1.Study on the protective effect of saikosaponin C on acute liver injury in mice based on metabolomics
Xincun LI ; Donghui PENG ; Yongfu WANG ; Yamin SHI ; Mengjuan WU ; Zhihui FU ; Juan WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):552-557
OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of saikosaponin C (SSC) on acute liver injury (ALI) in mice induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) based on serum metabolomics. METHODS Forty mice were divided into blank group (water), model group (water), positive control drug group (Biphenyl diester drop pills, 150 mg/kg), and SSC low- and high-dose groups (2.5, 10 mg/kg) using the random number table method, with 8 mice in each group. They were given water/ relevant drugs, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. One hour after the last administration, all mice were intraperitoneally injected with 0.2% CCl4 olive oil to induce ALI model, except for the blank group. After 17 hours of the modeling, the liver index of mice was calculated. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in serum of mice were detected. The histopathological changes of liver tissue were observed. Meanwhile, the serum metabolomics of mice were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS Compared with the blank group, the levels of liver index, ALT, AST, LDH, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01). Hepatocytes were edema, vacuolar degeneration, more necrosis, and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated. Compared with the model group, liver index and serum index levels of mice were significantly decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), accompanied by marked improvement in histopathological damage to the liver tissue. The metabolomics results showed that compared with the model group, there were 63 up-regulated and 256 down-regulated differential metabolites in the serum of mice in the SSC high-dose group, including prostaglandin B2, 20-hydroxy-leukotriene B4, 5- hydroxy-L-tryptophan, 7α -hydroxycholesterol, etc.; these metabolites were primarily involved in metabolic pathways such as arachidonic acid metabolism, 5-hydroxytryptamine synapse, primary bile acid biosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS SSC exerts a protective effect against CCl4-induced ALI by down-regulating the level of key metabolites such as prostaglandin B2 and 20-hydroxy-leukotriene B4, and then ruducing metabolic pathways such as arachidonic acid metabolism, 5- hydroxytryptamine synapse, and primary bile acid biosynthesis.
2.Exploration on factors influencing HLA-C molecular expression level by flow cytometry
Yunan LI ; Renhui JIANG ; Siqi CAI ; Jie LIU ; Zhihui DENG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(1):79-84
[Objective] To investigate the factors influencing the detection of HLA-C expression by flow cytometry. [Methods] A total of 12 hematopoietic stem cell suspension samples from peripheral hematopoietic stem cell volunteer donors were randomly collected after CD34+ cell counting detection. The influence of detecting different number of nucleated cell (500 000, 50 000 and 5 000), sequential order of red blood cell lysis and antibody incubation, and the HLA-C antibody with varied remaining time from the expiration date on the detection results of HLA-C expression by flow cytometry were investigated, respectively. The significance of differences between different groups was analyzed through Student t test. [Results] There was no significant difference in the proportion of HLA-C positive cells and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) among the three groups with different nucleated cell numbers detected (500 000, 50 000 and 5 000) (P>0.05). The sequential order of red blood cell lysis and antibody incubation had no influence on the proportion of HLA-C positive cells (P>0.05), but HLA-C MFI value was significantly lower when antibody incubation was performed after red blood cell lysis than that when antibody incubation was performed before red blood cell lysis (P<0.05). The proportion of HLA-C positive cells and MFI value detected by HLA-C antibody remaining 24 months from the expiration date were significantly higher than those detected by HLA-C antibody remaining only 5 months from the expiration date (P<0.05). [Conclusion] The present study has investigated the factors of influencing HLA-C expression level by flow cytometry, the results have important reference and application value for standardizing the experimental operation of HLA-C expression and improving the accuracy and comparability of detection results.
3.Establishment and application of a red blood cell gene database in regular blood donors
Zhihui FENG ; Xiaoyun CHI ; Bin HU ; Li LIU ; Dawei LI ; Shutao PANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(8):1056-1062
Objective: To establish a "regular blood donor red blood cell gene database"(hereafter referred to as the "database") by applying molecular biology techniques for red blood cell antigens genotyping and utilizing information technology software, and to determine the significance and application value of this "database" in precise red blood cell transfusion. Methods: Fifteen antigens [C, c, E, e, M, N, S, s, Fy (a), Fy (b), Jk (a), Jk (b), Le (a), Le (b), P1] across six blood group systems (RHCE, MNS, FY, JK, Lewis and P1PK) were detected among 9 426 regular blood donors using the TaqMan-MGB method combined with an improved U-shaped microplate approach. With the assistance of information technology software, the "database" was integrated into the overall inventory management system of the blood supply chain. This enabled comprehensive management of regular blood donor and patient information, test results, specific antigen screening for regular blood donors, graded antigen matching between donors and patients, and rare blood type donor records. Results: The TaqMan-MGB method successfully detected paired antigens (C/c, E/e, M/N, S/s, Fy
/Fy
, Jk
/Jk
) within a single reaction well using a standardized PCR amplification protocol. This method provided a reliable testing solution for clinical institutions and empowered blood collection and supply organizations with high-throughput screening capabilities. In the blood supply chain, genotyped red blood cells accounted for 13.2% (721/5 462 U) of the total inventory, with 95.34% (348/365) originating from donors who donated two units of blood. Moreover, the “database” fulfilled 94.06% (443/471 U) of compatible transfusion requirements from medical institutions and effectively managed rare blood type donors. Conclusion: The establishment of the "database" facilitated the transition of blood compatibility testing from traditional serological methods to molecular biology-based gold standard techniques, significantly advancing the implementation of precise transfusion strategies based on multi-antigen matching between donors and patients.
4.Bushen Huoxue Prescription Regulates PINP and β-CTX in Treatment of Femoral Head Necrosis with Syndrome of Liver and Kidney Deficiency
Zijia LIU ; Ying LI ; Pengtao CUI ; Bowen WANG ; Peigang ZHANG ; Wuyue TONG ; Zhihui ZHANG ; Yuju CAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(3):81-89
ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic mechanism of Bushen Huoxue prescription from the perspective of bone metabolism by observing the clinical efficacy of this prescription in treating femoral head necrosis (ONFH, syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency) and its influences on bone metabolism indexes: N-terminal propeptide (PINP) and β-collagen degradation product (β-CTX). MethodSixty-six ONFH patients with the syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency in Zhengzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Orthopedics from December 2021 to September 2022 were selected. The patients were randomized into an experimental group and a control group by the parallel control method, with 33 patients in each group. The experimental group received Bushen Huoxue prescription orally, while the control group received Xianlinggubao Capsules orally, with a treatment cycle of 6 months. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Harris score, Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging, imaging changes, quantitative scores of TCM symptoms, and serum levels of PINP and β-CTX were determined before and after treatment. The occurrence of adverse events and reactions was recorded. ResultThe total response rate in the experimental group was 83.87% (26/31), which was higher than that (68.75%, 22/32) in the control group (Z=-2.096, P<0.05). After treatment, the single and total scores of TCM symptoms, VAS score, and β-CTX level decreased in the two groups (P<0.05). Moreover, the decreases in the scores of hip pain, lower limb mobility, soreness of waist and knees, and lower limb flaccidity, total score of TCM symptoms, VAS score, and β-CTX level in the experimental were larger than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the imaging results showed no significant improvement in the two groups. The Harris score and PINP level in both groups increased after treatment (P<0.05), and the increases were more obvious in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). No serious adverse event or adverse reaction appeared during the observation period. ConclusionBushen Huoxue prescription can relieve pain and TCM symptoms and improve the hip joint function in treating ONFH patients with the syndrome of liver and kidney deficiency. It can inhibit the development of ONFH, increase PINP, and decrease β-CTX. No obvious side effect appears during the clinical observation period, which shows that Bushen Huoxue prescription has good safety.
5.Generation of MCM2 gene inducible knockout cervical cancer HeLa cells and its effect on DNA replication
Ping LI ; Tuo TANG ; Aixue ZHENG ; Luping ZHANG ; Tao WANG ; Xian HONG ; Zhihui DENG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(2):133-139
Objective To generate minichromosome maintenance protein 2(MCM2)gene knockout cervi-cal cancer HeLa cell lines using inducible CRISPR/Cas9 technology,and to explore the effect of MCM2 on DNA replication and replication stress.Methods The inducible CRISPR/Cas9 system,TLCV2,was used to construct MCM2 knockout HeLa cell lines.And the cell lines were divided into control group(Control),knockout group 1(KO1),and knockout group 2(KO2).Western blot,Edu incorporation experiment,real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR),immunofluorescence and MTT assay were used to analyze the effects of MCM2 knockout on DNA replica-tion and replication stress induced by hydroxyurea.Results The CRISPR/Cas9 system successfully knocked out the MCM2 gene after induction,and MCM2 knockout affected the stability of MCM2-7 complex.Compared with the control cells,MCM2 knockout cells had a dramatic decrease in the capacity of DNA replication,and the mRNA levels of Cyclin A1,Cyclin E1 and CDK4.Under DNA replication stress,MCM2 knockout cells decreased cell viability,DNA damage repair capacity,and increased genomic instability compared with control cells.Conclusion Knockout of MCM2 gene reduces the DNA replication capacity of HeLa cells under normal conditions and cell viability under replication stress.This study successfully generates MCM2 gene inducible knockout HeLa cell lines,laying the foundation for further research on the role and biological function of MCM2 gene in the occurrence and progression of cervical cancer.
6.Therapeuti ceffect and potential mechanism of cholesterol sulfate on a mouse model of Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Linye HE ; Huandi QIU ; Wei HE ; Yiguo HU ; Zhihui LI
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(1):105-111
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of cholesterol sulfate(CS)on the Hashimoto's thyroiditis mouse model.Methods Female NOD.H-2h4 mice were fed with 0.05%NaI in different periods and treated with CS by intraperitoneal injection for two consecutive weeks.HE staining was used to visualize and score the degree of lymphocyte infiltration in the thyroid;serum levels of thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb),thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb),thyroxine(T4),and thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)were detected by ELISA.The proportions of B cells and Treg,Th17,Th1,and Th2 cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining flow cytometry.Results HE staining showed that the inflammatory score of thyroid tissue in mice after intraperitoneal injection of CS in the 8-week group and the 16-week group decreased significantly(P<0.05).In the 64-week group,there was no significant difference between the treatment group and the induction group(P=0.31).Serological analysis showed that after CS intervention,the levels of TgAb and TPOAb in mice induced by 0.05%NaI significantly lowered(P<0.05)in the 8-week group and the 16-week group,while thyroid function(TSH and T4 levels)of the mice changed significantly only in the 16-week group.Flow cytometry analysis showed that in the 8-week group,after CS intervention the proportions of B lymphocytes and Th1,Th2,Th17 and Treg cells in mice were significantly changed(P<0.05).Conclusion CS has significant therapeutic and remission effects on the early and middle stages of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
7.Traditional Chinese Medicine and Its Effective Components in Treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Review
Shan CAO ; Zhihui CHEN ; Jingqi QIN ; Huiyong ZHANG ; Li YU ; Wei WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(10):258-268
Alzheimer's disease is a common central neurodegenerative disease, mainly manifested by cognitive impairment and non-cognitive neuropsychiatric symptoms that severely affect patients' daily life and behavioral functioning. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease is still unclear, and the western medicine currently used to treat Alzheimer's disease is only symptomatic, with a single pathway, limited efficacy, and many side effects. In recent years, with the deepening of research on Alzheimer's disease, the study and application of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease have gradually increased. Several studies have shown that TCM and its effective components can exert anti-Alzheimer's disease effects by regulating molecular mechanisms such as pathological protein production and aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, ferroptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, neurogenesis and neurotransmission, and brain-gut axis. This paper summarized the research progress of TCM in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in recent years, so as to provide a reference for further study of the specific mechanism of TCM in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and the discovery of effective components of TCM.
8.Effects of Hewei Anshe Formula (和胃安神方) on the CLOCK and BMAL1 Gene Expression of Hypothalamic Biological Clock in Insomnia Rat Models
Shuo WANG ; Changzhen WANG ; Zhihui LI ; Tianke HUANG ; Liang WANG ; Chujiao TIAN ; Tao ZOU ; Zihan LIU ; Qi CHEN ; Shaodan LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(20):2145-2151
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of Hewei Anshen Formula (和胃安神方) in the treatment of insomnia. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal group, the model group, the eszopiclone group and the low-, medium- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups. The insomnia model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) for 2 days in all groups except the normal group. After successful modelling, the eszopiclone group was given 0.33 mg/(kg·d) eszopiclone aqueous solution by gavage, the low-, medium- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups were given 10 ml/kg of Hewei Anshen Formula with a concentration of 1, 2 and 4 g/ml, respectively, and the rats in the normal group and the model group were given 10 ml/kg of saline by gavage, once a day for 7 consecutive days. The general condition of the rats was observed during the experiment, and the body mass of the rats was measured every day after medication administration. The following day after the last medication administration, pentobarbital sodium co-test was used to observe the sleep condition, and the sleep latency and sleep duration were recorded; immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of hypothalamic clock rhythm regulating protein (CLOCK) and brain and muscle aromatic hydrocarbon receptor nuclear transporter-like protein 1 (BMAL1) in the rats. ResultsThe body mass of rats in the model group was lower than that of rats in the normal group at all time points (P<0.01); compared with the same time in the eszopiclone group, the body mass of rats in the low-dose Hewei Anshen Formula group was elevated on the 5th, 6th and 7th days of medication administration (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the sleep duration of rats in the model group was shortened (P<0.01); compared with the model group, the sleep duration of rats in each dosage group increased (P<0.01), and the difference between the high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula group and the eszopiclone group showed no statistically significant (P>0.05), while the sleep duration of the low- and medium-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups were shorterned than the eszopiclone group (P<0.01). The difference in sleep latency showed no statistically significant among each group (P>0.05). The results of both immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed that the expression of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the hypothalamus of rats in the model group was significantly reduced compared with that in the normal group (P<0.01); the expression of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the hypothalamus of rats in the low- and high-dose Hewei Anshen Formula groups increased than that in the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionHewei Anshen Formula can improve insomnia in model rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the up-regulation of the expression of the hypothalamic biological clock genes CLOCK and BMAL1 protein.
9.Reliability and validity of Chinese version of Maternal Blue Scale
WANG Wei ; LI Zhihui ; KONG Yan ; YU Guiling
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(12):1086-1091
Objective:
To translate the Maternal Blue Scale (MBS) into Chinese, and evaluate the reliability and validity.
Methods:
The MBS was translated back-translated, culturally adapted and pre-tested according to the Brislin translation model to develop the Chinese version of MBS. Postpartum women from obstetrics centers in three tertiary general hospitals in Shandong Province were selected using convenience sampling method to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of MBS. Content validity was evaluated based on expert ratings. Criterion-related validity was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as the criterion. Structural validity was evaluated using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Reliability was assessed by calculating Cronbach's α and split-half reliability. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to evaluate predictive validity.
Results:
Totally 500 questionnaires were allocated, and 479 valid ones were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 95.80%. The Chinese version of MBS consisted of 32 items across 6 dimensions: mother-infant communication, infant feeding, role adaptation, maternal responsibilities, family acceptance and social support. The item-level content validity index ranged from 0.900 to 1.000, and the scale-level content validity index/average was 0.990. The correlation coefficient between the Chinese version of MBS scores and the Chinese version of EPDS scores was 0.675 (P<0.05). Exploratory factor analysis extracted 6 common factors, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 74.581%. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit, with a root mean square error of approximation of 0.014, a goodness of fit index of 0.896, a comparative fit index of 0.996, an incremental fit index of 0.996, a normed fit index of 0.913, and a Tucker-Lewis index of 0.995. The overall Cronbach's α was 0.924, and the split-half reliability was 0.765. The Cronbach's α of each dimension ranged from 0.809 to 0.956, and the split-half reliability ranged from 0.807 to 0.966. The area under the ROC curve was 0.909 (95%CI: 0.880-0.937). At the optimal cutoff score of 75.5, the Youden index reached its maximum of 0.698, with a sensitivity of 0.874 and a specificity of 0.824.
Conclusion
The Chinese version of MBS has good reliability and validity, and it is suitable to evaluate maternal blue among Chinese postpartum women.
10.Preparation of GelMA hydrogel loaded with ZIF-8 and evaluation of drug sustained release and antibacterial effect
Kongzhao JIANG ; Chiyu LI ; Yungang LUO ; Zhihui LIU
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2024;50(1):106-112
objective:To prepare a composite photocrosslinked hydrogel containing zeolite imidazole framework-8(ZIF-8),and to evaluate its in vitro cytotoxicity,drug release capability,and antimicrobial propertie.Methods:The ZIF-8 particles were synthesized by hydrothermal method,and the microstructure characteristic was observed under scanning electron microscope(SEM).The particles were mixed with the gelatin methacryloyl(GelMA)with the mass fraction of 0.2%to obtain the composite hydrogel GelMA-Z.The atomic absorption spectroscope was used to detect the cumulative zinc ion(Zn2+)release amounts in GelMA-Z at different time points.The NIH-3T3 cells were co-cultured with GelMA-Z for 1,3,and 7 d;the viabilities of the cells in various groups were detected by CCK-8 assay;the GelMA-Z was co-cultured with Escherichia coli(E.coli)and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus)for 6,12,and 24 h and divided into control group,GelMA group,and GelMA-Z group.The bacterial activities of the cells in various groups at different time points were detected by microplate reader;the bacterial formation and the presence of live/dead becterial staining condition were detected by plate antibacterial experiment and live/dead bacterial staining method.Results:The SEM observation results showed that the hydrothermally synthesized ZIF-8 particles had the uniform particle sizes.The atomic absorption spectroscope results showed that Zn2+ in GelMA-Z showed an initial burst phase within 1 d,followed by a slow release,and reached the equilibrium around 7 d.Compared with control group,the viabilities the cells in GelMA group and GelMA-Z group were above 90%on the 1st,3rd,and 7th days,but there was no significant difference(P>0.05).The bacterial activity detection results showed that when co-cultured with bacteria for 6,12,and 24 h,compared with control group and GelMA group,the bacterial activities of the E.coli and S.aureus in GelMA-Z group were decreased(P<0.05).The plate antibacterial experiment results showed that the number of bacterial formation in GelMA-Z group was fewer than those in control group and GelMA group.The live/dead bacterial staining results showed that in GelMA-Z group,there was a large number of red fluorescence stained dead bacteria;in control group and GelMA group,there was a large number of green fluorescence stained live bacteria.Conclusion:The GelMA hydrogel loaded with ZIF-8 particles can achieve the in situ photocrosslinking and possesses good Zn2+ release capability and antimicrobial activity,and it is a novel hydrogel dressing for treatment of the infected wounds.


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