1.Pharmacological Effect of Berberine on Alzheimer's Disease: A Review
Xuejing WANG ; Guangcheng ZHONG ; Shuting LI ; Qian ZHANG ; Bojie LUO ; Qi WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):286-294
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a degenerative disease of the central nervous system, is characterized by progressive degradation of learning, memory, and cognitive functions. Currently, few drugs are available for treating AD, and their effects are limited. Berberine (BBR) is a natural isoquinoline (quaternary ammonium-like) with a wide range of pharmacological effects. Studies have proven that BBR has good potential in the treatment of AD. Specifically, BBR can inhibit the generation, aggregation, and neurotoxicity of amyloid-β and the hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein, promote the clearance of phosphorylated Tau protein, reduce the cholinesterase activity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress, regulate neuronal apoptosis, improve the mitochondrial function and glucose and lipid metabolism, suppress the monoamine oxidase activity, and modulate gut microbiota. In addition, researchers have ameliorated the low bioavailability of BBR. Probing into the potential targets is hoped to provide a reference for further research on the prevention and treatment of AD by BBR.
2.Treatment of Insomnia Using the Method of Resolving Depression and Regulating the Middle and Tranquillising Mind
Chengyun HU ; Jun ZHANG ; Qian GUO ; Shuting DU ; Zhihao LIN ; Bing GAO ; Hui HUANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(12):1277-1280
To summarise the clinical experience of treating insomnia with the method of resolving depression, regulating the middle, and tranquilising mind. It is believed that the key to the pathogenesis of insomnia lies in qi depression, disharmony of qi pivot, and disharmony of qi and blood, and the core treatment is to resolve depression, regulating the middle, and tranquilising mind. The self-prescribed Jieyu Anmian Formula (解郁安眠方) could be used as the basic treatment, then modified according to the performance of the patient and syndromes. For syndrome of liver depression restricting spleen, the treatment should soothe liver and invigorate spleen, resolve depression and regulate the middle; for syndrome of liver depression and phlegm coagulation, the treatment should resolve depression and phlegm, support the earth and free the wood; for syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire, the treatment should soothe liver and clear fire, resolve depression and dysphoria; for syndrome of qi stagnation and blood stasis, the treatment should activate blood and regulate the middle, resolve depression and tranquilise mind.
3.Active monitoring and analysis of hypoglycemia in hospitalized diabetic patients
Lu LIN ; Luchuan ZHAN ; Shuting ZHANG ; Yongjie LI ; Xiaojuan ZHANG ; Laiyou WANG ; Weihua LAI
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(8):1870-1876,1882
Objective To explore the active monitoring strategies for hypoglycemia in hospitalized dia-betic patients,as well as their clinical symptom characteristics and influencing factors.Methods A retrospec-tive search was conducted on all inpatients in a tertiary hospital in 2023.The hospital's electronic medical re-cord system was manually retrieved through the inpatient numbers of the patients.Adult inpatients with dia-betes who experienced hypoglycemia were included as the research subjects,and the general conditions and possible hypoglycemia-related risk factors were collected.Embed the hypoglycemic electronic trigger program in China Hospital Pharmacovigilance System(CHPS),reviewed the original medical records of patients with positive trigger triggering,and calculated the positive predictive value(PPV).Searched for the number of hy-poglycemic adverse reaction cases voluntarily reported by this hospital during the same period from National Adverse Reaction Monitoring System and compared with the actual number of hypoglycemic cases discovered.Patients with suspected drug-induced hypoglycemia were divided into the symptomatic group and the asymp-tomatic group based on whether they presented hypoglycemia-related symptoms.Multivariate logistic regres-sion analysis was applied to analyze the influencing factors.Results A total of 1 001 adult hospitalized diabet-ic patients with hypoglycemia were included in the study.Among them,725 cases were suspected of drug-in-duced hypoglycemia,and 495 cases were suspected of hypoglycemia caused by drug interactions.After manual review,131 cases of drug-induced hypoglycemia patients had clinical symptoms,and hypoglycemic adverse re-action events should be reported,PPV of this trigger for symptomatic hypoglycemia was 18.1%(131/725).However,the number of hypoglycemic adverse reactions spontaneously reported through National Adverse Reaction Monitoring System by this hospital during the same period was 4 cases,and the reporting rate was only 3.1%(4/131).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that aging and grade 2 hypoglycemia were risk factors for the occurrence of related symptoms in patients with suspected drug-induced hypoglycemia(P<0.05),while surgery,type 2 glucosuria,unclassified diabetes,and the use of insulin secretagogues were protective factors(P<0.05).Conclusion Drug-induced hypoglycemia dominates among hospitalized diabetic patients,and age,hypoglycemia grade,inpatient department using insulin secretagogues,diabetes diagnosis and classification are closely related to the occurrence of clinical hypoglycemia-related symptoms.Active monito-ring through CHPS can effectively increase the detection rate and reporting rate of hypoglycemic adverse e-vents in hospitalized diabetic patients.
4.Impact of smoking cessation on phenotype of high-resolution computed tomography and frequency of acute exacerbation in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Dongfang ZHAO ; Yafang ZHU ; Man XING ; Conghui PANG ; Junxia LIU ; Shuting ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(3):64-69
Objective To investigate the impact of smoking cessation on high-resolution compu-ted tomography(HRCT)phenotypes in smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)and its relationship with the frequency of acute exacerbations.Methods A retrospective study was conducted in 237 smokers with COPD who could cooperate with a 1-year follow-up.Among them,160 patients underwent a comprehensive 1-year smoking cessation intervention,and were divided into smoking cessation failure group(87 patients)and smoking cessation success group(73 patients)based on whether they successfully quited smoking.The remaining 77 smokers with COPD who did not receive smoking cessation intervention were designated as smoking group.HRCT phenotypes,total lung volume(TLV),total emphysema volume(TEV),emphysema index(EI)and the number of acute exacerbation at different time points were compared among the three groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between smoking cessation and the number of acute exac-erbations.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of A phenotype patients among the three groups before intervention and at 3 and 6 months of intervention(P>0.05).At the 9th and 12th months of intervention,the proportion of patients with A phenotype in the smoking group was lower than that in the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group(P<0.05).Before the intervention and at the 3rd,6th and 9th months of interven-tion,there were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients with E phenotype among the three groups(P>0.05).Before intervention and at the 3rd and 6th months of interven-tion,there were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients with M phenotype among the three groups(P>0.05).At the 9th and 12th months of intervention,the proportion of patients with M phenotype in the smoking group was higher than that in the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group(P<0.05).Before intervention,there were no statisti-cally significant differences in TLV,TEV and EI among the three groups(P>0.05).One year af-ter the intervention,TLV,TEV and El in the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group were lower than those in the smoking group(P<0.05).At the 3rd,6th,9th and 12th months of intervention,the number of acute exacerbations in the the smoking cessation failure group and smoking cessation success group was less than that in the smoking group(P<0.05).At the 9th and 12th months of intervention,the number of acute exacerbation in the smoking cessation success group was less than that in the smoking cessation failure group(P<0.05).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that smoking cessation was negatively correlated with the number of acute exacerbation in smokers with COPD(P<0.05),and this negative correlation gradually in-creased with the extension of smoking cessation duration.Conclusion Smoking cessation can im-prove HRCT phenotypes and effectively reduce the number of acute exacerbation in smokers with COPD.
5.Differentiation effect of gastric stem cells in ethanol-induced gastric mucous injury in mice
Linli ZHANG ; Shuting TIAN ; Ruixi LIU ; Li LIU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2025;39(6):444-452
OBJECTIVE To study the effects of ethanol on markers of gastric stem cells and epithe-lial cells,and explore the related signal pathways for stem cells differentiation in a mouse gastric mucous injury model.METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control and ethanol groups.The mice in the control group were given normal drinking water while those in the ethanol group were gavaged with 10 ml·kg-1 50%(V/V)ethanol on day 1,and drinking water containing 10%(V/V)ethanol was given on day 2-9.On the 10th day,stomach tissues were collected.HE staining was used to detect pathological changes in the stomach.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)staining was used to detect changes of such cell markers as mucin 5AC,H+/K+ATPase β and pepsin C.Immunofluorescence(IF)staining was employed to analyze changes in expression of cell markers such as H+/K+ATPase β,pepsin C and gastrin.ELISA assay was used to measure gastrin,somatostatin and interleukin 1β(IL-1β)concentrations in gastric tissue homogenates.Flow cytometry was adopted to measure the number of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 positive(LGR5+)stem cells in gastric glands.Organoids was constructed to characterize stem cell activity.RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to analyze the inflammatory pathways and differentiation signaling pathways during mice gastric mucous injury.RESULTS H&E results showed multifocal necrosis of the mucosal layer appeared in the ethanol group,accompanied by pyknosis,lysis and detachment of mucosal epithelial cells and gastric gland cells.IHC results showed decreased expressions of mucin 5AC and increased expressions of H+/K+ATPase β and pepsin C.IF results revealed increased expressions of H+/K+ATPase β,pepsin C,and gastrin after ethanol treatment.ELISA results demonstrated significant increases in gastrin,somatostatin and IL-1β levels in gastric tissues of the ethanol group.Flow assay results suggested that the number of LGR5+stem cells significantly decreased in ethanol treated gastric tissues.Stem cells from stomach tissues treated with ethanol did not grow into organoids.RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analyses revealed enrichment of TNF,NF-κB and Notch pathways in the ethanol group.CONCLUSION Administration of 50%ethanol solution on day 1,followed by continuous admin-istration of 10%ethanol solution on day 2-9 can induce histopathological injury to the gastric gland and stem cells,and an increase in epithelial cells.These changes may be related to the up-regulation of inflammatory pathways and Notch signaling pathways triggered by ethanol.
6.Effect of Yijinjing on Muscle Strength and Chronic Inflammation in Elderly Patients with Sarcopenia
Tao ZHANG ; Tianyi MA ; Li LUO ; Shuting LIU ; Yufei CHU ; Guoqiang LIANG ; Lei FANG ; Guodong ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(3):399-404
OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of Yijinjing in the treatment of elderly sarcopenia and its effect on chro-nic inflammatory response in patients,and to explore the Yijinjing exercise prescription suitable for elderly patients with sarcopenia.METHODS A total of 120 elderly patients with sarcopenia admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine,Suzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2022 to September 2024 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and a Yijinjing group,with 60 cases in each group.The control group received health education and dietary guidance,and the Yijinjing group received Yijinjing exercises on the basis of the intervention of the control group.The changes in skeletal muscle mass,upper and lower limb muscle strength,muscle thickness,muscle cross-sectional area,physical fitness and chronic inflammation level were observed in the two groups before and after the intervention.RESULTS After intervention,the skeletal muscle mass,grip strength,30 s sit-stand test times,rectus femoris thickness and cross-sectional area,vastus intermedius thickness,and physical fit-ness assessment of the patients in the Yijinjing group were significantly increased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the indicators after intervention were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05);the serum TNF-α and IL-18 levels in the Yi-jinjing group were significantly decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the indicators after intervention were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant change in the biceps brachii thickness and serum IL-6 level in the Yijinjing group compared with those before treatment(P>0.05);there was no significant correlation between the bi-ceps brachii thickness and grip strength after Yijinjing intervention,r=0.139 8,P>0.05;there was a significant negative correlation between the TNF-α level and grip strength after Yijinjing intervention,r=-0.313 8,P<0.05.CONCLUSION Yijinjing exercises can improve muscle mass and strength in elderly patients with sarcopenia,and improve the physical fitness of patients,which may be related to improving the chronic inflammatory state of the body.
7.Lingguizhugan Decoction improves chronic heart failure by synergistically modulating ?1-AR/Gs/GRKs/?-arrestin signaling bias.
Shuting GUO ; Lei XIA ; Songru YANG ; Yueyang LIANG ; Xiaoli SHAN ; Pei ZHAO ; Wei GUO ; Chen ZHANG ; Ming XU ; Ning SUN ; Rong LU ; Huihua CHEN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(5):560-571
Lingguizhugan Decoction (LGZG) demonstrates significant efficacy in treating various cardiovascular diseases clinically, yet its precise mechanism of action remains elusive. This study aimed to elucidate the potential mechanisms and effects of LGZG on isoproterenol (ISO) continuous stimulation-induced chronic heart failure (CHF) in mice, providing direct experimental evidence for further clinical applications. In vivo, continuous ISO infusion was administered to mice, and ventricular myocytes were utilized to explore LGZG?s potential mechanism of action on the ?1-adrenergic receptor (?1-AR)/Gs/G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs)/?-arrestin signaling deflection system in the heart. The findings reveal that LGZG significantly reduced the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of hypertrophy-related biomarkers [atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)] and improved cardiac remodeling and left ventricular diastolic function in mice with ISO-induced CHF. Furthermore, LGZG inhibited the overactivation of Gs/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling and downregulated the downstream transcriptional activity of cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression of the coactivator CBP/P300. Notably, LGZG downregulated the expression of ?-arrestin1 and GRK 2/3/5 while upregulating the expression of ?1-AR and ?-arrestin2. These results suggest that LGZG inhibits Gs/cAMP/PKA signaling and ?-arrestin/GRK-mediated desensitization and internalization of ?1-AR, potentially exerting cardioprotective effects through the synergistic regulation of the ?1-AR/Gs/GRKs/?-arrestin signaling deflection system via multiple pathways.
Animals
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Heart Failure/genetics*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Mice
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Male
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G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases/genetics*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Humans
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Isoproterenol
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Arrestins/genetics*
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Chronic Disease
8.Two sample Mendelian randomization study on causal relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 and colorectal cancer
Huaxia MU ; Weixiao BU ; Shuting DING ; Mengyao GAO ; Weiqiang SU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Qifu BO ; Feng LIU ; Fuyan SHI ; Qinghua WANG ; Yujia KONG ; Suzhen WANG
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(2):479-485
Objective:To explore the causal association between insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)and colorectal cancer(CRC)based on two sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods:A bidirectional two sample MR analysis was conducted based on publicly aggregated data from the IEU OpenGWAS project.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the main analysis model to assess the causal relationship between IGF-1 and CRC.Additional analyses were performed using weighted median(WM),MR-Egger regression,weighted mode estimator(WME),and simple mode(SM)methods.Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the results.Results:A total of 386 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were selected as instrumental variables(IVs)with IGF-1 as the exposure factor.The MR analysis results revealed a positive causal association between IGF-1 and the risk of CRC[odds ratio(OR)=1.178,95%confidence interval(CI):1.092-1.272)](P<0.001),and the association remained significant after adjusting for height[OR(95%CI)=1.214(1.111,1.327)](P<0.001).Cochran's Q-test showed heterogeneity among the IVs(P<0.05),while the horizontal pleiotropy of IV was not detected by the MR-Egger regression(P>0.05).The leave-one-out analysis showed that the MR results were robust.Reverse MR analysis indicated no reverse causal relationship between IGF-1 and CRC[OR(95%CI):1.017(0.997,1.037)](P=0.103).Conclusion:There is a causal relationship between IGF-1 level and CRC,and elevated IGF-1 level could be a risk factor for CRC.
9.Application and prospects of intelligent medicine in the field of endocrine and metabolic diseases
Xinxin DENG ; Wenqian HAN ; Shuting ZHANG ; Qian XING
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(9):778-782
In recent years, with the rapid advancement of digital technologies, the application of intelligent medicine in the field of endocrine and metabolic diseases has been continuously expanding. This review focuses on the latest progress in intelligent medicine within this domain, aiming to provide valuable insights and references for promoting the integration of intelligent medicine with the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine and metabolic diseases.
10.Molecular epidemiological characteristics of GII.3P12 norovirus outbreaks in China, 2022-2023
Lijiao CAO ; Yanhui YANG ; Shuting YANG ; Qing ZHANG ; Xiangyu KONG ; Hong WANG ; Miao JIN ; Zhaojun DUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2025;39(1):27-33
Objective:To understand the molecular evolutionary characteristics of the recombinant strain GII.3[P12] of norovirus acute gastroenteritis outbreaks and aggregated outbreaks in China from 2022 to 2023.Methods:Epidemiological information, case information, clinical samples, as well as detection and genotyping information of norovirus outbreaks and aggregated outbreaks from 2022 to 2023 were collected; positive samples of the GII.3[P12] recombinant strain were subjected to nucleic acid extraction, whole-genome amplification, and sequence analysis; and homology simulation method were used to construct a three-dimensional structure and predict antigenic epitopes.Results:From January 2022 to December 2023, a total of 1 136 norovirus outbreaks and aggregated outbreaks were reported in China′s norovirus outbreak surveillance network, and genotyping result were successfully obtained for 942 outbreaks, with GII dominating, accounting for 76.0% (716/942), and the proportion of GI and mixed genotypes being 15.8% (149/942) and 8.2% (77/942). Norovirus outbreaks caused by GII were dominated by GII.3[P12] (22.5%, 161/716), while other major genotypes included GII.17[P17] (18.7%, 134/716), GII.4_Sydney 2012[P16] (11.6%, 83/716) and GII.6[P7] ( 11.3%, 81/716). 2022-2023 Outbreaks caused by GII.3[P12] were concentrated in February-March (54.0%, 87/161), with the main outbreaks occurring in nursery and primary schools (87.5%), the mode of transmission was mainly human-to-human (68.9%), and the main susceptible population was children aged 3-7 years (93.3%). In this study, the genome sequences of 25 GII.3[P12] recombinant strains were obtained, and according to the phylogenetic analysis, it was shown that the GII.3[P12] recombinant strains in China in 2022-2023 belonged to the Cluster IV cluster of sublineage b (7 strains) and sublineage c (18 strains). A total of 11 linear and 8 conformational epitopes were predicted by epitope prediction analysis, and the predicted linear and conformational epitopes had overlapping positions, and each conformational epitope was part of the predicted linear epitope with conserved potential antigen-binding and receptor-binding sites.Conclusions:The recombinant strain GII.3[P12] is one of the epidemic strains that will cause outbreaks and clusters of norovirus in China in 2022-2023, and its genome did not undergo significant mutation.

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