1.Effect of Bazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription on rats with liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride
Dandan LIAO ; Zhuotan WU ; Junwen GONG ; Zhiran XU ; Weisheng LUO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(8):1857-1865
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Bazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription on rats with liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), and to explore its mechanism of action against liver fibrosis. MethodsA total of 50 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, silybin group (43.19 mg/kg), and low-, middle-, and high-dose Bazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription groups (7.96, 15.93, and 31.86 g/kg, respectively). Subcutaneous injection of 40% CCl4-olive oil solution (twice a week for 8 consecutive weeks) was performed to establish a model of liver fibrosis. After successful modeling, the rats in the blank group and the model group were given normal saline by gavage, while those in the treatment groups were given the corresponding drug by gavage, once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe liver histopathological changes; an automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the serum levels of albumin (Alb), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT); ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen Ⅳ (Col-Ⅳ), procollagen Ⅲ N-terminal peptide (PⅢNP), and laminin (LN); Western blotting was used to measure the protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR) in liver tissue; RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of collagen Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in liver tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group had disrupted hepatic lobular structure, disordered arrangement of hepatic cell cords, hepatocyte fatty degeneration, severe inflammatory cell infiltration, and deposition of massive blue collagen fibers, as well as significant increases in the levels of AST, ALT, HA, LN, Col‑Ⅳ, and PⅢNP and a significant reduction in the level of Alb (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the silybin group and the three Bazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription groups had varying degrees of improvement in inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatocyte fatty degeneration, and collagen deposition in liver tissue, as well as significant reductions in the levels of AST, ALT, HA, LN, Col‑Ⅳ, and PⅢNP and a significant increase in the level of Alb (all P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the model group had significant increases in the protein expression levels of p‑PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, and p‑mTOR/mTOR and the mRNA expression levels of Col-I and α-SMA in liver tissue (all P<0.01); compared with the model group, the silybin group and the high- and middle-dose Bazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription groups had significant reductions in the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K (all P<0.01), and the silybin group and the three Bazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription groups had significant reductions in the protein expression levels of p-Akt/Akt and p-mTOR/mTOR and the mRNA expression levels of Col-Ⅰ and α-SMA in liver tissue (all P<0.01). ConclusionBazhen Lihe Kangxian prescription can improve CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats and alleviate liver injury, possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.
2.Assessments of ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma using enhanced MRI intratumoral and peritu-moral radiomics and clinical imaging features
Huiliang CAI ; Qianying ZHANG ; Ying HUANG ; Weisheng PENG ; Chengli WANG ; Cuiting YANG ; Na DENG ; Sizhu ZHANG ; Nina XU ; Xiaobing HAN
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(15):2311-2319
Objective To construct a model for predicting ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma using the intratumoral and peritumoral radiomic features of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(CEMRI)in the arterial phase as well as clinical imaging features.Methods A total of 120 patients pathologically diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)from January 2016 to December 2024 in No.910 Hospital of the Joint Logis-tics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into a training set(84 cases)and a test set(36 cases)in a ratio of 7∶3.ITK-SNAP software was used to delineate the global region of interest(ROI)of HCC on the arterial phase MR images.The ROIs of all patients were automatically expanded outward by 2 mm,and then the intratumoral ROI areas were eliminated to obtain the peritumoral ROI.With the help of PyRadiomics software,1 198 intratumoral and peritumoral radiomic features were extracted.Spearman correlation analysis,maximum relevance-minimum redundancy(mRMR),and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression were used to reduce the data dimension and select the best features.Then,a radiomics model of the logistic regression(LR)machine learning algorithm was constructed.A combined model including clinical imaging features and radiomics features was established.The area under the curve(AUC),accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),negative predictive value(NPV),calibration curve and decision curve analysis(DCA)were used to evaluate the efficacy of the intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features combined with clinical imaging features model in predicting ki-67 expression in hepatocellular car-cinoma.Results The intratumor model exhibited an efficacy in predicting the expression of ki-67 in hepatocellular carcinoma with AUC values of 0.817 and 0.787 in the training set and test set,respectively.The peritumoral model showed an efficacy with AUC values of 0.805 and 0.633 in the training set and test set,respectively.The intratumoral and peritumoral model demonstrated AUC values of 0.874 and 0.836 in the training set and test set,respectively.The combined model constructed by integrating the intratumoral and peritumoral model with clinical imaging features yielded AUC values of 0.877 and 0.849 in the training set and test set,respectively,indicating clinical imaging features improved the performance of the model.DCA showed that the combined models all had good clinical benefits,with the intratumoral and peritumoral model performing the best.Conclusion The intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics model based on CEMRI arterial phase combined with clinical imaging data can accurately predict the expression of ki-67 in hepatocellular carcinoma.This combined model yields the best clinical benefit.
3.Assessments of ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma using enhanced MRI intratumoral and peritu-moral radiomics and clinical imaging features
Huiliang CAI ; Qianying ZHANG ; Ying HUANG ; Weisheng PENG ; Chengli WANG ; Cuiting YANG ; Na DENG ; Sizhu ZHANG ; Nina XU ; Xiaobing HAN
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(15):2311-2319
Objective To construct a model for predicting ki-67 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma using the intratumoral and peritumoral radiomic features of contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(CEMRI)in the arterial phase as well as clinical imaging features.Methods A total of 120 patients pathologically diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)from January 2016 to December 2024 in No.910 Hospital of the Joint Logis-tics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army were retrospectively enrolled and randomly divided into a training set(84 cases)and a test set(36 cases)in a ratio of 7∶3.ITK-SNAP software was used to delineate the global region of interest(ROI)of HCC on the arterial phase MR images.The ROIs of all patients were automatically expanded outward by 2 mm,and then the intratumoral ROI areas were eliminated to obtain the peritumoral ROI.With the help of PyRadiomics software,1 198 intratumoral and peritumoral radiomic features were extracted.Spearman correlation analysis,maximum relevance-minimum redundancy(mRMR),and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression were used to reduce the data dimension and select the best features.Then,a radiomics model of the logistic regression(LR)machine learning algorithm was constructed.A combined model including clinical imaging features and radiomics features was established.The area under the curve(AUC),accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),negative predictive value(NPV),calibration curve and decision curve analysis(DCA)were used to evaluate the efficacy of the intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics features combined with clinical imaging features model in predicting ki-67 expression in hepatocellular car-cinoma.Results The intratumor model exhibited an efficacy in predicting the expression of ki-67 in hepatocellular carcinoma with AUC values of 0.817 and 0.787 in the training set and test set,respectively.The peritumoral model showed an efficacy with AUC values of 0.805 and 0.633 in the training set and test set,respectively.The intratumoral and peritumoral model demonstrated AUC values of 0.874 and 0.836 in the training set and test set,respectively.The combined model constructed by integrating the intratumoral and peritumoral model with clinical imaging features yielded AUC values of 0.877 and 0.849 in the training set and test set,respectively,indicating clinical imaging features improved the performance of the model.DCA showed that the combined models all had good clinical benefits,with the intratumoral and peritumoral model performing the best.Conclusion The intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics model based on CEMRI arterial phase combined with clinical imaging data can accurately predict the expression of ki-67 in hepatocellular carcinoma.This combined model yields the best clinical benefit.
4.Study on the Spectral Effect Relationship of Antioxidant Activity of Mori Folium
Mengwen LIU ; Qiaoling DENG ; Jing SHEN ; Xuanshi CHEN ; Hui XIAO ; Weisheng XU
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(3):387-391
Objective To determine the material basis of the antioxidant activity of Mori Folium by examining the spec-trum-effect relationship.Methods High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was utilized to establish the fingerprints of Mori Folium.The antioxidant activity of Mori Folium was assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical scavenging assay and other related indicators.The spectrum-effect relationship of antioxidation was analyzed using gray relational analysis,bivariate correlation analysis,and partial least squares regression analysis.Molecular docking techniques were employed to predict potential interaction targets.Results HPLC fingerprints for 13 batches of Mori Folium were established,and thirteen common peaks were marked,with similarities ranging from 0.932 to 0.998.Nine common peaks were identified by comparing them to reference substances.Differences in antioxidant activity were observed among the different batches of Mori Folium.Based on the analysis of the spectrum-effect relationship,chemical components such as chlorogenic acid,cryptochlorogenic acid,rutin,and iso-chlorogenic acid B were found to contribute significantly to the antioxidant activity.These components may exert their effects by binding to several antioxidant protein targets,such as XOD,NO-1,and PPAR-α.This implies that Mori Folium might exert its an-tioxidant action via multiple components and targets.Conclusions By integrating the fingerprint and antioxidant activity of Mori Folium,the contributions of individual components to its antioxidant activity were determined.This study provides an experi-mental basis for elucidating the substances responsible for the antioxidant activity of Mori Folium and for establishing quality con-trol methods.
5.Traditional Chinese medicine-facilitated redox-labile paclitaxel dimer nanoprodrug for efficient chemoimmunotherapy.
Fan LI ; Wenrui WANG ; Weisheng XU ; WanYing LI ; Yudi LU ; Rui WANG ; Zhonggui HE ; Zhihui FENG ; Jiabing TONG ; Zhenbao LI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(9):101348-101348
Various therapeuti modailities have been engineered for lung cancer treatment, but their clinic application is severely impeded by the poor therapy efficiency and immunosuppressive microenvironment. Herein, we fabricated a library of small molecule redox-labile nanoparticles (NPs) (i.e., diPTX-2C NPs, diPTX-2S NPs, and diPTX-2Se NPs) by the self-assembly of dimer paclitaxel (PTX) prodrug, and then utilized these NPs with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Qi-Yu-San-Long-Fang (Q) for effective chemoimmunotherapy on Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-bearing mice models. Under the high concentration of glutathione (GSH) and H2O2, diPTX-2Se NPs could specifically release PTX in cancer cells and exert a higher selectivity and toxicity than normal cells. In LLC tumor-bearing mice, oral administration of Q not only effectively downregulated programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression, but also remodeled the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment via the increase of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell proportion and the repolarization of M2 into M1 macrophages in tumor tissues, collectively achieving superior synergistic treatment outcomes in combination with intravenous PTX prodrug NPs. Besides, we found that the combination regimen also demonstrated excellent chemoimmunotherapeutic performances on low-dose small established tumor and high-dose large established tumor models. This study may shed light on the potent utilization of Chinese and Western-integrative strategy for efficient tumor chemoimmunotherapy.
6.Research progresses in gene therapy for hepatolenticular degeneration
Gui CHEN ; Haoyang ZHENG ; Fang LIU ; Jing YUAN ; Yuanhong XU ; Weisheng CHENG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(1):97-102
Hepatolenticular degeneration, also known as Wilson's disease, is a type of autosomal recessive genetic disorder of copper metabolism. The causative gene, ATP7B, is located on the long arm of chromosome 13 and encodes a P-type ATPase that is involved in copper transport. Pathogenic mutations in the ATP7B gene sequence lead to the diminished or lost function of the ATP7B protein, resulting in pathological copper deposition in organs such as the liver, brain, kidneys, and cornea. Currently, the treatment of Wilson's disease primarily involves oral medications to promote copper excretion or reduce copper absorption so as to alleviate the state of illness. However, pharmacological treatment has objective limitations, including the need for lifelong therapy and varying degrees of adverse drug reactions in some patients. Gene therapy can fully correct the genetic defect, restore ATP7B protein function, achieve a curative effect, and improve the patient's quality of life.
7.Study on the Spectral Effect Relationship of Antioxidant Activity of Mori Folium
Mengwen LIU ; Qiaoling DENG ; Jing SHEN ; Xuanshi CHEN ; Hui XIAO ; Weisheng XU
Herald of Medicine 2025;44(3):387-391
Objective To determine the material basis of the antioxidant activity of Mori Folium by examining the spec-trum-effect relationship.Methods High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)was utilized to establish the fingerprints of Mori Folium.The antioxidant activity of Mori Folium was assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)radical scavenging assay and other related indicators.The spectrum-effect relationship of antioxidation was analyzed using gray relational analysis,bivariate correlation analysis,and partial least squares regression analysis.Molecular docking techniques were employed to predict potential interaction targets.Results HPLC fingerprints for 13 batches of Mori Folium were established,and thirteen common peaks were marked,with similarities ranging from 0.932 to 0.998.Nine common peaks were identified by comparing them to reference substances.Differences in antioxidant activity were observed among the different batches of Mori Folium.Based on the analysis of the spectrum-effect relationship,chemical components such as chlorogenic acid,cryptochlorogenic acid,rutin,and iso-chlorogenic acid B were found to contribute significantly to the antioxidant activity.These components may exert their effects by binding to several antioxidant protein targets,such as XOD,NO-1,and PPAR-α.This implies that Mori Folium might exert its an-tioxidant action via multiple components and targets.Conclusions By integrating the fingerprint and antioxidant activity of Mori Folium,the contributions of individual components to its antioxidant activity were determined.This study provides an experi-mental basis for elucidating the substances responsible for the antioxidant activity of Mori Folium and for establishing quality con-trol methods.
8.Research progresses in gene therapy for hepatolenticular degeneration
Gui CHEN ; Haoyang ZHENG ; Fang LIU ; Jing YUAN ; Yuanhong XU ; Weisheng CHENG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(1):97-102
Hepatolenticular degeneration, also known as Wilson's disease, is a type of autosomal recessive genetic disorder of copper metabolism. The causative gene, ATP7B, is located on the long arm of chromosome 13 and encodes a P-type ATPase that is involved in copper transport. Pathogenic mutations in the ATP7B gene sequence lead to the diminished or lost function of the ATP7B protein, resulting in pathological copper deposition in organs such as the liver, brain, kidneys, and cornea. Currently, the treatment of Wilson's disease primarily involves oral medications to promote copper excretion or reduce copper absorption so as to alleviate the state of illness. However, pharmacological treatment has objective limitations, including the need for lifelong therapy and varying degrees of adverse drug reactions in some patients. Gene therapy can fully correct the genetic defect, restore ATP7B protein function, achieve a curative effect, and improve the patient's quality of life.
9.Progress of T1 Mapping and Its Application in Evaluating Myocardial Fibrosis
Dandan LI ; Qian WANG ; Jing XU ; Weisheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging 2024;32(9):966-971
T1 mapping is a widely-used magnetic resonance technology in recent years.By quantifying the T1 value and extracellular volume of myocardial tissue,T1 mapping can evaluate the cardiovascular diseases leading to myocardial fibrosis.The basic principle,scanning sequence and application of T1 mapping are reviewed in diseases leading to myocardial fibrosis,mainly including:myocardial infarction,hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,dilated cardiomyopathy,congenital heart disease,aortic stenosis,hypertensive heart disease,diabetic cardiomyopathy,uremic cardiomyopathy,heart failure with preserved ejection fraction,heart transplantation,etc.
10.Effects and mechanism of galangin on hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice
Lin ZHAO ; Zuowu XI ; Shasha XU ; Xubiao PAN ; Weisheng GUO
China Pharmacy 2024;35(18):2246-2251
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and mechanism of galangin (GAL) on hepatocyte apoptosis in rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ) based on the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. METHODS Taking male SD rats as the object, the OJ model was established by double ligation of common bile duct, and 48 rats with successful modeling were randomly separated into OJ model group (model group), low-dose GAL group (GAL-L group), high-dose GAL group (GAL-H group) and high-dose GAL+JAK2 activator colivelin group (GAL-H+ colivelin group), with 12 rats in each group; another 12 SD rats with laparotomy/abdominal closure without ligation were selected as sham operation group (sham group). Each administration group was given relevant medicine intragastrically and/or intraperitoneally, once a day, for 7 consecutive days. After the last medication, the morphology of liver tissue in rats was observed; the serum levels of total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alanine transaminase (ALT) and γ -glutamyltransferase (GGT), as well as the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in mail:guoweishengjcy@126.com liver tissue were detected. The apoptotic rate of liver tissue cells, the expression levels of signaling pathway-related proteins (phosphorylated JAK2, JAK2, phosphorylated STAT3, STAT3) and apoptosis-related proteins [B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein (Bax)] were determined. RESULTS Compared with sham group, congestion of liver sinusoids, damage to liver lobules, disordered arrangement and swollen morphology of liver cells, the disappearance of nucleoli, and significant infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrous tissue proliferation were observed in model group; the serum levels of TBIL, DBIL, ALT and GGT, the level of MDA in liver tissue, the apoptosis rate of liver cells, the protein expression of Bax, and the protein phosphorylation levels of JAK2 and STAT3 in liver tissue of model group were increased significantly (P<0.05); the level of SOD and the protein expression of Bcl-2 in liver tissue were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the pathological injuries of liver tissue were relieved in GAL-L group and GAL-H group, all quantitative indicators had significantly improved, and the effect of GAL-H group was more significant (P< 0.05). Colivelin could significantly reverse the improvement effects of GAL on liver injury and related indicators of OJ rats (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS GAL may inhibit liver cell apoptosis in OJ rats, improve liver function and alleviate oxidant stress, the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

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