1.A new pathway for the homing of asthma bone mesenchymal stem cells: miR-139/Notch1 axis regulates macrophage polarization
Kun WANG ; Haoxiang FANG ; Xiaomei CAO ; Ziheng ZHU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(2):264-269
ObjectiveTo observe the expression of miR-139/Notch1 axis and macrophage polarization in the homing changes of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in asthmatic rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of immune regulation by BMSCs during asthma. Methods30 male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, model control group and BMSCs implantation group, with 10 rats in each group. BMSCs labeled with CFSE were infused into the body of asthmatic rats through the tail vein, and the homing status of BMSCs in asthmatic lung tissue was detected by flow cytometry. Changes in the proportion of inflammatory cells in alveolar lavage fluid were detected by Wright-Giemsa Stain; the levels of macrophage polarization cytokines IFN⁃γ,IL-13,CD80 and CD206 in rat serum were detected by ELISA; the miR-139, Notch1, NOS2, Arg1 and CXCR4 in lung tissue were detected by RT-qPCR. ResultsCompared with the NC group, the expression of serum CD80 and IFN⁃γ in the MC group decreased, while the expression of IL-13 and CD206 increased (P<0.01). The expression of miR⁃139 in lung tissue of MC group rats decreased, and the expression of macrophage polarization markers NOS2, Arg1, and homing marker CXCR4 genes increased (P<0.01). Compared with the MC group, the expression of IFN-γ of rats in BMSCs group increased, while the expression of IL-13 and CD206 decreased (P<0.01). The expression of miR⁃139, CXCR4, and SDF⁃1 mRNA in the lung tissue of rats of BMSCs group increased, while the expression of Notch1, NOS2, and Arg1 decreased (P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that CXCR4 was positively correlated with miR⁃139 (P<0.05), while CXCR4 was negatively correlated with Notch1 (P<0.05). SDF⁃1 and IFN⁃γ was a positively correlated (P<0.05), while SDF⁃1 was negatively correlated with Arg1 and CD206 (P<0.05). ConclusionThe miR⁃139/Notch1 axis can promote BMCs homing in asthmatic rats by affecting macrophage polarization in asthma.
2.Effect of Wei's Huoxue Tongluo Formula(韦氏活血通络方)on Visual Function and Fundus Blood Flow in Treating Atrophic-Stage Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy with Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis
Yan WANG ; Linlin CAO ; Meiling HAO ; Xiaoding SHUI ; Simin SONG ; Kun DING ; Rilong ZHOU ; Yu LUO ; Yize HUANG ; Xiaoyu LIANG ; Liang LIAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(10):1062-1070
ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and possible mechanism of Wei's Huoxue Tongluo Formula (韦氏活血通络方,WHTF) in treating atrophic-stage non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodsA total of 82 atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 41 cases in each group. The treatment group was given oral administration of WHTF twice a day plus acupoint injection of distilled water 2 ml at Taiyang (EX-HN5) once daily, while the control group received injection of compound anisodine injection 2 ml at Taiyang (EX-HN5) once daily and oral administration of WHTF placebo twice a day. Both groups received treatment for a course of 14 days. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), optic disc perfusion density (PD), flux index (FI), macular superficial PD, vascular density (VD), and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores were compared between groups before treatment and on day 7 and day 14 of treatment. Additionally, mean defect (MD) and mean sensitivity (MS) of visual fields were measured before treatment and on day 14, along with safety evaluation. ResultsAfter treatment, both groups showed significant improvement in BCVA, visual field MD and MS, and TCM syndrome scores (P<0.05 or P<0.01). On day 14 of treatment, the TCM syndrome score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant improvement in optic disc PD and FI, and macular superficial PD and VD after treatment in either group (P>0.05) except that on day 7 the macular superficial foveal PD in the control group was significantly better than that in the treatment group (P<0.05). During the treatment period, no serious adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionWHTF can improve the visual function indicators including visual acuity and visual field, as well as TCM syndrome scores in atrophic-stage NAION patients with qi deficiency and blood stasis. It shows clinical safety, although it does not appear to have a significant effect on optic disc or macular blood flow.
3.Comparison of the efficacy of sigmoid sinus constriction plus cartilage reconstruction and sigmoid sinus return surgery in sigmoid sinus-related pulsatile tinnitus.
Wei CAO ; Zhechen WU ; Yi ZHAO ; Busheng TONG ; Kun YAO
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(9):854-860
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of sigmoid sinus constriction plus cartilage reconstruction technique for sigmoid sinus related pulsatile tinnitus. Methods:The clinical data of 31 patients with Sigmoid Sinus Diverticulum(SSD) who underwent surgical treatment from January 2020 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The surgical methods include transmastoid sigmoid sinus constriction and cartilage reconstruction, transmastoid sigmoid sinus(bone wax) return surgery. Among them, 15 patients had transmastoid sigmoid sinus strictation + cartilage reconstruction, and transmammary sigmoid sinus(bone wax) in 16 cases. The aesthetic of anesthesia include general and local anesthesia, 20 cases of general anesthesia, 11 cases of local anesthesia. The doctors of our team graded the degree of tinnitus in 1 week, 1 month and 3 months(Tinnitus Evaluation Questionnaire, TEQ), and compared the degree of preoperative tinnitus to evaluate the surgical efficacy, and the intraoperative and postoperative complications were analyzed and summarized. Results:In 30 of 31 patients, tinnitus was cured or improved with satisfactory efficacy. Among the patients undergoing sigmoid sinus constrictation + cartilage reconstruction, one case had intraoperative sigmoid sinus rupture and bleeding; among the patients who underwent sigmoid sinus(bone wax) return, one patient did not improve postoperative tinnitus, and one patient had postoperative headache and blurred vision, which improved after 1 month of conservative treatment. Conclusion:In the treatment of intravenous pulsatile tinnitus caused by sigmoid sinus diverticulum, the precision of the return depth is difficult to control, and the insufficient and excessive return will cause poor efficacy and postoperative complications. Based on the observation of small sample size and recent curative effect, it is considered that the sigmoid sinus constriction + cartilage reconstruction technology has certain advantages in surgical efficacy, with few postoperative complications, but the operation is difficult, so pay attention to the prevention and emergency treatment of intraoperative sigmoid sinus rupture bleeding.
Humans
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Tinnitus/etiology*
;
Retrospective Studies
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Cranial Sinuses/surgery*
;
Male
;
Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods*
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Female
;
Cartilage/surgery*
;
Diverticulum/complications*
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Middle Aged
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Treatment Outcome
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Adult
4.Anti-SARS-CoV-2 prodrug ATV006 has broad-spectrum antiviral activity against human and animal coronaviruses.
Tiefeng XU ; Kun LI ; Siyao HUANG ; Konstantin I IVANOV ; Sidi YANG ; Yanxi JI ; Hanwei ZHANG ; Wenbin WU ; Ye HE ; Qiang ZENG ; Feng CONG ; Qifan ZHOU ; Yingjun LI ; Jian PAN ; Jincun ZHAO ; Chunmei LI ; Xumu ZHANG ; Liu CAO ; Deyin GUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2498-2510
Coronavirus-related diseases pose a significant challenge to the global health system. Given the diversity of coronaviruses and the unpredictable nature of disease outbreaks, the traditional "one bug, one drug" paradigm struggles to address the growing number of emerging crises. Therefore, there is an urgent need for therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus activity. Here, we provide evidence that ATV006, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleoside analog targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), has broad antiviral activity against human and animal coronaviruses. Using mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) as a model, we show that ATV006 has potent prophylactic and therapeutic activity against murine coronavirus infection in vivo. Remarkably, ATV006 successfully inhibits viral replication in mice even when administered 96 h after infection. Due to its oral bioavailability and potency against multiple coronaviruses, ATV006 has the potential to become a useful antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 and other circulating and emerging coronaviruses in humans and animals.
5.USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 axis confers chemoresistance through decreasing doxorubicin accumulation in triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Yang OU ; Kun ZHANG ; Qiuying SHUAI ; Chenyang WANG ; Huayu HU ; Lixia CAO ; Chunchun QI ; Min GUO ; Zhaoxian LI ; Jie SHI ; Yuxin LIU ; Siyu ZUO ; Xiao CHEN ; Yanjing WANG ; Mengdan FENG ; Hang WANG ; Peiqing SUN ; Yi SHI ; Guang YANG ; Shuang YANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2593-2611
Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.
6.Expert consensus on the treatment of oral diseases in pregnant women and infants.
Jun ZHANG ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Liwei ZHENG ; Jun WANG ; Bin XIA ; Wei ZHAO ; Xi WEI ; Zhengwei HUANG ; Xu CHEN ; Shaohua GE ; Fuhua YAN ; Jian ZHOU ; Kun XUAN ; Li-An WU ; Zhengguo CAO ; Guohua YUAN ; Jin ZHAO ; Zhu CHEN ; Lei ZHANG ; Yong YOU ; Jing ZOU ; Weihua GUO
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):62-62
With the growing emphasis on maternal and child oral health, the significance of managing oral health across preconception, pregnancy, and infancy stages has become increasingly apparent. Oral health challenges extend beyond affecting maternal well-being, exerting profound influences on fetal and neonatal oral development as well as immune system maturation. This expert consensus paper, developed using a modified Delphi method, reviews current research and provides recommendations on maternal and child oral health management. It underscores the critical role of comprehensive oral assessments prior to conception, diligent oral health management throughout pregnancy, and meticulous oral hygiene practices during infancy. Effective strategies should be seamlessly integrated across the life course, encompassing preconception oral assessments, systematic dental care during pregnancy, and routine infant oral hygiene. Collaborative efforts among pediatric dentists, maternal and child health workers, and obstetricians are crucial to improving outcomes and fostering clinical research, contributing to evidence-based health management strategies.
Humans
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Pregnancy
;
Female
;
Infant
;
Consensus
;
Mouth Diseases/therapy*
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Pregnancy Complications/therapy*
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Oral Health
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Delphi Technique
;
Oral Hygiene
7.Astragaloside IV delayed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in peritoneal fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of EGFR and PI3K-AKT pathways.
Ying HUANG ; Chen-Ling CHU ; Wen-Hui QIU ; Jia-Yi CHEN ; Lu-Xi CAO ; Shui-Yu JI ; Bin ZHU ; Guo-Kun WANG ; Quan-Quan SHEN
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(6):694-705
OBJECTIVE:
Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is an adverse event that occurs during long-term peritoneal dialysis, significantly impairing treatment efficiency and adversely affecting patient outcomes. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), a principal active component derived from Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge, has exhibited anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects in various settings. This study aims to investigate the potential therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of AS-IV in the treatment of PF.
METHODS:
The PF mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 4.25% peritoneal dialysis fluid (100 mL/kg). The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of HMrSV5 cells was induced by the addition of 10 ng/mL transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). The differentially expressed genes in HMrSV5 cells treated with AS-IV were screened using transcriptome sequencing analysis. The potential targets of AS-IV were screened using network pharmacology and analyzed using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations.
RESULTS:
Administration of AS-IV at doses of 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg effectively mitigated the increase in peritoneal thickness and the development of fibrosis in mice with PF. The expression of the fibrosis marker α-smooth muscle actin in the peritoneum was significantly decreased in AS-IV-treated mice. The treatment of AS-IV (10, 20, and 40 μmol/L) significantly delayed the EMT of HMrSV5 cells induced by TGF-β, as demonstrated by the decreased number of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine-positive cells, reduced migrated area, and decreased expression of fibrosis markers. A total of 460 differentially expressed genes were detected in AS-IV-treated HMrSV5 cells through transcriptome sequencing, with notable enrichment in the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT) signaling pathway. The reduced levels of phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K) and p-AKT were detected in HMrSV5 cells with AS-IV treatment. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was predicted as a direct target of AS-IV, exhibiting strong hydrogen bond interactions. The activation of the PI3K-AKT pathway by the compound 740Y-P, and the activation of the EGFR pathway by NSC 228155 each partially counteracted the inhibitory effect of AS-IV on the EMT of HMrSV5 cells.
CONCLUSION
AS-IV delayed the EMT process in peritoneal mesothelial cells and slowed the progression of PF, potentially serving as a therapeutic agent for the early prevention and treatment of PF. Please cite this article as: Huang Y, Chu CL, Qiu WH, Chen JY, Cao LX, Ji SY, Zhu B, Wang GK, Shen QQ. Astragaloside IV delayed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in peritoneal fibrosis by inhibiting the activation of EGFR and PI3K-AKT pathways. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):694-705.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects*
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Animals
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Saponins/pharmacology*
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Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Mice
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Peritoneal Fibrosis/pathology*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
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ErbB Receptors/metabolism*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Male
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Humans
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Cell Line
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
8.Influence of Outdoor Light at Night on Early Reproductive Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization and Its Threshold Effect: Evidence from a Couple-Based Preconception Cohort Study.
Wen Bin FANG ; Ying TANG ; Ya Ning SUN ; Yan Lan TANG ; Yin Yin CHEN ; Ya Wen CAO ; Ji Qi FANG ; Kun Jing HE ; Yu Shan LI ; Ya Ning DAI ; Shuang Shuang BAO ; Peng ZHU ; Shan Shan SHAO ; Fang Biao TAO ; Gui Xia PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):1009-1015
9.Synergistic strategies of scaffold construction and drug delivery systems for cartilage regeneration.
Qiyao ZHANG ; Pei FENG ; Zihan PEI ; Yinsheng CAO ; Kun JIANG ; Xiong CAI ; Ping WU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3049-3063
In recent years, the rapid development of transportation and sports industries, coupled with the accelerated population aging in China, has led to a steady increase in the incidence of articular cartilage injuries, wear, and degenerative changes. Currently, the clinical treatment options for cartilage defects primarily include conservative therapies and surgical interventions, both of which have certain limitations. Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE), as a novel technology, provides an infinite prospect for cartilage regeneration and repair. Because of the abilities of scaffolds to mimic the natural cartilage structure, exhibit excellent biocompatibility and biomimetic mechanical properties, and promote cell adhesion and proliferation, scaffolds are considered effective delivery systems for growth factors, genes, and drugs. This review summarizes the clinical treatments for cartilage defects and their limitations, discusses the materials and preparation techniques of scaffolds used in CTE, with a particular focus on drug-loaded scaffold delivery systems in cartilage repair and regeneration, and offers a perspective on the future application of drug-loaded CTE. The aim is to provide theoretical guidance and new approaches for the repair of cartilage defects.
Tissue Engineering/methods*
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Humans
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Tissue Scaffolds
;
Drug Delivery Systems/methods*
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Regeneration
;
Cartilage, Articular/physiology*
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Animals
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Biocompatible Materials
10.Cross-session motor imagery-electroencephalography decoding with Riemannian spatial filtering and domain adaptation.
Lincong PAN ; Xinwei SUN ; Kun WANG ; Yupei CAO ; Minpeng XU ; Dong MING
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(2):272-279
Motor imagery (MI) is a mental process that can be recognized by electroencephalography (EEG) without actual movement. It has significant research value and application potential in the field of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. To address the challenges posed by the non-stationary nature and low signal-to-noise ratio of MI-EEG signals, this study proposed a Riemannian spatial filtering and domain adaptation (RSFDA) method for improving the accuracy and efficiency of cross-session MI-BCI classification tasks. The approach addressed the issue of inconsistent data distribution between source and target domains through a multi-module collaborative framework, which enhanced the generalization capability of cross-session MI-EEG classification models. Comparative experiments were conducted on three public datasets to evaluate RSFDA against eight existing methods in terms of classification accuracy and computational efficiency. The experimental results demonstrated that RSFDA achieved an average classification accuracy of 79.37%, outperforming the state-of-the-art deep learning method Tensor-CSPNet (76.46%) by 2.91% ( P < 0.01). Furthermore, the proposed method showed significantly lower computational costs, requiring only approximately 3 minutes of average training time compared to Tensor-CSPNet's 25 minutes, representing a reduction of 22 minutes. These findings indicate that the RSFDA method demonstrates superior performance in cross-session MI-EEG classification tasks by effectively balancing accuracy and efficiency. However, its applicability in complex transfer learning scenarios remains to be further investigated.
Electroencephalography/methods*
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Brain-Computer Interfaces
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Humans
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Imagination/physiology*
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Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
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Movement/physiology*
;
Signal-To-Noise Ratio
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Deep Learning
;
Algorithms

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