1.Mechanism of Paeoniflorin Regulating TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 Inflammation-insulin Signaling Axis to Improve Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease Combined with Insulin Resistance
Luyu LI ; Yiming FAN ; Wenlong YU ; Yiteng ZHANG ; Yaorui HU ; Huanxin DING ; Chuxuan LIU ; Xin JIN ; Hongyu ZHANG ; Qian XU ; Guangyong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):146-156
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of paeoniflorin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) combined with insulin resistance (IR), and to elucidate its regulatory mechanisms on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB-insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) inflammation-insulin signaling axis. MethodsMASLD mouse model was established using a 60% high-fat diet. Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group, a MASLD model group, and paeoniflorin groups (low dose: 25 mg·kg-1·d-1, medium dose: 50 mg·kg-1·d-1, high dose: 100 mg·kg-1·d-1), receiving intragastric administration for consecutive 12 weeks. Concurrently, a palmitic acid/oleic acid (PA/OA)-induced lipid deposition model was established in HepG2 cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to determine the optimal concentrations of PA/OA and paeoniflorin for intervention. Mice body weight, liver index, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) levels were measured, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, while an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to evaluate glucose metabolism. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue, and oil red O staining was used to evaluate lipid droplet deposition in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. Potential targets were screened using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of HSP90AA1, TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, p-IRS1, and p-Akt proteins in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, mice in the MASLD model group exhibited significantly increased body weight, liver index, and serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, and TC, as well as markedly elevated FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR, and impaired glucose tolerance (P<0.01). HE staining revealed marked hepatic steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, while oil red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplet deposition. Compared with the MASLD model group, after intervention with various doses of paeoniflorin, the increase in body weight and liver index was reduced, serum ALT, AST, TG, and TC levels decreased, and FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR were significantly lowered, with glucose tolerance markedly improved (P<0.05, P<0.01), showing a certain dose-dependent trend. HE and oil red O staining results showed a marked reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition. In vitro experiments demonstrated that, compared with the control group, PA/OA treatment significantly induced increased lipid deposition in HepG2 cells. Compared with the model group, paeoniflorin intervention significantly reduced intracellular lipid droplets, and lipid deposition showed a dose-dependent decreasing trend. Mechanism studies indicated that, compared with the normal control group, the MASLD model group exhibited significantly elevated expression of TLR4, HSP90AA1, and p-NF-κB p65, while p-IRS1 (Ser307) expression was elevated and p-Akt (Ser473) expression was reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of the aforementioned proteins was significantly reversed in all treatment groups following intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionPaeoniflorin significantly alleviates lipid deposition and insulin resistance in MASLD mice. Its mechanism of action may involve targeting HSP90AA1, TLR4, and NF-κB1 to regulate the TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 inflammation-insulin signaling axis. This regulation suppresses inflammatory responses and restores insulin signaling, thereby ameliorating abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism.
2.Mechanism of Paeoniflorin Regulating TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 Inflammation-insulin Signaling Axis to Improve Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease Combined with Insulin Resistance
Luyu LI ; Yiming FAN ; Wenlong YU ; Yiteng ZHANG ; Yaorui HU ; Huanxin DING ; Chuxuan LIU ; Xin JIN ; Hongyu ZHANG ; Qian XU ; Guangyong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):146-156
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of paeoniflorin on metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) combined with insulin resistance (IR), and to elucidate its regulatory mechanisms on the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB-insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) inflammation-insulin signaling axis. MethodsMASLD mouse model was established using a 60% high-fat diet. Mice were randomly assigned to a normal control group, a MASLD model group, and paeoniflorin groups (low dose: 25 mg·kg-1·d-1, medium dose: 50 mg·kg-1·d-1, high dose: 100 mg·kg-1·d-1), receiving intragastric administration for consecutive 12 weeks. Concurrently, a palmitic acid/oleic acid (PA/OA)-induced lipid deposition model was established in HepG2 cells. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to determine the optimal concentrations of PA/OA and paeoniflorin for intervention. Mice body weight, liver index, and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin (FINS) levels were measured, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, while an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed to evaluate glucose metabolism. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue, and oil red O staining was used to evaluate lipid droplet deposition in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. Potential targets were screened using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of HSP90AA1, TLR4, p-NF-κB p65, p-IRS1, and p-Akt proteins in liver tissue and HepG2 cells. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, mice in the MASLD model group exhibited significantly increased body weight, liver index, and serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, and TC, as well as markedly elevated FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR, and impaired glucose tolerance (P<0.01). HE staining revealed marked hepatic steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration, while oil red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplet deposition. Compared with the MASLD model group, after intervention with various doses of paeoniflorin, the increase in body weight and liver index was reduced, serum ALT, AST, TG, and TC levels decreased, and FBG, FINS, and HOMA-IR were significantly lowered, with glucose tolerance markedly improved (P<0.05, P<0.01), showing a certain dose-dependent trend. HE and oil red O staining results showed a marked reduction in hepatic steatosis and lipid deposition. In vitro experiments demonstrated that, compared with the control group, PA/OA treatment significantly induced increased lipid deposition in HepG2 cells. Compared with the model group, paeoniflorin intervention significantly reduced intracellular lipid droplets, and lipid deposition showed a dose-dependent decreasing trend. Mechanism studies indicated that, compared with the normal control group, the MASLD model group exhibited significantly elevated expression of TLR4, HSP90AA1, and p-NF-κB p65, while p-IRS1 (Ser307) expression was elevated and p-Akt (Ser473) expression was reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of the aforementioned proteins was significantly reversed in all treatment groups following intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionPaeoniflorin significantly alleviates lipid deposition and insulin resistance in MASLD mice. Its mechanism of action may involve targeting HSP90AA1, TLR4, and NF-κB1 to regulate the TLR4/NF-κB-IRS1 inflammation-insulin signaling axis. This regulation suppresses inflammatory responses and restores insulin signaling, thereby ameliorating abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism.
3.An analysis of the seasonal epidemic characteristics of influenza in Kunming City of Yunnan Province from 2010 to 2024
Zexin HU ; Min DAI ; Wenlong LI ; Minghan WANG ; Xiaowei DENG ; Yue DING ; Hongjie YU ; Juan YANG ; Hong LIU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(8):643-648
ObjectiveTo characterize the seasonal patterns of influenza in Kunming City, Yunnan Province before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing influenza prevention and control strategies. MethodsInfluenza-like illness (ILI) and etiological surveillance data for influenza from the 14th week of 2010 to the 13th week of 2024 in Kunming City of Yunnan Province were collected. Harmonic regression models were constructed to analyze the epidemic characteristics and seasonal patterns of influenza before (2010/2011‒2019/2020 influenza seasons), during (2020/2021‒2022/2023 influenza seasons), and after (2023/2024 influenza season) the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza in Kunming City mainly exhibited an annual cyclic pattern without a significant semi-annual periodicity, peaking from December to February of the next year, with an epidemic duration of 20‒30 weeks. During the pandemic, influenza seasonality shifted, with an increase in semi-annual periodicity and an approximate one month delay in annual peaks. However, after the pandemic, the annual amplitude of influenza increased compared with that before the pandemic, and the epidemic duration extended by about one month. Although the annual peak largely reverted to the pre-pandemic levels, the annual peaks for different influenza subtypes/lineages had not fully recovered. ConclusionInfluenza seasonality in Kunming City underwent substantial alterations following the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet fully reverted to pre-pandemic levels. Continuous surveillance on different subtypes/lineages of influenza viruses remains essential, and prevention and control strategies should be adjusted and optimized in a timely manner based on current epidemic trends.
4.Characteristic analysis of isometric muscle strength of knee joint in patients after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty
Yuan DING ; Jianbao GONG ; Jie ZHANG ; Yuan QIAO ; Wenlong XU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(27):5833-5838
BACKGROUND:The knee osteoarthritis,a major cause of disability in the elderly,is currently treated with surgical procedures including unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in end-stage patients,but the recovery of muscle strength in patients after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is not well understood.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the short-term and medium-term knee isometric muscle strength characteristics of patients with unilateral knee osteoarthritis after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty,to compare with those of the unaffected side,and to analyze the recovery of muscle strength in the affected limb.METHODS:Patients undergoing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty in the Qingdao Municipal Hospital from June to December 2023 were recruited to undergo standardized functional rehabilitation exercises.The A8-2M multi-joint isokinetic training and testing system was used to detect the peak torque and the maximum one-repetition work of the extensor muscle of the unaffected side and the affected side of the knee joint at the angular velocity of 60(°)/s and the range of joint motion of 0°-90° before,1 and 3 months after surgery.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)At an angular velocity of 60(°)/s,the peak moment and maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles of the affected side were lower than those of the unaffected side preoperatively(P<0.05).(2)The peak moment and maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles were significantly lower than those of the unaffected side 1 month postoperatively(P<0.05).Meanwhile,the peak moment of the flexor and extensor muscles and the maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles on the affected side at 1 month postoperatively were significantly lower than those on the affected side preoperatively(P<0.05).(3)The peak moment of the flexor and extensor muscles and the maximum one-repetition work of the flexor and extensor muscles on the affected side at 3 months postoperatively had no significant difference from those on the unaffected side.The peak flexor-extensor moment of the flexor-extensor muscles on the affected side was higher than that preoperatively(P<0.05).(4)It is indicated that after unicompartmental knee arthroplasty,the muscle strength on the affected side is poor after 1 month after standard functional rehabilitation.However,after 3 months,there was no significant difference between the affected side and the unaffected side.
5.Protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide on Leptospiral infection in golden hamster
Lingling GONG ; Tianbao LYU ; Hua TIAN ; Hongkai HE ; Yue DING ; Jiuxi LIU ; Xufeng XIE ; Wenlong ZHANG ; Yongguo CAO
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(5):1060-1066
To explore the protective effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharide(ASP)on leptospiro-sis induced by pathogenic Leptospira infection,the golden hamster model of leptospirosis was se-lected for the experiment.The Leptospira and Leptospira+ASP groups were intraperitoneally injected with Leptospira interrogans serovar Lai strain 56601(1 × 10 6 per hamster).After infec-tion,the Leptospira+ASP group was injected intraperitoneally with ASP(50 mg/kg)for three consecutive days,while the Leptospira group was injected intraperitoneally with normal saline for three days.The experiment employed methods such as daily observation of the clinical symptoms of golden hamsters,statistics of the survival status of each group of golden hamsters,pathological damage of liver,kidney,and lung,bacterial load in organs,and the expression of inflammatory cy-tokines(IL-1β and TNF-α).The results indicated that ASP could effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of the infected hamsters,enhance the survival rate,ameliorate the pathological damage of the body,reduce the bacterial load in various organs,and mitigate tissue inflammation.This study demonstrated for the first time that ASP has a protective effect on leptospirosis,providing medication guidance for the clinical treatment of leptospirosis.
6.The decade of otoendoscope in China.
Yu SUN ; Xiuyong DING ; Yunfeng WANG ; Wuqing WANG ; Wei WANG ; Wenlong SHANG ; Wen ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Yang CHEN ; Zhaoyan WANG ; Haidi YANG ; Qiong YANG ; Yu ZHAO ; Zhaohui HOU ; Yong CUI ; Lingyun MEI ; Youjun YU ; Hua LIAO
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(12):1103-1109
7.Research progress concerning artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injury
Yuan DING ; Wenlong XU ; Jie ZHANG ; Zichao XUE
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2025;27(3):258-265
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a common disease of the knee joint, which affects the stability of the knee joint. As an emerging field, artificial intelligence (AI) has developed rapidly in the diagnosis and treatment of ACL injury in recent years, improving the accuracy and timeliness of the whole diagnosis and treatment process to improve the prognosis of ACL injury. This article reviews the research progress of AI in diagnosis of ACL injury, ACL reconstruction, prediction of postoperative outcomes, and postoperative rehabilitation. We hope this information may help surgeons to improve the success rate of AI in diagnosis and treatment of ACL injury and provide cutting-edge technical support to improve patient outcomes.
8.Protective effect and mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice
Hanlong ZHU ; Lu CHEN ; Wenlong ZHU ; Jing DING ; Kang JIANG ; Hui TAO ; Jie ZHOU ; Ji XUAN ; Miaofang YANG ; Mingzuo JIANG ; Fangyu WANG
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2025;33(4):366-374
Objective:To investigate the curative effect and mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.Methods:Twenty-one 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: control group (normal diet), model group (high-fat and high-cholesterol diet), and hyperbaric oxygen group (high-fat and high-cholesterol diet + hyperbaric oxygen therapy), with seven mice in each group. The changes in body weight, serum liver enzymes, and blood lipids were compared after treatment between the three groups. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Oil Red O staining, Sirius red staining, and F4/80 immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes in liver tissues. RT-qPCR and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison among the groups.Results:Mice in the hyperbaric oxygen group had significantly improved liver histopathology. The serological levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and cholesterol were (77.50±13.59) U/L, (156.06±23.68) U/L, and (4.80±0.53) mmol/L, which were significantly lower than those in the model group [(109.43±16.88) U/L, (216.62±18.79) U/L, and (5.86±0.53) mmol/L, P<0.05], and accompanied by lower levels of lipid deposition, macrophage infiltration, and fibrosis. In addition, compared with the model group, the expression of antioxidant stress protein nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 [(0.30±0.06) and (2.16±1.21), P<0.05] and heme oxygenase-1 [(0.48±0.19) and (1.01±0.18), P<0.05] in liver tissue showed an upward trend following hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which was also validated at the transcriptional level ( P<0.05). Simultaneously, compared with the model group, the mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α [(2.60±0.71) and (0.66±0.15), P<0.05], interleukin-1β [(2.41±1.01) and (0.78±0.23), P<0.05], and interleukin-6 [(3.61±2.17) and (0.94±0.25), P<0.05] in the liver tissue of mice in the hyperbaric oxygen group were decreased. The tumor necrosis factor-α protein level [(7.50±4.73) and (1.05±0.58), P<0.05] and interleukin-1β [(1.65±0.35) and (1.02±0.02), P<0.05] was reduced following hyperbaric oxygen treatment compared with those in the model group. Conclusion:Hyperbaric oxygen therapy can slow down the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the mice.
9.Effectiveness and duration of point-of-use filter in improving endoscopic final rinse water quality
Xinyue ZHANG ; Jing DING ; Dawei WU ; Shuangfeng CHEN ; Suxiang JIN ; Wenlong WANG ; Yongxiang ZHANG ; Wensen CHEN ; Weihong ZHANG ; Zhanjie LI
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(3):323-328
Objective To study the effect and duration of point-of-use filters on the improvement of endoscopic fi-nal rinse water quality.Methods The final rinse water end at the gastroscope manual cleaning workstation in the Endoscopy Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University was selected to install a tap ter-minal filter;five specimens of final rinse water were collected consecutively before the installation,immediately after the installation,and 1-11 weeks after the installation.At each sampling time,the staff responsible for clea-ning and disinfecting were asked whether the flow rate of discharged water could satisfy the working demand;the final rinse water was inoculated on R2A culture medium with membrane filter method,bacterial colony forming unit(CFU)was calculated after 30℃ incubation for 5 days.Results The qualified rates of endoscopic final rinse water before point-of-use filter installation was 0,immediately after and 1-9 weeks after installation were both 100%,10 and 11 weeks after installation were 80.0%and 20.0%,respectively.The mean CFU of endoscopic final rinse wa-ter before point-of-use filter installation was 102 CFU/100 mL,immediately after and 1-9 weeks after installation were both ≤2 CFU/100 mL,10 and 11 weeks after installation were 8 and 18 CFU/100 mL,respectively.The feedback from the cleaning and disinfection staff before installation,immediately after installation,and 1-11 weeks after installation indicated that the flow rate of discharged water gradually slowed down over time,but could still meet the work requirements.Conclusion The point-of-use filter can quickly and effectively improve the quality of endoscopic final rinse water,with use duration of up to 9 weeks after installation;Its biggest advantage is that it can serve as the final barrier to all integrated measures,playing a supplementary role in case of any problems occu-rring in the front-end process,and ensuring the microbial quality of the final rinse water to the greatest extent possible.
10.Effectiveness and duration of point-of-use filter in improving endoscopic final rinse water quality
Xinyue ZHANG ; Jing DING ; Dawei WU ; Shuangfeng CHEN ; Suxiang JIN ; Wenlong WANG ; Yongxiang ZHANG ; Wensen CHEN ; Weihong ZHANG ; Zhanjie LI
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(3):323-328
Objective To study the effect and duration of point-of-use filters on the improvement of endoscopic fi-nal rinse water quality.Methods The final rinse water end at the gastroscope manual cleaning workstation in the Endoscopy Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University was selected to install a tap ter-minal filter;five specimens of final rinse water were collected consecutively before the installation,immediately after the installation,and 1-11 weeks after the installation.At each sampling time,the staff responsible for clea-ning and disinfecting were asked whether the flow rate of discharged water could satisfy the working demand;the final rinse water was inoculated on R2A culture medium with membrane filter method,bacterial colony forming unit(CFU)was calculated after 30℃ incubation for 5 days.Results The qualified rates of endoscopic final rinse water before point-of-use filter installation was 0,immediately after and 1-9 weeks after installation were both 100%,10 and 11 weeks after installation were 80.0%and 20.0%,respectively.The mean CFU of endoscopic final rinse wa-ter before point-of-use filter installation was 102 CFU/100 mL,immediately after and 1-9 weeks after installation were both ≤2 CFU/100 mL,10 and 11 weeks after installation were 8 and 18 CFU/100 mL,respectively.The feedback from the cleaning and disinfection staff before installation,immediately after installation,and 1-11 weeks after installation indicated that the flow rate of discharged water gradually slowed down over time,but could still meet the work requirements.Conclusion The point-of-use filter can quickly and effectively improve the quality of endoscopic final rinse water,with use duration of up to 9 weeks after installation;Its biggest advantage is that it can serve as the final barrier to all integrated measures,playing a supplementary role in case of any problems occu-rring in the front-end process,and ensuring the microbial quality of the final rinse water to the greatest extent possible.

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