1.Research progress on the regulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle by bioactive constituents of traditional Chinese medicine in the anti-atherosclerotic process
Yukai SU ; Yajie ZHANG ; Nana ZHANG ; Chang LIU ; Hongzhen YIN ; Yumin YANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1784-1790
The development of atherosclerosis (AS) is closely associated with endothelial dysfunction and mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities. These alterations are fundamentally characterized by metabolic reprogramming, in which the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle serves as a central regulatory hub. Disruption of the homeostasis of TCA cycle intermediates, including succinate, α -ketoglutarate, and itaconate, contributes to AS progression through multiple mechanisms, such as the modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and glucose and lipid metabolic networks. Owing to their multi-target and multi-pathway regulatory properties, bioactive compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have demonstrated unique advantages in correcting metabolic dysregulation. Flavonoids, glycosides, and other bioactive constituents of TCM can target key enzymes and metabolites involved in the TCA cycle, thereby restoring aberrant metabolic reprogramming, alleviating endothelial injury induced by oxidative stress, inflammation, and glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, ultimately improving metabolic homeostasis and attenuating the progression of AS.
2.Research progress on the regulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle by bioactive constituents of traditional Chinese medicine in the anti-atherosclerotic process
Yukai SU ; Yajie ZHANG ; Nana ZHANG ; Chang LIU ; Hongzhen YIN ; Yumin YANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(13):1784-1790
The development of atherosclerosis (AS) is closely associated with endothelial dysfunction and mitochondrial metabolic abnormalities. These alterations are fundamentally characterized by metabolic reprogramming, in which the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle serves as a central regulatory hub. Disruption of the homeostasis of TCA cycle intermediates, including succinate, α -ketoglutarate, and itaconate, contributes to AS progression through multiple mechanisms, such as the modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and glucose and lipid metabolic networks. Owing to their multi-target and multi-pathway regulatory properties, bioactive compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have demonstrated unique advantages in correcting metabolic dysregulation. Flavonoids, glycosides, and other bioactive constituents of TCM can target key enzymes and metabolites involved in the TCA cycle, thereby restoring aberrant metabolic reprogramming, alleviating endothelial injury induced by oxidative stress, inflammation, and glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, ultimately improving metabolic homeostasis and attenuating the progression of AS.
3.Safety and short-term efficacy of single-port robotic transanal total mesorectal excision
Huichao ZHENG ; Weidong TONG ; Bin HUANG ; Qiulin LIAO ; Haijie ZOU ; Feifei HUANG ; Nana WEN ; Jialing LIU ; Fan LI
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(6):762-768
Objective:To explore the safety and short-term efficacy of single-port robotic transanal total mesorectal excision (SPr-taTME).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of six patients who underwent SPr-taTME at Daping Hospital of Army Medical University from October to November 2024 were collected. There were 3 males and 3 females, aged (65±5)years. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative situations; (2) postoperative situations; (3) follow-up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represen-ted as Mean± SD, measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range). Count data were described as absolute numbers. Results:(1) Intraoperative situations. All patients successfully underwent SPr-taTME without conversion to laparotomy or blood transfusion. There was no intraoperative complication such as accidental hemorrhage or adjacent organ injury. No intra-operative adverse events or mortality occurred. The operation time of the 6 patients was 286(range, 240?400)minutes. The time of transanal platform setup and robotic docking was (21±10)minutes, transanal dissection time was (97±45)minutes, and transabdominal dissection time was (90±35)minutes. The volume of intraoperative blood loss was (47±14)mL. Among the six patients, 1 case underwent synchronous transanal and transabdominal surgery, while 5 cases underwent non-synchronous procedures. Specimens were extracted transanally in 5 cases and via an auxiliary abdominal incision in 1 case. The single-port robotic platform was utilized for the abdominal surgery in 3 cases, while laparoscopy was used in 3 cases. Splenic flexure mobilization was performed in 3 cases and omitted in the other 3 cases. Three patients underwent hand-sewn sigmoid colon-anal anastomosis, 1 case underwent modified Bacon pull-through anastomosis, 1 case received stapled sigmoidorectal anastomosis, 1 case underwent sigmoid colostomy without anastomosis due to significant bowel edema. Two cases didn′t undergo intestinal stoma, 2 cases underwent virtual ileostomy, 1 case underwent ileostomy, and 1 case underwent sigmoid colostomy. (2) Postoperative situations. All patients started water drinking and out‐of‐bed activities on postoperative day 1 and liquid diet intake on postoperative day 2. The time to postoperative first flatus was 1(range, 1?3)days, and duration of postoperative hospital stay was (8±2)days.The total number of lymph nodes dissected was 13±2, with the number of positive lymph nodes as 0(range, 0?3) and the distance of distal resection margin as (23±8)mm. Pathological examination of 6 patients showed 1 case in stage T1N0, 2 cases in stage ypT0N0, 1 case in ypT1N0, 1 case in ypT3N1, and 1 case in ypT0N1. The degree of mesorectal integrity was complete in 5 patients and nearly complete in 1 patient. The surgical specimens of 6 patients showed negative in distal, proximal and circumferential margin. (3) Follow-up. All 6 patients completed the 30-day postoperative follow-up. None of the patients experienced postoperative complication such as bleeding, intestinal obstruction or anastomotic leakage. There was no readmission within 30 days after surgery. Digital rectal examination or colonoscopy on postoperative 30 day confirmed no anastomosis-related complications, including stenosis, dehiscence or anastomotic leakage. All 6 patients survived.Conclusion:The SPr-taTME is safe and feasible, with satisfactory short-term efficacy.
4.Clinical efficacy of Ulinumumab combined with fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease
Nana LI ; Dan ZHOU ; Ating PING ; Yaping LIU
Immunological Journal 2025;41(9):648-652
Objective To investigate the efficacy of Ustekinumab combined with fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)and its impact on intestinal mucosal barrier and immune function.Methods A total of 106 IBD patients treated from January 2023 to March 2024 were selected and divided into the Usteinumab group and the Usteinumab combined with fecal microbiota transplantation group(combination group)by random number table method,with 53 patients in each group.The Ustekinumab group was treated with Ustekinumab,while the combination group was treated with Ustekinumab combined with fecal microbiota transplantation.The clinical efficacy,intestinal mucosal barrier indicators,immune function indicators,scores of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire(IBDQ)and the total incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The total effective rate of the combination group was 94.34%(50/53),which was higher than that of the Ustekinumab group[73.58%(39/53)](P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of endotoxin,D-lactic acid and diamine oxidase in the combination group were all lower than those in the Ustekinumab group,while the levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD4+/CD8+and the scores of IBDQ were all higher than those in the Ustekinumab group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the total incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion The clinical efficacy of Ustekinumab combined with fecal microbiota transplantation is remarkable in the treatment of IBD.It can effectively alleviate intestinal mucosal injury,promote the recovery of intestinal mucosal barrier function,improve the intestinal microbial environment,enhance the immune function of patients,effectively control the progression of the disease,and has high safety.
5.Characteristics and related factors of quality of life in college students
Hongyu SU ; Jie REN ; Nana XIONG ; Qi LIU
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2025;39(4):378-384
Objective:To assess the quality of life in college students and to explore its related factors.Met-hods:A sample of 1 423 college students were recruited and assessed with the short form Quality of Life Scale-12(SF-12),Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9),Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7(GAD-7),Insomnia Severity Index(ISI),Somatic Symptom Scale-8(SSS-8),Sick,Control,One,Fat and Food(SCOFF),Perceived Stress Scale(PSS-10),and Brief Version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale(DERS-16)to evaluate quality of life,depressive,anxiety,insomnia severity,somatic symptoms,eating disorders,stress perception,and emotion regulation abilities,respectively.A self-made self-injury risk screening questionnaire was used to screen self-harm thoughts and behaviors.Results:In the sample,the rates of college students with SF-12 mental and physical quality of life scores below 50 were 81.7%and 47.8%,respectively.Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was a positive association between family per capita monthly income and SF-12 mental quality of life scores(β=0.04,P<0.05),while PSS-10(β=-0.27,P<0.001),PHQ-9(β=-0.25,P<0.001),DERS-16(β=-0.23,P<0.001),and GAD-7(β=-0.11,P<0.001)scores were negatively associated with SF-12 mental quality of life scores.The SSS-8 scores were negatively associated with SF-12 physical quality of life scores(β=-0.45,P<0.001).Conclusion:The study shows that a higher percentage of college students have a lower quality of life;the higher the levels of perceived stress,depression,emotional regulation difficulties,and anxiety,the lower the mental quality of life,and the more severe the physical discomfort symptoms,the lower the physical quality of life.
6.Effects of age and postoperative atrial fibrillation on heart rate variability in patients after aortic valve replacement
Nana QIN ; Wenjun WU ; Yan ZHU ; Wenpu REN ; Fangxu LIU
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2025;27(4):454-458
Objective To explore the perioperative trend of heart rate variability(HRV)in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement(AVR)under cardiopulmonary bypass and investigate the influence of age and/or postoperative atrial fibrillation(POAF)on this trend.Methods Baseline and clinical data of 134 patients undergoing AVR due to aortic valve disease in Department of Car-diovascular Surgery of Northern Theater General Hospital of PLA from January 2021 to January 2023 were collected and retrospectively studied.According to the age and/or POAF,they were divided into group A(aged<60 years,no POAF,49 cases),group B(aged<60 years,complicated with POAF,21 cases),group C(aged≥60 years,no POAF,30 cases)and group D(aged≥60 years,with POAF,34 cases).The dynamic electrocardiogram indicators were collected in 7 d be-fore and 7 d after operation.The changes in perioperative HRV were also observed.Results After operation,the standard deviation of sinus heart beat RR intervals,average of the standard devia-tions of NN intervals for each 5 min segment of a 24 h HRV recording(SDNNidx),root mean square of successive RR interval differences,and percentage of successive RR intervals that differ by more than 50 ms were significantly lower than those in 7 d before operation[61.172±17.449 ms vs 804.567±230.518 ms,20.284±9.432 ms vs 42.933±12.876 ms,1.307±0.196 ms vs 1.412±0.148 ms,3.00(1.30,7.23)ms vs 5.30(3.00,10.40)ms,P<0.01].The group D had obvi-ously lower SDNNidx than the group A in 7 d after surgery(42.568±14.749 ms vs 46.467±11.754 ms,P<0.05).Conclusion Autonomic dysfunction is observed in the early stage after AVR.For the patients aged≥60 years with POAF,the HRV indicators are significantly decreased,the dys-function of the vagus nerve is aggravated,and the disorder is exacerbated because of their syner-gistic effect.
7.Clinical application and outcomes of natural cycle and modified natural cycle IVF for individualized assisted reproduction among patients with DOR
Jiaxin LYU ; Wei GUO ; Nana LIU ; Tian TIAN ; Lixue CHEN ; Xiumei ZHEN ; Rong LI ; Rui YANG ; Jie QIAO
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2025;45(9):902-909
Objective:To investigate the outcomes of natural cycle (NC) and modified natural cycle (MNC) assisted reproductive technology (ART) in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), and to provide a scientific basis for individualized treatment strategies for DOR patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on the clinical data of DOR patients who underwent ART at the Center for Reproductive Medicine of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2023. Patients were divided into the NC group ( n=801) and the MNC group ( n=385) based on their treatment protocol. The primary outcomes were cycle cancellation rate and oocyte retrieval rate. Secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate per fresh embryo transfer cycle and frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycle, cumulative pregnancy rate and cumulative live birth rate per started cycle and per transfer cycle, as well as laboratory parameters such as the number of retrieved oocytes, the number of two pronuclei (2PN) fertilized oocytes, the number of transferable embryos, and transferable embryo formation rate. Further, multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of the treatment protocol on pregnancy and live birth outcomes. Results:There were no statistically significant differences between the NC and MNC groups in terms of general characteristics such as age, body mass index, and baseline hormone levels (all P>0.05). The cycle cancellation rate was significantly higher in the NC group [19.10% (153/801)] than in the MNC group [10.65% (41/385), P<0.001], and the oocyte retrieval rate was significantly lower in the NC group [66.31% (431/650)] than in the MNC group [74.86% (259/346), P=0.005]. The number of retrieved oocytes [1 (0,1)], the number of 2PN fertilized oocytes [1 (0,1)], and the number of transferable embryos [0 (0, 1)] were also significantly lower in the NC group than in the MNC group [1 (1, 2), P<0.001; 1 (1, 1), P<0.001; 0 (0, 1), P<0.001]. However, there were no statistically significant differences in 2PN fertilization rate and transferable embryo formation rate between the NC and MNC groups (all P>0.05). In both fresh embryo transfer cycles and frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles, there were no statistically significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate between the NC and MNC groups (all P>0.05). The cumulative pregnancy rate per started cycle and transfer cycle, the cumulative live birth rate per started cycle and per transfer cycle were also not significantly different between the NC and MNC groups (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic analysis showed no significant association between NC and clinical pregnancy or live birth compared with MNC. Conclusion:While MNC to some extent reduced the cycle cancellation rate and improved oocyte retrieval rates compared with NC, it did not ultimately improve pregnancy outcomes in DOR patients.
8.Comparative analysis of social skills and problem behaviors between children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD
Li SONG ; Xiaoru JIANG ; Qin ZHOU ; Zenghe YUE ; Jiaxue LIU ; Ke XU ; Yuxin QIAN ; Nana QIU ; Jing XU ; Xiaoyan KE
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(4):316-322
Objective:To explore the characteristics of social skills and problem behaviors of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as the association with core symptoms.Methods:A total of 409 patients aged 5-18 years old with ASD or ADHD in the outpatient department of Nanjing Brain Hospital from 2023 to 2024, and 344 children and adolescents with typical development(TD) were recruited.All participants were matched in a ratio of 1∶1∶1 (ASD∶ADHD∶TD) according to gender and age, and 97 participants were included in each group for analysis.The Chinese version of the social skills improvement system rating scales(SSIS-RS-C) was used to evaluate social skills and problem behaviors, and autistic child behavior checklist(ABC), childhood autism rating scale(CARS), the Chinese version of the social communication questionnaire(SCQ) and the Chinese version of Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham, version Ⅳ scale-parent form(SNAP-Ⅳ) were used to evaluate the core symptoms of ASD and ADHD, respectively. SPSS 26.0 software was used to perform variance, Chi-square test, Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:The social skills score of ASD group was lower than ADHD group ((61.53±24.26) vs (80.89±15.19), P<0.05), while the problem behavior score of ASD group was higher than ADHD group ((38.82±11.92) vs (34.00±12.45), P<0.05). In ASD group, the scores of ABC, CARS and SCQ were negatively correlated with the score of social skills ( r=-0.26--0.55, P<0.05). In ADHD group, the total score and each subscale of SNAP-Ⅳ were positively correlated with the score of problem behavior ( r=0.25-0.65, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that empathy was a negative influencing factor of ASD ( B=-0.246, OR=0.782, P<0.05), and hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ASD ( B=0.589, OR=1.802, P<0.01), while only hyperactivity/inattention was a positive influencing factor of ADHD( B=0.779, OR=2.180, P<0.01). Conclusion:Children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD both have defects in social skills and problem behaviors, and these defects are associated with the core characteristics of their respective diseases.
9.Ac-SDKP antagonizes lung fibrosis through EGFR/STAT3 pathway in silicosis rats
Wenli LI ; Lu LIU ; Yi HE ; Nana YAO ; Haijing DENG ; Ye QIAN
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2025;43(10):721-727
Objective:To examine the regulatory effects of a potential antifibrotic tetrapeptide called N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) on the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in lung tissues with fibrosis induced by silicosis in rats. This study aims to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of Ac-SDKP in the prevention and treatment of fibrotic lung diseases associated with silicosis.Methods:In January 2024, disease targets and Ac-SDKP active ingredients were predicted through GeneCards (https://www.genecards.org) and OMIM (https://www.omim.org) databases. Using R 4.2.1 software, we identified overlapping targets between pulmonary fibrosis and AC-SDKP. Cytoscape 3.10.2 was employed to visualize interactions between active chemical components and these targets, followed by GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis using R 4.2.1. Forty healthy adult Wistar rats were selected to establish silicosis models through single-dose gavage with 50 mg/ml silica suspension (1. 0 ml per rat). The rats were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (4 weeks), silicosis model group (4 weeks), Ac-SDKP preventive treatment group (acquired via intraperitoneal injection of a micro-release pump containing Ac-SDKP [800 μg/ (kg·d) ] during modeling, maintained for 4 weeks), and Ac-SDKP anti-fibrosis treatment group (acquired via intraperitoneal injection of the same pump after 2 weeks of modeling, continued maintenance for 2 weeks). Each group contained 10 rats. The pathological changes in rat lung tissues were observed. Western blot technology was used to detect the protein expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transduction and activation transcription factor 3 (STAT 3), caspase 3, and caspase 8 in lung tissues. Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to assess the expressions of EGFR, STAT3, caspase 3, and caspase 8. Overall differences between groups were compared using one-way ANOVA.Results:Compared with the control group in the silicosis model, rats in the 4-week group exhibited significant fibrotic nodules. The lung tissues of these rats showed statistically significant increases in α-SMA, EGFR, STAT 3, Caspase 3, and Caspase 8 protein expression ( P<0.05). In contrast, the Ac-SDKP prevention and anti-fibrosis treatment group demonstrated markedly reduced expression levels of these proteins compared to the 4-week silicosis model group, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that brownish-yellow expression of EGFR, STAT3, Caspase3, and Caspase8 was significantly enhanced in silicotic nodules within the silicosis model group. Conversely, this brownish-yellow expression was notably decreased in the Ac-SDKP prevention and anti-fibrosis treatment group compared to the 4-week silicosis model group. Conclusion:Ac-SDKP may exert antifibrotic effects on the lungs of rats with silicosis by regulating the EGFR/STAT3 pathway.
10.Clinical characteristics of warfarin-related nephropathy: a retrospective case series study
Nana CHEN ; Wenqi LIU ; Junsheng LI ; Dequn GUO ; Guiling SUN ; Zhengrong LI
Adverse Drug Reactions Journal 2025;27(11):681-685
Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of warfarin-related nephropathy (WRN).Methods:Medical records of patients with WRN admitted to Linyi People′s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong Second Medical University from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024 were collected. The patients′ basic information (gender, age), warfarin medication details (indications, dosage, frequency, etc.), comorbidities, concomitant medication usage, international normalized ratio (INR) and serum creatinine (Scr) test results before and after the occurrence of WRN, as well as the clinical manifestations, interventions, and outcomes of WRN were extracted. The causal relationship between warfarin and renal dysfunction was evaluated according to the Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting and Monitoring Manual. The clinical data of patients were descriptively and statistically analyzed. Results:A total of 11 patients were entered in the analysis, including 7 males and 4 females; the age ranged from 49 to 85 years, with a median age of 70 years, and 9 cases were older than 60 years. The causality evaluation showed that 3 patients were definite and 8 patients were probable. All the 11 patients had at least one comorbidity, including 6 cases of heart failure, 6 cases of hypoproteinemia, 4 cases of chronic kidney disease, 3 cases of hypertension, 3 cases of pulmonary infection, and 1 case of diabetes. Seven patients were treated with warfarin combined with broad-spectrum antibiotics, 6 combined with diuretics, and 3 combined with renin angiotensin system blockers. The time from the highest INR to the highest Scr level was 0-6 days, with a median time of 2 days, and it was ≤2 days in 9 patients. Six patients had bleeding manifestations such as microscopic hematuria, melena, epistaxis, hematochezia, and skin ecchymosis. Among the 11 patients, 10 stopped warfarin immediately and 1 reduced dosage. All patients received different doses of vitamin K 1 according to the INR level. Among the 6 patients of bleeding, 4 received symptomatic treatments such as omeprazole, tranexamic acid, somatostatin, thrombin powder and octreotide, and 2 patients received hemodialysis due to high Scr level. One patient with severe anemia received blood transfusion. After 1-5 days of treatments (with a median time of 2 days), the INR in all patients decreased to <3.00, of which 5 patients continued to take warfarin, 1 changed warfarin to rivaroxaban, and 5 did not continue anticoagulation therapy. After 2 to 14 days of treatments, Scr in 8 patients recovered to the reference value range, and Scr in 3 patients was still at a high level, of which 1 patient died of unexplained cardiac arrest. Conclusions:WRN is a common adverse reaction of warfarin, with or without bleeding. After the occurrence of WRN, the drug should be stopped as soon as possible and symptomatic treatment should be given. The prognosis is generally good, but it may also lead to chronic kidney disease.

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