1.Impact of smartphone games on cognitive function in patients with chronic schizophrenia and gender differences
Shipan MIAO ; Jun LI ; Qianqian WANG ; Suqi SONG ; Kai ZHANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(1):44-49
BackgroundPatients with chronic schizophrenia often suffer from cognitive impairment. Traditional cognitive rehabilitation training has problems such as a single form and poor compliance, making it urgent to develop new cognitive intervention methods. ObjectiveTo explore the intervention effect of smartphone games on the cognitive function of patients with chronic schizophrenia, and to analyze the differences in cognitive function improvement between patients of different genders, in order to provide references for the cognitive function intervention of these patients. MethodsThis study was a prospective cohort study. A total of 30 patients who were hospitalized in the Psychiatry Department of Chaohu Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from March to October 2021, met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia as defined in the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10), and had a disease duration of above 5 years, were selected as the research subjects. All patients received smartphone game intervention for 12 weeks, 5 times a week, each session lasting 1 hour, in addition to conventional antipsychotic drug treatment. At the baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 weeks of the intervention, the cognitive function was evaluated using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess mental symptoms, and the Problematic Mobile Gaming Questionnaire (PMGQ) was used to assess addiction symptoms. ResultsA total of 26 patients (86.67%) completed the study, including 13 females and 13 males. The time effects, group effects, and interaction effect between time and group for the immediate memory factor score of RBANS in the female group and the male group were all statistically significant (F=36.682, 5.712, 3.090, P<0.05 or 0.01), and the time effects and group effects for the verbal and delayed memory factors as well as the total score in both groups were also statistically significant (F=3.841, 6.149, 15.372, P<0.05 or 0.01). The time effects and group effects of the total score of PANSS in both groups had no statistical significance (F=2.041, 0.623, P>0.05 for both), and the interaction effect between time and group was statistically significant (F=5.728, P<0.01). The time effects, group effects, and interaction effect of the total score of PMGQ in both groups were all without statistical significance (F=2.672, 0.166, 0.642, P>0.05 for both). ConclusionSmartphone game intervention may help improve the cognitive function of patients with chronic schizophrenia (especially immediate memory, verbal function, and delayed memory), and the benefits are greater for female patients. The smartphone game intervention did not induce game addiction, but no significant improvement in psychotic symptoms was observed. [Funded by Excellent Young Talents Support Program of Anhui Provincial Department of Education (number, gxyqZD2022022); www.chictr.org.cn number, ChiCTR2100044113]
2.Quantitative Determination of Taurine in Functional Drinks by Pre-Column Derivatization Capillary Electrochromatography Coupled with Electrochemiluminescence Detection
Xin TIAN ; Min ZHOU ; Lin XIE ; De-Xia BAI ; Miao-Miao ZHU ; Yong-Jun MA
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(6):1010-1018
Using a novel(OH)n-C60@SiO2@Tm2O3@Ca5(PO4)3(OH)quaternary nano-particles/cross-linked chitosan coated open-tubular capillary column(QNPsC-OTCC)as the analytical column,a new method for highly selective determination of taurine(TAU)in functional drinks using pre-column derivatization capillary electrochromatography coupled with electrochemiluminescence(CEC-ECL)detection was established.In the experiments,it was found that adding hexamethylenetetramine as a co-catalyst in N-methylation derivative reaction could quantitatively convert TAU into a single derivative product that cuold be detected by ECL.With the help of Ru(bpy)32+reagent,the ECL peak intensity of TAU derivative was increased by more than 1000 times compared to the original TAU.In addition,a Ru-containing d-f cyano-bridged heterometallic coordination polymer modified platinum electrode was used instead of a bare platinum electrode as working electrode for ECL detection,which resulted in a further increase of the peak response of TAU derivatives about 5.7 times.Under optimized analytical conditions,by using betastatin hydrochloride(BSH)as the internal standard and simultaneously derivatized with TAU,the relative ratio of peak intensity of TAU and BSH derivatives showed a linear relationship with the initial TAU concentration in a two-segment ranges of 0.2-6.0 mmol/L and 6.0-10 mmol/L.The limit of detection of TAU was 0.09 mmol/L(S/N=3).The developed method was applied to determination of TAU contents in four commercial functional drink samples,and the relative standard deviations(RSDs)for relative intensity ratio were less than 0.9%,and the recoveries were in the range of 95.0%~102.0%,indicating good practicability of the method.
3.Relationship between serum KNG1 and TIMP3 levels and coronary artery lesions in children with Kawasaki disease at the acute phase
Miao ZHANG ; Jun YANG ; Meizi HUANG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(17):2110-2114
Objective To investigate the relationship between serum kininogen-1(KNG1)and tissue inhib-itor of metalloproteinases-3(TIMP3)levels and coronary artery lesions(CAL)in children with Kawasaki dis-ease(KD)at the acute phase.Methods A total of 132 children with KD at the acute phase admitted to the hospital from October 2020 to February 2024 were selected as the KD group,and were divided into CAL group(66 cases)and non CAL group(66 cases)according to whether they were combined with CAL.In addition,66 healthy children during the same period were selected as the control group.Serum KNG1 and TIMP3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.A multivariate unconditional Logistic regression model with CAL as the dependent variable was established to identify independent factors influencing CAL in children with KD at the acute phase.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),KNG1,and TIMP3 levels for CAL in children with KD at the acute phase.Results Compared to the control group,serum KNG1 level was elevated in the KD group(P<0.05),and TIMP3 level was reduced(P<0.05).In the CAL group,serum KNG1 level was higher(P<0.05),and TIMP3 level was lower compared to the non CAL group(P<0.05).Independent risk factors for CAL in children with KD at the acute phase included immunoglobulin resistance(OR=5.618,95%CI:1.203-26.248),increased NT-proBNP level(OR=1.003,95%CI:1.000-1.005),and increased KNG1 level(OR=1.648,95%CI:1.251-2.173),while increased TIMP3 level was identified as an independent protective factor(OR=0.966,95%CI:0.949-0.983,P<0.05).The combination of serum NT-proBNP,KNG1,and TIMP3 levels yielded an area under the curve of 0.930 for predicting CAL in children with KD at the acute phase,which was larger than 0.785,0.801,0.792 of NT-proBNP,KNG1,and TIMP3 a-lone(P<0.05).Conclusion increased level of serum KNG1 and decreased level of TIMP3 are independently associated with the occurrence of CAL in children with KD at the acute phase.The combined prediction of ser-um NT-proBNP,KNG1,and TIMP3 levels has high value in predicting CAL in children with KD at the acute phase.
4.Relationship between serum miR-101-3p,GALNT1 and the efficacy and prognosis of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer
Wanfu WANG ; Liang YAO ; Jun YANG ; Yongmin MIAO
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(22):2689-2697
Objective To investigate the relationship between serum microRNA-101-3p(miR-101-3p),pol-ypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1(GALNT1)and the efficacy and prognosis of neoadjuvant chem-otherapy(NAC)in breast cancer.Methods A total of 203 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC in this hospital from January 2017 to August 2019 were selected as breast cancer group.They were divided into the ineffective group and the effective group according to the therapeutic effect of NAC,and divided into the death group and the survival group according to the 5-year survival situation.Additionally,203 healthy women who underwent routine physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group.The clini-cal data and the levels of serum miR-101-3p and GALNT1 were detected and compared.The binding sites of miR-101-3p and GALNT1 were predicted through the online database.Pearson correlation analysis was per-formed to assess the correlation between serum miR-101-3p and GALNT1 expression in breast cancer pa-tients.The relationship between serum miR-101-3p,GALNT1 and the efficacy and prognosis of NAC in breast cancer patients were analyzed by multivariate unconditional Logistic regression and Cox regression.The pre-dictive value of serum miR-101-3p and GALNT1 for the ineffectiveness and mortalit of NAC treatment in breast cancer patients were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the control group,the expression level of serum miR-101-3p in the breast cancer group decreased,and the level of GALNT1 increased,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).Serum miR-101-3p in patients with breast cancer was negatively correlated with GALNT1(P<0.05).High expression of Ki-67,≥4 axillary lymph node metastases after surgery and high expression of GALNT1 were independent risk factors for ineffective NAC treatment in breast cancer patients(P<0.05),and high expression of miR-101-3p was an independent protective factor(P<0.05).TNM stage Ⅲ,postoperative axillary lymph node metastasis ≥10,and high expression of GALNT1 were independent risk factors for ineffective NAC treatment in breast cancer patients(P<0.05),while high expression of miR-101-3p was an independent protective fac-tor(P<0.05).The predictive efficacy of combined detection of serum miR-101-3p and GALNT1 for ineffec-tive NAC treatment and death in breast cancer patients was higher than that predicted by either of them alone(both P<0.05).Conclusion Low serum miR-101-3p and high GALNT1 expression in breast cancer patients are closely related to NAC efficacy and prognosis.The combination of the two has a high predictive value for both the efficacy and prognosis of NAC.
5.Analysis of Surgical Treatment Outcomes in 709 Cases of Infective Endocarditis
Chaoji ZHANG ; Zining WU ; Xingrong LIU ; Guotao MA ; Shangdong XU ; Jianzhou LIU ; Sheng YANG ; Yanxue ZHAO ; Xinpei LIU ; Xiaocui WANG ; Xiaojun MA ; Ligang FANG ; Chunhua YU ; Huaiwu HE ; Qi MIAO ; Jun ZHENG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;17(1):197-203
To review the clinical characteristics, short-term outcomes, and risk factors of patients with infective endocarditis(IE) who underwent surgical treatment at a single center, and to summarize treatment experience. Consecutive patients diagnosed with IE who underwent cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 2012 and June 2024 were enrolled. Statistical analyses were performed on their baseline characteristics, comorbidities, IE predisposing factors, surgical indications, pathogen distribution, surgical strategies, short-term outcomes, and associated risk factors. A total of 709 IE patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. IE involved left-sided valves in 85.3% of cases. The median age was 48(35, 58) years, and 68.0% were male. Prosthetic valve endocarditis accounted for 8.7%. Patients with left-sided IE had a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Streptococcus was the causative pathogen in 43.2% of patients, while right-sided IE was more frequently associated with Significant differences in pathogen distribution were observed between patients with left-sided and right-sided IE. Heart failure was identified as an independent risk factor for both perioperative mortality and adverse outcomes in surgically treated patients. Through strict timing of surgical intervention and optimized perioperative management, surgical treatment may effectively reduce mortality and improve prognosis in patients with IE.
6.Effect of different doses of agomelatine on liver function in patients with depressive disorders: a real-world study
Jun LI ; Shipan MIAO ; Qianqian WANG ; Suqi SONG ; Xiaoping YUAN ; Kai ZHANG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(6):486-490
BackgroundAgomelatine, a novel antidepressant with dual efficacy in mood improvement and sleep regulation, has been widely utilized in clinical treatment of depressive disorders. The association between agomelatine and hepatic dysfunction has garnered increasing attention, yet there remains limited research on its long-term effect of liver function in real clinical scenarios. ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of different doses of agomelatine on liver function in patients with depressive disorders in real clinical scenarios, and to ascertain its safety profile and efficacy differences. MethodsA retrospective study was conducted, enrolling 200 patients diagnosed with depressive disorders according to the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10), who received agomelatine treatment at the Department of Psychiatry of Chaohu Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from January 2019 to December 2024. Longitudinal follow-up was performed based on real-world data. Patients were divided into a low-dose group (25 mg/d) (n=121) and a high-dose group (50 mg/d) (n=79) based on their agomelatine dosage. Follow-up assessments were conducted at baseline, the 2nd, 6th, 14th, and 26th weeks after treatment initiation. Liver function indicators, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL), were measured using a fully automated biochemical analyzer. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item (HAMD-24) and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). ResultsNo statistically significant time effect, intergroup effect, or time-by-group interaction effect was observed for ALT, AST, or TBIL in either the low-dose or high-dose group (P>0.05). The time effects for both HAMD-24 and HAMA scores in the two groups were statistically significant (Ftime=430.573, 395.737, P<0.01). From the end of the 2nd week of treatment onward, the scores at each follow-up time point were significantly lower than those at the baseline period (P<0.01). ConclusionBoth low-dose and high-dose agomelatine may have no significant effect on liver function in patients with depressive disorders, with no difference in liver function impairment was observed between dosage groups. Low-dose and high-dose agomelatine may be equally effective in alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders. [Funded by the Education Work Committee of the Anhui Provincial Committee for Outstanding Young Talents in Colleges and Universities (number, gxyqZD2022022); the Key Project of Scientific Research Fund of Anhui Institute of Translational Medicine (number, 2023zhyx-B18)]
7.Study on surface microcirculation sensitization of acupuncture points related to cold coagulation and stasis syndrome in primary dysmenorrhea
Xuxin LI ; Xuesong WANG ; Miao LIN ; Mingjian ZHANG ; Yuanbo GAO ; Xifen ZHANG ; Hao CHEN ; Haiping LI ; Xiaojun ZHENG ; Xisheng FAN ; Jun LIU ; Juncha ZHANG ; Yanfen SHE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):253-269
Objective:
To assess the dynamic changes of microcirculation at acupoints in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold congelation and blood stasis syndrome using laser speckle blood flow imaging.
Methods:
Patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (primary dysmenorrhea group, n=53) and healthy female college students(control group, n=57) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from October 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine. On the premenstrual and first day of menstruation, a laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to measure the microcirculation blood flow perfusion on the surface of acupoints related to the conception, thoroughfare, and governor vessels, and stomach, spleen, and bladder meridians in the abdomen and lumbosacral regions. The dynamic changes in microcirculation were calculated based on the difference in average blood flow perfusion at each acupoint before and after menstruation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic changes in microcirculation on the surface of each acupoint. The microcirculation sensitization rate of acupoints was calculated.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the dynamic changes in microcirculation at the following acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group were increased (P<0.05): conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]); left thoroughfare vessel (left Huangshu[KI16], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], left Qixue[KI13], left Dahe[KI12], left Henggu[KI11]); left stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], left Wailing[ST26], left Qichong[ST30]); left spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14]); right thoroughfare vessel (right Huangshu[KI16], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Siman[KI14], right Qixue[KI13], right Dahe[KI12], right Henggu[KI11]); right stomach meridian (right Wailing[ST26], right Daju[ST27], right Shuidao[ST28], right Guilai[ST29], right Qichong[ST30]); and right spleen meridian (right Fujie[SP14]). The area under the ROC curve of conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]), thoroughfare vessel (right Siman[KI14], left Huangshu[KI16], right Qixue[KI13], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Dahe[KI12], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], right Huangshu[KI16], left Qixue[KI13], right Henggu[KI11], left Henggu[KI11], left Dahe[KI12]); stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], right Guilai[ST29], left Wailing[ST26], right Shuidao[ST28], right Daju[ST27], right Wailing[ST26], right Qichong[ST30], left Qichong[ST30]), and spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14], right Fujie[SP14]) was 0.610-0.682 (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the sensitization rate of some acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group increased (P<0.05).
Conclusion
With the onset of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of some acupoints in the abdomen (thoroughfare, and conception vessels, and stomach and spleen meridians) of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome increased, and the status of acupoints changed from a resting state to an active state. These acupoints are sensitive in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome and have a certain diagnostic efficacy, providing a basis for further analyzing the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea with cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome.
8.Identification of blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology and evaluation of their anti-insomnia effects and mechanisms.
Xia-Xia REN ; Jin-Na YANG ; Xue-Jun LUO ; Hui-Ping LI ; Miao QIAO ; Wen-Jia WANG ; Yi HE ; Shui-Ping ZHOU ; Yun-Hui HU ; Rui-Ming LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1928-1937
This study identified blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills and explored their anti-insomnia effects and mechanisms. The main blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills were detected and identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The rationality of the formula was assessed by using enrichment analysis based on the relationship between drugs and symptoms, and core targets of its active components were selected as the the potential anti-insomnia targets of Anshen Dropping Pills through network pharmacology analysis. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network, Gene Ontology(GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis were performed on the core targets. An active component-core target network for Anshen Dropping Pills was constructed. Finally, the effects of low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Anshen Dropping Pills on sleep episodes, sleep duration, and sleep latency in mice were measured by supraliminal and subliminal pentobarbital sodium experiments. Moreover, total scores of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) scale was used to evaluate the changes before and after the treatment with Anshen Dropping Pills in a clinical study. The enrichment analysis based on the relationship between drugs and symptoms verified the rationality of the Anshen Dropping Pills formula, and nine blood-entering components of Anshen Dropping Pills were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS. The network proximity revealed a significant correlation between eight components and insomnia, including magnoflorine, liquiritin, spinosin, quercitrin, jujuboside A, ginsenoside Rb_3, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that the major anti-insomnia pathways of Anshen Dropping Pills involved substance and energy metabolism, neuroprotection, immune system regulation, and endocrine regulation. Seven core genes related to insomnia were identified: APOE, ALB, BDNF, PPARG, INS, TP53, and TNF. In summary, Anshen Dropping Pills could increase sleep episodes, prolong sleep duration, and reduce sleep latency in mice. Clinical study results demonstrated that Anshen Dropping Pills could decrease total scores of PSQI scale. This study reveals the pharmacodynamic basis and potential multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway effects of Anshen Dropping Pills, suggesting that its anti-insomnia mechanisms may be associated with the regulation of insomnia-related signaling pathways. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of Anshen Dropping Pills.
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods*
;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Network Pharmacology
;
Male
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Humans
;
Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
;
Sleep/drug effects*
;
Female
;
Adult
9.Pathogenesis of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer and treatment mechanism of Weifuchun Capsules via NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
Yu-Jia DU ; Ya-di REN ; Yan ZHUANG ; En-Ze LI ; Jun-Hao MIAO ; Chun-Yue YU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1236-1246
This study aims to investigate the pathogenesis of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer(PLGC) and explore the potential molecular mechanism of Weifuchun Capsules(WFC) in treating PLGC via the nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome signaling pathway. Ninety male SPF-grade Wistar rats were randomized into a normal feeding group and a modeling group. The normal feeding group received a regular diet, while the modeling group was subjected to the disease-syndrome combined modeling of PLGC. Specifically, the rats had free access to the water containing 120 μg·mL~(-1) N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG) and received a diet containing 0.05% ranitidine in an irregular feeding pattern(alternations between fasting and overfeeding). After 15 weeks, the rats in the normal feeding group were randomized into control, control-NF-κB activator betulinic acid(C-BA), and control-NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamaten(C-PDTC) groups. Meanwhile, the rats in the modeling group continuously underwent the modeling procedure and were randomized into model, WFC, model-NF-κB activator(M-BA), and model-NF-κB inhibitor(M-PDTC) groups. The model group and control group were given aseptic water by intragastric administration, once a day. WFC was given at a dose(432 mg·kg~(-1)) 6 times the equivalent dose for adults(body weight: 60 kg) by gavage, once a day. The rats in the C-BA and M-BA groups were administrated with BA by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 10 mg·kg~(-1), twice a week. The rats in the C-PDTC and M-PDTC groups were administrated with PDTC by intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 50 mg·kg~(-1), twice a week. The interventions were carried out for 4 weeks. Histopathological changes of the gastric mucosa were observed and scored by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and alcian blue-periodic acid Sthiff(AB-PAS) staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), and IL-10 in the gastric tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The expression levels of proteins associated with the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in the gastric mucosa were determined by Western blot. The positive expression areas of proteins related to NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome in the gastric mucosa were measured by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that compared with the control group, the model, C-BA, and M-BA groups showed significantly risen scores of mucosal inflammation, degree of inflammatory activity, gland atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia, and the model and M-BA groups showed significanly risen scores of dysplasia. Compared with the model group, the WFC group demonstrated significantly declined scores of mucosal inflammation and degree of inflammatory activity, as well as declined scores of intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia. Compared with the control group, the model and C-BA groups showed significantly elevated levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α in the gastric tissue, and the model group showed significantly elevated level of IL-10. In addition, the model and C-BA groups showed significantly up-regulated expression of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1(caspase-1), and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC) in the gastric mucosa and increased positive expression areas of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC. Compared with the model group, the WFC group showed significantly decreased levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and IL-10 in the gastric tissue, and the M-PDTC group showed significantly lowered levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in the gastric mucosa. Both WFC and M-PDTC groups demonstrated significantly down-regulated expression levels of NF-κB p65, phosphorylated NF-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65), NLRP3, and caspase-1 in the gastric mucosa, along with significant decreases in the positive expression areas of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC. In conclusion, the pathogenesis of PLGC is closely related to the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway. WFC can alleviate mucosal inflammation, inhibit glandular atrophy, partially reverse intestinal metaplasia, and reduce dysplasia to delay the process of inflammation-cancer transformation, and meanwhile it can effectively lower the levels of inflammatory cytokines and down-regulate the expression of pathway-related proteins in the stomach. Therefore, WFC may treat PLGC by inhibiting the NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Male
;
NF-kappa B/genetics*
;
Rats
;
Rats, Wistar
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Inflammasomes/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Precancerous Conditions/metabolism*
;
Capsules
10.Improvement effect and mechanism of Wuling San on TGF-β1-induced fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress damage in HK-2 cells.
Jun WU ; Xue-Ning JING ; Fan-Wei MENG ; Xiao-Ni KONG ; Jiu-Wang MIAO ; Cai-Xia ZHANG ; Hai-Lun LI ; Yun HAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1247-1254
This study investigated the effect of Wuling San on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-induced fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in human renal tubular epithelial cells(HK-2) and its mechanism of antioxidant stress injury. HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into a control group, a TGF-β1 model group, and three treatment groups receiving Wuling San-containing serum at low(2.5%), medium(5.0%), and high(10.0%) doses. TGF-β1 was used to establish the model in all groups except the control group. CCK-8 was used to analyze the effect of different concentrations of Wuling San on the activity of HK-2 cells with or without TGF-β1 stimulation. The expression of key fibrosis molecules, including actin alpha 2(Acta2), collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 chain(Col1α1), collagen type Ⅲ alpha 1 chain(Col3α1), TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 1(Timp1), and fibronectin 1(Fn1), was detected using qPCR. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-8(IL-8), and interleukin-4(IL-4), were measured using ELISA kits. Glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px), malondialdehyde(MDA), catalase(CAT), and superoxide dismutase(SOD) biochemical kits were used to analyze the effect of Wuling San on TGF-β1-induced oxidative stress injury in HK-2 cells, and the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) was analyzed by qPCR and immunofluorescence. The CCK-8 results indicated that the optimal administration concentrations of Wuling San were 2.5%, 5.0%, and 10.0%. Compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 model group showed significantly increased levels of key fibrosis molecules(Acta2, Col1α1, Col3α1, Timp1, and Fn1) and inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-4). In contrast, the Wuling San administration groups were able to dose-dependently inhibit the expression levels of key fibrosis molecules and inflammatory cytokines compared with the TGF-β1 model group. Wuling San significantly increased the activities of GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD enzymes in TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cells and significantly inhibited the level of MDA. Furthermore, compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 model group exhibited a significant reduction in the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes and proteins. After Wuling San intervention, the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 genes and proteins was significantly increased. Correlation analysis showed that antioxidant stress enzymes(GSH-Px, CAT, and SOD) and Nrf2 signaling were significantly negatively correlated with key fibrosis molecules and inflammatory cytokines in the TGF-β1-stimulated HK-2 cell model. In conclusion, Wuling San can inhibit TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in HK-2 cells by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, improving oxidative stress injury, and reducing inflammation.
Humans
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Fibrosis/genetics*
;
Cell Line
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Epithelial Cells/immunology*
;
Inflammation/metabolism*


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail