1.Guizhi Fulingwan Alleviate Hepatic Fibrosis by Modulating mtDNA/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Signaling Pathway
Yu TANG ; Xuli YANG ; Qiang YANG ; Xiaojie WANG ; Yongxiang GAO ; Xueping LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):91-99
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Guizhi Fulingwan (GFW) against hepatic fibrosis, focusing on elucidating the regulatory effect of GFW on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)/NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1)/gasdermin D (GSDMD) signaling pathway. MethodsForty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly allocated into six groups (n=7): control, model, low/medium/high-dose (0.14, 0.28, 0.56 g·kg-1·d-1) GFW (GFW-L, GFW-M, GFW-H), and Dahuang Zhechong pills (DZW, 1.8 g·kg-1·d-1). The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride. General conditions of the rats were observed. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were measured. Liver histopathology and collagen deposition were observed through hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to observe structural alterations and damage of cellular ultrastructures including mitochondria. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ΔΨm) was detected by flow cytometry. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA levels of mtDNA and NLRP3 in the liver tissue were quantified by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The protein levels of key molecules in the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway in the liver tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited a decrease in body weight (P<0.01), an increase in liver index (P<0.01), elevations in serum ALT and AST levels (P<0.01), and typical fibrotic features such as disorganized hepatocytes, inflammatory infiltration, and increased collagen deposition in the liver tissue. TEM revealed significant karyotheca degeneration, mitochondrial swelling, endoplasmic reticulum expansion, and organelle efflux in the model group. In addition, the model group showed decreased ΔΨm (P<0.01), up-regulated mRNA levels of mtDNA and NLRP3 (P<0.01) and protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD (P<0.01) in the liver tissue, and increased serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 (P<0.01). Compared with that in the model group, the body weight increased in GFW-L, GFW-M, and DZW groups (P<0.05) and markedly increased in the GFW-H group (P<0.01). The liver index decreased in the GFW groups and DZW group (P<0.01). The serum ALT level declined in the GFW-L group (P<0.05), and the serum ALT and AST levels decreased in the GFW-M, GFW-H, and DZW groups (P<0.01). Histopathological damage and fibrosis were alleviated to varying degrees, and TEM revealed mitigated ultrastructural injuries including mitophagy, mitochondrial swelling, and endoplasmic reticulum expansion in the drug intervention groups. The ΔΨm increased in GFW groups without statistical significance. The mRNA level of mtDNA in the liver tissue was down-regulated in the GFW-M (P<0.05), GFW-H (P<0.01), and DZW (P<0.01) groups. The mRNA level of NLRP3 was down-regulated in GFW-M, GFW-H, and DZW groups (P<0.01). Western blot analysis showed significantly down-regulated protein level of NLRP3 in all the GFW groups and the DZW group (P<0.01). The protein level of GSDMD-N was down-regulated in GFW-H and DZW groups (P<0.01). The protein level of cleaved Caspase-1 was down-regulated in GFW-M (P<0.05), GFW-H (P<0.01), and DZW (P<0.01) groups. In addition, the serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 declined in GFW-H and DZW groups (P<0.01). ConclusionGFW can suppress pyroptosis to ameliorate CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, potentially through mitigating mitochondrial damage, inhibiting inflammasome assembly and activation, and blocking pro-inflammatory cytokine release.
2.Pharmacological Effects and Mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and Its Active Components in Treating Depression: A Review
Ziyang HUANG ; Zhiyi WANG ; Zibo LI ; Erping XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):288-296
Depression is a common mental disorder in clinical practice, and it falls under the category of depression syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In TCM, Qi depression is considered as the root cause of all depression syndromes. Qi depression can lead to blood stasis, which is a key cause of diseases due to depression syndrome. Therefore, treating stasis is an important therapeutic approach for depression syndrome. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, a representative herbal medicine for activating blood and removing stasis, is effective in activating blood, removing stasis, dredging meridians, and alleviating pain. Currently, it is primarily used in clinical practice to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as neurasthenia, coronary heart disease, insomnia, and palpitations. The active components of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma are complex and exhibit a variety of pharmacological effects. These components include water-soluble salvianolic acids and lipid-soluble tanshinones. Modern pharmacological studies have proven that Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active components possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-fibrosis, and neuroprotective properties. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its active components in treating depression. This paper systematically reviews the antidepressant mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its main active components from the regulation of monoamine neurotransmitters, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, neurotrophic factors, and neuroinflammation. In addition, this paper summarizes the clinical applications of the prescriptions containing Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of depression, providing new insights for further research on the pharmacological mechanisms of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma in treating depression.
3.Influence of platelet-albumin-bilirubin score on textbook outcome of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy
Meixia LI ; Li QIN ; Zhancheng QIU ; Tinghao CHEN ; Yueqing XU ; Chuan LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):927-933
ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of platelet-albumin-bilirubin (PALBI) score on the textbook outcome (TO) of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatectomy, as well as the association of different PALBI scores before surgery with the achievement of TO after hepatectomy in HCC patients. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the data of HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy in West China Hospital of Sichuan University and Ziyang Central Hospital from January 2013 to January 2022. TO was defined as no serious complication within 30 days after surgery, no death within 90 days, no rehospitalization within 30 days after discharge, no blood transfusion in the perioperative period, RO resection, and no prolongation of hospital stay. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the influencing factors for the achievement of TO after hepatectomy in HCC patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curves of HCC patients, and the Log-rank test was used for comparison. ResultsA total of 3 599 patients were included in this study, among whom 2 369 (65.8%) achieved TO. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that PALBI grade (PALBI grade 2: odds ratio [OR]=1.562, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.308 — 1.864, P<0.001; PALBI grade 3: OR=2.216, 95%CI: 1.463 — 3.359, P<0.001) was an independent risk factor for achievement of TO after surgery in HCC patients. The proportion of patients achieving TO decreased with the increase in PALBI grade. Among the patients with PALBI grade 1, 2 or 3, the patients achieving TO accounted for 70.2%, 54.2%, and 38.4%, respectively (χ2=106.295, P<0.001). The incidence rate of serious complications within 30 days, the mortality rate of patients within 90 days after hepatectomy, readmission rate within 30 days after discharge, perioperative blood transfusion rate, and the rate of prolonged hospital stay all increased with the increase in PALBI grade (all P<0.05). For the patients achieving TO, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 79.5%, 60.6%, and 51.5%, respectively, and the overall survival rates were 92.1%, 80.0%, and 71.1%, respectively; for those who did not achieve TO, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year relapse-free survival rates were 68.5%, 52.7%, and 46.2%, respectively, and the overall survival rates were 83.3%, 66.0%, and 57.1%, respectively. The patients who achieved TO had significantly better relapse-free survival rate and overall survival rate than those who did not achieve TO (χ2=18.936 and 79.371, both P<0.001). ConclusionPreoperative PALBI grade can affect the achievement of TO after hepatectomy in HCC patients, and it is more difficult for patients with a higher PALBI grade to achieve TO. Preoperative PALBI score can be used to early identify the patients with a high risk of postoperative complications, provide early intervention, and enhance perioperative management, thereby improving the perioperative safety and long-term prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy.
4.A time-stratified case-crossover study on association between short-term exposure to air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen
Ziyang ZOU ; Ruijun XU ; Ziquan LYU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jiaxin CHEN ; Meilin LI ; Xiaoqian GUO ; Suli HUANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(5):586-593
Background Air pollution remains a critical public health issue, with persistent exposure to air pollutants continuing to pose significant health risks. Currently, research investigating the association between air pollution and myocardial infarction mortality in Shenzhen remains inadequate. Objective To quantitatively assess the association between air pollutants and myocardial infarction mortality in residents. Methods Based on the mortality surveillance system of Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a time-stratified case-crossover study of
5.Intolerance of uncertainty and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Di LI ; Zifeng ZHENG ; Chaoyi WU ; Ziyang BI ; Zhen WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(9):846-851
The high comorbidity and heterogeneity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) underscore the importance of better understanding its transdiagnostic features. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), a transdiagnostic negative psychological trait, has been consistently linked to a variety of psychiatric disorders, including OCD. IU is hierarchically structured, comprising general IU, inhibitory IU and prospective IU, each of them potentially relating differently to OCD symptom dimensions. For example, inhibitory IU has shown specific associations with procrastination behaviors. Neuroimaging studies indicate that OCD patients demonstrate abnormal neural activity within the fronto-limbic circuit and salience network, including anterior insula, amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, during IU-related psychological processes. This review synthesizes findings across three key areas: symptom presentation, neurobiological mechanisms and intervention strategies, aiming to clarify the role of IU in OCD. Furthermore, the potential of targeting IU therapeutically to complement first-line treatment is discussed, ultimately enhancing clinical intervention outcomes.
6.Multicenter Retrospective Evaluation of the Chinese Expert Consensus Scoring System for the Diagnosis of Obstetrical DIC
Jianjian CUI ; Ziyang LIU ; Wencong HE ; Ruifen SU ; Ruilin MA ; Hui TAO ; Zejun YANG ; Lei SUN ; Shaoqi CHEN ; Yanan LI ; Zhishan JIN ; Yin ZHAO
Maternal-Fetal Medicine 2025;07(4):216-227
Objective::To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and clinical application of the Obstetrical Chinese Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Scoring System (OCDSS).Methods::This study is a retrospective study that collected 1063 cases from Wuhan Union Hospital, Yichang Central People’s Hospital, and the Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture between July 2017 and June 2024. These cases were divided into DIC and non-DIC groups based on score standard. Diagnosis of DIC, the rate of hysterectomy, neonatal mortality, and severe asphyxia are the main outcome measures. All the laboratory indicators are all determined by clinical laboratory department of the hospital. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation or median (interquartile range) and frequencies. Independent sample t-test or non-parametric test were used to compare measurement data, while the chi-square test was used for count data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under curve (AUC) were used to test the predictive accuracy. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to study the high-risk factors. P < 0.050 indicates a statistical significance. Results::Of 1063 participants in this study, 29 participants (2.73%) were diagnosed with obstetrical DIC by OCDSS score standard, and all the participants were diagnosed as DIC with underlying disease. When the Takao, Clark, and Erez score standard is the "gold standard", the OCDSS score standard always shows good sensitivity and specificity, with all the AUC over 0.75. OCDSS score standard also has better predictive of hysterectomy (68.18%, 91.07%, 0.872), severe neonatal asphyxia and death (79.17%, 75.07%, 0.842) than the other three score standards. All the indicators included in the OCDSS score standard contributed to the DIC diagnosis (all the P < 0.001). The indicators in the DIC group were more abnormal than the non-DIC group (all the P < 0.001). Conclusion::OCDSS is a first score standard, especially for pregnancies, it considers the underlying disease, clinical symptoms, and laboratory results. This score system shared a good diagnosis performance for DIC in the Chinese population and may help clinicians make timely decisions.
7.Analysis of anterior chamber and lens characteristics in age-related cataract patients with zonular weakness based on CASIA2
Lin SHEN ; Wenli YANG ; Dongjun LI ; Ziyang WANG ; Wei CHEN ; Qi ZHAO ; Yifeng LI ; Rui CUI ; Qian LIU ; Chuanchuan WEI ; Rongyao ZHOU ; Yifan LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2025;43(3):227-232
Objective:To analyze the biological parameters of the anterior segment of age-related cataracts patients with or without zonular weakness with the new generation of sweep-source anterior optical coherence tomography (OCT) device CASIA2 to provide a basis for the diagnosis of zonular weakness.Methods:A case-control study was conducted.A total of 158 cases (186 eyes) of patients with age-related cataracts having zonular weakness as a zonular weakness group, and 80 cases (80 eyes) of cataract with age-related cataracts without zonular weakness as a normal zonule group were enroll from June 2022 to June 2023 at Beijing Tongren Hospital.All patients underwent routine preoperative ophthalmological examination including slit lamp microsopy, IOLMaster 700, ocular B-ultrasound and OCT.The anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), lens thickness (LT), lens vault (LV), anterior chamber angle opening distance at 750 μm (AOD750), lens decentration and tilt, radius of curvature of the anterior lens surface (RAL), and radius of curvature of the posterior lens surface (RPL) of patients were measured with CASIA2 and compared between the two groups.The relationship between zonular weakness and anterior chamber parameters and lens parameters was evaluated by logistic regression analysis.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Tongren Hospital (No.TRECKY2018-049), and all enrolled patients signed the informed consent form.Results:In the zonular weakness group, ACD, ACV, RAL, and AOD750 were (2.34±0.56)mm, (85.05±40.19)mm 3, 7.52 (7.13, 8.08)mm, and 0.27 (0.07, 0.30)mm, respectively, which were smaller than (3.13±0.38)mm, (127.75±38.15)mm 3, 9.28(8.51, 9.76)mm, and 0.52 (0.31, 0.65)mm in the normal zonule group, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05).LT and LV in the zonular weakness group were (5.14±0.45)mm and (1.22±0.53)mm, respectively, which were larger than (4.27±0.52)mm and (0.32±0.30)mm in the normal zonule group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05).Magnitude of lens decentration and tilt in the zonular weakness were 0.34 (0.13, 0.45)mm and 6.44 (3.67, 7.32)°, respectively, which were significantly larger than 0.19 (0.12, 0.25)mm and 4.88 (3.85, 5.65)° in the normal zonule group (both P<0.05).No obvious pattern was found in the direction of decentration and tilt.Logistic regression analysis showed that LV and lens decentration were risk factors of zonular weakness (odds ratios [ OR]=706.170, 335.339; both P<0.05), and RAL was a protective factor of zonular weakness ( OR=0.239, P<0.05). Conclusions:Age-related cataract patients with zonular weakness often present with a decrease in ACV due to increased anterior convexity of the lens.Decreased RAL, increased lens decentration and elevated LV are risk factors for zonular weakness.
8.The value of CT combined with peripheral blood eosinophils in differentiating eosinophilic asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis
Weicong CHEN ; Ziyang XIA ; Yaocheng WEN ; Xin ZHENG ; Qi WAN ; Xinchun LI
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(9):1467-1471
Objective To explore the application value of CT combined with peripheral blood eosinophils(EOS)for distinguishing eosinophilic asthma(EA)from eosinophilic bronchitis(EB).Methods The clinical characteristics,peripheral blood EOS detection and imaging features of 523 patients(328 cases of EA and 195 cases of EB)were retrospectively analyzed.Univariate analysis identi-fied statistically significant parameters,which were further utilized in binary logistic regression to construct an imaging model and a combined model incorporating clinical characteristics,peripheral blood EOS and imaging features.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to evaluate the performance of each model.Results Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in age,body mass index(BMI),peripheral blood EOS count,peripheral blood EOS percentage,and 11 ima-ging features,including bilateral lung,bronchial wall thickening and bronchial mucus plugs(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of the imaging model and the combined model were 0.891 and 0.918,respectively.Conclusion The combined application of CT and peripheral blood EOS detection can improve the efficiency,simplicity,and accessibility of distinguishing EA from EB.
9.Application of third-generation sequencing technique in the analysis of an-timicrobial resistance of pathogenic microorganisms
Peiting LIU ; Jialiang ZHANG ; Ziyang LI ; Min HU
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(9):1324-1332
Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to human health and is the main cause for the increase in infection-related mortality.Rational and timely use of antimicrobial agents is crucial for improving the prognosis of infected patients,however,overdose and inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents can accelerate the acquisition of drug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms,promote the emergence of new resistance mechanisms,and ultimately lead to the emergence of"superbugs".Therefore,early identification of antimicrobial resistance is of significant im-portance for the rapid diagnosis and precise treatment of infectious diseases.With the development of molecular dia-gnostic techniques,third-generation sequencing(TGS)technique offers innovative solutions for detecting microbial resistance due to its advantages in long read length,easy operation,and rapid detection,significantly promoting ear-ly diagnosis and real-time monitoring of antimicrobial resistance.This review systematically summarizes the research progress of TGS in microbial resistance detection,analyzes its advantages and limitations in rapid detection of resis-tance in viruses,bacteria,and fungi,thus provides new perspectives for the early diagnosis and treatment of patho-genic microbial infections.
10.Intolerance of uncertainty and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Di LI ; Zifeng ZHENG ; Chaoyi WU ; Ziyang BI ; Zhen WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(9):846-851
The high comorbidity and heterogeneity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) underscore the importance of better understanding its transdiagnostic features. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU), a transdiagnostic negative psychological trait, has been consistently linked to a variety of psychiatric disorders, including OCD. IU is hierarchically structured, comprising general IU, inhibitory IU and prospective IU, each of them potentially relating differently to OCD symptom dimensions. For example, inhibitory IU has shown specific associations with procrastination behaviors. Neuroimaging studies indicate that OCD patients demonstrate abnormal neural activity within the fronto-limbic circuit and salience network, including anterior insula, amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, during IU-related psychological processes. This review synthesizes findings across three key areas: symptom presentation, neurobiological mechanisms and intervention strategies, aiming to clarify the role of IU in OCD. Furthermore, the potential of targeting IU therapeutically to complement first-line treatment is discussed, ultimately enhancing clinical intervention outcomes.

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