1.Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments reveal mechanism of Zhizhu Decoction in regulating macrophage polarization to reduce adipose tissue inflammation in obese children.
Yong-Kai YIN ; Chang-Miao NIU ; Li-Ting LIANG ; Mo DAN ; Tian-Qi GAO ; Yan-Hong QIN ; Xiao-Ning YAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(1):228-238
Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to predict the mechanism of Zhizhu Decoction in regulating macrophage polarization to reduce adipose tissue inflammation in obese children, and animal experiments were then carried out to validate the prediction results. The active ingredients and targets of Zhizhu Decoction were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP). The inflammation related targets in the adipose tissue of obese children were searched against GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET, and a drug-disease-target network was established. STRING was used to construct a protein-protein interaction(PPI) network and screen for core targets. R language was used to carry out Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. AutoDock was used for the molecular docking between core targets and active ingredients. 24 SPF grade 6-week C57B/6J male mice were adaptively fed for 1 week, and 8 mice were randomly selected as the blank group. The remaining 16 mice were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks to onstruct a high-fat diet induced mouse obesity model. After successful modeling, the 16 mice were randomly divided into model group and Zhizhu Decoction group, with 8 mice in each group. Zhizhu Decoction group was intervened by gavage for 14 days, once a day. Blank group and model group were given an equal amount of sterile double distilled water(ddH_2O) by gavage daily. After the last gavage, serum and inguinal adipose tissue were collected from mice for testing. The morphology of inguinal adipose tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, the levels of inflammatory factors interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the protein expression of macrophage marker molecule nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and epidermal growth factor like hormone receptor 1(F4/80) was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Network pharmacology predicted luteolin, naringenin, and nobiletin as the main active ingredients in Zhizhu Decoction and 15 core targets. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed involvement in the key signaling pathway of nuclear factor κB(NF-κB). Molecular docking showed that the active ingredients of Zhizhu Decoction bound well to the core targets. Animal experiment showed that compared with the model group, Zhizhu Decoction reduced the distribution of inflammatory cytokines in the inguinal adipose tissue of mice, lowered the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum(P<0.05, P<0.01), and down-regulated the expression of iNOS and F4/80(P<0.05). The results showed that the active ingredients in Zhizhu Decoction, such as luteolin, naringenin, and nobiletin, inhibit the aggregation of macrophages in adipose tissue, downregulate their classic activated macrophage(M1) polarization, reduce the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α, and thus improve adipose tissue inflammation in obese mice.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Adipose Tissue/immunology*
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Mice
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Male
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Humans
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Network Pharmacology
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Macrophages/immunology*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Child
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Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
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Obesity/genetics*
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Inflammation/drug therapy*
2.Multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging assessment and mechanism exploration of preterm white matter injury in neonatal rats.
Xiao-Tian GAO ; Hai-Mo ZHANG ; Xiao-Zu ZHANG ; Yi-Jing WANG ; Hui-Ning BI ; Miao YU ; Yan LI ; Xiao-Li WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(3):366-372
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate preterm white matter injury (PWMI) in neonatal rats using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with histological assessments and to explore its underlying mechanisms.
METHODS:
Healthy 3-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group and a PWMI group (n=12 in each group). A PWMI model was established in neonatal rats through hypoxia-ischemia. Laser speckle imaging was used to observe changes in cerebral oxygen saturation and blood flow at different time points post-modeling. Multimodal MRI was employed to assess the condition of white matter injury, while hematoxylin-eosin staining was utilized to observe morphological changes in the striatal area on the injured side. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.
RESULTS:
At 0, 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours post-modeling, the relative blood flow and relative oxygen saturation on the injured side in the PWMI group were significantly lower than those in the sham operation group (P<0.05). At 24 hours post-modeling, T2-weighted imaging showed high signals in the white matter of the injured side in the PWMI group, with relative apparent diffusion coefficient values and Lorenz differential values being lower than those in the sham operation group (P<0.001); additionally, the arrangement of nerve cells in the PWMI group was disordered, and the number of EdU+PDGFR-α+ cells was higher than that in the sham operation group (P<0.001). At 28 days post-modeling, the relative fractional anisotropy values, the number of EdU+Olig2+ cells, and the fluorescence intensity of myelin basic protein and neurofilament protein 200 in the white matter region of the PWMI group were all lower than those in the sham operation group (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Multimodal MRI can evaluate early and long-term changes in PWMI in neonatal rat models in vivo, providing both imaging and pathological evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of PWMI in neonates. Hypoxia-ischemia inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in neonatal rats, leading to PWMI.
Animals
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*
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Rats
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White Matter/injuries*
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Animals, Newborn
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Female
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Multimodal Imaging
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Male
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Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/pathology*
3.Additional role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the risk of osteoporosis in men with or without coronary heart disease: a real-world longitudinal study.
Jing ZENG ; Zi-Mo PAN ; Ting LI ; Ze-Yu CHEN ; Xiao-Yan CAI ; Mei-Liang GONG ; Xin-Li DENG ; Sheng-Shu WANG ; Nan LI ; Miao LIU ; Chun-Lin LI
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(2):219-228
BACKGROUND:
Early control of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is crucial for reducing the progress of cardiovascular disease. However, its additional role to the risk of primary osteoporosis in men with coronary heart disease was inconclusive. Our study aims to determine the association of LDL-C and its trajectories for osteoporosis risk in the middle-aged and aged men of China.
METHODS:
The retrospective cohort study of 1546 men aged 69.74 ± 11.30 years conducted in Beijing, China from 2015 to 2022. And the incidence of primary osteoporosis was annually recorded. LDL-C trajectories were further identified by latent class growth model using repeated measurements of LDL-C. The association of baseline LDL-C for osteoporosis was estimated using hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI in Cox proportional hazard model, while mean level and trajectories of LDL-C for osteoporosis were evaluated using odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI in logistic regression model.
RESULTS:
During the median 6.2-year follow-up period, 70 men developed primary osteoporosis. The higher level of baseline LDL-C (HR = 1.539, 95% CI: 1.012-2.342) and mean LDL-C (OR = 2.190, 95% CI: 1.443-3.324) were associated with higher risk of osteoporosis in men with coronary heart disease after adjusted for covariates. Compared with those in the LDL-C trajectory of low-stable decrease, participants with medium-fluctuant trajectory, whose longitudinal LDL-C started with a medium LDL-C level and appeared an increase and then decrease, were negatively associated with osteoporosis risk (OR = 2.451, 95% CI: 1.152-5.216). And participants with initially high LDL-C level and then a rapid decrease demonstrated a tendency towards reduced risk (OR = 0.718, 95% CI: 0.212-2.437).
CONCLUSIONS
Elevated LDL-C level and its long-term fluctuation may increase the risk of primary osteoporosis in men. Early controlling a stable level of LDL-C is also essential for bone health.
4.Treatment strategies for resistant and refractory migraine
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2024;41(7):596-599
Migraine is a common primary headache,which is the second leading cause of disability worldwide,espe-cially resistant and refractory migraine.Treatments for migraine are diverse.This article summarizes the progress in the prevention and treatment of resistant and refractory migraine,aiming to promote clinicians'understanding of such types of migraine.
5.Importance of specific headache nursing in the management of patients attending the headache center
Journal of Apoplexy and Nervous Diseases 2024;41(7):600-603
Headache is a common disease of the nervous system,with a high risk of disability,but currently the di-agnosis rate of headache remains at a relatively low level,mainly relying on the self-treatment by patients.In recent years,as headache diseases attract more attention,headache nurses are playing an increasingly important role in the management of headache patients,and headache nursing has become an important link in improving the prognosis of patients.This ar-ticle mainly introduces the importance and necessity of headache nursing in the management of headache patients.
6.Metastasis patterns and survival analysis of 572 patients with metastatic cervical cancer:a hospital-based real world study
Jie SHEN ; Xiaoshuang FENG ; Hao WEN ; Changming ZHOU ; Miao MO ; Zezhou WANG ; Jing YUAN ; Xiaohua WU ; Ying ZHENG
China Oncology 2024;34(4):361-367
Background and purpose:Effective treatment for cervical cancer patients is one of the global strategies to eliminate cervical cancer.By analyzing the metastasis characteristics and survival status of patients with distant metastasis of cervical cancer from a hospital-based cancer registry data,our study provided real-world evidence for better survival of cervical cancer and finally eliminating cervical cancer.Methods:A total of 572 cervical cancer patients who had metastasis cancer at the initial diagnosis or developed distant metastasis during follow-up in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from 2008 to 2017 were included in this study.Medical records review,telephone visits and death registry data linkage were applied in collecting endpoint data.The first follow-up date was the diagnose date of metastasis,and the last follow-up date was November 1,2020.Kaplan-Meier method was applied in evaluating the 1-,3-and 5-year overall survival(OS)rates for overall and site-specific patients.Results:The median follow-up time was 38.93 months,and 348 cases died during the follow-up.72.55%were single site metastasis,and 27.45%were multiple metastases.Among all metastatic sites,the proportion of lung metastasis was the highest,41.26%,15.21%to bone,and 11.54%to liver.After metastasis,the 1-year,3-year and 5-year OS rates were 62.29%(95%CI:62.25-62.33),33.13%(95%CI:33.08-33.18)and 23.42%(95%CI:23.37-23.47),respectively.In single site metastasis,1-year OS was the highest after metastasis to the lung(72.52%).Besides,there was no significant difference among different metastatic sites,both in 3-year and 5-year OS.Conclusion:The most frequent distant metastatic sites of cervical cancer are lung,bone and liver.The survival rate after metastasis is poor.Further research with systematic treatment strategy is required for better survival.
7.Incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer in the world and China in 2022
Lixia YI ; Hanlu FANG ; Jingyi LI ; Yaowu LIU ; Miao MO ; Jing XIE
Academic Journal of Naval Medical University 2024;45(12):1470-1477
Objective To analyze the incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer in 2022 globally and in China based on the Global Cancer Statistics 2022 published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer,considering characteristics such as gender,age,and human development index(HDI).Methods Pancreatic cancer data from 185 countries and regions were sourced from the GLOBOCAN 2022 database,and HDI data were compiled based on the Human Development Report 2022 published by the United Nations Development Programme.Cancer data were stratified by age,gender,and HDI to describe the prevalence of pancreatic cancer globally and in China.Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of standardized incidence rate(SIR),standardized mortality rate(SMR),and mortality-to-incidence ratio(M/I)with HDI.Results In 2022,the number of pancreatic cancer incident cases worldwide was 510 992,ranking 12th among all cancer incidents,with an SIR of 4.7 per 100 000(ranking 15th).The number of pancreatic cancer deaths globally was 467 409,ranking 6th among all cancer deaths,with an SMR of 4.2 per 100 000(ranking 9th).In China,the number of pancreatic cancer incident cases was 118 672(ranking 10th among all cancer incidents),accounting for 23.22%of the global pancreatic cancer incidents,with an SIR of 4.4 per 100 000(ranking 13rd).The number of pancreatic cancer deaths in China was 106 295(ranking 6th among all cancer deaths),accounting for 22.74%of the global pancreatic cancer deaths,with an SMR of 3.9 per 100 000(ranking 8th).The incidence,mortality,SIR,and SMR in males were higher than those in females both globally and in China.SIR and SMR were positively correlated with HDI(r=0.77 and 0.77,both P<0.001),while M/I was negatively correlated with HDI(r=-0.43,P<0.001).The incidence,mortality,SIR and SMR of pancreatic cancer showed an increasing trend with age,and rapidly increased from 45-49 years old.Conclusion The disease burden of pancreatic cancer is serious globally and in China.The incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer show an upward trend with age,and they are higher in males than in females.HDI is positively correlated with SIR and SMR of pancreatic cancer,while negatively correlated with M/I.
8.Survival analysis of 6 737 surgically resected gastric cancer cases in China from a large single institution hospital-based cancer registry database
Jie SHEN ; Jiangli WANG ; Zezhou WANG ; Miao MO ; Changming ZHOU ; Jing YUAN ; Dazhi XU ; Ying ZHENG
China Oncology 2024;34(3):268-277
Background and purpose:Follow-up data of 6 737 patients undergoing surgery for gastric cancer were collected based on hospital registration,and the 1-,3-and 5-years observed overall survival(OS)rates and disease-free survival(DFS)rates were analyzed to provide real-world research evidence for the prevention and control of gastric cancer and policy making in China.Methods:A total of 6 737 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer center from 2015 to 2020 were included in this study.Clinical information and the follow-up endpoint data were collected through medical records review,telephone visits and death registry data linkage.The last follow-up date was November 30,2023.Kaplan-Meier method was applied in evaluating the 1-,3-and 5-year OS rate and DFS rate,and survival data were described by different subgroups including age group,gender,treatment period,tumor staging,and pathological characteristics.Results:With a median follow-up time of 50.99 months,the 5-year OS rate of surgically resected gastric cancer patients was 70.37%,and 5-year DFS rate in Ⅰ-Ⅲ stage cases was 69.46%.The 5-year OS rates of stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ were 94.32%,82.56%,51.01%and 23.97%,respectively.The differences in survival among patients with different age,tumor location,gross classification,Borrmann classification and Laurence classification were significant.Conclusion:Staging is an important factor directly affecting the survival of gastric cancer patients.Screening and early diagnosis and treatment in large population,especially high-risk group,should be strengthened to further improve the patients'survival.
9.Research and determination of related substances in flumazenil
Xue-yan MIAO ; Yuan YANG ; Si-si LU ; Jin-mei MO ; Lin-kai HUANG ; Jia-jun WEI ; Yi-ping GU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(6):1765-1772
A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method utilizing correction factors was established for the quantitative detection of related substances in flumazenil. Separation was achieved using an Agilent Pursuit XRs C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) with an isocratic elution of dilute phosphoric acid, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran as the mobile phases. Correction factors calculated from a standard curve method were applied to determine the impurity content. The quantification of impurities in flumazenil was conducted using both external standard and correction factor methods, followed by validation and comparison of the two. For the identification of degradation products, a forced degradation approach was employed to prepare a flumazenil degradation solution, and the resulting impurities were confirmed by LC-MS analysis. The separation of flumazenil and its impurities was found to be efficient. The limits of quantification for impurities A, B, D, and E were established at 0.169 9, 0.314 7, 0.143 9, and 0.270 8 ng, respectively, with the limits of detection at 0.055 8, 0.096 9, 0.048 8, and 0.089 0 ng. These impurities demonstrated a strong linear relationship across the concentration ranges of 0.034 9-7.847 0, 0.038 7-8.710 7, 0.034 6-7.794 1, and 0.032 4-7.292 8 µg·mL-1, respectively (
10.Effect of Ginkgo biloba extract in post-stroke depression model rats
Si-Min XIE ; You-Qiong WANG ; Miao-Miao MO ; Dong-Yi WANG ; Hai-Lan CHEN ; Bin YANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(13):1933-1937
Objective To observe the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE)on depression like behavior in post stroke depression(PSD)model rats,and explore the mechanism of regulating Toll like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κ B(TLR4/NF-κB)pathway to inhibit neuroinflammation.Methods Rats were randomly divided into 6 groups,sham,cerebral ischemia,PSD,paroxetine,low-dose Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE-L)and high-dose Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE-H)groups,10 rats in each group.Except for the sham group,middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)was performed to prepare a left focal cerebral ischemia model.Except for the sham group and cerebral ischemia group,other groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)to establish PSD rat model for 8 weeks.After 4 weeks of CUMS,the paroxetine group,GBE-L,and GBE-H were treated with paroxetine 5 mg·kg-1,GBE 50 mg·kg-1,and GBE 100 mg·kg-1,respectively.The sham group,cerebral ischemia group,and PSD group were treated with the same volume of 0.9%NaCl and continuously administered by gavage for 28 d.After 4 weeks and 8 weeks of CUMS,the body weight and sugar preference test were measured.Levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β)and levels of norepinephrine(NE),serotonin(5-HT),and dopamine(DA)in the cerebral cortex were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The mRNA levels of Tlr4,Nfkb1,and nuclear factor κ B-kinase subunit β inhibitory factor(Ikbkb)in the hippocampus of rats were detected by polymerase chain reaction.The protein levels of NF-κB,nuclear factor κB inhibitory protein α(IKBα)and phosphorylation nuclear factor κB inhibitory protein α(p-IKB)in hippocampal tissue were detected by Western blot.Results The body weights of rats in the sham group,cerebral ischemia group,PSD group,paroxetine group,GBE-L group and GBE-H group were(427.10±6.36),(403.10±7.37),(310.10±9.71),(355.00±4.03),(347.90±9.88)and(391.90±5.07)g;sugar preference rate were(93.93±1.78)%,(91.57±1.03)%,(54.72±7.34)%,(88.35±4.36)%,(63.55±12.73)%and(81.04±4.31)%;the levels of NE in the cerebral cortex were(1 951.14±52.86),(1 827.27±23.63),(1 662.12±35.92),(2 033.58±72.28),(1 887.31±33.07)and(2 175.00±42.54)pg·mL-1;the levels of 5-HT in the cerebral cortex were(237.07±8.86),(226.15±10.27),(214.51±3.46),(297.13±5.79),(274.14±7.63)and(285.34±8.72)ng·mL-1;the levels of DA in the cerebral cortex were(1 531.11±47.26),(1 209.89±58.09),(1 143.15±36.31),(1 812.67±51.28),(1 651.56±31.82)and(1 853.33±20.42)pg·mL-1.Compared with the PSD group,GBE significantly increased the body weight of rats(P<0.01)and increased the preference rate of sugar water in rats,showing the antidepressant like behavioral.GBE significantly reduced the levels of serum TNF-α,IL-1 β(all P<0.01),increased the levels of NE,5-HT,and DA in the cerebral cortex(all P<0.01),down regulate the mRNA levels of Tlr4,Nfkb1 and Ikbkb(P<0.05,P<0.01),reduced the expression of NF-κB(P<0.01),and reduced the phosphorylation of IKBα(P<0.01).Conclusion Ginkgo biloba extract can improve depression-like behavior in PSD model rats,and has antidepressant effect.Its mechanism is related to the inhibition of TLR4/NF-κB pathway,thus reducing neuroinflammation.

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