1.Effect of Danggui Buxuetang on PINK1/Parkin Signaling Pathway of Vascular Dementia Rats
Guifang QI ; Yue JIANG ; Yunxiang TAN ; Nanbu WANG ; Xinghua CHEN ; Ting WAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):15-24
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of Danggui Buxuetang (DBT) in the treatment of vascular dementia (VAD). MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly assigned to the sham-operated group, model group, DBT low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, and the donepezil group. Except for the sham-operated group, rats in all other groups underwent bilateral common carotid artery ligation. After successful modeling, DBT was administered at doses of 9.2, 18.4, 36.8 g·kg-1 for the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups, respectively, while the donepezil group received 3 mg·kg-1 donepezil solution by gavage once daily. After 4 consecutive weeks of drug treatment, rats underwent the Morris water maze test, novel object recognition test, Nissl staining to observe hippocampal neurons, and immunofluorescence staining to detect the expression of neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN) in the hippocampus. Western blot was used to assess the expression of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ (LC3Ⅱ), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax). Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe hippocampal neuronal ultrastructure. Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and p47phox in hippocampal tissues. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity were measured to evaluate oxidative stress levels. ResultsIn the Morris water maze test, escape latency changed significantly over time in all groups except the model group. Compared with the sham-operated group, the model group showed significantly prolonged escape latency (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, rats in the DBT groups and the donepezil group exhibited significantly shorter escape latency (P<0.05, P<0.01). The number of crossings over the original platform was significantly reduced in the model group compared with the sham-operated group (P<0.01), whereas rats in the DBT and donepezil groups showed significantly increased platform crossings compared with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the sham-operated group, exploration time of new objects was significantly reduced in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, exploration time of new objects increased significantly in the medium- and high-dose DBT groups and the donepezil group (P<0.05, P<0.01), while no significant change was observed in the low-dose DBT group. Compared with the high-dose DBT group, rats in the donepezil group had significantly prolonged escape latency and reduced platform crossings and new-object exploration time (P<0.05). Nissl staining showed decreased density of healthy neurons in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus in the model group, with loss of Nissl bodies and nuclear atrophy or disappearance. In the high-dose DBT group, neuronal density in CA1 and CA3 increased, with neurons arranged closely and displaying normal morphology. Immunofluorescence showed that compared with the sham-operated group, the hippocampal NeuN⁺ cell count in the VAD model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01), compared with the VAD model group, the hippocampal NeuN⁺ cell count in the high-dose DBT group was significantly increased(P<0.01). Compared with the sham-operated group, the expression of PINK1, Parkin, LC3Ⅱ, and Bax proteins was significantly increased(P<0.01), while the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in the VAD model group(P<0.01). Compared with the VAD model group, the high-dose DBT group showed significantly decreased expression of PINK1, Parkin, LC3Ⅱ, and Bax proteins(P<0.01)and significantly upregulated Bcl-2 expression(P<0.01). The medium-dose DBT group exhibited significantly reduced expression of Parkin, LC3Ⅱ, and Bax proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01) and significantly increased Bcl-2 expression(P<0.01), while no statistically significant differences were observed in the low-dose DBT group. Transmission electron microscopy showed mitochondrial pyknosis, thickened cristae, increased electron density, and the presence of mitochondrial autophagy in the model group. In contrast, hippocampal neurons in the high-dose DBT group contained abundant mitochondria with intact morphology, clear cristae, and uniform matrix. Compared with the sham-operated group, total antioxidant capacity, SOD activity, and GSH levels were significantly decreased, while MDA levels were significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant levels (SOD, GSH) increased significantly, and MDA decreased significantly in the medium- and high-dose DBT groups (P<0.01), while no significant changes were observed in the low-dose DBT group. Compared with the sham-operated group, mRNA expression of p22phox and p47phox was significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, expression of p22phox and p47phox was significantly decreased in the DBT groups (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDBT may exert neuroprotective effects by regulating PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitochondrial autophagy, thereby improving learning and memory abilities and treating VAD.
2.Study on the effect of apoptosis stimulation protein 2 on traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy in rabbits
Xiaoli CHEN ; Yuze MAO ; Wenhui CAI ; Haiwei WANG ; Yankun YUE
International Eye Science 2026;26(1):16-20
AIM:To investigate the effect of apoptosis stimulation protein 2(ASPP2)on the development of traumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR)in a rabbit model.METHODS:A total of 30 New Zealand white rabbits were selected, and the right eyes of all rabbits were inflicted with a scleral penetrating wound of approximately 6 mm. Then rabbits were randomly and evenly divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group received an intravitreal injection of 0.1 mL of ARPE-19 cell suspension transfected with lentivirus-ASPP2, while the control group received an intravitreal injection of 0.1 mL of ARPE-19 cell suspension transfected with negative control lentivirus. At 1, 2, 3, and 4 wk after PVR modeling, a handheld tonometer was used to measure the intraocular pressure. Moreover, fundus photography and ocular ultrasound examination were performed to detect the retinal proliferation. At 4 wk after modeling, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphological retinal changes, and Western blot was used to determine the protein expressions of ASPP2 and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)marker Vimentin in the rabbit retinas.RESULTS:At 1, 2, 3, and 4 wk after modeling, there were no significant changes in intraocular pressure within the experimental and control group of rabbit eyes, either before or after PVR modeling, the success rate of PVR modeling in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05), and the retinal proliferation and structural disorder was less severe in the experimental group. At 4 wk after modeling, the retinal protein expression level of ASPP2 in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group(t=3.193, P=0.033), while the Vimentin protein expression level was significantly lower in the experimental group(t=-3.599, P=0.023).CONCLUSION:ASPP2 may be involved in regulating the process of EMT in retinal pigment epithelial cells, thereby delaying the development and progression of traumatic PVR in rabbit eyes.
3.The three-stage dilemma and its legal response in realizing algorithm justice for medical artificial intelligence
Jiaxin CHEN ; Zhuoyu XU ; Yuanlei YUE
Chinese Medical Ethics 2026;39(3):279-286
In the period of digital transformation of the medical service model, maintaining algorithm justice for medical artificial intelligence possesses multiple value implications. However, practical dilemmas exist at different stages of achieving this value goal. At the initial stage of diagnosis and treatment decision-making, there is a risk of imbalance in patients’ rights and interests, such as weakened effectiveness of patients’ right to informed consent, as well as low synergy between rights and interests protection and technological innovation. In the process of diagnosis and treatment decision-making, the algorithmic model is constrained by the technological bottleneck in the underlying application, deviating from the legal track of technological neutrality. After the diagnosis and treatment decision-making is generated, it triggers a crisis in the remedy of patients’ rights and interests and breeds the phenomenon of an ambiguous definition of subject qualification and attribution principle. In this regard, it is essential to establish a preemptive safeguard system focusing on the protection of patients’ rights and interests, set technological fairness standards, and shape review norms of technological neutrality. The aim is to ensure the equalization of remedy channels for patients’ rights and interests, promote the fairness in the proportion of responsibilities among multiple subjects, and thereby safeguard the digital justice in the field of intelligent diagnosis and treatments.
4.Adra2a Regulates LPS-Induced Inflammation in Hepatocytes of Lbp-/- Mice via the MAPK Signaling Pathway
Sai LIU ; Bin FU ; Sidi LI ; Zhida CHEN ; Yue ZHANG ; Zhongkun GUO ; Yongan WANG ; Kezhou WANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(2):212-221
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which adrenoceptor alpha 2A (Adra2a) regulates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in primary hepatocytes from lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) knockout mice (Lbp-/-). MethodsPrimary hepatocytes from C57BL/6J and Lbp-/- mice were isolated using a two-step perfusion method. An in vitro inflammatory model was established by LPS stimulation, and an in vivo inflammatory mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The in vitro experiments were grouped as follows: Control group, LPS group, BRL+LPS group, OE-NC+LPS group, and OE-Adra2a+LPS group. The Control group served as the blank control. The LPS group involved stimulating primary hepatocytes with LPS. The BRL+LPS group involved pretreating primary hepatocytes with BRL-44408 maleate followed by LPS stimulation. The OE-NC+LPS group involved transfecting primary hepatocytes with an empty vector followed by LPS stimulation. The OE-Adra2a+LPS group involved transfecting primary hepatocytes with a lentivirus overexpressing Adra2a, followed by LPS stimulation. The in vivo experimental groups were divided into Control', LPS', BRL+LPS', OE-NC+LPS', and OE-Adra2a+LPS' groups. The Control' group served as the blank control. The LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The BRL+LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of BRL-44408 maleate for pretreatment, followed by LPS injection. The OE-NC+LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of empty vector for pretreatment, followed by LPS injection. The OE-Adra2a+LPS' group received intraperitoneal injection of a lentivirus overexpressing Adra2a for pretreatment, followed by LPS injection. Cell viability after Adra2a inhibition and overexpression was assessed via the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. RT-qPCR measured changes in gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) after Adra2a inhibition and overexpression. Western blotting was performed to detect Adra2a protein expression and phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) following LPS stimulation. ResultsIn vitro experiments revealed that LPS stimulation significantly decreased Adra2a protein expression in primary hepatocytes from C57BL/6J mice compared to the Control group (P<0.05), whereas it increased in primary hepatocytes from Lbp-/- mice (P<0.001). Compared to the LPS group, the BRL+LPS group exhibited significantly increased cell viability (P<0.01), reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β gene transcription levels (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001), and decreased phosphorylation levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.001). Compared with the OE-NC+LPS group, the OE-Adra2a+LPS group showed significantly decreased cell viability (P<0.001), increased gene transcription levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β genes (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.001), and elevated phosphorylation levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.001). In vivo experiments showed that, compared with the LPS' group, the BRL+LPS' group exhibited significantly reduced phosphorylation levels of MAPK signaling pathway-related proteins ERK1/2, p38, and JNK (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.01). In the OE-Adra2a+LPS' group, the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK were significantly elevated compared to the OE-NC+LPS' group (P<0.01, P<0.001, P<0.01). ConclusionLPS stimulation can cause a significant increase in Adra2a protein expression in primary hepatocytes of Lbp-/- mice. Adra2a protein can regulate the level of LPS-induced inflammation in primary hepatocytes of Lbp-/- mice through the MAPK signaling pathway.
5.Strategies of HIV-1 Vaccines Based on mRNA Platforms
Pei LIU ; Zhong-Yue FANG ; Xin-Xin CHEN ; Shao-Wei LI ; Ying GU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):826-839
Since its emergence in the 1980s, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has caused a global pandemic, posing a severe threat to human life and health as well as social development. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively curbs HIV transmission and antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly extends the lifespan of patients, vaccines remain a pivotal tool for blocking transmission and ending the pandemic. The high genetic variability of HIV-1, the glycan shield of its envelope glycoproteins, and the long-term persistence of latent reservoirs have repeatedly led to bottlenecks in traditional vaccine strategies. In recent years, mRNA technology has offered a novel approach to addressing these challenges, leveraging advantages such as sequence programmability, short production cycles, native conformational expression of antigens, and self-adjuvant effects. In recent years, mRNA vaccine technology has emerged as a transformative solution to longstanding vaccinology challenges, characterized by its sequence programmability, rapid production cycles, native conformational antigen expression, and intrinsic self-adjuvanting properties. Unlike traditional platforms reliant on pathogen culture or recombinant proteins, mRNA vaccines can be expeditiously designed and updated based solely on viral genomic sequences. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA facilitates endogenous antigen expression and presentation, simultaneously eliciting potent humoral and cellular immune responses. Within this landscape, self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) further extends in vivo antigen expression to enhance the persistence of immune responses. Moreover, the LNP delivery system not only protects mRNA from degradation and mediates endosomal escape but also synergizes with mRNA to optimize immune activation via self-adjuvant effects. Importantly, mRNA platforms circumvent the pre-existing immunity associated with viral vectors and the genomic integration risks of DNA vaccines, positioning them as a cornerstone for global pandemic preparedness. This review systematically delineates recent advances in mRNA technology for HIV-1 vaccine development, focusing on four pivotal research frontiers. First, mRNA innovations building upon the RV144 trial optimize antigens through codon modification and multivalent designs to induce more durable and broad-spectrum immunity. Second, particulate mRNA vaccine strategies, utilizing virus-like particles (VLPs) and ferritin nanoparticles, achieve in situ antigen self-assembly, significantly enhancing B cell activation and reducing infection risks in non-human primate models. Third, germline-targeting mRNA vaccines address the low-affinity barrier of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAp) precursors, efficiently activating rare precursor B cells and promoting affinity maturation. Fourth, therapeutic mRNA vaccines offer unique advantages for an HIV functional cure; combining immunogens with mRNA-encoded adjuvants potentiates cellular immunity, while LNP-mediated “shock-and-kill” strategies specifically activate latent reservoirs to guide immune clearance. Comparative analyses with traditional platforms reveal that mRNA technology redefines antigen production and presentation, simulating chronic infection through sustained expression and enabling dual-pathway presentation via endogenous synthesis. Furthermore, we explore the mechanistic innovations of mRNA vaccines in inducing bNAps: sustained in vivo production prolongs the activation window for precursor B cells and maintains germinal center (GC) reactions; endogenously expressed antigens adopt native conformations to expose conserved epitopes; and self-adjuvanting effects modulate the functions of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and follicular helper T cells (Tfh), driving somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. We also address critical clinical translation challenges, including immune durability, adaptability to special populations, and large-scale LNP manufacturing, while proposing targeted optimization strategies. In conclusion, this review establishes a theoretical framework for utilizing mRNA technology to overcome HIV-1 immune escape, transitioning from a descriptive paradigm to a problem-solving-based synthesis of evidence. By integrating preclinical and early clinical data, we bridge the gap between basic design and translational verification. mRNA technology is poised to become a central pillar inHIV-1 prevention and therapy, providing a robust toolset to achieve the global goal of ending the AIDS pandemic and offering a blueprint for vaccine development against other recalcitrant infectious diseases.
6.The Role of Lysosomal Dysfunction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Pathogenesis to Targeted Therapies
Yue-Yan WU ; Xin CHEN ; Ce-Fan ZHOU ; Jing-Feng TANG ; Rui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):609-622
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with high morbidity rates worldwide. It is a major threat to public health in China, due to the combination of known and new risk factors, such as endemic hepatitis B virus (HBV), dietary aflatoxin exposure, and the occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Although many methods for surveillance and multimodal therapies, such as surgery, local ablation, transarterial therapy, and new systemic agents, have been available, the survival rates of HCC remains poor. They have very limited durable responses, long post-treatment recurrence rates, and high resistance to treatment. This reflects an imperfect picture of the biological cause of the disease and a need for new mechanistic or targeted techniques. A significant characteristic of HCC, in common with other aggressive cancers, is the presence of reprogrammed, hyperactive cell metabolism. Tumor cells hijack metabolic pathways to promote their uncontrolled growth, stress survival, invasion and metastasis. While classical mechanisms such as the Warburg effect, lipid metabolism and glutamine utilization have been understood, the lysosome, which was once viewed as a static “waste disposal unit” to remove old organelles and proteins, is instead a dynamic signaling and metabolic core. The lysosomes incorporate nutrients, energy and stress signals by master regulators such as mTORC1 (activated on its surface) that balance anabolic growth and catabolic recycling to the cellular demands. In HCC, lysosomes are not passive, but are highly active and dysregulated. HCC cells upregulate lysosomes, which scavenge intracellular components via enhanced autophagy and engulf extracellular proteins via macropinocytosis, crucial for survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In addition to metabolism, lysosomes exhibit pro-invasive functions by secreting hydrolases to remodel the extracellular matrix, promote angiogenesis, and suppress stromal immune cells to foster a pro-tumor microenvironment. In a clinical context, lysosomes play an important role in therapeutic resistance: they sequester and inactivate chemotherapeutics via lysosomal sequestration, and enhanced autophagic flux protects the cell from therapy-induced damage, contributing to relapse, as lysosomal dysfunction is a key cause of treatment failure. This makes lysosomes promising yet challenging therapeutic targets in HCC. Recent preclinical and early clinical studies investigate multiple strategies to exploit the susceptibility of lysosomes: lysosome-specific agents, alkalinizing the lysosome lumen or inducing membrane permeabilization and lysosome-dependent cell death; pharmacological inhibition of key lysosomal enzymes or autophagy to impair nutrient recycling and stress adaptation; smart nanotherapeutic agents or antibody-drug conjugates, specifically activated in the acidic lysosomal environment or utilizing lysosomal pathways for efficient intracellular drug release; and combination strategies of lysosome-targeting agents with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunotherapy to overcome resistance and achieve synergistic antitumor effects. In summary, our review systematically presents the role of lysosomes in HCC, from metabolic reprogramming and microenvironmental adaptation to therapeutic resistance. By synthesizing the latest mechanistic insights and preclinical advances, this review highlights the indispensable role of lysosomes in the complex HCC biological network, emphasizing that an in-depth understanding of this dynamic organelle holds great promise for developing innovative, targeted therapies, offering new hope for improving the poor prognosis of global HCC patients.
7.Efficacy and safety of surgery-assisted transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in treatment of portal hypertension comorbid with complex portal vein thrombosis
Zhenhua FAN ; Chengbin DONG ; Qimei LI ; Yu ZHANG ; Yifan WU ; Dongfang LIU ; Guangzhong XU ; Dezhong WANG ; Jianfei CHEN ; Zhendong YUE ; Lei WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(3):586-592
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of surgery-assisted transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (SA-TIPS) in the treatment of portal hypertension comorbid with complex portal vein thrombosis, including cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). MethodsAn analysis was performed for the data of 36 patients with portal hypertension and complex portal vein thrombosis who underwent SA-TIPS in Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from November 2023 to January 2025, including general status, technical data of the surgical process (surgical success rate, puncture times, time of operation, the number of stents used, and the length of shunt), perioperative complications, and surgical recovery. The change in portal pressure gradient (PPG) after shunt was compared, and the rate of reaching the standard for PPG reduction was calculated, as well as stent patency rate within 1 week after surgery. The paired samples t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups. ResultsAmong the 36 patients, 34 (94.4%) underwent SA-TIPS successfully. The incidence rate of perioperative complications was 16.7% (6/36), including 3 cases of thoraco-abdominal hemorrhage, 2 cases of intraoperative arrhythmia, and 1 case of incision infection. There was a significant reduction in PPG after SA-TIPS (t=19.85, P<0.01), and the patients achieving a ≥50% reduction in PPG accounted for 76.5% (26/34). Imaging reexamination within 1 week showed a shunt patency rate of 100%. ConclusionSA-TIPS has a high technical success rate, a favorable safety profile, and good efficacy in the treatment of portal hypertension comorbid with complex portal vein thrombosis (including CTPV), and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.
8.Advances in perioperative nutritional management for patients with esophageal cancer
Zuyu ZHANG ; Bo YANG ; Rong NIU ; Jijun XUE ; Jian CHEN ; Dong LI ; Wentao ZHAO ; Wenfeng HAN ; Yue BAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):157-162
Esophageal cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract in China, and radical surgery remains the cornerstone of its comprehensive treatment. However, multifactorial challenges such as postoperative gastrointestinal tract reconstruction, traumatic stress, and tumor-related metabolic disturbances render esophageal cancer patients highly susceptible to malnutrition. Perioperative nutritional support therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing surgical safety, improving clinical outcomes, and elevating patients' quality of life by regulating metabolic homeostasis, preserving organ function, and optimizing the immune microenvironment. This article reviews the mechanisms underlying malnutrition in esophageal cancer, methods for nutritional status assessment, and precision intervention pathways based on multi-omics evaluations. The aim is to strengthen clinicians' awareness of standardized perioperative nutritional management for esophageal cancer patients and promote its clinical implementation, thereby facilitating postoperative recovery and improving long-term quality of life.
9.Disease burden and trend prediction of autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents in China and globally
GAO Yue, LI Hongjie, CHEN Meiqi, ZHOU Yang, YANG Xiaolei
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(2):268-272
Objective:
To analyze the current burden of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children and adolescents in China and globally, and to predict the disease burden from 2024 to 2035, providing a scientific basis for formulating relevant public health policies and intervention measures.
Methods:
Based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database in 2023, the Joinpoint regression model was used to analyze the changing trends of the disease burden of ASD among children and adolescents in China and globally from 1990 to 2023, and the average annual percent change (AAPC) was calculated. An autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was constructed to predict the disease burden trends of ASD among children and adolescents in China and globally from 2024 to 2035.
Results:
The prevalence and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rate of ASD among children and adolescents in China increased from 452.69/100 000 and 86.67/100 000 in 1990 to 762.84/100 000 and 148.52/ 100 000 in 2023(AAPC=1.60%, 1.65%, both P <0.01). The prevalence and DALYs rate of ASD among children and adolescents globally increased from 648.49/100 000 and 123.47/100 000 to 862.44/100 000 and 167.16/100 000(AAPC=0.87%, 0.93%, both P <0.01). In 2023, the highest ASD prevalence and DALY rates occurred in children under 5 years old, with China reporting 848.14/100 000 and 166.69/100 000, both below the global averages of 928.80/100 000 and 181.34/100 000. Projections indicated that by 2035, the ASD prevalence and DALY rates in China would rise to 906.83/100 000 and 168.71/100 000, still below the global averages of 938.04/100 000 and 184.49/100 000.
Conclusion
The disease burden of ASD among children and adolescents in China and globally has generally increased from 1990 to 2023, with a higher risk of disease at younger ages.
10.Effect and Mechanism of Modified Sini San on Improving Intestinal Mucosal Barrier of Chronic Stress Rats via Regulating Short-chain Fatty Acid Metabolism and Inhibiting HMGB1/RAGE Signaling Pathway
Youlan KE ; Yingying YUE ; Zicheng WANG ; Yaoxue SHANG ; Xian ZHOU ; Yu CHEN ; Songlin LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):31-41
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of modified Sini San in ameliorating intestinal mucosal barrier by observing its effects on short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1)/receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signaling pathways in chronic stress rats. MethodsThe 50 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group,model group,low-dose modified Sini San group (7.34 g·kg-1·d-1),high-dose modified Sini San group (14.68 g·kg-1·d-1),and Fructo-oligosaccharides group (3.15 g·kg-1·d-1),with 10 rats in each group. Except for the control group,all other groups were subjected to chronic unpredictable stress/social isolation to create a chronic stress model for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks of modeling,each treatment group was given corresponding drugs by gavage for 2 weeks while modeling. The control group and model group were given the same volume of physiological saline. The effects of Modified Sini San on behaviors,body weight,Bristol score in feces and fecal moisture content in chronic stress rats were observed. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the cecum. The content of SCFAs in the cecal contents of rats were detected by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the expression of HMGB1/RAGE pathway related proteins in cecal tissue. The levels of ZO-1,Occludin,and Claudin-1 in the cecal tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with the model group,the sucrose preference rate,total distance traveled and the number of grid crossings in the open field test of rats in the low-dose modified Sini San group were obviously increased (P<0.05, P<0.01),and the immobility time in the open field test and the immobility time in the forced swimming test of rats in the low-dose and high-dose modified Sini San groups were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Meanwhile,the Bristol score and fecal moisture content of rats in the low and high dose groups of modified Sini San were obviously increased (P<0.05). The low-dose group of modified Sini San had intact mucosal layer structure in the cecal tissue and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells. The content of SCFAs in the cecal contents increased,with a obviously increase in the content of acetic acid,propionic acid,butyric acid,and isovaleric acid (P<0.05, P<0.01) and the expression levels of HMGB1,RAGE,Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2),Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and nuclear factor kappa-B p65(NF-κB p65) proteins in cecal tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in low-dose group of modified Sini San. Meanwhile,the contents of ZO-1,Occludin,and Claudin-1 in the cecal tissue were obviously increased (P<0.01) in low-dose group of modified Sini San. ConclusionModified Sini San can improve the function of intestinal mucosal barrier in chronic stress rats by increasing the content of SCFAs in the intestine and inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE pathway.


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