1.Qinlian Hongqutang Improves NASH by Promoting Macrophage Polarization Through TLR4 and STAT6 Signaling Pathways
Yong ZHANG ; Yong HU ; Yunliang HE ; Yang YANG ; Donghui CHEN ; Sijie DANG ; Jia HE ; Yaqi LUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):10-20
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Qinlian Hongqutang (QLHQT) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). MethodsC57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal and modeling groups. The NASH model was established by feeding a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. After successful modeling, mice were randomly assigned to the model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose QLHQT groups (0.51, 1.02, and 2.04 g·kg-1), and a positive control metformin group, with six mice in each group. The mice were treated for 8 weeks. Body weight was recorded before and after treatment. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as hepatic TC, TG, and LDL-C contents, were determined by biochemical assays. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and oil red O staining were used to evaluate liver histopathology and lipid deposition, respectively. Flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to assess hepatic macrophage expression and related markers. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to investigate the potential mechanisms of QLHQT in regulating macrophage polarization. ResultsCompared with the normal group, body weight and serum and hepatic levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Liver histopathology showed unevenly distributed round lipid droplets in the hepatocyte cytoplasm, accompanied by inflammatory cell aggregation. Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of CD86-positive cells was significantly increased, whereas the proportion of CD206-positive cells was markedly decreased (P<0.05). Hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression were significantly increased, while hepatic IL-10 levels and IL-4 mRNA expression were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in the liver were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, body weight was reduced in the high-, medium-, and low-dose QLHQT groups and in the metformin group. Serum and hepatic TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Liver histopathology showed alleviated hepatic lipid deposition, with markedly reduced lipid droplets and inflammation. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry showed that the proportions of CD86-positive cells were significantly decreased, whereas the proportions of CD206-positive cells were significantly increased in the high-, medium-, and low-dose QLHQT groups (P<0.05). Hepatic iNOS levels and TNF-α mRNA expression were significantly decreased (P<0.01), whereas hepatic IL-10 levels and IL-4 mRNA expression were significantly increased (P<0.01). The hepatic protein expression levels of TLR4, TRAF6, and MyD88 were significantly decreased, while signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) phosphorylation was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in total STAT6 protein expression. ConclusionQLHQT effectively ameliorates hepatic inflammation in NASH mice, and the mechanism may involve STAT6- and TLR4-mediated signaling pathways driving polarization of M1 macrophages toward the M2 phenotype.
2.Qinlian Hongqutang Improves NASH by Promoting Macrophage Polarization Through TLR4 and STAT6 Signaling Pathways
Yong ZHANG ; Yong HU ; Yunliang HE ; Yang YANG ; Donghui CHEN ; Sijie DANG ; Jia HE ; Yaqi LUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):10-20
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Qinlian Hongqutang (QLHQT) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). MethodsC57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal and modeling groups. The NASH model was established by feeding a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. After successful modeling, mice were randomly assigned to the model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose QLHQT groups (0.51, 1.02, and 2.04 g·kg-1), and a positive control metformin group, with six mice in each group. The mice were treated for 8 weeks. Body weight was recorded before and after treatment. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as hepatic TC, TG, and LDL-C contents, were determined by biochemical assays. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and oil red O staining were used to evaluate liver histopathology and lipid deposition, respectively. Flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were used to assess hepatic macrophage expression and related markers. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to investigate the potential mechanisms of QLHQT in regulating macrophage polarization. ResultsCompared with the normal group, body weight and serum and hepatic levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Liver histopathology showed unevenly distributed round lipid droplets in the hepatocyte cytoplasm, accompanied by inflammatory cell aggregation. Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of CD86-positive cells was significantly increased, whereas the proportion of CD206-positive cells was markedly decreased (P<0.05). Hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression were significantly increased, while hepatic IL-10 levels and IL-4 mRNA expression were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The protein expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in the liver were significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, body weight was reduced in the high-, medium-, and low-dose QLHQT groups and in the metformin group. Serum and hepatic TC, TG, and LDL-C levels were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Liver histopathology showed alleviated hepatic lipid deposition, with markedly reduced lipid droplets and inflammation. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry showed that the proportions of CD86-positive cells were significantly decreased, whereas the proportions of CD206-positive cells were significantly increased in the high-, medium-, and low-dose QLHQT groups (P<0.05). Hepatic iNOS levels and TNF-α mRNA expression were significantly decreased (P<0.01), whereas hepatic IL-10 levels and IL-4 mRNA expression were significantly increased (P<0.01). The hepatic protein expression levels of TLR4, TRAF6, and MyD88 were significantly decreased, while signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) phosphorylation was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in total STAT6 protein expression. ConclusionQLHQT effectively ameliorates hepatic inflammation in NASH mice, and the mechanism may involve STAT6- and TLR4-mediated signaling pathways driving polarization of M1 macrophages toward the M2 phenotype.
3.Leptin promotes breast cancer cell MCF-7 migration and invasion through inhibiting ACSL5
Tao ZENG ; Lan WEI ; Yong-zhu XU ; Shi-yu YANG ; Hao-li SUN ; Ting-ting DANG ; Yi-qing YOU ; Jia-feng TANG ; Yan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(4):654-660
Aim To explore the possible regulatory effect of leptin on acyl-CoA synthetase long chain fami-ly member ACSL5 and their effect on migration and in-vasion of breast cancer cell,and to explore the underly-ing mechanism.Methods The expression of leptin receptor was detected by immunofluorescence assay.The migration and invasion ability of MCF-7 cells were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay respectively.The downstream target gene of leptin was analyzed by PCR microarray data.The expression of ACSL5 in breast cancer and its correlation with the staging and prognosis of breast cancer patients were as-sessed uing bioinformatics methods.The expression of ACSL5 in MCF-7 cells treated with different concentra-tions of leptin was detected using real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Overexpressing ACSL5 was constructed by lentiviral transfection;the expressions of EMT related proteins,AMPK-α and p-AMPK-α were detected by Western blot.Results Leptin promoted breast cancer cell mi-gration and invasion and EMT.ACSL5 was significant-ly low expressed in breast cancer and related to progno-sis.Leptin downregulated the expression of ACSL5 through OBR.Leptin activated AMPK pathway to downregulate ACSL5 and promote migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer cells.Conclusions Leptin may promote the migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer by downregulating ACSL5 through activating AMPK pathway.
4.Leptin promotes breast cancer cell MCF-7 migration and invasion through inhibiting ACSL5
Tao ZENG ; Lan WEI ; Yong-zhu XU ; Shi-yu YANG ; Hao-li SUN ; Ting-ting DANG ; Yi-qing YOU ; Jia-feng TANG ; Yan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(4):654-660
Aim To explore the possible regulatory effect of leptin on acyl-CoA synthetase long chain fami-ly member ACSL5 and their effect on migration and in-vasion of breast cancer cell,and to explore the underly-ing mechanism.Methods The expression of leptin receptor was detected by immunofluorescence assay.The migration and invasion ability of MCF-7 cells were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assay respectively.The downstream target gene of leptin was analyzed by PCR microarray data.The expression of ACSL5 in breast cancer and its correlation with the staging and prognosis of breast cancer patients were as-sessed uing bioinformatics methods.The expression of ACSL5 in MCF-7 cells treated with different concentra-tions of leptin was detected using real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Overexpressing ACSL5 was constructed by lentiviral transfection;the expressions of EMT related proteins,AMPK-α and p-AMPK-α were detected by Western blot.Results Leptin promoted breast cancer cell mi-gration and invasion and EMT.ACSL5 was significant-ly low expressed in breast cancer and related to progno-sis.Leptin downregulated the expression of ACSL5 through OBR.Leptin activated AMPK pathway to downregulate ACSL5 and promote migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer cells.Conclusions Leptin may promote the migration,invasion and EMT of breast cancer by downregulating ACSL5 through activating AMPK pathway.
5.Integrating Internet Search Data and Surveillance Data to Construct Influenza Epidemic Thresholds in Hubei Province: A Moving Epidemic Method Approach.
Cai Xia DANG ; Feng LIU ; Heng Liang LYU ; Zi Qian ZHAO ; Si Jin ZHU ; Yang WANG ; Yuan Yong XU ; Ye Qing TONG ; Hui CHEN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1150-1154
6.Construction of a postoperative mortality risk model for patients with acute aortic dissection based on XGBoost-SHAP method
Xin ZHANG ; Min FANG ; Yi CAO ; Ting-Ting LI ; Xian-Kong LIU ; Jia-Yi DANG ; Xue-Sen ZHAO ; Hong-Qin REN ; Jia-Ze GENG ; Kai-Wen WANG ; Tie-Sheng HAN ; Yong-Bo ZHAO ; Dong MA
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(10):1226-1234
Objective To develop a predictive model for postoperative mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)using the Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)algorithm combined with Shapley Additive Explanation(SHAP),and to establish a prediction website to serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic support platform for clinicians and patients.Methods A retrospective cohort study design was adopted.Data from 782 AAD patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2013 to December 2023 were collected,including basic information and initial serum biomarker test results.Patients were randomly divided into training and test sets at a 7:3 ratio.An external validation set consisting of 313 AAD patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 was also established for further model validation.Variables were screened using LASSO regression,and an XGBoost machine learning model was constructed and interpreted using SHAP.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Using the Shiny package,the XGBoost model was deployed to shinyapps.io to create a prediction website for postoperative mortality risk in AAD patients.One patient was selected by simple random sampling from the test set and the external validation set respectively for the prediction example on the Shiny webpage.Results The XGBoost model demonstrated high predictive performance for postoperative mortality in AAD patients,with area under the ROC curve(AUC)values of 0.928(95%CI 0.901-0.956)in the training set,0.919(95%CI 0.891-0.949)in the test set,and 0.941(95%CI 0.915-0.967)in the external validation set.SHAP values indicated the following order of variable importance in the model(from highest to lowest):"lactate dehydrogenase""blood chlorine""multiple organ injury""carbon dioxide combining power""prothrombin time""α-hydroxybutyric acid""creatine kinase isoenzyme""Stanford classification""combined use of bedside blood purification""gender""acute kidney injury""gastrointestinal bleeding""brain injury"and"shock".A risk prediction website for adverse postoperative outcomes in AAD patients was developed using XGBoost-SHAP method(https://dun-dunxiaolu.shinyapps.io/document/)and validated with examples.One randomly selected patient from each of the test and external validation sets was applied:the predicted mortality risk value for patient 1(who died postoperatively)was 0.9539,and that for patient 2(who survived postoperatively)was 0.0206.Conclusions The XGBoost-SHAP model demonstrates high accuracy in predicting postoperative mortality risk for AAD patients.The online prediction tool established based on this model enhances the identification efficiency of high-risk postoperative mortality patients.
7.Bioequivalence study of dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy subjects
Gong-sheng XIAO ; Yu-hong SUN ; Na SHAN ; Yan-ni DANG ; Da-yong HUI ; Lin-lin MIAO ; Rui-xia LIU ; An-feng LOU ; Jia-hua GUO ; Feng LIU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(21):3153-3157
Objective To study the bioequivalence of generic and original dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy subjects after single dose under fasting and fed conditions.Methods A single-center,random,open,single-dose,two-preparations,double-period,crossover study was adopted.Fasting and fed tests were performed on 36 subjects each.Single oral dose 60 mg of test and reference pre parations were taken under fasting and fed conditions,respectively.Plasma concentration of dapoxetine was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The main pharmacokinetic(PK)parameters were calculated by Phoenix WinNonlin 8.0 software.Results The main PK parameters of the test and reference preparations of dapoxetine tablets in the fasting group were as follows:Cmax were(449.36±203.01)and(432.85±199.75)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(2 400.96±1 392.58)and(2 251.82±1 225.84)ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(2 529.94±1 498.05)and(2 371.06±1 305.22)ng·mL-1·h.The main PK parameters of the test and reference preparations of dapoxetine tablets in the fed group were as follows:Cmax were(651.29±179.38)and(672.83±249.42)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(3 391.27±1 358.73)and(3 314.56±1 360.39)ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(3 630.79±1 605.89)and(3 549.22±1 526.61)ng·mL-1·h.Under the fasting and fed conditions,the 90%confidence intervals of the main PK parameters of the test and reference preparations of dapoxetine tablets are 80.00%-125.00%.Conclusion Under the fasting and fed conditions,a single oral dose of generic and original dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy adult volunteers showed bioequivalence.
8.Analysis of the interactive effects between smoking addiction and overweight on brain gray matter volume
Mengzhe ZHANG ; Xiaoyu NIU ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Jingliang CHENG ; Yong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(7):433-439
Objective:To investigate the correlation between brain gray matter volume (GMV) and interactive effects of smoking addiction and overweight.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data of 99 subjects recruited from January 2019 to December 2021 through online platforms such as WeChat, including the following four groups: overweight smoking addiction group ( n=24), normal-weight smoking addiction group ( n=28), overweight non-smoking group ( n=19), and normal-weight non-smoking group ( n=28). All subjects underwent 3.0T MRI. We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to compare gray matter volume (GMV) among the four groups. A two-way analysis of variance was conducted with age, years of education, and head motion as covariates to explore the interaction effects between smoking addiction and weight status on GMV, the main effect of smoking addiction and main effect of overweight, which were then correlated with clinical data. Results:Significant interactive effects of smoking addiction and overweight were observed in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (GRF corrected, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed a quadratic effect between body mass index and left DLPFC GMV (β=-3.846, t=-2.134, P=0.036). Additionally, the main effect of smoking addiction was primarily manifested in the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC)(GRF corrected, P voxel<0.001, P cluster<0.05). Left OFC GMV was negatively associated with the FTND (Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence) scores ( r=-0.391, P=0.006). And right OFC GMV was negatively correlated with the smoking index ( r=-0.335, P=0.019). No statistically significant main effect of overweight was found at the aforementioned threshold. Conclusion:Smoking addiction and overweight have antagonistic effects on left DLPFC GMV.
9.The dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity in individuals with internet gaming disorder: a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Xiaoyu NIU ; Xinyu GAO ; Mengzhe ZHANG ; Jinghan DANG ; Jieping SUN ; Weijian WANG ; Yong ZHANG ; Jingliang CHENG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(2):87-93
Objective:This study aims to investigate the dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity and their relationships with Internet Addiction Test (IAT) scores in individuals with internet gaming disorder (IGD).Methods:Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning was performed on 33 individuals with IGD (IGD group) who were admitted to the psychiatric department of First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and 40 healthy volunteers (control group) recruited through the online platform. The dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) values were calculated. The two-sample t test was used to analyze the differences of dReHo values between two groups (Gaussian random field corrected, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). Spearman correlation analyses were used to analyze the correlations between IAT scores and dReHo values of brain regions with statistically significant differences between IGD group and control group. Results:Compared with the control group, the IGD group showed increased dReHo values in the right thalamus, right caudate nucleus, left putamen, bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus, bilateral supplementary motor area, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus ( t=3.84-4.94, Gaussian random field corrected, voxel level P<0.001, cluster level P<0.05). The dReHo value in the right medial superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with IAT scores ( r=0.395, P=0.023) in IGD group. Conclusion:Individuals with IGD exhibited a wide range of abnormal dynamic patterns of intrinsic neural activity in pivotal regions associated with reward processing and cognitive control functions (the fronto-striato-thalamic circuit), providing new insights into the underlying neural mechanisms of IGD.
10.Bioequivalence study of dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy subjects
Gong-sheng XIAO ; Yu-hong SUN ; Na SHAN ; Yan-ni DANG ; Da-yong HUI ; Lin-lin MIAO ; Rui-xia LIU ; An-feng LOU ; Jia-hua GUO ; Feng LIU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(21):3153-3157
Objective To study the bioequivalence of generic and original dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy subjects after single dose under fasting and fed conditions.Methods A single-center,random,open,single-dose,two-preparations,double-period,crossover study was adopted.Fasting and fed tests were performed on 36 subjects each.Single oral dose 60 mg of test and reference pre parations were taken under fasting and fed conditions,respectively.Plasma concentration of dapoxetine was determined by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.The main pharmacokinetic(PK)parameters were calculated by Phoenix WinNonlin 8.0 software.Results The main PK parameters of the test and reference preparations of dapoxetine tablets in the fasting group were as follows:Cmax were(449.36±203.01)and(432.85±199.75)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(2 400.96±1 392.58)and(2 251.82±1 225.84)ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(2 529.94±1 498.05)and(2 371.06±1 305.22)ng·mL-1·h.The main PK parameters of the test and reference preparations of dapoxetine tablets in the fed group were as follows:Cmax were(651.29±179.38)and(672.83±249.42)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(3 391.27±1 358.73)and(3 314.56±1 360.39)ng·mL-1·h;AUC0-∞ were(3 630.79±1 605.89)and(3 549.22±1 526.61)ng·mL-1·h.Under the fasting and fed conditions,the 90%confidence intervals of the main PK parameters of the test and reference preparations of dapoxetine tablets are 80.00%-125.00%.Conclusion Under the fasting and fed conditions,a single oral dose of generic and original dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy adult volunteers showed bioequivalence.

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