1.Qijia Rougan Decoction Ameliorates Liver Fibrosis Through miRNA-mRNA Network
Yumei WANG ; Peijie WU ; Shaoxiu JI ; Han YU ; Xiaohong ZUO ; Xiaofeng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):84-90
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Qijia Rougan decoction ameliorates liver fibrosis through amino acid/fatty acid metabolic reprogramming and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, based on the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network and the interaction between metabolism and signaling pathways. MethodsSprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomized into four groups (n=8): control, model, and low-dose and high-dose (7.0, 28.0 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) Qijia Rougan decoction. Liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). From week 9, drug intervention was implemented for 7 weeks. After the final administration, the pathological changes in the liver were evaluated through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and picrosirius red (PSR) staining. An automated biochemical analyzer was used to measure the serum levels of biochemical indicators, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bile acid (TBA), albumin (ALB), and cholesterol (TC). High-throughput miRNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DemiRs) during liver fibrosis. A miRNA-mRNA interaction network was constructed to identify key targets, which were then subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. The expression levels of selected DemiRs were validated by Real-time PCR. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed marked hepatic lobular necrosis, increased collagen deposition, significant fibrosis, elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and TBA (P<0.01), and declined levels of ALB and TC (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Qijia Rougan decoction treatment reduced hepatic necrosis, collagen accumulation, and fibrosis, lowered the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, and TBA (P<0.01), and raised the levels of ALB and TC (P<0.01). Integrated miRNA-seq and RNA-seq analysis identified 31 DemiRs (6 upregulated and 25 downregulated) and 498 targets. The expression trends of four selected DemiRs, including rno-miRNA-376b-3p, were consistent with sequencing results (R2=0.93). Functional annotation revealed that top 20 upregulated targets were enriched in amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, while top 20 downregulated targets were significantly associated with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and cancer progression. ConclusionQijia Rougan decoction alleviates liver fibrosis by reconstructing the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, promoting metabolic reprogramming, and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These findings provide mechanism evidence supporting the multi-targeted antifibrotic effects of traditional Chinese medicine compound formulas.
2.Epidemiological characteristics and prevention strategies of gouty arthritis in Northwest China in 2023-2025
Ling FU ; Ning CUI ; Peijie XIA ; Nan ZHAO ; Aiqing PAN ; Xiaomin RAN ; Fei CHEN ; Kaiyue CAO
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(4):56-60
Objective To explore the epidemiological characteristics of gouty arthritis in Northwest China from 2023 to 2025, and to formulate preventive intervention measures. Methods By retrospectively analyzing the case data of medical institutions in Northwest China from January 2023 to June 2025 (a total of 8 139 cases), the incidence trend and population distribution characteristics of gouty arthritis in this area were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors. Results From 2023 to 2025, the prevalence rate of gouty arthritis in adult residents in Northwest China was 3.74% (304/8 139). Among the sites affected by gouty arthritis, the metatarsophalangeal joint accounted for the highest proportion (P<0.05). From the perspective of age distribution, the prevalence rate was the highest in 40-59 years old group (5.90%), followed by 66-80 years old group (4.21%) and >80 years old group (2.75%). The incidence rate in 40-65 years old group was higher than that in the other age groups (P<0.05). High blood uric acid and creatinine, alcohol drinking, obesity, high purine diet, concurrent chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome were risk factors affecting gouty arthritis in Northwest China (P<0.05). Conclusion High blood uric acid level, high creatinine level, alcohol drinking, obesity, high purine diet, concurrent chronic kidney disease and metabolic syndrome are risk factors influencing gouty arthritis in Northwest China. Based on the above factors, this study proposes comprehensive prevention strategies from the individual, community and public health levels to provide a scientific basis for reducing the incidence rate of gouty arthritis.
3.Phillygenin ameliorates tight junction proteins reduction, fibrosis, and apoptosis in mice with chronic colitis via TGR5-mediated PERK-eIF2α-Ca2+ pathway.
Huanhuan XUE ; Peijie LI ; Jing GUO ; Tinggui CHEN ; Shifei LI ; Liwei ZHANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):101042-101042
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, relapsing, and etiologically complicated chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Despite substantial progress in the management of UC, the outcomes of mucosal barrier repair are unsatisfactory. In this study, phillygenin (PHI) treatment alleviated the symptoms of chronic colitis in mice, including body weight loss, severe disease activity index scores, colon shortening, splenomegaly, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. In particular, PHI treatment ameliorated the tight junction proteins (TJs) reduction, fibrosis, apoptosis, and intestinal stem cell activity, indicating that PHI exerted beneficial effects on the intestinal mucosal barrier in mice with chronic colitis. In the NCM460 cells damage model, dextran sulfate sodium triggered the sequential induction of TJs reduction, fibrosis, and apoptosis. Takeda G protein-coupled receptor-5 (TGR5) dysfunction mediated NCM460 cell injury. Moreover, PHI treatment enhanced TJs and suppressed fibrosis and apoptosis to maintain NCM460 cell function, depending on TGR5 activation. PHI promoted TGR5 activation and elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in HEK 293T cells transfected with TGR5 expression plasmids. Cellular thermal shift assay and molecular docking studies confirmed that PHI directly binds to TGR5, indicating that PHI is an agonist of TGR5. The process of PERK-eIF2α pathway-mediated endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release was involved in NCM460 cell injury as well, which was associated with TGR5 dysfunction. When NCM460 cells were pretreated with PHI, the PERK-eIF2α pathway and elevated Ca2+ levels were blocked. In conclusion, our study demonstrated a novel mechanism that PHI inhibited the PERK-eIF2α-Ca2+ pathway through TGR5 activation to against DSS-induced TJs reduction, fibrosis, and apoptosis.
4.Phillygenin ameliorates tight junction proteins reduction,fibrosis,and apoptosis in mice with chronic colitis via TGR5-mediated PERK-eIF2α-Ca2+pathway
Huanhuan XUE ; Peijie LI ; Jing GUO ; Tinggui CHEN ; Shifei LI ; Liwei ZHANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):172-188
Ulcerative colitis(UC)is an idiopathic,relapsing,and etiologically complicated chronic inflammatory bowel disease.Despite substantial progress in the management of UC,the outcomes of mucosal barrier repair are unsatisfactory.In this study,phillygenin(PHI)treatment alleviated the symptoms of chronic colitis in mice,including body weight loss,severe disease activity index scores,colon shortening,splenomegaly,oxidative stress,and inflammatory response.In particular,PHI treatment ameliorated the tight junction proteins(TJs)reduction,fibrosis,apoptosis,and intestinal stem cell activity,indicating that PHI exerted beneficial effects on the intestinal mucosal barrier in mice with chronic colitis.In the NCM460 cells damage model,dextran sulfate sodium triggered the sequential induction of TJs reduction,fibrosis,and apoptosis.Takeda G protein-coupled receptor-5(TGR5)dysfunction mediated NCM460 cell injury.Moreover,PHI treatment enhanced TJs and suppressed fibrosis and apoptosis to maintain NCM460 cell function,depending on TGR5 activation.PHI promoted TGR5 activation and elevated intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels in HEK 293T cells transfected with TGR5 expression plasmids.Cellular thermal shift assay and molecular docking studies confirmed that PHI directly binds to TGR5,indicating that PHI is an agonist of TGR5.The process of PERK-eIF2α pathway-mediated endo-plasmic reticulum Ca2+release was involved in NCM460 cell injury as well,which was associated with TGR5 dysfunction.When NCM460 cells were pretreated with PHI,the PERK-eIF2α pathway and elevated Ca2+levels were blocked.In conclusion,our study demonstrated a novel mechanism that PHI inhibited the PERK-eIF2α-Ca2+pathway through TGR5 activation to against DSS-induced TJs reduction,fibrosis,and apoptosis.
5.Pathogenesis and treatment of neovascular glaucoma
Shangrui CHEN ; Mingying LAI ; Peijie LIN
International Eye Science 2024;24(10):1605-1609
Neovascular glaucoma is classified as a type of refractory glaucoma. Its pathological manifestation is the formation of neovascularization of iris and chamber angle, and then the formation of neovascularization membrane. The contraction and traction of neovascularization membrane make the iris and chamber angle adhesion close, which leads to the obstruction of aqueous humor outflow and the sharp increase of intraocular pressure. Excessive intraocular pressure not only causes severe headache and eye pain, but also damages the optic nerve and affects the patient's vision, which can lead to blindness. At present, there are many methods for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma, such as panretinal photocoagulation, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor, local or systemic administration of intraocular pressure lowering drugs and anti-glaucoma surgery. The aim is to reduce neovascularization, preserve visual function and improve symptoms as much as feasible. However, due to the complex pathogenesis and pathological changes of neovascular glaucoma, the treatment of neovascular glaucoma is more difficult than primary glaucoma, and the prognosis is worse. Understanding its pathogenesis and treatment methods can aid in selecting the most appropriate treatment strategy based on individual circumstances. Therefore, this review will summarize the pathogenesis and treatment of neovascular glaucoma.
6.Comparison of endoscopic therapy and TIPS in prophylaxis and treatment of variceal bleeding in decompensated portal hypertension
Mengying LIU ; Weizhi LI ; Peijie LI ; Fuquan MA ; Yuling CHEN ; Huanhuan SUN ; Tiantian GAO ; Hui XUE
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2023;39(7):1529-1534
Esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) is one of the main complications of decompensated portal hypertension, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis, and it often has a high mortality rate. Medication combined with endoscopy is the main prevention and treatment method for EGVB, while transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) combined with variceal embolization can also be selected for some high-risk patients, and individualized diagnosis and treatment of portal hypertension based on hepatic venous pressure gradient should become the latest consensus and the main strategy. This article mainly reviews endoscopic therapy and TIPS for the prevention and treatment of EGVB patients with decompensated portal hypertension in terms of selection of indications, incidence rate of complications, and respective advantages and disadvantages.
7.Risk factors for bone loss in ulcerative colitis patients and their relationship with fecal microbiota
Yan RAN ; Jie BAI ; Peijie LI ; Chen MI ; Yingchao LI
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2022;43(4):539-544
【Objective】 To study the incidence and risk factors of bone loss in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and understand the characteristics of fecal microbiota so as to provide new ideas for the mechanism and new treatment of bone loss in UC patients. 【Methods】 We chose adult UC patients from Department of Gastroenterology in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University as research subjects. We collected the patients’ related data and divided them into two groups. Then we analyzed the data to understand the incidence of and risk factors for bone loss in the UC patients. Furthermore, we collected the feces of the patients. Based on high-throughput sequencing technology, we analyzed the fecal microbiota’s diversity, species composition and metabolic pathways to understand the differences between the two groups. 【Results】 In the 24 UC patients, the incidence of bone loss was 62.5%. The incidence of bone loss was significantly higher in chronic relapsing UC patients than in initial patients, and the incidence of bone loss increased with the severity of UC. Serum calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in the normal group were significantly higher than those in the bone loss group. β diversity significantly differed and the species composition of fecal microbiota significantly differed at the levels of phylum, class, order, family and genus between the two groups. Compared with the normal group, the expression abundance of Shigellosis, Geraniol degradation, Steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways was significantly increased in the bone loss group. 【Conclusion】 There is a high incidence of bone loss in UC patients. The clinical type, disease severity, serum calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are related to bone loss in these patients. In the bone loss group, the diversity of fecal microbiota, especially the proportion of probiotics, is reduced, and the abundance of many disease-related metabolic pathways is significantly upregulated.
8.Phosphatidylethanolamine functionalized biomimetic monolith for immobilized artificial membrane chromatography
Peijie ZHU ; Weijia CHEN ; Qiqin WANG ; Huihui WU ; Meng RUAN ; Hongwu WANG ; Zhengjin JIANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2022;12(2):332-338
In this research,a new phospholipid based monolith was fabricated by in situ co-polymerization of 1-dodecanoyl-2-(11-methacrylamidoundecanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine and ethylene dimethacrylate to mimick bio-membrane environment.Excellent physicochemical properties of this novel monolith that were achieved included column efficiency,stability,and permeability.Moreover,the biomimetic monolith showed outstanding separation capability for a series of intact proteins and small molecules.In particular,it exhibited good potential as an alternative to the commercial immobilized artificial membrane(IAM)column(IAM.PC.DD2)for studying drug-membrane interactions.This study not only enriched the types of IAM stationary phases,but also provided a simple model for the prediction of phosphatidylethanolamine related properties of drug candidates.
9.Effect of deep learning image reconstruction algorithm on CT image quality and detectability of hypovascular hepatic metastases at low radiation dose levels
Nana LIU ; Peijie LYU ; Xing LIU ; Juan YU ; Luotong WANG ; Huixia WANG ; Pengchao ZHAN ; Yan CHEN ; Jianbo GAO
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2022;56(11):1175-1181
Objective:To investigate the efficiency of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm in the image quality and detection of hypovascular hepatic metastases under low radiation doses in comparison with adaptive statistical iterative construction-V (ASiR-V).Methods:Fifty-six patients with suspected hypovascular hepatic metastases who needed abdominal enhanced CT scans were collected prospectively in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to April 2021. The patients received conventional radiation dose with tube current-time products of 400 mA CT scans in the first venous phase, low-dose CT scans in the second venous phase, which were set as tube current-time products of 280 mA for group A (19 cases), 200 mA for group B (19 cases) and 120 mA for group C (18 case), respectively. The images of first venous phase and 3 groups of second venous phase were both reconstructed with ASiR-V60% and high-DLIR (DLIR-H). Quantitative parameters [image noise, liver and portal vein signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR)] and qualitative parameters (overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, diagnostic confidence) were compared between ASiR-V60% and DLIR-H images, and the effective radiation dose (ED) and the lesion detectability of each group was recorded. The paired t test was used to compare quantitative parameters, whereas the Wilcoxon signed-rank test of paired data was used to compare qualitative parameters. Results:In the second venous phase, ED was (5.56±0.35) mSv in group A, (3.88±0.23) mSv in group B, and (2.42±0.23) mSv in group C, with a decrease of 30%, 50% and 70% compared with the first venous phase, respectively. Moreover, with the decrease of radiation dose, the noise gradually increased, and the CNR lesions, SNR liver and SNR portal vein all gradually decreased. DLIR-H images had statistically better quantitative scores than ASiR-V60% images when the same radiation dose was applied (all P<0.001). Furthermore, the qualitative parameters of each group decreased with the decrease of radiation dose. Under the same radiation dose, the overall image quality, lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence of DLIR-H were higher than those of ASiR-V60% (all P<0.001). All lesions [100% (84/84)] were detected by ASIR-V60% and DLIR-H in group A, 92.0% (75/81) in group B, and 88.0% (79/89) in group C. Conclusions:Compared with ASiR-V60%, DLIR-H could reduce image noise, improve overall image quality and lesion conspicuity of hypovascular hepatic metastases as well as increase diagnostic confidence under different radiation doses.
10.Dental fluorosis of children aged 8-12 in diseased areas in Xi an City from 2014 to 2018
DONG Lu, YAO Peijie, LI Ping, SHI Xuehua, CHEN Wei, HE Shanshan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2021;42(1):120-123
Objective:
To evaluate the dynamic prevalence of dental fluorosis of children and levels of fluoride in drinking water after improvement of water in Xi an City, to provide scientific basis for water fluoridation improvement.
Methods:
A total of 35 fluorosis endemic villages were selected as fixed monitor sites in 2014-2018, the ways of water improvement were surveyed, water fluorine content were detected and the prevalence of dental fluorosis in children aged 8 to 12 years were examined.
Results:
Rates of excess fluoride in drinking water from 2014 to 2018 were 22.86%, 14.29%,11.43%, 11.43% and 8.57%, the difference were significant(χ2=16.44, P<0.01).The dental fluorosis detection rates of children aged 8 to 12 years were 20.89%,18.22%,17.46%,18.13% and 16.76% in 2014-2018 which showed a obvious descending trend by year(χ2=10.02, P<0.01). The detection rate of dental fluorosis in children aged 8 and 9 years showed a decreasing trend by year(χ2=6.53, 4.54, P<0.05).The difference of total rate of dental fluorisis,rate of mild cases rate of moderate-to-severe cases were statistically between the villages without qualified water and the villages with normal fluorine water(χ2=179.22, 167.93,10.35, P<0.01). The rate of detection in the villages with the water fluorine exceed standard in 2014-2018 showed a declining trend year by year(χ2=28.50, P<0.01). The detection rate were significant different across water improvement methods(χ2=197.76, P<0.01). Detection rate of dental fluorosis decreased from 2014 to 2018 in the areas with municipal water supply showed a decreasing after year(χ2=12.16, P<0.01).
Conclusion
The improvement of municipal water supply shows significant effects on water fluorosis control, the detection rate of water fluoride and children s dental fluorosis in some villages with the other ways of water improvement are still higher than expected, the continuously monitor of fluoride content in water and dental fluorosis in children should be strengthened.


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