1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Gut-brain Axis: A Review
Jinchan PENG ; Jinxiu WEI ; Zhu LIU ; Lijian LIU ; Liqun LI ; Chengning YANG ; Guangwen CHEN ; Jianfeng LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):311-319
Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a common digestive system disease with high prevalence and recurrence rates for years, high treatment costs, and serious impacts on patients' quality of life and economic burden. Therefore, it is important to explore new and safe treatment methods. The pathogenesis of IBS-D is complex, in which the gut-brain axis is a key factor. The gut-brain axis, a bidirectional signaling pathway connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system, regulates gastrointestinal motility, secretion, and immune responses, playing a key role in the occurrence and development of IBS-D. Up to now, antidiarrheal agents, probiotics, and neurotransmitter modulators are the main methods for the clinical treatment of IBS-D. Although they can partially curb the progression of this disease, the therapeutic effects remain to be improved. Studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has significant advantages in the treatment of IBS-D since it can regulate the gut-brain axis via multiple pathways and targets to improve the gastrointestinal motility and strengthen immune defenses. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews on the regulation of the gut-brain axis by TCM in the treatment of IBS-D. Based on the review of IBS-D-related articles published in recent years, this paper systematically summarized the relationship between the gut-brain axis and IBS-D and the role of TCM in the treatment, providing new ideas for the treatment of IBS-D.
3.Differences and related factors of preschool children s evaluation by parents and teachers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
WANG Lu, LEI Huiqian, CHEN Yanxian, LIU Liqun, XIE Yufang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(7):985-988
Objective:
To explore differences in the factors influencing parents and teachers assessments of preschool children s mental health using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), so as to provide reference for promoting children s mental health.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the SDQ survey data of 14 763 middle and senior kindergarten children in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, from March to June 2023. Chi square χ 2 tests were used to analyze differences in mental health assessments between parents and teachers. Multivariate Logistic regression was employed to examine the factors influencing parental assessments, and Kappa coefficients were used to evaluate the consistency between parent and teacher evaluations.
Results:
The positive rate of mental health problems reported by parents (7.2%) was significantly higher than that reported by teachers (6.2%) ( χ 2=254.27, P <0.01). Gender differences revealed that parents reported a lower positive rate for boys (7.9%) compared to teachers (8.5%), whereas for girls, the parental positive rate (6.4%) was higher than that reported by teachers (3.8%) ( χ 2=163.59, 81.26, all P <0.01). Age related differences showed that parental positive rates for 4, 5, and 6 year olds (8.5%, 7.4%, 5.8%) were consistently higher than teachers assessments (6.3%, 6.7%, 5.4%) ( χ 2=41.23, 157.53, 63.67, all P <0.05). Univariate analysis of parental assessments indicated higher positive rates among boys (7.9%), 4 year olds (8.5%), mothers aged 20-35 ( 6.6 %), mothers with high school education or below (9.8%), fathers aged 23-40 (6.4%), fathers with high school education or below (10.3%), and children exposed to secondhand smoke (7.9%) ( χ 2=23.56-235.24, all P <0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression identified lower parental education levels and exposure to secondhand smoke as significant risk factors for abnormal SDQ assessments by parents ( χ 2=2.05, 1.62, 3.15, all P <0.05). The Kappa coefficients for parent-teacher agreement across SDQ subscales and total difficulties ranged from 0.04 to 0.12 (all P <0.01).
Conclusions
Parental education level and exposure to secondhand smoke are significant factors influencing preschool children s mental health. Differences exist between parental and teacher assessments of children s mental health, and incorporating teacher evaluations can provide a more comprehensive understanding of preschoolers psychological well being.
4.Effects of HLA & HPA alleles and haplotypes on establishing platelet donor databases
Zhifen YANG ; Yi JIANG ; Jie CHEN ; Liqun CAO ; Qing HU ; Tian KANG ; Yubin XIE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(12):1728-1734
Objective: To investigate the distribution of HPA, HLA alleles and haplotypes among apheresis platelet donors in Changsha, China, and to establish an apheresis platelet donor database. Methods: High-resolution genotyping of HLA-A and -B was performed using PCR sequence based typing (SBT) and next generation sequencing (NGS). HPA genotyping was conducted using quantitative PCR (Q-PCR). The allele frequency, haplotype frequency and linkage disequilibrium parameters were calculated using the direct counting method, the maximum likelihood method and Arlequin software (V 3.1). Results: A total of 41 HLA-A alleles and 82 HLA-B alleles were detected, and 457 HLA-A-B haplotypes were found, of which 25 showed strong linkage disequilibrium (RLD>0.50). The HPA-3 and HPA-15 had the highest HPA polymorphism and antigen mismatch rate in apheresis platelet donor database in Changsha, and the dual antigen mismatch rate was 0.3704 and 0.3743, respectively. Conclusion: The polymorphism of apheresis platelet donor database in Changsha is complex and has strong regional characteristics. Establishing a high-resolution donor database will strongly support the provision of genetically matched platelets for clinical use, facilitating precise platelet transfusion therapy.
5.Research progress about traditional Chinese medicine in the intervention of gastric cancer by regulating Th17/Treg balance
Jiaqi YIN ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2024;35(3):379-384
Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract. T helper cells 17 (Th17) and T regulatory cells (Treg) are differentiated subsets of CD4+T cells. Th17/Treg imbalance has been shown to be closely related to the progression of GC. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can not only improve the survival prognosis of GC patients, but also play a role in enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of postoperative chemotherapy for GC. This paper systematically sorted out the action rules of TCM in the intervention of GC by regulating Th17/Treg balance. The results showed that the TCM compound could regulate the balance of GC Th17/Treg by invigorating the spleen and invigorating Qi, warming Yang, removing blood stasis and detoxifying. The mechanism of regulating Th17/Treg balance in the intervention of GC is mainly to inhibit the excessive differentiation of Th17 and Treg and the overexpression of transcription factors and cytokines, reverse the excessive drift of GC Th17/Treg balance to Th17 or Treg, and thus restore the immune balance of GC Th17/Treg.
6.Network pharmacology reveals the effect and mechanism of Ganoderma leucocontextum ethanol extract on improving inflammatory response in silicosis lungs
Rui QIAN ; Luoning ZHANG ; Yunyi XU ; Donglei SUN ; Liqun WANG ; Xuxi CHEN ; Yuqin YAO ; Linshen XIE
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(1):6-15
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of Ganoderma leucocontextum ethanol extract (GLE) on silicosis and its potential molecular mechanism using network pharmacology, molecular docking technology and animal experiments. Methods i) The components of GLE were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Q Exactive-mass spectrometry (UPLC-QE-MS) method. The active components, potential molecular pathways and targets of GLE in the intervention of inflammation process of silicosis was explored using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. ii) Specific pathogen free male C57BL6/J mice were divided into four groups with 10 mice in each group. The mice in the silicosis model group and GLE intervention group were given a dose of 80 μL silica suspension with a mass concentration of 50 g/L once by non-exposed tracheal instillation, and the mice in the blank control group and GLE control group were given an equal volume of sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution. From the second day after modeling, GLE control group and GLE intervention group were given GLE at a dose of 200 mg/(kg•d) by gavage, while blank control group and silicosis model group were given the same volume of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by gavage, once per day for 35 days. After that, the histopathological changes of lung tissues of mice were observed, the lung mass coefficient, inflammation score and the ratio of collagen deposition area were calculated, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, interleukin (IL) -1β and IL-6 in the lung tissues of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results i) A total of 76 active components of GLE were detected by UPLC-QE-MS. Among them, 36 ingredients met the screening criteria of the five principles of drug-like components. A total of 67 potential targets of the 36 GLE active ingredients to improve the inflammatory response of silicosis were screened based on the network pharmacology theory. The result of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis and Gene Ontology functional analysis showed that IL signaling and cytokine signaling of immune cells played a key role in the process of anti-silicosis of GLE. The results of molecular docking showed that the top 10 targets based on the 67 intersection targets were TNF, IL6, B-cell lymphoma 2, cellular tumor antigen p53, Caspase-3 subunit p12, JUN, epidermal growth factor receptor, IL1B, 67 kDa matrix metalloproteinase-9 and prostaglandin G/H synthase 2. The result of protein-protein interaction analysis showed that glycyrrhetinic acid had the strongest affinity with the key targets TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, followed by ganoderma acid DM, alismatol C, ganoderma acid β and red sapogenin. ii) The results of histopathological examination showed that the inflammatory response and collagen deposition were alleviated in the lungs of mice with silicosis. The lung mass coefficient, inflammation score, ratio of collagen deposition area and IL-6 expression in lung were lower in mice of the GLE intervention group (all P<0.05), compared with the silicosis model group. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in lung tissues between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion GLE may reduce silica-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis by inhibiting the IL-6 level in lung tissues of mice. Its mechanism is associated with the synergistic action of multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways.
7.Research progress on the prevention and treatment of sepsis by intervening in JAK/STAT signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Yijun FANG ; Jinchan PENG ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2024;35(21):2697-2702
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by infection. Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway plays a key role in the regulation of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Some traditional Chinese medicine monomers, such as flavonoids (such as taxifolin), alkaloids (such as sinomenine), and stilbenes (such as piceatannol) can exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, and inhibition of apoptosis by regulating the JAK/ STAT signaling pathway, which is helpful to improve sepsis. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds (such as Zuojinfang) and traditional Chinese medicine injections (such as Astragalus injection, Xuebijing injection) can also inhibit inflammation, protect organ function, and reduce sepsis-related damage by regulating JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Although traditional Chinese medicine has shown great potential in the prevention and treatment of sepsis, the current research mainly focuses on in vitro and animal models, and more relative clinical researches need to be conducted.
8.Role of NF-κB Signaling Pathway in "Reflux Esophagitis-esophageal Cancer" and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention:A Review
Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Xin LIU ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jing HUANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):221-233
Reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of esophageal mucosa damage caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Its incidence is on the rise, and it has become an important precancerous disease of esophageal cancer. Studies have shown that the continuous inflammatory response stimulates the esophageal mucosa, causing abnormal proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells and damage to esophageal mucosal tissue, which eventually leads to the occurrence of heterogeneous hyperplasia and even carcinogenesis. The nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is one of the most classical inflammatory and cancer signaling pathways. It has been found that abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial to the development and prognosis of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. It is widely involved in the proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of esophageal epithelial cells and tumor cells, accelerating the transformation of reflux esophagitis to esophageal cancer and making it a potential target for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. Currently, there is no specific treatment for reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, and large side effects often appear. Therefore, finding a promising and safe drug remains a top priority. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine scholars have conducted a lot of research on NF-κB signaling pathway, and the results indicate that NF-κB signaling pathway is an important potential target for traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, but there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic elaboration. Therefore, this paper summarized the relevant studies in recent years, analyzed the relationship among NF-κB signaling pathway, reflux esophagitis, esophageal cancer, and transformation from inflammation to cancer, and reviewed the research literature on the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer.
9.Chinese Medicine in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Intestinal Flora: A Review
Maoguang HUANG ; Sheng XIE ; Jinxin WANG ; Feng LUO ; Yunyan ZHANG ; Yueying CHEN ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Liqun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):267-275
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic, non-specific inflammatory bowel disease. The pathogenesis of this disease is complex and is attributed to multiple factors. Intestinal mucosal barrier damage is the basic pathological change of UC, and intestinal flora disorder is one of the important characteristics of UC. Intestinal flora plays a key role in the pathological process of UC by regulating intestinal mucosal immunity and inflammatory response to repair the damaged intestinal mucosal barrier. At present, western medicine has the advantages of rapid action onset and significant short-term efficacy, but the curative effect of long-term use is not good, accompanied by many adverse reactions, causing great physical and mental pain to patients. Therefore, it is urgent to explore new treatment methods with definite long-term efficacy and mild adverse reactions. A large number of studies have shown that Chinese medicine can regulate intestinal flora through multiple targets in an all-around way, restore the homeostasis of the flora, and repair the damaged intestinal mucosal barrier, thereby inhibiting the progression of UC. Numerous studies have shown that the active components, monomers, and compounds of Chinese medicine can effectively antagonize UC by regulating the intestinal flora to improve the intestinal mucosal immunity, reduce the inflammatory response of the intestinal mucosa, and restore the normal physiological function of the intestinal mucosal barrier, providing a new strategy for UC prevention and treatment. Although there are some studies of the regulation of intestinal flora by Chinese medicine to prevent and treat UC, those studies have the shortcomings of systematic and comprehensive inadequacy. Therefore, based on the research status of UC, intestinal flora, and Chinese medicine treatment, this study reviewed the relationship between intestinal flora and UC and clarified the key role of intestinal flora in the occurrence and development of UC. At the same time, this paper comprehensively summarized the Chinese medicine that targeted the regulation of intestinal flora for the treatment of UC in the past five years to provide new strategies and ideas for UC treatment.
10.Role of Autophagy in Ulcerative Colitis and Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Maoguang HUANG ; Sheng XIE ; Jinxin WANG ; Feng LUO ; Yunyan ZHANG ; Yueying CHEN ; Shengnan CAI ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Liqun LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(4):281-289
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with complex etiology. The pathogenesis of this disease, due to a combination of factors, is complex and has not yet been elucidated. Among them, intestinal mucosal barrier damage is the basic pathological change of UC. As a non-destructive response of cells, autophagy regulates intestinal mucosal immunity, inflammation, oxidative stress, and bacterial homeostasis through degradation and reabsorption to actively repair damaged intestinal mucosal barrier, exerting a key role in the occurrence and development of UC. The disease is mainly treated clinically with aminosalicylic acid preparations, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressants. Western medicine treatment of the disease has a fast onset of effect, and the short-term efficacy is definite, but the long-term application is easy to be accompanied by more adverse reactions. Moreover, some drugs are expensive, bringing great physical and mental pain and economic burden to patients. Therefore, it is urgent to explore new therapies with stable efficacy and mild adverse effects. In recent years, a large number of studies have shown that Chinese medicine can regulate autophagy of the intestinal mucosa with multiple targets and effects and repair the intestinal mucosal barrier function, thereby inhibiting the development of UC. Many experiments have shown that the active ingredient or monomers and compound formulas of Chinese medicine can improve the immunity of the intestinal mucosa, inflammation, oxidative stress, and flora by regulating the level of autophagy to maintain the normal function of the intestinal mucosal barrier to effectively intervene in UC, providing a new measure for the prevention and treatment of UC. However, there is a lack of systematic review of Chinese medicine in regulating the level of autophagy in the intestinal mucosa for the prevention and treatment of UC. Therefore, based on the current research on UC, autophagy process, and Chinese medicine treatment, this article reviewed the relationship of autophagy and its key target proteins with UC to clarify the key role of autophagy in UC production and systematically summarized Chinese medicines targeting the regulation of autophagy to treat UC in recent years to provide new ideas for the treatment and drug development of UC.


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