1.Study on the mechanism of Shaoyao gancao decoction in improving intestinal motility in rats with slow transit constipation by regulating the ASIC3/ERK signaling pathway
Ziqi ZHANG ; Hongyun ZHOU ; Qiong ZHAO ; Yuan DENG ; Mengjie ZHAO ; Chen ZHAO ; Jingyi CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(15):1852-1858
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Shaoyao gancao decoction in improving intestinal motility in rats with slow transit constipation (STC) by regulating acid-sensitive ion channel 3 (ASIC3)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. METHODS SD rats were used to construct an STC model by gavage with compound diphenoxylate. The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, Shaoyao gancao decoction group (1.5 g/mL), lactulose group (208.4 mg/mL, positive control), and combined inhibition group (Shaoyao gancao decoction 1.5 g/mL+amiloride hydrochloride 20 μg/kg), with 12 rats in each group. Additionally, 12 healthy rats were selected as the blank group. They were given relevant medicine once a day and continuously intervened for 14 days. After intervention, the intestinal propulsion function and visceral sensitivity of the model rats were detected. The expression of ASIC3 in the colon tissue of rats was observed by immunohistochemical staining. mRNA expressions of ASIC3, ERK1 and ERK2 as well as protein expressions of ASIC3, ERK1/2 and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) in colon tissue of rats were detected; the ultrastructural changes of the enteric nervous system (ENS) -interstitial cell of Cajal (ICC)-smooth muscle cell (SMC) network in the rat colon were observed under electron microscopy. RESULTS Compared with the model group, the intestinal propulsion rate of the Shaoyao gancao decoction group was significantly increased, while the visceral pain threshold was significantly decreased. The proportion of the positive area of ASIC3 in the colonic tissue was significantly increased. The relative mRNA expression levels of ERK1, ERK2, and ASIC3, as well as the relative protein expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and ASIC3, and the p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2 in the colonic tissue, were all significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Additionally, there was marked repair of the morphological structure of ICC and SMC, with closer gap junctions observed. Compared with the Shaoyao gancao decoction group, the combined inhibition group exhibited a diminished improvement in intestinal motility of rats, with statistically significant differences in the levels of some indicators (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the repairing of the morphological structure of ICC and SMC was notably attenuated. CONCLUSIONS Shaoyao gancao decoction can effectively improve the intestinal transmission function and promote intestinal repair in STC rats, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the balance of the ENS-ICC-SMC network mediated by the ASIC3/ERK signaling pathway, thus promoting intestinal motility and reducing visceral sensitivity.
2.Association between plant-based diet and different types of obesity
ZHOU Mengyi ; SU Danting ; HE Mengjie ; XU Peiwei ; HAN Dan ; HUANG Lichun ; ZHANG Ronghua
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(8):773-778
Objective:
To investigate the association between plant-based diet and different types of obesity, so as to provide references for obesity prevention.
Methods:
Residents aged 35-75 years from 33 counties (cities, districts) in Zhejiang Province were selected as study subjects using a multistage stratified random sampling method between April and December 2024. Demographic information and living behaviors were collected using questionnaire surveys. Height, weight and waist circumference were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. BMI ≥28.0 kg/m2 was defined as obesity, waist circumference ≥90 cm in males or ≥85 cm in females was defined as central obesity, and individual with obesity who also had central obesity was defined as having compound obesity. Food intake over a 3-day period was collected using the consecutive 3-day 24-hour dietary recall method. The plant diet index (PDI), healthful plant diet index (HPDI), and unhealthful plant diet index (UPDI) were calculated, and categorized into quintiles (Q1-Q5) based on their distribution. Association between the PDI, PDI, UPDI and different types of obesity were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression models.
Results:
A total of 4 882 individuals were surveyed, including 2 233 males (45.74%) and 2 649 females (54.26%). The average age was (55.42±12.14) years. There were 537 individuals of obesity, 1 718 individuals of central obesity, and 500 individuals of compound obesity, with detection rates of 11.00%, 35.19%, and 10.24%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for demographic information and living behaviors, compared with Q1 group, HPDI Q5 group showed a 29.6% lower risk of obesity (OR=0.704, 95%CI: 0.525-0.943) and a 32.1% lower risk of compound obesity (OR=0.679, 95%CI: 0.502-0.918). Conversely, the UPDI Q5 group exhibited a 39.5% higher risk of obesity (OR=1.395, 95%CI: 1.032-1.886) and a 39.8% higher risk of compound obesity (OR=1.398, 95%CI: 1.025-1.907). No statistically significant association was found between PDI and obesity, central obesity, and compound obesity (all P>0.05). As HPDI increased, the risks of obesity and compound obesity showed decreasing trends; as UPDI increased, the risks of obesity and compound obesity showed increasing trends (all Ptrend<0.05).
Conclusion
A healthful plant-based diet is associated with reduced risks of obesity and compound obesity, while an unhealthful plant-based diet is associated with increased risks of obesity and compound obesity.
3.Large models in medical imaging: Advances and prospects.
Mengjie FANG ; Zipei WANG ; Sitian PAN ; Xin FENG ; Yunpeng ZHAO ; Dongzhi HOU ; Ling WU ; Xuebin XIE ; Xu-Yao ZHANG ; Jie TIAN ; Di DONG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(14):1647-1664
Recent advances in large models demonstrate significant prospects for transforming the field of medical imaging. These models, including large language models, large visual models, and multimodal large models, offer unprecedented capabilities in processing and interpreting complex medical data across various imaging modalities. By leveraging self-supervised pretraining on vast unlabeled datasets, cross-modal representation learning, and domain-specific medical knowledge adaptation through fine-tuning, large models can achieve higher diagnostic accuracy and more efficient workflows for key clinical tasks. This review summarizes the concepts, methods, and progress of large models in medical imaging, highlighting their potential in precision medicine. The article first outlines the integration of multimodal data under large model technologies, approaches for training large models with medical datasets, and the need for robust evaluation metrics. It then explores how large models can revolutionize applications in critical tasks such as image segmentation, disease diagnosis, personalized treatment strategies, and real-time interactive systems, thus pushing the boundaries of traditional imaging analysis. Despite their potential, the practical implementation of large models in medical imaging faces notable challenges, including the scarcity of high-quality medical data, the need for optimized perception of imaging phenotypes, safety considerations, and seamless integration with existing clinical workflows and equipment. As research progresses, the development of more efficient, interpretable, and generalizable models will be critical to ensuring their reliable deployment across diverse clinical environments. This review aims to provide insights into the current state of the field and provide directions for future research to facilitate the broader adoption of large models in clinical practice.
Humans
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Diagnostic Imaging/methods*
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Precision Medicine/methods*
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Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*
4.Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel class of indazole-containing compounds with potent anti-influenza activities targeting the PA-PB1 interface.
Yun-Sang TANG ; Chao ZHANG ; Jing XU ; Haibo ZHANG ; Zhe JIN ; Mengjie XIAO ; Nuermila YILIYAER ; Er-Fang HUANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Chun HU ; Pang-Chui SHAW
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3163-3180
The PA-PB1 interface of the influenza polymerase is an attractive site for antiviral drug design. In this study, we designed and synthesized a mini-library of indazole-containing compounds based on rational structure-based design to target the PB1-binding interface on PA. Biological evaluation of these compounds through a viral yield reduction assay revealed that compounds 27 and 31 both had a low micromolar range of the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values against A/WSN/33 (H1N1) (8.03 μmol/L for 27; 14.6 μmol/L for 31), while the most potent candidate 24 had an EC50 value of 690 nM. Compound 24 was effective against different influenza strains including a pandemic H1N1 strain and an influenza B strain. Mechanistic studies confirmed that compound 24 bound PA with a K d which equals to 1.88 μmol/L and disrupted the binding of PB1 to PA. The compound also decreased the lung viral titre in mice. In summary, we have identified a potent anti-influenza candidate with potency comparable to existing drugs and is effective against different viral strains. The therapeutic options for influenza infection have been limited by the occurrence of antiviral resistance, owing to the high mutation rate of viral proteins targeted by available drugs. To alleviate the public health burden of this issue, novel anti-influenza drugs are desired. In this study, we present our discovery of a novel class of indazole-containing compounds which exhibited favourable potency against both influenza A and B viruses. The EC50 of the most potent compounds were within low micromolar to nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, we show that the mouse lung viral titre decreased due to treatment with compound 24. Thus our findings identify promising candidates for further development of anti-influenza drugs suitable for clinical use.
5.Unlocking the potential of targeted protein degradation via nanoparticle-based universal strategy.
Ti-Qiang ZHOU ; Weilun SUN ; Zhen-Zhen WEI ; Yuhua WENG ; Dongxu ZHAO ; Mengjie ZHANG ; Yuanyu HUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):6082-6086
Targeted protein degradation via nanoparticle-based universal strategy modifies nanoparticles with antibodies and ingeniously utilizes its cellular transport characteristics. This strategy achieved targeted degradation of extracellular proteins without complex design.Image 1.
6.Author Correction: LIMP-2 enhances cancer stem-like cell properties by promoting autophagy-induced GSK3β degradation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Yuantong LIU ; Shujin LI ; Shuo WANG ; Qichao YANG ; Zhizhong WU ; Mengjie ZHANG ; Lei CHEN ; Zhijun SUN
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):26-26
7.Establishment of a method for detecting propofol concentration in plasma and its application in patients with lymphedema
Jingfeng LI ; Zhengyuan SHI ; Mengjie ZHANG ; Lei GUAN ; Dechun JIANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(4):476-480
OBJECTIVE To establish a method for the determination of propofol concentration in human plasma and apply it in patients with lymphedema. METHODS The concentration of propofol was determined by UPLC-MS/MS after protein precipitation of plasma samples using thymol as internal standard. The sample was eluted on a Kinetex C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile (A)-water (B) for gradient elution at the flow rate of 200 μL/min. The sample size was 5 μL, and the column temperature was set at 40 ℃. The sample chamber temperature was 15 ℃. Using multi-reaction monitoring mode, the ion pairs for quantitative analysis were m/z 177.0→161.2 (propofol) and m/z 149.0→133.1 (internal standard), respectively. The above method was used to determine the plasma concentration of propofol in 6 patients with lymphedema. RESULTS The linear range of propofol was 50-5 000 ng/mL (r=0.995 0). RSDs of within- and between-batch precision were not more than 8.08%; no endogenous interference, carryover effect, or dilution effect was observed in blank plasma. The extraction recovery ranged from 89.80% to 93.73%, and matrix effects were within the range of 97.93%-101.73%. RSDs of the stability test were all lower than 3.27%. During intraoperative TCI 2-30 min, the plasma concentration of propofol in 6 patients was maintained in the range of 1 865.3-6 056.2 ng/mL, and the propofol was almost excreted within 4-8 h after operation. CONCLUSIONS The established UPLC-MS/MS method in this study can achieve the determination of propofol and a simple and fast sample pretreatment process without derivatization; it is proved to be suitable for the concentration monitoring of propofol in plasma samples of patients with lymphedema.
8.Impact of iodine nutritional status changes on thyroid function in the elderly in high iodine areas of Jiangsu province: A serial cross-sectional surveys
Mengjie ZHANG ; Lina ZHANG ; Weinuo MI ; Yu SUN ; Tonggao SHEN ; Guofang CHEN ; Chao LIU ; Shuhang XU
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2024;40(1):37-43
Objective:To investigate the alteration in iodine nutritional status and influence on thyroid function in the elderly aged≥65 years following water source modification in high iodine areas.Methods:Data from Yaoji Town, Xuzhou, Jiangsu(an area with high iodine due to water sources) of the national epidemiological survey on thyroid diseases, iodine nutrition, and diabetes(TIDE study) in 31 provinces and cities in China from 2015 to 2017 were utilized. Additionally, data from the screening, monitoring, and intervention on thyroid diseases(TOPS study) in the elderly(≥65 years) in Shunhe Town, Suqian, Jiangsu(an area with iodine levels exceeding the recommended amount), and Yaoji Town, Xuzhou from May to August 2021, are included. Each subject completed a questionnaire, physical examination, laboratory tests and thyroid ultrasound examinations. A total of 2 717 subjects aged≥65 years were included, including group 1, 258 subjects in TIDE study; Group 2, 1 313 subjects in TOPS Xuzhou area; Group 3, 1 146 subjects in TOPS Suqian area.Results:The urinary iodine concentration(UIC) in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 [(235.16±67.09)μg/L vs (491.58±384.93)μg/L, P<0.001], but no significant difference compared with group 3 [(235.16±67.09) μg/L vs(231.62±66.11) μg/L, P>0.05]. The serum TSH level in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 [(2.92±5.14)μIU/mL vs (4.15±9.19)μIU/mL, P<0.001]. Compared with group 2 and 3, the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in the elderly in group 1 was the highest(22.48% vs 10.13% and 8.12%, P<0.001). TSH levels were linearly correlated with age in both excessive iodine and more than adequate iodine nutrition areas. TSH level was gradually increased with age. Conclusion:The alteration in TSH levels among the elderly is notably linked to both aging and iodine status. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in the elderly can be significantly reduced when the iodine nutrition status of the elderly returns to normal.
9.Research progress of corneal lymphangiogenesis in ocular diseases
Mengjie LI ; Yuying ZHU ; Jiange ZHANG
International Eye Science 2024;24(4):539-544
Corneal lymphangiogenesis plays a crucial role in ocular diseases. Normally, the cornea lacks blood vessels and lymph vessels, which are essential for maintaining transparency and function of cornea. However, certain diseases or injuries will prompt angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in cornea, thus disrupting the structure and function of cornea. Although various drugs targeting corneal angiogenesis have been applied in clinical practice, there is still a gap in medications targeting corneal lymphangiogenesis. Therefore, this review will introduce the factors related to corneal lymphangiogenesis, introduce related ocular diseases, and analyze the current treatment status, which will provide more options and possibilities for the treatment of lymphangiogenesis in ocular diseases and provide guidance for future research and drug development.
10.Analysis of current status and related factors of breakfast among primary and secondary school students in Zhejiang Province
ZHAO Dong, SU Danting, ZOU Yan, HUANG Lichun, HE Mengjie, HAN Dan, GU Wei, ZHANG Ronghua
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(9):1260-1263
Objective:
To understand current status and related factors of breakfast among primary and secondary school students in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide a scientific basis for improving breakfast habits of primary and secondary school students.
Methods:
During May to November of 2023, 33 326 students from grade four to six of primary schools and grade one to two of secondary schools were selected from 90 counties and cities in Zhejiang Province by using the stratified cluster random sampling method. General information and breakfast consumption were collected by questionnaire. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors of breakfast.
Results:
About 81.29% of the primary and secondary school students reported regular breakfast consumption. The rate of regular breakfast consumption was higher on the school days (92.23%) than on the weekends (85.17%), and higher in primary school students (85.83%) compared to secondary school students (74.71%), with statistically significant differences ( χ 2=827.42, 655.03, P <0.01). About 49.19% of primary and secondary school students had their breakfast within 10 minutes or less, and 83.30% of primary and secondary school students had 3-5 food groups for breakfast. The proportions of students who consumed cereals and potatoes, milk, and eggs were respectively 18.76%, 28.85%, 14.63%. About 22.84%, 28.00 %, 32.60% and 32.23% of the students had no meat, soybeans, vegetables and fruits in their breakfast. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that girls, rural area, secondary school, place of living (dormitory, others), migrant parent (one or both outside the hometown), late bedtime (22:00-22:59, 23:00 and later) and late wake up time (9:00 and later) on the weekends were positively correlated with no having breakfast every day ( OR=1.22, 1.40, 1.46, 1.20, 1.20, 1.34, 1.36, 1.41 , 3.51, 2.32, P <0.05). The time of physical activity per day (30-<60, 60-<90, 90-120, >120 min), bedtime (21:00-21:59, 22:00-22:59) and wake up time (6:00-6:59, 7:00-7:59) on school days were negatively correlated with no having breakfast every day ( OR=0.75, 0.64, 0.67, 0.64, 0.77, 0.82, 0.75, 0.67, P <0.05).
Conclusions
There is a considerable number of primary and secondary school students with irregular breakfast consumption, which are related to multiple factors. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen nutrition education and improve the behavior of breakfast for primary and secondary school students.


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