1.Dynamic Pathogenesis and Tiered Intervention Strategies for Allergic Diseases from the Perspective of "Latent Pathogens with Transformative Potential" Theory
Minye QU ; Ping ZHU ; Kaifeng WEI ; Yanliang ZHANG ; Haitong WAN ; Jin YANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(4):375-380
Allergic diseases exhibited the characteristics of latent concealment and dynamic transmutation, which highly align with the pathogenic features of "latency and transformative change" described in the theory of latent pathogens. Based on the "latent pathogens with transformative potential" theory, this paper systematically explored the mechanisms of occurrence, transmission, and outcome of allergic diseases. It proposed that the insufficiency of kidney essence is the root cause enabling pathogens to lurk internally, leading to disease onset due to deficient healthy qi and lurking pathogens; the dysfunction of sanjiao serves as the pathway for pathogen stagnation, driving multi-system transmission; the accumulation of phlegm, stasis, and toxins constitutes the predicament of a protracted course, ultimately resulting in intractable pathological entanglement. Accordingly, a tiered intervention strategy is formulated,i.e. during the latency period, treatment should tonify the kidney and replenish essence to consolidate the foundation and halt the tendency of pathogens to lurk internally; during the transmission period, treatment should regulate sanjiao to intercept disease transmission and curb multi-system proliferation; during the protracted period, treatment should purge phlegm and resolve stasis to eliminate stubborn lesions, and break the vicious cycle of chronic accumulation and damage.
2.Preparation of Triptolide-Chuanxiong Rhizoma Extract Ethanol Transfersomes and Analysis on Its in Vitro Anti-inflammatory Mechanism
Ling TAO ; Zhiyan WAN ; Yidan LIU ; Zhe LI ; Zhenzhong ZANG ; Weifeng ZHU ; Yongmei GUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):210-218
ObjectiveTo prepare triptolide-Chuanxiong Rhizoma extract ethanol transfersomes(TP-CX@TESs), conduct its quality evaluation, and investigate its in vitro anti-inflammatory efficacy and the underlying mechanisms. MethodsTP-CX@TESs was prepared via the ultrasonic injection method. With encapsulation efficiency and particle size as evaluation indicators, Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology(BBD-RSM) was employed to optimize the formulation process. The TP-CX@TESs prepared under the optimal process was characterized and evaluated for in vitro transdermal performance. A lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was established. After 24 h of drug intervention, the levels of inflammatory factors such as nitric oxide(NO), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the cell supernatant were detected. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of Janus kinase 2(JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7nAChR), and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, the encoding gene of α7nAChR(CHRNA7), and nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB). ResultsResults of BBD-RSM showed that the optimal formulation for preparing TP-CX@TESs was as follows:egg yolk lecithin content of 2.3%, ethanol volume fraction of 30%, and ratio of polysorbate-80 to egg yolk lecithin of 2∶5. Microscopic characterization revealed that TP-CX@TESs exhibited a spherical-like structure with a particle size of (105.60±3.85) nm, a polydispersity index of 0.19±0.03, and a Zeta potential of (-15.89±0.98) mV. The encapsulation efficiencies of triptolide, ferulic acid, and ligustilide were (76.88±4.40)%, (78.84±4.40)%, and (65.88±0.06)%, respectively. Both in vitro release and transdermal penetration of triptolide, ferulic acid, and ligustilide in TP-CX@TESs all followed the first-order kinetic model, showing a certain sustained-release property. Experimental results in RAW264.7 cells indicated that TP-CX@TESs significantly inhibited the release of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6(P<0.01), remarkably upregulated the protein expression levels of STAT3 and α7nAChR(P<0.01), increased the mRNA expression level of CHRNA7, and significantly downregulated the mRNA expression level of NF-κB(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe optimized formulation process of TP-CX@TESs is simple and feasible, along with favorable in vitro release property, good transdermal permeability, and excellent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, the mechanism is related to the inhibition of NF-κB.
3.Preparation of Triptolide-Chuanxiong Rhizoma Extract Ethanol Transfersomes and Analysis on Its in Vitro Anti-inflammatory Mechanism
Ling TAO ; Zhiyan WAN ; Yidan LIU ; Zhe LI ; Zhenzhong ZANG ; Weifeng ZHU ; Yongmei GUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):210-218
ObjectiveTo prepare triptolide-Chuanxiong Rhizoma extract ethanol transfersomes(TP-CX@TESs), conduct its quality evaluation, and investigate its in vitro anti-inflammatory efficacy and the underlying mechanisms. MethodsTP-CX@TESs was prepared via the ultrasonic injection method. With encapsulation efficiency and particle size as evaluation indicators, Box-Behnken design-response surface methodology(BBD-RSM) was employed to optimize the formulation process. The TP-CX@TESs prepared under the optimal process was characterized and evaluated for in vitro transdermal performance. A lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was established. After 24 h of drug intervention, the levels of inflammatory factors such as nitric oxide(NO), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the cell supernatant were detected. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of Janus kinase 2(JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3), and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7nAChR), and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was applied to measure the mRNA expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, the encoding gene of α7nAChR(CHRNA7), and nuclear transcription factor-κB(NF-κB). ResultsResults of BBD-RSM showed that the optimal formulation for preparing TP-CX@TESs was as follows:egg yolk lecithin content of 2.3%, ethanol volume fraction of 30%, and ratio of polysorbate-80 to egg yolk lecithin of 2∶5. Microscopic characterization revealed that TP-CX@TESs exhibited a spherical-like structure with a particle size of (105.60±3.85) nm, a polydispersity index of 0.19±0.03, and a Zeta potential of (-15.89±0.98) mV. The encapsulation efficiencies of triptolide, ferulic acid, and ligustilide were (76.88±4.40)%, (78.84±4.40)%, and (65.88±0.06)%, respectively. Both in vitro release and transdermal penetration of triptolide, ferulic acid, and ligustilide in TP-CX@TESs all followed the first-order kinetic model, showing a certain sustained-release property. Experimental results in RAW264.7 cells indicated that TP-CX@TESs significantly inhibited the release of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6(P<0.01), remarkably upregulated the protein expression levels of STAT3 and α7nAChR(P<0.01), increased the mRNA expression level of CHRNA7, and significantly downregulated the mRNA expression level of NF-κB(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe optimized formulation process of TP-CX@TESs is simple and feasible, along with favorable in vitro release property, good transdermal permeability, and excellent in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, the mechanism is related to the inhibition of NF-κB.
4.Effects of Electro-Acupuncture Based on the Midnight-Noon Ebb-Low Method with Hour-Prescription on BMAL1 Protein and NETs Markers in Lung Tissue of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model Rats with Lung-Qi Deficiency Syndrome
Changtian JIAO-LI ; Nise Pantaleo SHIO ; Lianqing CAI ; Qingyao JIANG ; Siyu TANG ; Qianqian WAN ; Mengchen WAN ; Yuqi YE ; Jie ZHU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(13):1422-1430
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism underlying electroacupuncture therapy with the midnight-noon ebb-low method with hour-prescription for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with lung-qi deficiency syndrome from the perspective of brain and muscle basic helix-loop-helix ARNT-like 1 (BMAL1) as well as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). MethodsThe experiment was conducted in two phases. For the therapeutic effectiveness observation, 24 rats were randomly allocated into control group 1, model group 1, midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 and conventional electro-acupuncture group, with 6 rats per group. Rat models of COPD with lung-qi deficiency syndrome were established via cigarette smoke exposure combined with intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After successful modelling, rats in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 received electro-acupuncture at acupoints "Taiyuan (LU 9)", "Feishu (BL 13)" and "Zusanli (ST 36)" during 05:00—07:00, 30 minutes per treatment once every other day for 14 consecutive days (7 sessions in total). Rats in the conventional electro-acupuncture group received identical electroacupuncture manipulation at random daytime hours (08:00—18:00). Pulmonary function parameters including forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second (FEV0.3), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV0.3/FVC ratio were detected. Pulmonary histopathological changes were observed via hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as pulmonary reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, BMAL1 protein expression and the levels of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) biomarkers such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), neutrophil elastase (NE), and citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) in lung tissue were determined. For the mechanistic verification phase, 36 rats were divided into control group 2, model group 2, midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2, overexpression empty group, overexpression BMAL1 group and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group, with 6 rats in each group. At the 5th week of model construction, rats in the overexpression BMAL1 group and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group received intratracheal instillation of 100 μl adenoviral suspension carrying overexpressed Bmal1 gene. Rats in the overexpression empty group were injected with an equal titer and equal volume of blank adenovirus without the Bmal1 coding sequence into the lung at the identical time point. Midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2 and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group were consistent with the aforementioned protocol. Finally, pulmonary levels of MPO, NE and CitH3 were measured in all groups. ResultsCompared with the control group 1, the model group 1 exhibited decreased FEV0.3, FVC and FEV0.3/FVC ratio, elevated plasma IL-1β, TNF-α and pulmonary ROS levels, downregulated lung BMAL1 protein expression, and increased contents of MPO, NE and CitH3 (all P<0.05); typical NETs-like structures with sparse granular substances attached to fibrous networks were observed under scanning electron microscopy; HE staining revealed damaged alveolar architecture accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with model group 1, both the midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 and conventional electro-acupuncture group achieved obvious improvements in all above indicators, with superior therapeutic effects in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 (P<0.05). Consistently, midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 1 showed more prominent alleviation of NETs-like structure formation and lung pathological injury compared to the conventional electro-acupuncture group. Mechanistic validation results demonstrated that compared with model group 2, the average optical density of MPO as well as the protein levels of MPO, NE and CitH3 were markedly reduced in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2, overexpression BMAL1 group and overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group (P<0.05); furthermore, these parameters were significantly lower in the overexpression with midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group than in midnight-noon electro-acupuncture group 2 (P<0.05). ConclusionElectro-acupuncture based on the midnight-noon ebb-low method with hour-prescription may alleviate pulmonary inflammation in COPD by upregulating the expression of clock protein BMAL1 and inhibiting excessive accumulation of NETs in lung tissue.
5.Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Diabetic Retinopathy: From Pathogenesis to Therapeutic Targets
Xiao-Yan ZHU ; Tao JIN ; Yu ZHANG ; Lu-Lu LIAN ; Wan-Li DU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1849-1866
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most prevalent and vision-threatening microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, yet its pathogenesis extends far beyond vascular injury alone. As the retina is among the most energy-demanding tissues in the body, its neurons, glial cells, pigment epithelial cells, pericytes, and endothelial cells are highly dependent on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to maintain visual signal transduction, ionic homeostasis, and neurovascular integrity. This review summarizes current evidence indicating that mitochondrial dysfunction is not merely a downstream consequence of chronic hyperglycemia, but a central pathogenic hub that initiates, amplifies, and perpetuates retinal neurovascular degeneration in DR. Persistent hyperglycemia activates multiple abnormal metabolic pathways, including the polyol pathway, hexosamine pathway, protein kinase C signaling, advanced glycation end-product formation, and angiotensin II-related responses. Although these pathways differ mechanistically, they converge on excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, antioxidant depletion, and mitochondrial injury. Under diabetic stress, electron transport chain overload promotes mitochondrial ROS leakage, damages mitochondrial DNA, disrupts membrane potential, and impairs the transcription of key respiratory chain components. In parallel, mitochondrial quality-control systems become progressively compromised. The balance between fusion and fission shifts toward pathological fragmentation through reduced MFN1/2 and OPA1 activity and enhanced DRP1-mediated fission. Mitochondrial biogenesis is suppressed through inhibition of the AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM axis, while mitophagy changes from an early compensatory response to a later state of autophagic flux blockade and accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. Importantly, damaged mitochondria serve as signal amplifiers linking metabolic stress to inflammation and programmed cell death. Mitochondrial ROS, oxidized mitochondrial DNA, calcium overload, cardiolipin exposure, and membrane permeabilization activate interrelated death pathways, including intrinsic apoptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. Cytochrome C and apoptosis-inducing factor promote caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis; iron dyshomeostasis, glutathione depletion, GPX4 dysfunction, and lipid peroxidation drive ferroptosis; and mitochondrial danger signals activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and gasdermin-dependent pyroptosis. These pathways jointly damage the retinal neurovascular unit and contribute to pericyte loss, endothelial barrier breakdown, Müller cell dysfunction, retinal ganglion cell apoptosis, retinal pigment epithelial injury, and photoreceptor degeneration. This review also emphasizes the role of epigenetic regulation in stabilizing mitochondrial pathology. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs interact to silence mitochondrial protective genes, alter antioxidant responses, and maintain the “metabolic memory” of DR even after glycemic normalization. Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction should be understood as a dynamic, multidimensional network rather than a single pathological event. Current clinical approaches, such as laser photocoagulation, intravitreal anti-VEGF therapy, and vitrectomy, mainly target advanced vascular lesions and are limited by invasiveness, incomplete responsiveness, recurrence, and potential adverse effects. Therapeutically, strategies targeting mitochondrial ROS, restoring mitochondrial dynamics, enhancing biogenesis, regulating mitophagy, inhibiting inflammasome activation, correcting epigenetic abnormalities, and improving targeted delivery systems show promising potential. However, major translational barriers remain, including retinal cell heterogeneity, stage-specific mitochondrial responses, insufficient organelle-specific drug delivery, and long-term safety concerns. A deeper understanding of mitochondrial regulatory networks may support earlier, more precise, and multi-target interventions for preventing or slowing DR progression.
6.Surveillance of soil-transmitted nematodiasis in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2023
Juan ZHANG ; Wen LIN ; Hong ZHU ; Lun WAN ; Jia YI ; Dongni WU ; Jing XIA ; Li TANG
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2026;38(3):287-292
Objective To investigate the prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode human infections in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2023, so as to provide insights into formulation of soil-transmitted nematodiasis control strategies and evaluation of soil-transmitted nematodiasis control effectiveness. Methods There were 10 surveillance points established in Hubei Province for soil-transmitted nematodiasis each year from 2016 to 2023. The surveillance points were divided into eastern, western, southern, northern and central regions according to geographical locations, and one administrative village was sampled from a township in each region as a surveillance point. Then, at least 200 permanent residents at ages of over 3 years were randomly sampled at each point, with at least 1 000 individuals sampled. Soil-transmitted nematode infection was detected using a modified Kato-Katz thick smear method (two slides for one stool sample), and Enterobius vermicularis infection was additionally detected with a cellophane tape test among children at ages of 3 to 9 years. The prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode human infections was descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 80 547 individuals underwent surveillance for soil-transmitted nematodiasis in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2023, and a total of 262 individuals were detected with soil-transmitted nematode infections, including two cases with mixed infections, yielding an overall prevalence rate of 0.33% (262/80 547). The prevalence rates of hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and E. vermicularis infections were 0.02% (20/80 547), 0.07% (55/80 547), 0.02% (15/80 547) and 0.22% (174/80 547), respectively, appearing a parasite species-specific prevalence rate (χ2 = 250.235, P < 0.05), and the prevalence rates of soil-transmitted nematode infections were 0.50%(51/10271),0.37%(34/9120),0.39%(39/10099),0.40%(41/10168), 0.36% (37/10 234), 0.45% (46/10 211), 0.03% (3/10 238) and 0.11% (11/10 206) in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2023, respectively, showing a year-specific prevalence rate (χ2 = 60.589, P < 0.05). Soil-transmitted nematode infections were detected across 36 surveillance points, and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of soil-transmitted nematode infections among surveillance points (0.02% to 3.30%, P < 0.001). In addition, the differences in prevalence rates of human soil-transmitted nematode infection among different age groups (χ2 = 531.091, P < 0.05), occupations (P < 0.001), and education levels (P < 0.001) were all statistically significant. Among these, the children at ages of 3 to 9 years old (1.40%, 174/12 461), nursery-school children (1.69%, 90/5 312) and preschool-aged children (1.56%, 93/5 969) were relatively high. Conclusions The overall prevalence of soil-transmitted nematodiasis was low in Hubei Province from 2016 to 2023; however, the prevalence varied across regions and among populations, with E. vermicularis as the predominant species of soil-transmitted nematode. Soil-transmitted nematodiasis control should be given a high priority in key areas in Hubei Province, and preschool children, primary school students, and individuals with a low educational level are recommended as key target populations for health education and interventions.
7.Wall-broken ganoderma lucidum spore powder protects against DEN/CCl4-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in mice by modulating the Nrf2 pathway
Hai JIN ; Shuo WAN ; Qian LIU ; Siyu ZHAO ; Jing LI ; Jiaxing ZHU ; Jiaxing AN ; Feng JIN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(7):1176-1182
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of wall-broken ganoderma lucidum spore powder (GLS) on a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma and to explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsFifty 2-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into a control group, a model group and low, medium and high-dose GLS groups(0.25, 0.5, 1.0 g/kg ), with 10 mice in each group. A DEN/CCL4 mouse hepatocellular carcinoma model was established, and GLS was administered by gavage starting from the 8th week, once a day for 14 weeks. At the end of the final administration, the number of liver nodules was observed , and the serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The content of catalase (CAT) in serum and liver tissue was determined by ammonium molybdate method. The content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in serum and liver tissue was measured by microplate assay. The content of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in serum and liver tissue was detected by colorimetric method. Immunohistochemistry (IHC-P) was employed to detect the protein expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). R eal-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was utilized to detect the relative expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein 1 (Keap1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (Nqo1), heme oxygenase-1 (Ho-1) and glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) mRNA. ResultsCompared with the control group, the content of serum AFP were significantly higher in the model group (P<0.01), while the contents of CAT, GSH and GSH-PX in liver and serum were significantly lower in the model group (P<0.01). The relative expression of Keap1 and Nqo1 mRNA was significantly higher (P<0.01), the relative expression of Nrf2, Ho-1, Gclc mRNA relative expression was significantly lower (P<0.01), and the positive expression rate of PCNA was significantly higher (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the total number of liver nodules and content of serum AFP in the administered group were significantly lower (P<0.01), and the contents of CAT, GSH, and GSH-PX in the liver and serum of mice significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of Keap1 and Nqo1 mRNA significantly decreased (P<0.05). The expression of Nrf2, Ho-1 and Gclc mRNA significantly increased (P<0.05), and positive expression rate of PCNA significantly decreased (P<0.01). ConclusionGLS has a significant protective effect on DEN/CCL4 -induced mouse hepatocellular carcinoma model, and the mechanism of action is related to the regulation of oxidative stress in mouse liver.
8.Xuefu Zhuyu Mixture Ameliorates Myocardial Injury in Coronary Heart Disease Rats by Modulating TLR4/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Hao ZHU ; Lijuan HU ; Jing WAN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(10):2539-2548
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Xuefu Zhuyu Mixture(XFZY)in rats with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A CHD rat model was established.Successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into five groups(n=12 each):model group,Lipitor group,low-dose XFZY group(7.02 g·kg-1·d-1),high-dose XFZY group(14.04 g·kg-1·d-1),and high-dose XFZY+RS09[Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)agonist]group(14.04 g·kg-1·d-1 XFZY+intraperitoneal RS09),with an additional normal control group(n=12).After treatment,following treatment completion,all rats underwent echocardiography to assess left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVDd),end-systolic diameter(LVDs),ejection fraction(LVEF),and fractional shortening(FS).Myocardial histopathology and vascular remodeling indices were evaluated via hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,while myocardial fibrosis was examined using Masson's trichrome staining.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to quantify inflammatory cytokine levels[tumor necrosis factorα(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,and IL-6]in myocardial tissues.Immunohistochemical analysis determined protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bc12)and Caspase 3 in myocardial tissues.Western Blot was performed to measure myocardial protein expression levels of TLR4,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K),phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT),total AKT,phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR),and total mTOR.Results Compared with the normal group,rats in the model group exhibited severe myocardial tissue damage,along with significantly elevated collagen volume fraction,LVDs,LVDd,myocardial levels of IL-6,TNF-α and IL-1β,cardiomyocyte apoptosis ratio,aortic media thickness,and protein expression of Caspase 3,TLR4,PI3K,p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR in myocardial tissue(P<0.05).Conversely,LVEF,FS,aortic luminal diameter,and Bcl-2 protein content were significantly reduced,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).Compared to the model group,both low-and high-dose XFZY groups as well as the Lipitor group demonstrated attenuated myocardial lesions,with significant reductions in collagen volume fraction,LVDs,LVDd,myocardial IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β levels,cardiomyocyte apoptosis ratio,aortic media thickness,and protein expression of Caspase 3,TLR4,PI3K,p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR(P<0.05).Concurrently,LVEF,FS,aortic luminal diameter,and Bcl-2 protein content were significantly increased,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).No statistically significant differences were observed between the high-dose XFZY group and the Lipitor group for any aforementioned parameters(P>0.05).However,rats treated with high-dose XFZY plus RS09 showed aggravated myocardial injury with manifested interstitial fibrosis,alongside significantly intensified inflammatory response,cardiomyocyte apoptosis,and vascular remodeling compared to the high-dose XFZY alone group(all P<0.05).Conclusion XFZY alleviates CHD symptoms by suppressing TLR4/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation,thereby reducing myocardial inflammation,fibrosis,apoptosis,and vascular remodeling.
9.Identifying key factors of hypertension control using Bayesian networks in the 2021-2022 National Basic Public Health Service Project
Danying LI ; Xiaojing GUO ; Xiaolei ZHU ; Xiang SI ; Xiaochang ZHANG ; Xia WAN
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(7):926-932
Objective To explore factors affecting blood pressure control in chronic disease patients in China's na-tional basic public health service chronic disease patient management program and to find their relationships with Bayesian network(BN)model,in order to provide a scientific basis for comprehensive hypertension management.Methods 5 577 Hypertensive patients were selected from eight provinces(including autonomous regions)covering eastern,central and western parts of China during a survey from 2021 to 2022.Researchers collected individual and community-management data to screen influencing factors by Logistic regression,and to describe factor dependencies and to identify key determinants of blood pressure control with BN in.blood pressure control.Results Logistic regression revealed that urban/rural status,education,alcohol use,exercise,overweight/obesity and com-munity-doctor advice on salt reduction,smoking cessation were significantly associated with blood pressure control(P<0.05).The BN model identified 22 directed edges showing that urban residence and good hypertension knowl-edge were more correlated with better control,while community-doctor management and services directly affected patient lifestyle habits but not blood pressure control.Conclusions Research should focus more on urban-rural dis-parities and hypertension education.Additionally,improving patient habits and community-doctor services is essen-tial for better blood pressure control.
10.TRICHINELLA SPIRALIS NUCLEASE TS87 DEGRADES THE DNA BACKBONE OF MOUSE NEUTROPHILS EXTRACELLULAR TRAP
Ming-Ming ZHANG ; Yu-Wan HAO ; Yu-Li CHENG ; Jing-Jing HUANG ; Zhi-Hui JIA ; Xin-Ping ZHU
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(1):1-9,15
Objective This study aimed to investigate whether Trichinella spiralis Ts87 protein can facilitate immune evasion by degrading the mouse neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs).Methods First,we used bioinformatics tools to analyze the physicochemical properties of Ts87 and,through sequence homology alignment,confirmed its classification within the nuclease family.Molecular cloning and protein purification techniques were then employed to obtain high-purity Ts87 protein,and its nuclease activity was confirmed.Additionally,we compared the primary sequence of Ts87 with known active sites from human lysosomal DNase IIα and the structurally characterized Burkholderia thailandensis DNase II.This enabled us to predict potential active sites.Ts87 enzymatic mutants were generated using site-directed mutagenesis,and their functions were confirmed through enzymatic activity experiments.The extracellular nucleic acid content of mouse bone marrow neutrophils and the immunofluorescence staining of mouse NETs were assessed in vitro to verify whether the Ts87 protease mutants exhibited a decreased ability to degrade NETs.Finally,after immunizing mice with Ts87,calculated larvae burden and the degradation of NETs in vivo were observed by immunostaining the MPO and CitH3 expression in the intestinal NETs of the mice.Results High-purity Ts87 protein was successfully obtained and confirmed to possess nuclease activity,capable of degrading NETs in vitro.The Ts87 mutants exhibited reduced capacity in degrading NETs.In vivo experiments in mice demonstrated that the production of anti-Ts87 antibodies in immunized mice reduced the degradation of NETs,facilitating NET-mediated attack on the parasites and resulting in decreased larvae burden in the mice.Conclusions Trichinella spiralis can utilize Ts87 nuclease to evade capture by NETs,providing potential vaccine and drug targets for the prevention and treatment of trichinellosis.

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