1.Bioinformatics Reveals Mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu Precription in Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis by Regulating Autophagy
Xin KANG ; Chaodi SUN ; Jianping LIU ; Jie REN ; Mingmin DU ; Yuan ZHAO ; Xiaomeng LANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):166-173
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription in regulating autophagy in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) by bioinformatics and animal experiments. MethodsThe differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the colonic mucosal tissue of UC patients was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and those overlapped with autophagy genes were obtained as the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DEARGs). DEARGs were imported into Metascape and STRING, respectively, for gene ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (GO/KEGG) enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. Finally, 15 key DEARGs were obtained. The core DEARGs were obtained by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. The CIBERSORT deconvolution algorithm was used to analyze the immunoinfiltration of UC patients and the correlations between core DEARGs and immune cells. C57BL/6J mice were assigned into a normal group and a modeling group. The mouse model of UC was established by free drinking of 2.5% dextran sulfate sodium. The modeled mice were assigned into low-, medium-, and high-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription and mesalazine groups according to the random number table method and administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 7 days. The colonic mucosal morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The protein and mRNA levels of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 1 (Caspase-1), cathepsin B (CTSB), C-C motif chemokine-2 (CCL2), CXC motif receptor 4 (CXCR4), and hypoxia-inducing factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the colon tissue were determined by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. ResultsThe dataset GSE87466 was screened from GEO and interlaced with autophagy genes. After PPI analysis, LASSO regression, and ROC analysis, the core DEARGs (Caspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, and CXCR4) were obtained. The results of immunoinfiltration analysis showed that the counts of NK cells, M0 macrophages, M1 macrophages, and dendritic cells in the colonic mucosal tissue of UC patients had significant differences, and core DEARGs had significant correlations with these immune cells. This result, combined with the prediction results of network pharmacology, suggested that the HIF-1α signaling pathway may play a key role in the regulation of UC by Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription. The animal experiments showed that Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription significantly alleviated colonic mucosal inflammation in UC mice. Compared with the normal group, the model group showed up-regulated protein and mRNA levels of caspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, CXCR4, and HIF-1α, which were down-regulated after treatment with Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription or mesalazine. ConclusionCaspase-1, CCL2, CTSB, and CXCR4 are autophagy genes that are closely related to the onset of UC. Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription can down-regulate the expression of core autophagy genes to alleviate the inflammation in the colonic mucosa of mice.
2.Evaluation of operation quality of measles surveillance system in Hebei Province in 2020 - 2023
Shiheng CUI ; Xiaomeng XU ; Li SUN ; Yafei WANG ; Wei WANG ; Yanli CONG ; Jinghui WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(2):26-29
Objective To analyze the operation of Measles Surveillance System (MSS) in Hebei Province, and to provide evidence for measles elimination. Methods Measles surveillance data was collected from the MSS from 2020 to 2023, and a modified weighted technology for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to evaluate the surveillance indexes of measles in Hebei Province. Results The operation quality of the measles surveillance system in Hebei Province was improved year by year, with the highest quality in 2023, and all the indicators reached the monitoring program standards. The quality of measles surveillance system was not balanced among cities, and the main influencing factor was the substandard sensitivity indicators. The quality of measles surveillance system was the highest in Baoding City and the lowest in Zhangjiakou City. Conclusion The measles surveillance system in Hebei province is running well, and the sensitivity of the surveillance system should be improved to keep the high-quality operation of the surveillance system.
3.Discussion on the commonalities of scalp acupuncture schools and the feasibility of a unified scalp acupuncture protocol.
Xiaomeng HU ; Chang SUN ; Yan LI ; Xitong MO ; Peng YAN ; Sixuan CHEN ; Gangqi FAN
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(1):110-122
The data of 44 scalp acupuncture schools are collected to analyze their commonalities in theoretical foundations, needling sites, techniques, and indications. The integration of these characteristics into an optimized, unified scalp acupuncture protocol has become an inevitable trend. The paper discusses the potential for a unified scalp acupuncture protocol from aspects such as theoretical unification, the relationships between point areas, lines, and sites, and needle numbers. It also explores the primary issues and solutions involved in unifying scalp acupuncture protocols, providing a reference for standardization and unification in scalp acupuncture protocol.
Scalp
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Humans
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Acupuncture Therapy/methods*
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Acupuncture Points
4.Reflections and suggestions on the researches of acupuncture-moxibustion for idiopathic facial palsy.
Sixuan CHEN ; Yan LI ; Xitong MO ; Peng YAN ; Xiaomeng HU ; Chang SUN ; Gangqi FAN
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(3):379-384
This article analyzes the current status of the researches on acupuncture-moxibustion for idiopathic facial palsy (Bell's palsy). Acupuncture-moxibustion is widely applied in treatment of Bell's palsy and the relevant researches are enriched. But the hierarchical discussion on the effectiveness is reported inadequately. Consequently, the necessity and advantages of acupuncture-moxibustion are hardly prominent. Besides, the safety of acupuncture-moxibustion in treatment is not fully explored. The common shortcomings are presented in professional study and statistical designs, and the quality of the evidences is not high. The recommendation strength of acupuncture-moxibustion is weak in international guidelines. The crucial questions are not deeply discussed, and there are lack of the recognized optimal protocol in clinical practical guidelines. It is suggested that the researches should improve the evaluation of the disease itself that may affect the prognosis of Bell's palsy, such as location, conditions and duration of illness, basic diseases and syndrome/pattern differentiation. The effect of acupuncture-moxibustion should be verified hierarchically, the questions on safety should be emphasized, the quality of study should be improved, the staging of treatment should be specified and the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion should be evaluated in multi-dimensions, and the elements of acupuncture-moxibustion should be optimized systematically in the aspects of timing, acupoint selection, needle devices, manipulation, intervention measures and regimen composition. So as to promote the research of acupuncture-moxibustion for Bell's palsy to a new process.
Humans
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Acupuncture Therapy
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Moxibustion
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Bell Palsy/therapy*
5.FAN Gangqi's experience in "four-dimensional" diagnosis and treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxibusition.
Sixuan CHEN ; Chang SUN ; Xiaomeng HU ; Xitong MO ; Yan LI ; Peng YAN ; Yuxin ZHANG ; Gangqi FAN
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2025;45(9):1299-1304
The paper introduces Professor FAN Gangqi's clinical experience in treatment of migraine. Regarding the syndrome/pattern differentiation of TCM, a four-approach framework is established, identifying the nature of illness, analyzing the syndrome/pattern and pathogenesis, determining the stage of illness, and identifying body constitution. In treatment, the principle of treatment is determined in line with syndrome/pattern differentiation, so as to ensure the therapeutic effect by means of "four dimensions". The acupuncture regimens are formulated in terms of the illness stages, "strong needling stimulation in acute stage for analgesia, and needle retaining in chronic stage for long-term effect". "Focusing on neuovascular pathway" is the effective approach to treatment of migraine with acupuncture and moxiubstion. The clinical holistic model by combining acupuncture with medication is advocated because that "the single acupuncture is weak in therapeutic effect, but with medication combined, the effect is enhanced". The different acupuncture techniques are provided comprehensively in treatment of migraine such as horizontal and row-like needling, collateral needling at Taiyang (EX-HN5), acupuncture at Sankong (Yuyao [EX-HN4], Sibai [ST2] and Jiachengjiang [Extra]), acupoint injection at Tianyou (TE16) and Renying (ST9), and acupoint embedding therapy at Fengchi (GB20).
Humans
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Migraine Disorders/diagnosis*
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Acupuncture Therapy
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Moxibustion
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Acupuncture Points
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Female
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Male
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Adult
6.The application of surgical robots in head and neck tumors.
Xiaoming HUANG ; Qingqing HE ; Dan WANG ; Jiqi YAN ; Yu WANG ; Xuekui LIU ; Chuanming ZHENG ; Yan XU ; Yanxia BAI ; Chao LI ; Ronghao SUN ; Xudong WANG ; Mingliang XIANG ; Yan WANG ; Xiang LU ; Lei TAO ; Ming SONG ; Qinlong LIANG ; Xiaomeng ZHANG ; Yuan HU ; Renhui CHEN ; Zhaohui LIU ; Faya LIANG ; Ping HAN
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(11):1001-1008
7.The protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT1 ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by suppressing RIPK1-mediated necroptosis and apoptosis.
Tengfei LIU ; Gan HUANG ; Xin GUO ; Qiuran JI ; Lu YU ; Runzhe ZONG ; Yiquan LI ; Xiaomeng SONG ; Qingyi FU ; Qidi XUE ; Yi ZHENG ; Fanshuo ZENG ; Ru SUN ; Lin CHEN ; Chengjiang GAO ; Huiqing LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4014-4029
Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) plays an essential role in regulating the necroptosis and apoptosis in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the regulation of RIPK1 kinase activity after cerebral I/R injury remains largely unknown. In this study, we found the downregulation of protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) was induced by cerebral I/R injury, which negatively correlated with the activation of RIPK1. Mechanistically, we proved that PRMT1 directly interacted with RIPK1 and catalyzed its asymmetric dimethylarginine, which then blocked RIPK1 homodimerization and suppressed its kinase activity. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of PRMT1 aggravated I/R injury by promoting RIPK1-mediated necroptosis and apoptosis, while PRMT1 overexpression protected against I/R injury by suppressing RIPK1 activation. Our findings revealed the molecular regulation of RIPK1 activation and demonstrated PRMT1 would be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
8.The potential therapeutic role of ginsenosides on fibrosis-associated diseases: a review on molecular mechanisms and call for further research.
Mengguang WEI ; Yue ZHANG ; Xiaomeng SUN ; Lianwen QI ; Qun LIU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(6):673-686
Fibrosis is characterized as an aberrant reparative process involving the direct replacement of damaged or deceased cells with connective tissue, leading to progressive architectural remodeling across various tissues and organs. This condition imposes a substantial burden, resulting in considerable morbidity and mortality. Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), renowned for its medicinal properties, has been incorporated as a key component in Chinese patent medicines to mitigate fibrotic diseases. Ginsenosides, the primary bioactive compounds in ginseng, have garnered significant attention. Over the past five years, extensive research has explored the pharmaceutical potential of ginsenosides in diverse organ fibrosis conditions, including liver, myocardial, renal, and pulmonary fibrosis. Studies have elucidated that ginsenosides demonstrate potential effects on inflammatory responses stemming from parenchymal cell damage, myofibroblast activation leading to extracellular matrix (ECM) production, and myofibroblast apoptosis or inactivation. Additionally, potential downstream targets and pathways associated with these pathological processes have been identified as being influenced by ginsenosides. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the efficacious treatments utilizing ginsenosides for various tissue fibrosis types and their potential anti-fibrotic mechanisms. Furthermore, it offers a reference for the development of novel candidate drugs for future organ fibrosis therapies.
Ginsenosides/pharmacology*
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Humans
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Fibrosis/drug therapy*
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Animals
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Panax/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
9.Hippo (YAP)-autophagy axis protects against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury through JNK signaling
Shuguang ZHU ; Xiaowen WANG ; Haoqi CHEN ; Wenfeng ZHU ; Xuejiao LI ; Ruiwen CUI ; Xiaomeng YI ; Xiaolong CHEN ; Hua LI ; Genshu WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(6):657-668
Background::Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) remains a common complication during liver transplantation (LT) in patients. As a key downstream effector of the Hippo pathway, Yes-associated protein (YAP) has been reported to be involved in various physiological and pathological processes. However, it remains elusive whether and how YAP may control autophagy activation during ischemia-reperfusion.Methods::Human liver tissues from patients who had undergone LT were obtained to evaluate the correlation between YAP and autophagy activation. Both an in vitro hepatocyte cell line and in vivo liver-specific YAP knockdown mice were used to establish the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion models to determine the role of YAP in the activation of autophagy and the mechanism of regulation. Results::Autophagy was activated in the post-perfusion liver grafts during LT in patients, and the expression of YAP positively correlated with the autophagic level of hepatocytes. Liver-specific knockdown of YAP inhibited hepatocytes autophagy upon hypoxia-reoxygenation and HIRI ( P <0.05). YAP deficiency aggravated HIRI by promoting the apoptosis of hepatocytes both in the in vitro and in vivo models ( P <0.05). Attenuated HIRI by overexpression of YAP was diminished after the inhibition of autophagy with 3-methyladenine. In addition, inhibiting autophagy activation by YAP knockdown exacerbated mitochondrial damage through increasing reactive oxygen species ( P <0.05). Moreover, the regulation of autophagy by YAP during HIRI was mediated by AP1 (c-Jun) N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling through binding to the transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD). Conclusions::YAP protects against HIRI by inducing autophagy via JNK signaling that suppresses the apoptosis of hepatocytes. Targeting Hippo (YAP)-JNK-autophagy axis may provide a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of HIRI.
10.Mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu Recipe in Preventing Colorectal Adenoma in Mice Through miRNA-34a-5p/PI3K/Akt Signalling Pathway
Sujie JIA ; Chaodi SUN ; Yifan ZHANG ; Xiaomeng LANG ; Jianping LIU ; Xin KANG ; Shijie REN ; Jingyuan LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(11):156-165
ObjectiveKey microRNAs (miRNAs) of colorectal adenoma (CRA) were identified and analyzed by bioinformatics methods, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened to construct regulatory relationships. The mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe in preventing CRA was speculated and verified by animal experiments. MethodThe miRNAs dataset GSE50194 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database of intestinal mucosal tissue of CRA patients, and the differentially expressed miRNAs were screened by GEO2R and Excel. TargetScan, miRTarbase, and miRDB databases were used to predict the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs, and an intersection was obtained. Key DEGs were screened through the STRING database and Cytoscape software, and the TRRUST database was used to predict downstream binding transcription factors (TFs). The mRNA intersection was enriched by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) in the Metascape database. DIANA TOOLS were applied to perform KEGG enrichment analysis of key miRNAs, and the key signaling pathways were selected for animal experiments. In animal experiments, the CRA mice model was established by using sodium glycan sulfate (DSS) drinking combined with intraperitoneal injection of azomethane oxide (AOM), and Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe and aspirin were given by intragastric administration at the same time. The experiment lasted for nine weeks. The pathological changes in intestinal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of miR-34a-5p in adenoma tissue. Protein expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphoryl-PI3K (p-PI3K), phosphoryl-Akt (p-Akt), and B cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 were detected by Western blot. The expression of Cyclin D1 (CCND1) was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In situ terminal transferase labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis of adenoma tissue cells. ResultThe GEO database screened the GSE50194 dataset, and miR-34a-5p was selected as the research object from CRA and normal tissue. A total of 93 DEGs were selected. Among them, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were closely related to biological processes such as transcriptional regulatory complex, RNA polymerase Ⅱ transcriptional regulatory complex, enzyme-linked receptor protein signaling pathway, and DNA-binding transcriptional activator activity, cancer pathway, PI3K/Akt pathway, etc. miR-34a-5p is mainly enriched in PI3K/Akt, cell cycle, and colorectal cancer pathways. Five key DEGs were screened out through the Matescape database, among which Bcl-2 and CCND1 were the key DEGs of miR-34a-5p. Further screening of the TFs of key DEGs revealed that E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) and tumor protein P53 (TP53) were the main TFs of Bcl-2 and CCND1. Animal experiments showed that Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe could effectively up-regulate mRNA level of miR-34a-5p, down-regulate the expression of PI3K, Akt, Bcl-2, p-PI3K, and p-Akt proteins in the intestinal tissue of CRA mice, down-regulate the positive expression rate of CCND1, and increase the apoptosis rate of intestinal epithelial cells. ConclusionIt is speculated that Xiezhuo Jiedu recipe may inhibit the abnormal proliferation and promote the apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells in CRA mice by regulating the miR-34a-5p/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, thus playing a role in the prevention of CRA.


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