism of Medicoscab tincture in the treatment of second-degree burns based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods The effective components of the tincture were screened by the TCMSP; the effective components of the tincture and burn related targets were screened by GeneCards and OMIM database; Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to draw “Chinese medicine-disease-effective components-targets” network diagram; the related gene ontology (GO) functions and pathways of the tincture were obtained through GO enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclo-pedia of genes and geomes (KEGG) pathway analysis on the targets through Metascape platform; the pathway bubble diagram was constructed by the pathways enriched in the KEGG database, and finally verified by AutoDockTools for molecular alignment. Results 19 effective components and 179 target intersections of Medicoscab tincture were selected. GO analysis showed the intervention burns process mainly involved the reaction of inorganic substances, the reaction of cells to nitrogen compounds, and the response to xenobiotic stimuli, as well as biological processes such as membrane rafts, vesicular cavities, transcriptional regulatory factor complexes, receptor complexes, and endoplasmic reticulum cavities. KEGG analysis showed the function mainly includes AGE-RAGE signal pathway, PI3K-Akt signal pathway, IL-17 signal pathway, TNF signal pathway, etc. Analysis of cytoscape software showed the core targets were AKT1, TNF, IL-6, GAPDH, TP53, etc. Molecular docking showed that the active components of Medicoscab tincture were docking with multiple targets, among which β- sitosterol had strong binding activity with AKT1, GAPDH and TP53. Conclusion Quercetin, kaempferol, baicalein, β-sitosterol and other core active ingredients in the tincture of making scabs, which could assist in the relief of burns, regulate the signalling pathways such as AGE-RAGE, PI3K-Akt, IL-17, TNF and so on by acting on the targets of AKT1, GAPDH, TP53, IL-6 and so on. This study laid a theoretical foundation for clarifying the mechanism of action of tincture of scab making for the treatment of burn-like diseases.
4.Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture for post-ischemic stroke insomnia: a randomized controlled trial.
Run ZHANG ; Xinwang CHEN ; Mengyu WANG ; Wenming CHU ; Lihua WU ; Jing GAO ; Peidong LIU ; Ce SHI ; Liyuan LIU ; Bingzhen LI ; Miaomiao JI ; Yayong HE
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(10):1405-1413
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the efficacy and safety of Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture (acupuncture for regulating defensive qi and nourishing brain) for post-ischemic stroke insomnia (PISI).
METHODS:
A total of 96 patients with PISI were randomized into an acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case was excluded), a medication group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded) and a sham-acupuncture group (32 cases, 1 case dropped out, 1 case was excluded). In the acupuncture group, Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture was applied at bilateral Shenmai (BL62), Zhaohai (KI6), Hegu (LI4), Taichong (LR3), and Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), Yintang (GV24+), Shenting (GV24), once a day, 1-day interval was taken after 6-day treatment, for 3 weeks totally. In the medication group, eszopiclone tablet was given orally, 1-3 mg a time, once a day for 3 weeks. In the sham-acupuncture group, non-invasive sham acupuncture was applied, the acupoint selection, frequency and course of treatment were the same as the acupuncture group. Before treatment, after 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), self-rating sleep scale (SRSS), National Institutes of Health Stroke scale (NIHSS), Hamilton depression scale-17 (HAMD-17) were observed; before and after treatment, the sleep parameters were recorded using polysomnography (PSG); and the efficacy and safety were evaluated after treatment in the 3 groups.
RESULTS:
After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, HAMD-17 and SRSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the SRSS scores in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05); after 2 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS score in the acupuncture group was decreased compared with that before treatment (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group, the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After 3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS, HAMD-17 and NIHSS in the acupuncture group and the medication group, as well as the NIHSS score in the sham-acupuncture group were decreased compared with those after 2 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 2,3 weeks of treatment, the scores of PSQI, SRSS and HAMD-17 in the acupuncture group and the medication group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), the NIHSS scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the medication group and the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); after 3 weeks of treatment, HAMD-17 score in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the NIHSS score in the medication group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, after treatment, the total sleep time was prolonged (P<0.05), the wake after sleep onset, sleep latency, and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep latency were shortened (P<0.05), the sleep efficiency was improved (P<0.05), the number of awakenings was reduced (P<0.05), the percentage of rapid eye movement (REM%) and the percentage of NREM stage 1 (N1%) were decreased (P<0.05), the percentage of NREM stage 2 (N2%) and the percentage of NREM stage 3 (N3%) were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group and the medication group; the sleep latency was shortened in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, the PSG indexes in the acupuncture group and the medication group were superior to those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05); in the acupuncture group, the number of awakenings was less than that in the medication group (P<0.05), the REM% and N1% were lower than those in the medication group (P<0.05), the N2% and N3% were higher than those in the medication group (P<0.05). The total effective rate were 93.5% (29/31) and 90.0% (27/30) in the acupuncture group and the medication group respectively, which were higher than 10.0% (3/30) in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). There was no serious adverse events in any of the 3 groups.
CONCLUSION
Tiaowei Jiannao acupuncture improves the insomnia symptoms in patients with ischemic stroke, improves the quality of sleep, increases the deep sleep, promotes the recovery of neurological function, and relieves the depression. It is effective and safe for the treatment of PISI.
Humans
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Male
;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology*
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Adult
;
Ischemic Stroke/complications*
;
Stroke/complications*
;
Sleep
5.Singapore consensus statements on the management of obstructive sleep apnoea.
Leong Chai LEOW ; Chuen Peng LEE ; Sridhar VENKATESWARAN ; Michael Teik Chung LIM ; Oon Hoe TEOH ; Ruth CHANG ; Yam Cheng CHEE ; Khai Beng CHONG ; Ai Ping CHUA ; Joshua GOOLEY ; Hong Juan HAN ; Nur Izzianie KAMARUDDIN ; See Meng KHOO ; Lynn Huiting KOH ; Shaun Ray Han LOH ; Kok Weng LYE ; Mark IGNATIUS ; Yingjuan MOK ; Jing Hao NG ; Thun How ONG ; Chu Qin PHUA ; Rui Ya SOH ; Pei Rong SONG ; Adeline TAN ; Alvin TAN ; Terry TAN ; Jenny TANG ; David TAY ; Jade TAY ; Song Tar TOH ; Serene WONG ; Chiang Yin WONG ; Mimi YOW
Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore 2025;54(10):627-643
INTRODUCTION:
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is common in Singapore, with moderate to severe OSA affecting around 30% of residents. These consensus statements aim to provide scientifically grounded recommendations for the management of OSA, standar-dise the management of OSA in Singapore and promote multidisciplinary collaboration.
METHOD:
An expert panel, which was convened in 2024, identified several areas of OSA management that require guidance. The expert panel reviewed the current literature and developed consensus statements, which were later independently voted on using a 3-point Likert scale (agree, neutral or disagree). Consensus (total ratings of agree and neutral) was set a priori at ≥80% agreement. Any statement not reaching consensus was excluded.
RESULTS:
The final consensus included 49 statements that provide guidance on the screening, diagnosis and management of adults with OSA. Additionally, 23 statements on the screening, diagnosis and management of paediatric OSA achieved consensus. These 72 consensus statements considered not only the latest clinical evidence but also the benefits and harms, resource implications, feasibility, acceptability and equity impact of the recommendations.
CONCLUSION
The statements presented in this paper aim to guide clinicians based on the most updated evidence and collective expert opinion from sleep specialists in Singapore. These recommendations should augment clinical judgement rather than replace it. Management decisions should be individualised, taking into account the patient's clinical characteristics, as well as patient and caregiver concerns and preferences.
Humans
;
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis*
;
Singapore
;
Consensus
;
Adult
6.Alzheimer's disease diagnosis among dementia patients via blood biomarker measurement based on the AT(N) system.
Tianyi WANG ; Li SHANG ; Chenhui MAO ; Longze SHA ; Liling DONG ; Caiyan LIU ; Dan LEI ; Jie LI ; Jie WANG ; Xinying HUANG ; Shanshan CHU ; Wei JIN ; Zhaohui ZHU ; Huimin SUI ; Bo HOU ; Feng FENG ; Bin PENG ; Liying CUI ; Jianyong WANG ; Qi XU ; Jing GAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(12):1505-1507
7.Comparison of glucose fluctuation between metformin combined with acarbose or sitagliptin in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes: A multicenter, randomized, active-controlled, open-label, parallel design clinical trial.
Xiaoling CAI ; Suiyuan HU ; Chu LIN ; Jing WU ; Junfen WANG ; Zhufeng WANG ; Xiaomei ZHANG ; Xirui WANG ; Fengmei XU ; Ling CHEN ; Wenjia YANG ; Lin NIE ; Linong JI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(9):1116-1125
BACKGROUND:
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors are both hypoglycemia agents that specifically impact on postprandial hyperglycemia. We compared the effects of acarbose and sitagliptin add on to metformin on time in range (TIR) and glycemic variability (GV) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus through continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).
METHODS:
This study was a randomized, open-label, active-con-trolled, parallel-group trial conducted at 15 centers in China from January 2020 to August 2022. We recruited patients with type 2 diabetes aged 18-65 years with body mass index (BMI) within 19-40 kg/m 2 and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between 6.5% and 9.0%. Eligible patients were randomized to receive either metformin combined with acarbose 100 mg three times daily or metformin combined with sitagliptin 100 mg once daily for 28 days. After the first 14-day treatment period, patients wore CGM and entered another 14-day treatment period. The primary outcome was the level of TIR after treatment between groups. We also performed time series decomposition, dimensionality reduction, and clustering using the CGM data.
RESULTS:
A total of 701 participants received either acarbose or sitagliptin treatment in combination with metformin. There was no statistically significant difference in TIR between the two groups. Time below range (TBR) and coefficient of variation (CV) levels in acarbose users were significantly lower than those in sitagliptin users. Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of TBR below target level <3.9 mmol/L (TBR 3.9 ): Acarbose: 0.45% (0, 2.13%) vs . Sitagliptin: 0.78% (0, 3.12%), P = 0.042; Median (25th percentile, 75th percentile) of TBR below target level <3.0 mmol/L (TBR 3.0 ): Acarbose: 0 (0, 0.22%) vs . Sitagliptin: 0 (0, 0.63%), P = 0.033; CV: Acarbose: 22.44 ± 5.08% vs . Sitagliptin: 23.96 ± 5.19%, P <0.001. By using time series analysis and clustering, we distinguished three groups of patients with representative metabolism characteristics, especially in GV (group with small wave, moderate wave and big wave). No significant difference was found in the complexity of glucose time series index (CGI) between acarbose users and sitagliptin users. By using time series analysis and clustering, we distinguished three groups of patients with representative metabolism characteristics, especially in GV.
CONCLUSIONS:
Acarbose had slight advantages over sitagliptin in improving GV and reducing the risk of hypoglycemia. Time series analysis of CGM data may predict GV and the risk of hypoglycemia.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR2000039424.
Humans
;
Metformin/therapeutic use*
;
Sitagliptin Phosphate/therapeutic use*
;
Acarbose/therapeutic use*
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood*
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Blood Glucose/drug effects*
;
Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use*
;
Aged
;
Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism*
;
Adolescent
;
Young Adult
;
China
;
East Asian People
8.Cellular senescence in kidney diseases.
Xiaojie WANG ; Yujia LI ; Qingqing CHU ; Hang LV ; Jing LI ; Fan YI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(18):2234-2242
Cellular senescence, stable cell cycle arrest that can be triggered in normal cells in response to various intrinsic and extrinsic stressors, has been highlighted as one of the most important mechanisms involved in kidney diseases. It not only serves as a fundamental biological process promoting normal organogenesis and successful wound repair but also contributes to organ dysfunction, tissue fibrosis, and the generalized aging phenotype. Moreover, senescent cells exhibit reduced regenerative capacity, which impairs renal function recovery from injuries. Importantly, senescent cells are involved in immune regulation via secreting a diverse array of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) with autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine activities. Thus, eliminating detrimental senescent cells or inhibiting SASP production holds great promise for developing innovative therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the intricate mechanisms and hallmarks of cellular senescence in kidney diseases and emphasize novel therapeutic targets, including epigenetic regulators, G protein-coupled receptors, and lysosome-related proteins. Particularly, we highlight the recently identified senotherapeutics, which provide new therapeutic strategies for treating kidney diseases.
Humans
;
Cellular Senescence/genetics*
;
Kidney Diseases/pathology*
;
Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype/physiology*
;
Animals
;
Epigenesis, Genetic/physiology*
9.Mechanism of Guben Jiannao Liquid on Alzheimer's disease by regulating autophagy based on LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway.
Jing-Fan ZHANG ; Qing-Hua LONG ; Chu-Hua ZENG ; Yi-Min CHEN ; Zhe-Yao XIE ; Yuan-Qin CAI ; Xi WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):293-300
This study explores the mechanism of Guben Jiannao Liquid on Alzheimer's disease(AD) by regulating autophagy based on the liver kinase B1(LKB1)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, low-dose and high-dose groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid, and rapamycin group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, all other groups of rats were injected bilaterally in the hippocampus with β-amyloid(Aβ)_(1-42) to establish the AD model. The low-dose(6.21 g·kg~(-1)) and high-dose(12.42 g·kg~(-1)) groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid and rapamycin group(1 mg·kg~(-1)) were given the corresponding drugs by gavage, and the blank and model groups were given an equal volume of saline by gavage for four weeks. Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory ability of rats in each group; hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological and quantitative changes of neurons and Nissl bodies in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus; immunohistochemistry was utilized to detect Aβ-positive cell expression in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus; transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe ultrastructural changes in rat hippocampal tissue, and Western blot was used to examine the protein expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, p-mTOR/mTOR, Beclin1, p62, and LC3-Ⅱ in the hippocampal tissue of the rats. The results showed that compared with those in the blank group, rats in the model group had elevated evasion latency and decreased number of platform transversal and residence time in the platform quadrant. The number of neurons in the hippocampal area was reduced, and the morphology was impaired. The average integral optical density value of Aβ-positive cells was elevated; the expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased, and the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were increased. Compared with those in the model group, rats in the low-dose and high-dose groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid had shorter evasion latency, higher number of platform transversal, longer residence time in the platform quadrant, increased number of neurons, decreased expression of Aβ-positive cells and average integral optical density values, and increased number of autophagic lysosomes in hippocampal tissue. The expression levels of LKB1, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were elevated in the hippocampus of rats in the low-dose group of Guben Jiannao Liquid. The expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were elevated in the hippocampal tissue of rats in the high-dose group of Guben Jiannao Liquid, and the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were decreased. The findings suggest that Guben Jiannao Liquid can improve cognitive impairment in AD rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and the up-regulation of autophagy level.
Animals
;
Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology*
;
Male
;
TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
;
Autophagy/drug effects*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
;
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics*
;
Rats
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
;
Humans
;
Hippocampus/metabolism*
10.Medication rules and mechanisms of treating chronic renal failure by Jinling medical school based on data mining, network pharmacology, and experimental validation.
Jin-Long WANG ; Wei WU ; Yi-Gang WAN ; Qi-Jun FANG ; Yu WANG ; Ya-Jing LI ; Fee-Lan CHONG ; Sen-Lin MU ; Chu-Bo HUANG ; Huang HUANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1637-1649
This study aims to explore the medication rules and mechanisms of treating chronic renal failure(CRF) by Jinling medical school based on data mining, network pharmacology, and experimental validation systematically and deeply. Firstly, the study selected the papers published by the inherited clinicians in Jinling medical school in Chinese journals using the subject headings named "traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) + chronic renal failure", "TCM + chronic renal inefficiency", or "TCM + consumptive disease" in China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database and screened TCM formulas for treating CRF according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study analyzed the frequency of use of single TCM and the four properties, five tastes, channel tropism, and efficacy of TCM used with high frequency and performed association rule and clustering analysis, respectively. As a result, a total of 215 TCM formulas and 235 different single TCM were screened, respectively. The TCM used with high frequency included Astragali Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(top 5). The single TCM characterized by "cold properties, sweet flavor, and restoring spleen channel" and the TCM with the efficacy of tonifying deficiency had the highest frequency of use, respectively. Then, the TCM with the rules of "blood-activating and stasis-removing" and "diuretic and dampness-penetrating" appeared. In addition, the core combination of TCM [(Hexin Formula, HXF)] included "Astragali Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Poria, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, and Angelicae Sinensis Radix". The network pharmacology analysis showed that HXF had 91 active compounds and 250 corresponding protein targets including prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2(PTGS2), PTGS1, sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 5(SCN5A), cholinergic receptor muscarinic 1(CHRM1), and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1(HSP90AA1)(top 5). Gene Ontology(GO) function analysis revealed that the core targets of HXF predominantly affected biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions such as positive regulation of transcription by ribonucleic acid polymerase Ⅱ and DNA template transcription, formation of cytosol, nucleus, and plasma membrane, and identical protein binding and enzyme binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) analysis revealed that CRF-related genes were involved in a variety of signaling pathways and cellular metabolic pathways, primarily involving "phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(Akt) pathway" and "advanced glycation end products-receptor for advanced glycation end products". Molecular docking results showed that the active components in HXF such as isomucronulatol 7-O-glucoside, betulinic acid, sitosterol, and przewaquinone B might be crucial in the treatment of CRF. Finally, a modified rat model with renal failure induced by adenine was used, and the in vivo experimental confirmation was performed based on the above-mentioned predictions. The results verify that HXF can regulate mitochondrial autophagy in the kidneys and the PI3K-Akt-mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) signaling pathway activation at upstream, so as to alleviate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and then delay the progression of CRF.
Data Mining
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Network Pharmacology
;
Humans
;
Kidney Failure, Chronic/metabolism*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
China

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