1.Mechanism of action of gut microbiota in chronic pancreatitis fibrosis and related treatment strategies
Yunjun YAN ; Liang SHENG ; Qi WANG ; Shun PENG ; Jia LI ; Lei ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):484-489
Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a common disease in clinical practice characterized by progressive inflammatory fibrosis of the pancreas. Gut microbiota, known as the “second genome” of humans, bidirectionally modulates the progression of fibrosis in CP via the gut-pancreas axis. This article systematically elaborates on the characteristics of gut microbiota during the progression of CP and its molecular mechanism in mediating pancreatic fibrosis through bacterial translocation, metabolites, immune regulatory networks, and microbe-pancreatic stellate cell interactions, with a focus on the pivotal role of short-chain fatty acids and inflammatory cytokine networks in pancreatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition. In addition, this article explores the potential value of gut microbiota-targeted interventions in the prevention and treatment of CP fibrosis, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, and discusses the translational potential of using multi-omics technologies to identify diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for CP, in order to provide new ideas for the precise diagnosis and treatment of CP.
2.Herbal Textual Research on Inulae Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Caixia LIU ; Yue HAN ; Yanzhu MA ; Lei GAO ; Sheng WANG ; Yan YANG ; Wenchuan LUO ; Ling JIN ; Jing SHAO ; Zhijia CUI ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):210-221
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, production area, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research, it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties, Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name, and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao, Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica, and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species, there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia, I. helianthus-aquatili, and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan, Hubei and other places, and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower, the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months, and dried in the sun, and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom, in order to remove impurities, dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition, the roots, whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times, there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos, and in modern times, it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure, small receptacles, large blooms, yellow petals, long filaments, many fluffs, no fragments, and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning, steaming, and sun-drying, supplemented by techniques such as boiling, roasting, burning, simmering, stir-frying, and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties, ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter, pungent, and salty in taste, with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras, including descending Qi, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results, it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos, either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements, where no processing instructions are specified, the raw products may be used after cleaning.
3.Herbal Textual Research on Inulae Flos in Famous Classical Formulas
Caixia LIU ; Yue HAN ; Yanzhu MA ; Lei GAO ; Sheng WANG ; Yan YANG ; Wenchuan LUO ; Ling JIN ; Jing SHAO ; Zhijia CUI ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):210-221
In this paper, by referring to ancient and modern literature, the textual research of Inulae Flos has been conducted to clarify the name, origin, production area, quality evaluation, harvesting, processing and others, so as to provide reference and basis for the development and utilization of famous classical formulas containing this herb. After textual research, it could be verified that the medicinal use of Inulae Flos was first recorded in Shennong Bencaojing of the Han dynasty. In successive dynasties, Xuanfuhua has been taken as the official name, and it also has other alternative names such as Jinfeicao, Daogeng and Jinqianhua. The period before the Song and Yuan dynasties, the main origin of Inulae Flos was the Asteraceae plant Inula japonica, and from the Ming and Qing dynasties to the present, I. japonica and I. britannica are the primary source. In addition to the dominant basal species, there are also regional species such as I. linariifolia, I. helianthus-aquatili, and I. hupehensis. The earliest recorded production areas in ancient times were Henan, Hubei and other places, and the literature records that it has been distributed throughout the country since modern times. The medicinal part is its flower, the harvesting and processing method recorded in the past dynasties is mainly harvested in the fifth and ninth lunar months, and dried in the sun, and the modern harvesting is mostly harvested in summer and autumn when the flowers bloom, in order to remove impurities, dry in the shade or dry in the sun. In addition, the roots, whole herbs and aerial parts are used as medicinal materials. In ancient times, there were no records about the quality of Inulae Flos, and in modern times, it is generally believed that the quality of complete flower structure, small receptacles, large blooms, yellow petals, long filaments, many fluffs, no fragments, and no branches is better. Ancient processing methods primarily involved cleaning, steaming, and sun-drying, supplemented by techniques such as boiling, roasting, burning, simmering, stir-frying, and honey-processing. Modern processing focuses mainly on cleaning the stems and leaves before use. Regarding the medicinal properties, ancient texts describe it as salty and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, and mildly toxic. Modern studies characterize it as bitter, pungent, and salty in taste, with a slightly warm nature. Its therapeutic effects remain consistent across eras, including descending Qi, resolving phlegm, promoting diuresis, and stopping vomiting. Based on the research results, it is recommended that when developing famous classical formulas containing Inulae Flos, either I. japonica or I. britannica should be used as the medicinal source. Processing methods should follow formula requirements, where no processing instructions are specified, the raw products may be used after cleaning.
4.Experimental study on the improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating G0S2 and ATGL expression with polydatin
Luguang Sheng ; Dandan Liu ; Weibin Liu ; Tao Lei ; Qingguang Chen ; Hao Lu ; Bilin Xu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(10):1847-1856
Objective:
To investigate the effects of polydatin on a high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) mouse model and hepatoma G2(HepG2) cell model, and to reveal its potential molecular mechanisms.
Methods:
Thirty 6-week-old male SPF C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a normal diet group and a high-fat diet group. After the NAFLD mouse model was established in the high-fat diet group, they were further divided into a model group and a polydatin treatment group. The polydatin treatment group was administered polydatin by gavage at a dose of 250 mg/(kg·d) for 10 weeks, during which body weight was monitored and oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed. At the end of the experiment, a series of tests to evaluate the effects of polydatin on mouse liver weight, blood lipids, liver lipid accumulation, and liver injury markers were performed. The expression of G0/G1 switch gene 2(G0S2) and adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL) was measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot, and gene expression was further verified using immunohistochemical staining. The effects of polydatin on HepG2 cell activity was assessed by CCK-8 assay, lipid accumulation was observed by oil red O staining, and the expression of G0S2 and ATGL was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.
Results:
Polydatin significantly reduced the body weight, liver weight, and serum and liver tissue levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), triglyceride(TG), and total cholesterol (TC) in mice (P < 0. 05) , al⁃leviated pathological liver damage , decreased G0S2 expression (P < 0. 05) , and increased ATGL expression (P <0. 05) . At the cellular level , polydatin reduced lipid droplet accumulation , improved lipid metabolism , decreased G0S2 expression ( P < 0. 05 ) , and increased ATGL expression ( P < 0. 05 ) . Even in cells with knockdown of G0S2 , polydatin still promoted fat decomposition (P < 0. 01) .
Conclusion
Polydatin promotes hepatic fat break⁃down by regulating the expression of G0S2 and ATGL , helping to alleviate metabolic disorders and liver damage in the NAFLD mouse model caused by a high⁃fat diet , offering a new strategy for treating NAFLD.
5.Causal relationship between modifiable factors and joint sports injuries
Tingting DONG ; Tianxin CHEN ; Yan LI ; Sheng ZHANG ; Lei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(9):1953-1962
BACKGROUND:The causal relationship between modifiable factors such as lifestyle,metabolic characteristics,and nutritional intake and joint sports injuries has been increasingly recognized in clinical studies.However,the exact causal relationship between these modifiable factors and joint sports injuries remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between modifiable factors and joint sports injuries using Mendelian randomization to provide a basis for sports injury prevention. METHODS:The GWAS dataset of intervening factors and joint sports injuries was obtained from publicly available data.The causal relationships between lifestyle,metabolic characteristics,nutritional intake,and joint sports injuries were explored using the inverse variance weighting method,the MR-Egger method,and the weighted median method.For sensitivity analyses,Cochran's Q test,MR-Egger regression,leave-one-out method,and MR-PRESSO were used to verify the stability and reliability of the results. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In terms of lifestyle,coffee(OR=0.29,95%CI:0.10-0.79,P=0.016),and tea consumption(OR=0.41,95%CI=0.19-0.85,P=0.017)were associated with a decreased risk of ankle and foot joint sports injuries,and coffee consumption(OR=3.31,95%CI=1.02-10.73,P=0.046)was potentially causally associated with an increased risk of shoulder joint sports injuries;and never smoking(OR=0.78,95%CI=0.70-0.87,P=1.49×10-5)was significantly causally associated with a decreased risk of ankle and foot joint sports injuries.(2)In terms of metabolic characteristics,calcium levels(OR=0.88,95%CI=0.79-0.98,P=0.017)were potentially causally associated with a decreased risk of wrist and hand joint sports injuries.(3)In terms of nutritional intake,vitamin A intake(OR=1.08,95%CI:1.02-1.13,P=0.007)was potentially causally associated with increased risk of knee joint sports injury.(4)For the sensitivity analysis,Cochran's Q test showed the existence of heterogeneity(P<0.05),so the random effect model was used for the analysis.MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO test did not find evidence of pleiotropy(P>0.05),and the leave-one-out method showed that the results were stable after eliminating single nucleotide polymorphisms one by one.(5)This study preliminarily reveals the effects of modifiable factors,such as lifestyle,metabolic characteristics,and nutritional intake,on the risk of joint sports injuries.It provides valuable research evidence and guidance for the prevention of joint sports injuries.
6.Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Qinbaohong Zhike Oral Liquid in Treatment of Acute Bronchitis and Acute Attack of Chronic Bronchitis
Jian LIU ; Hongchun ZHANG ; Chengxiang WANG ; Hongsheng CUI ; Xia CUI ; Shunan ZHANG ; Daowen YANG ; Cuiling FENG ; Yubo GUO ; Zengtao SUN ; Huiyong ZHANG ; Guangxi LI ; Qing MIAO ; Sumei WANG ; Liqing SHI ; Hongjun YANG ; Ting LIU ; Fangbo ZHANG ; Sheng CHEN ; Wei CHEN ; Hai WANG ; Lin LIN ; Nini QU ; Lei WU ; Dengshan WU ; Yafeng LIU ; Wenyan ZHANG ; Yueying ZHANG ; Yongfen FAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):182-188
The Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of Qinbaohong Zhike Oral Liquid in Treatment of Acute Bronchitis and Acute Attack of Chronic Bronchitis (GS/CACM 337-2023) was released by the China Association of Chinese Medicine on December 13th, 2023. This expert consensus was developed by experts in methodology, pharmacy, and Chinese medicine in strict accordance with the development requirements of the China Association of Chinese Medicine (CACM) and based on the latest medical evidence and the clinical medication experience of well-known experts in the fields of respiratory medicine (pulmonary diseases) and pediatrics. This expert consensus defines the application of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid in the treatment of cough and excessive sputum caused by phlegm-heat obstructing lung, acute bronchitis, and acute attack of chronic bronchitis from the aspects of applicable populations, efficacy evaluation, usage, dosage, drug combination, and safety. It is expected to guide the rational drug use in medical and health institutions, give full play to the unique value of Qinbaohong Zhike oral liquid, and vigorously promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese patent medicines.
7.Role of miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 in apoptosis and autophagy of HFOB1.19 and effect of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction.
Tong-Ying CHEN ; Sai FU ; Xiao-Yun LI ; Shu-Hua LIU ; Yi-Fu YANG ; Dong-Sheng YANG ; Yun-Jie ZENG ; Yang-Bo LI ; Dan LUO ; Hong-Xing HUANG ; Lei WAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):583-589
Osteoporosis(OP) is a senile bone disease characterized by an imbalance between bone remodeling and bone formation. Targeting pathogenesis of kidney deficiency, spleen deficiency, and blood stasis, Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction has a significant effect on the treatment of OP by tonifying kidney, invigorating spleen, and activating blood circulation. MicroRNA(miRNA) and the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-2-like protein 1(BCL2L1) are closely related to bone cell metabolism. Therefore, in this study, the binding of miR-140-5p to BCL2L1 was detected by dual luciferase assay and polymerase chain reaction(PCR). After silencing or overexpressing miR-140-5p, the apoptosis, autophagy, and osteogenic function of human fetal osteoblast cell line 1.19(HFOB1.19) were observed by flow cytometry and Western blot. Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-containing serum was prepared by intragastric administration of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction in rats. Different concentrations of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-containing serum were used to treat HFOB1.19 with or without miR-140-5p mimic. The expression of osteogenic proteins in each group was observed, and the role of miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 in apoptosis and autophagy of HFOB1.19 was studied, along with the effect of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction on these processes. As indicated by the dual luciferase assay, miR-140-5p bound to BCL2L1. Flow cytometry and Western blot showed that miR-140-5p promoted apoptosis and inhibited autophagy in HFOB1.19. After intervention with high, medium, and low doses of Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction-medicated serum, compared with the miR-140-5p NC group, the expression of osteocalcin(OCN), osteopontin(OPN), Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2), and transforming growth factor beta 1(TGF-β1) decreased in the miR-140-5p mimic group, while the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2) showed no significant difference under high-dose intervention. Therefore, miR-140-5p/BCL2L1 can promote apoptosis and inhibit autophagy in HFOB1.19. Bushen Jianpi Huoxue Decoction can affect the osteogenic effect of miR-140-5p through BMP2.
MicroRNAs/metabolism*
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Autophagy/drug effects*
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Animals
;
Cell Line
;
bcl-X Protein/metabolism*
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Osteoblasts/metabolism*
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Rats
;
Osteoporosis/physiopathology*
;
Male
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Osteogenesis/drug effects*
8.Exploration of pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanism of Jinbei Oral Liquid against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis based on UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and network pharmacology.
Jin-Chun LEI ; Si-Tong ZHANG ; Xian-Run HU ; Wen-Kang LIU ; Xue-Mei CHENG ; Xiao-Jun WU ; Wan-Sheng CHEN ; Man-Lin LI ; Chang-Hong WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2825-2840
This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic material basis of Jinbei Oral Liquid(JBOL) against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF) based on serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology. The ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technology was employed to analyze and identify the components absorbed into rat blood after oral administration of JBOL. Combined with network pharmacology, the study explored the pharmacodynamic material basis and potential mechanism of JBOL against IPF through protein-protein interaction(PPI) network construction, "component-target-pathway" analysis, Gene Ontology(GO) functional enrichment, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. First, a total of 114 compounds were rapidly identified in JBOL extract according to the exact relative molecular mass, fragment ions, and other information of the compounds with the use of reference substances and a self-built compound database. Second, on this basis, 70 prototype components in blood were recognized by comparing blank serum with drug-containing serum samples, including 28 flavonoids, 25 organic acids, 4 saponins, 4 alkaloids, and 9 others. Finally, using these components absorbed into blood as candidates, the study obtained 212 potential targets of JBOL against IPF. The anti-IPF mechanism might involve the action of active ingredients such as glycyrrhetinic acid, cryptotanshinone, salvianolic acid B, and forsythoside A on core targets like AKT1, TNF, and ALB and thereby the regulation of multiple signaling pathways including PI3K/AKT, HIF-1, and TNF. In conclusion, JBOL exerts the anti-IPF effect through multiple components, targets, and pathways. The results would provide a reference for further study on pharmacodynamic material basis and pharmacological mechanism of JBOL.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacokinetics*
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Animals
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Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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Network Pharmacology
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Rats
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Male
;
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism*
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Humans
;
Administration, Oral
;
Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
9.Development of an Analytical Software for Forensic Proteomic SAP Typing
Feng HU ; Meng-Jiao WANG ; Jia-Lei WU ; Dong-Sheng DING ; Zhi-Yuan YANG ; An-Quan JI ; Lei FENG ; Jian YE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2406-2416
ObjectiveThe proteome of biological evidence contains rich genetic information, namely single amino acid polymorphisms (SAPs) in protein sequences. However, due to the lack of efficient and convenient analysis tools, the application of SAP in public security still faces many challenges. This paper aims to meet the application requirements of SAP analysis for forensic biological evidence’s proteome data. MethodsThe software is divided into three modules. First, based on a built-in database of common non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) and SAPs in East Asian populations, the software integrates and annotates newly identified exonic nsSNPs as SAPs, thereby constructing a customized SAP protein sequence database. It then utilizes a pre-installed search engine—either pFind or MaxQuant—to perform analysis and output SAP typing results, identifying both reference and variant types, along with their corresponding imputed nsSNPs. Finally, SAPTyper compares the proteome-based typing results with the individual’s exome-derived nsSNP profile and outputs the comparison report. ResultsSAPTyper accepts proteomic DDA mass spectrometry raw data (DDA acquisition mode) and exome sequencing results of nsSNPs as input and outputs the report of SAPs result. The pFind and Maxquant search engines were used to test the proteome data of 2 hair shafts of2 individuals, and both obtained SAP results. It was found that the results of the Maxquant search engine were slightly less than those of pFind. This result shows that SAPTyper can achieve SAP fingding function. Moreover, the pFind search engine was used to test the proteome data of 3 hair shafts from 1 European person and 1 African person in the literature. Among the sites fully matched by the literature method, sites detected by SAPTyper are also included; for semi-matching sites, that is, nsSNPs are heterozygous, both literature method and SAPTyper method had the risk of missing detection for one type of the allele. Comparing the analysis results of SAPTyper with the SAP test results reported in the literature, it was found that some imputed nsSNP sites identified by the literature method but not detected by SAPTyper had a MAF of less than 0.1% in East Asian populations, and therefore they were not included in the common nsSNP database of East Asian populations constructed by this software. Since the database construction of this software is based on the genetic variation information of East Asian populations, it is currently unable to effectively identify representative unique common variation sites in European or African populations, but it can still identify SAP sites shared by these populations and East Asian populations. ConclusionAn automated SAP analysis algorithm was developed for East Asian populations, and the software named SAPTyper was developed. This software provides a convenient and efficient analysis tool for the research and application of forensic proteomic SAP and has important application prospects in individual identification and phenotypic inference based on SAP.
10.Propofol Promotes Anesthesia Through the Activation of Centrally-Projecting Edinger-Westphal Nucleus Urocortin 1-Positive Neurons.
Jing HUANG ; Yiwen HU ; Sheng JING ; Fuhai BAI ; Zonghong LONG ; Zhuoxi WU ; Liang FANG ; Lei CAO ; Youliang DENG ; Xiaohang BAO ; Hong LI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(6):1109-1114


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