1.Protective Effect of Xuebijing on Lung Injury in Rats with Severe Acute Pancreatitis by Blocking FPRs/NLRP3 Inflammatory Pathway
Guixian ZHANG ; Dawei LIU ; Xia LI ; Xijing LI ; Pengcheng SHI ; Zhiqiao FENG ; Jun CAI ; Wenhui ZONG ; Xiumei ZHAO ; Hongbin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):113-120
ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect of Xuebijing injection (XBJ) on severe acute pancreatitis induced acute lung injury (SAP-ALI) by regulating formyl peptide receptors (FPRs)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory pathway. MethodsSixty rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a SAP-ALI model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose XBJ groups (4, 8, and 12 mL·kg-1), and a positive drug (BOC2, 0.2 mg·kg-1) group. For the sham group, the pancreas of rats was only gently flipped after laparotomy, and then the abdomen was closed, while for the remaining five groups, SAP-ALI rat models were established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate (Na-Tc) via the biliopancreatic duct. XBJ and BOC2 were administered via intraperitoneal injection once daily for 3 d prior to modeling and 0.5 h after modeling. Blood was collected from the abdominal aorta 6 h after the completion of modeling, and the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in plasma was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The amount of ascites was measured, and the dry-wet weight ratios of pancreatic and lung tissue were determined. Pancreatic and lung tissue was taken for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe pathological changes and then scored. The protein expression levels of FPR1, FPR2, and NLRP3 in lung tissue were detected by the immunohistochemical method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of FPR1, FPR2, and NLRP3 in lung tissue. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of FPR1, FPR2, and NLRP3 in lung tissue. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the SAP-ALI model group showed significantly decreased dry-wet weight ratio of lung tissue (P<0.01), serious pathological changes of lung tissue, a significantly increased pathological score (P<0.01), and significantly increased protein and mRNA expression levels of FPR1, FPR2, and NLRP3 in lung tissue (P<0.01). After BOC2 intervention, the above detection indicators were significantly reversed (P<0.01). After treatment with XBJ, the groups of different XBJ doses achieved results consistent with BOC2 intervention. ConclusionXBJ can effectively improve the inflammatory response of the lungs in SAP-ALI rats and reduce damage. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of FPRs and NLRP3 in lung tissue, which thereby reduces IL-1β and simultaneously antagonize the release of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α.
2.Progress in animal model studies on chronic fatigue syndrome in military seafaring operations
Shuqi CAI ; Ying HE ; Wenhui WU ; Ruisang LIU ; Yunkai ZHANG ; Yong JIAO ; Xiaomeng REN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(3):373-378
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a common problem in military maritime navigation, which greatly affects the safety of military missions. The use of animal models to carry out research on the mechanism of CFS and treatment measures is a common method. This paper systematically introduced the construction methods of CFS models such as single-factor and multi-factor models, summarized common evaluation indicators of CFS, including behavioral and biochemical indicators, and summed up key characteristics of CFS animal models in military oceanic navigation combined with common causes of CFS in military contexts, such as prolonged continuous work, high-intensity physical activity, sleep deprivation, psychological stress, and extreme environmental conditions. The key characteristics of the animal models included, but not limited to, chronic fatigue, sleep disorders, impaired cognitive function, psychological stress responses, and abnormal biochemical indicators. Furthermore, this article identified future research directions for CFS animal models in military oceanic navigation to enhance the application value of the models and provide robust support for the health protection and disease prevention of military personnel.
3.Analysis of the current situation of retinopathy of prematurity in Xiamen region and its influencing factors
Shuangshuang YE ; Wenhui LI ; Baozhu XU ; Tingyu GU ; Ruirui SUN ; Hexie CAI
International Eye Science 2025;25(7):1195-1200
AIM: To investigate the current status of retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)in premature infants in Xiamen and analyze its influencing factors, aiming to provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment and preventive strategies.METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on the case data of 363 preterm infants with a gestational age of <32 wk who underwent fundus examination at Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University from February 11, 2020 to February 25, 2023. The incidence of ROP was statistically analyzed based on the screening results. All premature infants were divided into ROP group(37 cases, 64 eyes)and non-ROP group(326 cases, 652 eyes). General clinical data and perinatal-related information of the two groups were compared, and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing the occurrence of ROP in premature infants.RESULTS: A total of 363 premature infants were included in this study. The fundus screening results showed that a total of 37 cases(64 eyes)of premature infants were detected with ROP, including 10 cases(10 eyes)monocular and 27 cases(54 eyes)binocular, with an overall incidence of 10.2%(37/363). The severity was determined according to the ROP international classification standard(ROP is divided into 5 stages, with stage I being the least severe and stage V the most severe). Among the 64 eyes, 30 eyes(46.9%)were in stage I, 20 eyes(31.3%)were in stage II, 10 eyes(15.6%)were in stage III, 4 eyes(6.3%)were in stage IV, and there were no cases in stage V. By comparing the clinical data of the two groups, no significant differences were found in gender, mode of delivery, singleton or multiple births, premature rupture of membranes, history of asphyxia, patent ductus arteriosus(PDA), or neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS)between the two groups(all P>0.05). However, premature infants in the ROP group had significantly younger gestational age and lower birth weight compared to those in the non-ROP group(all P<0.05). Additionally, the ROP group had higher proportions of longer hospital stays, bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD), neonatal sepsis, anemia, oxygen therapy for more than 1 wk, oxygen concentration above 40%, and blood transfusion treatment(all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that combined neonatal sepsis(OR=166.985, 95% CI: 35.239-791.277, P<0.001), anemia(OR=8.111, 95% CI: 2.064-31.871, P=0.003), oxygen use time >1 wk(OR=10.216, 95% CI: 2.543-41.039, P=0.001), oxygen therapy concentration >40%(OR=7.647, 95% CI: 1.913-30.566, P=0.004), and receiving blood transfusion therapy(OR=5.879, 95% CI: 1.412-24.470, P=0.015)were the main risk factors affecting the occurrence of ROP in preterm infants, and the higher birth weight of preterm infants was a protective factor for ROP(OR=0.093, 95% CI: 0.022-0.394, P=0.001).CONCLUSION: The incidence of ROP in premature infants is relatively high, and there are multiple influencing factors. Low birth weight, neonatal sepsis, anemia, oxygen therapy, and blood transfusion treatment are high-risk factors for ROP in premature infants. Clinical attention should be given to such infants, and fundus screening should be conducted in a standardized manner to provide early treatment, thereby further reducing the risk of ROP in premature infants.
4.Mitochondrial Quality Control Affects Diabetic Cardiomyopathy:Based on Theory of Qi Deficiency and Stagnation
Aolin LI ; Lu LIAN ; Xinnong CHEN ; Yingyu XIE ; Zhipeng YAN ; Wenhui CAI ; QianQian ZHANG ; Chi ZHANG ; Junping ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(8):197-205
With the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus in recent years, cardiomyopathy caused by diabetes mellitus has aroused wide concern and this disease is characterized by high insidiousness and high mortality. The early pathological changes of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) are mitochondrial structural disorders and loss of myocardial metabolic flexibility. The turbulence of mitochondrial quality control (MQC) is a key mechanism leading to the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and loss of myocardial metabolic flexibility, which, together with elevated levels of oxidative stress and inflammation, trigger changes in myocardial structure and function. Qi deficiency and stagnation is caused by the loss of healthy Qi, and the dysfunction of Qi transformation results in the accumulation of pathogenic Qi, which further triggers injuries. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), DCM is rooted in Qi deficiency of the heart, spleen, and kidney. The dysfunction of Qi transformation leads to the generation and lingering of turbidity, stasis, and toxin in the nutrient-blood and vessels, ultimately damaging the heart. Therefore, Qi deficiency and stagnation is the basic pathologic mechanism of DCM. Mitochondria, similar to Qi in substance and function, are one of the microscopic manifestations of Qi. The role of MQC is consistent with the defense function of Qi. In the case of MQC turbulence, mitochondrial structure and function are impaired. As a result, Qi deficiency gradually emerges and triggers pathological changes, which make it difficult to remove the stagnant pathogenic factor and aggravates the MQC turbulence. Ultimately, DCM occurs. Targeting MQC to treat DCM has become the focus of current research, and TCM has the advantages of acting on multiple targets and pathways. According to the pathogenesis of Qi deficiency and stagnation in DCM and the modern medical understanding of MQC, the treatment should follow the principles of invigorating healthy Qi, tonifying deficiency, and regulating Qi movement. This paper aims to provide ideas for formulating prescriptions and clinical references for the TCM treatment of DCM by targeting MQC.
5.Effect of compound Xueshuantong combined with viaminate of oral lichen planus complicated with chronic periodontitis
Maoqing WANG ; Wenhui LI ; Meihuang CAI
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(21):3076-3081
Objective To investigate the effect of compound Xueshuantong combined with viaminate of oral lichen planus(OLP)complicated with chronic periodontitis(CP).Methods This study collected 305 patients with OLP and CP and randomly divided them into two groups.There were 156 patients in the observation group and 149 patients in the control group.All patients receive systemic treatment for CP.The control group was treated with viaminate capsules,and the observation group was treated with compound Xueshuantong Capsules combined with viaminate capsules.Both groups were treated for 4 weeks.Clinical efficacy,serum inflammatory factors[matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3),IFN-gamma(IFN-γ),interleukin 6(IL-6)and IL-35],oral mucosal pain Visual Analogue Score(VAS),lesion area of OLP,periodontal condition,and adverse reactions were detected.Results Compared to the control group,the total effective rate in the observation group was higher(P<0.05).After treat-ment,serum MMP-3 and IL-6 levels,oral mucosal VAS score,lesion area of OLP,gingival index and probing depth all decreased in the two groups(P<0.05).The changes of above indicators were more significant in the observation group(P<0.05).There was no difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Compound Xueshuantong combined with viaminate can effectively improve the symptoms of OLP complicated with CP,and alleviate inflammatory reactions,with good therapeutic effects.
6.Mechanism study of BOC2 alleviating SAP inflammatory damage by inhibiting N-formyl peptide/formyl peptide receptor pathway
Guixian ZHANG ; Dawei LIU ; Wenchang LI ; Jun CAI ; Wenhui ZONG ; Hongbin LIU ; Xiumei ZHAO
Tianjin Medical Journal 2024;52(10):1031-1037
Objective To observe the effect of BOC-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe(BOC2)on the expression of six types of mitochondrial N-formyl peptides(NFPs)in blood and two formyl peptide receptors(FPRs)in pancreatic tissue of rats with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP),and to explore its mechanism of alleviating inflammatory damage of SAP.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups:the sham group,the SAP model group,the BOC2 low-dose and the BOC2 high-dose group(0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg),with 10 animals in each group.The SAP model was prepared by retrograde injection of 5%sodium taurocholate(50 mg/kg)into biliary and pancreatic ducts in the last 3 groups.BOC2 was intraperitoneally injected at 0.5 hours after SAP modeling,and samples were taken 4 hours after modeling.HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in pancreas.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of NFPs in plasma.IHC staining was used to detect the expression of FPRs in pancreatic tissue.ELISA was used to detect interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α levels in plasma.qPCR was used to detect expression levels of inflammatory factors in local pancreatic tissue.Results Compared with the model group,the BOC2 high-dose group and the BOC2 low-dose group showed improvement in pathological phenomena,such as pancreatic bleeding,acinar cell necrosis,inflammatory cell infiltration and edema.The pancreatic injury score,pancreatic FPRs expression,plasma MT-ND1,MT-ND2,MT-ND3,MT-ND5,MT-ND6 expression,as well as expression levels of three inflammatory factors in plasma and local pancreatic tissue,were significantly reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion BOC2 can reduce the production of inflammatory factors and alleviate SAP inflammatory damage by antagonizing mitochondrial NFPs/FPRs signaling pathway.
7.Neutralization against SARS-CoV-2 Delta/Omicron variants and B cell response after inactivated vaccination among COVID-19 convalescents.
Hao WANG ; Yu YUAN ; Bihao WU ; Mingzhong XIAO ; Zhen WANG ; Tingyue DIAO ; Rui ZENG ; Li CHEN ; Yanshou LEI ; Pinpin LONG ; Yi GUO ; Xuefeng LAI ; Yuying WEN ; Wenhui LI ; Hao CAI ; Lulu SONG ; Wei NI ; Youyun ZHAO ; Kani OUYANG ; Jingzhi WANG ; Qi WANG ; Li LIU ; Chaolong WANG ; An PAN ; Xiaodong LI ; Rui GONG ; Tangchun WU
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(4):747-757
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants have made COVID-19 convalescents susceptible to re-infection and have raised concern about the efficacy of inactivated vaccination in neutralization against emerging variants and antigen-specific B cell response. To this end, a study on a long-term cohort of 208 participants who have recovered from COVID-19 was conducted, and the participants were followed up at 3.3 (Visit 1), 9.2 (Visit 2), and 18.5 (Visit 3) months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. They were classified into three groups (no-vaccination (n = 54), one-dose (n = 62), and two-dose (n = 92) groups) on the basis of the administration of inactivated vaccination. The neutralizing antibody (NAb) titers against the wild-type virus continued to decrease in the no-vaccination group, but they rose significantly in the one-dose and two-dose groups, with the highest NAb titers being observed in the two-dose group at Visit 3. The NAb titers against the Delta variant for the no-vaccination, one-dose, and two-dose groups decreased by 3.3, 1.9, and 2.3 folds relative to the wild-type virus, respectively, and those against the Omicron variant decreased by 7.0, 4.0, and 3.8 folds, respectively. Similarly, the responses of SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific B cells and memory B cells were boosted by the second vaccine dose. Results showed that the convalescents benefited from the administration of the inactivated vaccine (one or two doses), which enhanced neutralization against highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants and memory B cell responses. Two doses of inactivated vaccine among COVID-19 convalescents are therefore recommended for the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccination guidelines and policies need to be updated.
8.SBC (Sanhuang Xiexin Tang combined with Baihu Tang plus Cangzhu) alleviates NAFLD by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and ameliorating inflammation in obese patients and mice.
Zhitao REN ; Gemin XIAO ; Yixin CHEN ; Linli WANG ; Xiaoxin XIANG ; Yi YANG ; Siying WEN ; Zhiyong XIE ; Wenhui LUO ; Guowei LI ; Wenhua ZHENG ; Xiaoxian QIAN ; Rihan HAI ; Liansheng YANG ; Yanhua ZHU ; Mengyin CAI ; Yinong YE ; Guojun SHI ; Yanming CHEN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2023;21(11):830-841
In the context of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by dysregulated lipid metabolism in hepatocytes, the quest for safe and effective therapeutics targeting lipid metabolism has gained paramount importance. Sanhuang Xiexin Tang (SXT) and Baihu Tang (BHT) have emerged as prominent candidates for treating metabolic disorders. SXT combined with BHT plus Cangzhu (SBC) has been used clinically for Weihuochisheng obese patients. This retrospective analysis focused on assessing the anti-obesity effects of SBC in Weihuochisheng obese patients. We observed significant reductions in body weight and hepatic lipid content among obese patients following SBC treatment. To gain further insights, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of SBC in HFD-fed mice. The results demonstrated that SBC treatment mitigated body weight gain and hepatic lipid accumulation in HFD-fed mice. Pharmacological network analysis suggested that SBC may affect lipid metabolism, mitochondria, inflammation, and apoptosis-a hypothesis supported by the hepatic transcriptomic analysis in HFD-fed mice treated with SBC. Notably, SBC treatment was associated with enhanced hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and the inhibition of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/NF-κB pathways. In conclusion, SBC treatment alleviates NAFLD in both obese patients and mouse models by improving lipid metabolism, potentially through enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis. These effects, in turn, ameliorate inflammation in hepatocytes.
Humans
;
Mice
;
Animals
;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism*
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Organelle Biogenesis
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Obesity/metabolism*
;
Liver
;
Inflammation/metabolism*
;
Body Weight
;
Lipid Metabolism
;
Lipids
;
Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*
9.Recent advance in role of gut microbiota in Alzheimer's disease
Junyi LIANG ; Bin LIU ; Xiaohong DONG ; Wenhui CAI ; Ning ZHANG ; Hong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2023;22(12):1287-1292
Gut microbiome is an important part of the human gut, which is closely related to human health and disease. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a kind of neurodegenerative diseases, and its underlying pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. In recent years, studies have shown obvious differences in gut microbiome composition between AD patients and healthy subjects. Comprehensive changes in gut microbiota composition may play a role in AD progression through the gut-brain axis. However, the mechanism of this interlinkage is not yet fully understood. In this review, we explore the mechanism of gut microbiota's influence in AD through gut-brain axis regulation.
10. Research progress on hydrogen sulfide in tissue repair and regeneration
Junchi WU ; Nannan YU ; Chengcheng ZHAO ; Wenhui LIU ; Zhiying LUO ; Hualin CAI ; Yiping LIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2022;27(2):235-240
Hydrogen sulfide (H

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail