1.Effect of Yifei Jianpi Prescription on Lipopolysaccharide-induced Lung Immune Inflammatory Response in Rats Based on STAT1/IRF3 Pathway
Hongjuan YANG ; Yaru YANG ; Yujie YANG ; Zhongbo ZHU ; Quan MA ; Yanlin WU ; Hongmei LI ; Xuhui ZHANG ; Xiping LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):146-155
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Yifei Jianpi prescription on the of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 1 (STAT1)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signaling pathway in a pneumonia model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and to explore the mechanism of Yifei Jianpi prescription in improving lung immune and inflammatory responses. MethodsSixty male SPF SD rats were used in this study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the normal control group, and the remaining 50 were instilled with LPS in the trachea to establish a pneumonia model. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into the model group, dexamethasone group (0.5 mg·kg-1), and Yifei Jianpi prescription high-dose (12 mg·kg-1), medium-dose (6 mg·kg-1), and low-dose (3 mg·kg-1) groups, with 10 rats in each group. Treatment was administered once daily, and the normal control and model groups received the same volume of normal saline. After 14 days, flow cytometry was used to detect the classification of whole blood lymphocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe lung tissue pathology and score the damage. Thymus weight, spleen weight, and wet-to-dry weight ratio (W/D) were recorded. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of STAT1, IRF3, IL-6, and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in lung tissues, while Western blot was performed to assess the protein expression of STAT1, IRF3, IL-6, and IFN-α. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed significantly increased proportion of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood, decreased proportions of NK cells and CD4+/CD8+ (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased serum levels of IgG and IgA, significantly increased IgM levels (P<0.01), significantly elevated content of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in BALF, and significantly decreased IL-10 levels (P<0.01). Lung tissue damage was evident, with significant increases in thymus and spleen weights and a higher W/D ratio (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1, IRF3, IFN-α, and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly upregulated (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Yifei Jianpi prescription groups showed significantly reduced proportions of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood, increased proportions of NK cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratios (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly increased serum levels of IgG and IgA, significantly decreased IgM levels (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in BALF, and significantly increased IL-10 levels (P<0.01). Lung tissue damage was alleviated, thymus and spleen weights were significantly reduced, and the W/D ratio was markedly decreased (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1, IRF3, IFN-α, and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly downregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionYifei Jianpi prescription can alleviate lung tissue damage and improve immune and inflammatory responses in LPS-induced pneumonia rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of STAT1/IRF3 signaling pathway activation.
2.Effect and mechanism of embryonic intervention with Zuogui pill on the glucose tolerance in offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus
Min YANG ; Yujie WU ; Kainan SUN ; Yonghui WANG ; Chaoqun WANG ; Kaixia XU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(16):1981-1987
OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanism of embryonic intervention with Zuogui pill on the glucose tolerance in offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus. METHODS Pregnant rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, positive control group (insulin glargine), Zuogui pill low-, medium- and high-dose groups (4.725, 9.45, 18.9 g/kg). In addition to the blank group, streptozotocin was injected intraperitoneally to establish a gestational diabetes mellitus rat model. From day 6 to day 18 of pregnancy, each group was given relevant medicine and distilled water intragastrically, once a day. After 21 days of birth, the body weight and body length of offsprings were recorded, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated through a glucose tolerance test. After 22 days of birth, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) levels in serum, insulin sensitivity index (ISI), and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured, and the morphological structure of pancreatic tissue was observed. The protein spectrum of pancreatic tissue was analyzed by tandem mass tag-based proteomics, and protein and mRNA expression levels of apolipoprotein A1(ApoA1), solute carrier family 27 member 1 (Slc27a1), kininogen 1(Kng1) and sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase subunit alpha 2 (Atp1a2), solute carrier family 7 member 5 (Slc7a5), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (Slc3a2), bile acid-coenzyme A: amino acid N- acyltransferase (Baat), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 subunit gamma (Eif2s3) were detected. RESULTS Compared with the model group, the body weight, body length and ISI of offsprings in the positive control group and Zuogui pill medium-dose group were significantly increased (P<0.05), while the glucose tolerance and islet cell proliferation were significantly improved, and the AUC, FBG, FINS and HOMA-IR were significantly decreased (P<0.05). There were 88 potential target proteins for the embryonic intervention of Zuogui pill in offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus,involving multiple pathways such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G (cGMP-PKG), fat digestion and absorption, and bile secretion. The proteins closely related to glucose metabolism and insulin resistance mainly included ApoA1, Slc27a1, Kng1, Atp1a2, Slc7a5, Slc3a2, Baat, and Eif2s3. Among them, compared with the model group, protein and mRNA expressions of Slc7a5, Slc3a2, and Baat in the pancreatic tissues of pregnant rat offsprings in the Zuogui pill medium-dose group were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05); protein and mRNA expressions of ApoA1, Slc27a1, Kng1, Atp1a2 and Eif2s3 were all significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The intervention of Zuogui pill in the embryonic period on offsprings of pregnant rats with gestational diabetes mellitus can improve their blood glucose levels and pancreatic pathological morphology. The mechanism may be related to the upregulation of the expressions of Slc7a5, Slc3a2, and Baat and the down-regulation of ApoA1, Slc27a1, Kng1, Atp1a2 and Eif2s3 expressions in the PPAR, cGMP-PKG, fat digestion and absorption, and bile secretion pathways.
3.The Development and Application of Chatbots in Healthcare: From Traditional Methods to Large Language Models
Zixing WANG ; Le QI ; Xiaodan LIAN ; Ziheng ZHOU ; Aiwei MENG ; Xintong WU ; Xiaoyuan GAO ; Yujie YANG ; Yiyang LIU ; Wei ZHAO ; Xiaolin DIAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1170-1178
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology, chatbots have shown great potential in the healthcare sector. From personalized health advice to chronic disease management and psychological support, chatbots have demonstrated significant advantages in improving the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. As the scope of their applications expands, the relationship between technological complexity and practical application scenarios has become increasingly intertwined, necessitating a more comprehensive evaluation of both aspects. This paper, from the perspective of he althcare applications, systematically reviews the technological pathways and development of chatbots in the medical field, providing an in-depth analysis of their performance across various medical scenarios. It thoroughly examines the advantages and limitations of chatbots, aiming to offer theoretical support for future research and propose feasible recommendations for the broader adoption of chatbot technologies in healthcare.
4.Disability-adjusted life years for colorectal cancer in China, 2017-2030: A prevalence-based analysis focusing on the impact of screening coverage and the application of local weights.
Yujie WU ; Yanjie LI ; Xin WANG ; Xinyi ZHOU ; Xinxin YAN ; Hong WANG ; Juan ZHU ; Wanqing CHEN ; Jufang SHI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(8):962-972
BACKGROUND:
Most studies have evaluated disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients based on a set of generic disability weights (DWs). This study aimed to apply local CRC-stage-specific DWs to estimate the burden of DALYs for CRC (CRC-DALYs) in populations in China and consider the influence of local screening coverage of CRC.
METHODS:
A prevalence-based model was constructed using data from various sources. Years lived with disability (YLDs) were estimated mainly via cumulative prevalence data (based on CRC incidence rates, population numbers, and survival rates), stage-specific proportions of CRC, and DWs of the local population. Years of life lost (YLLs) were calculated based on the CRC mortality rates and standard life expectancies. CRC incidence and mortality rates for the years 2020, 2025, and 2030 were estimated by joinpoint regression, and the corresponding DALYs were predicted. The main assumption was made for CRC screening coverage. Sensitivity analyses were used to assess the impact of population, DWs, and coverage.
RESULTS:
In 2017, among the Chinese population, the estimated number of CRC-DALYs was 4,303,314 (11.9% for YLDs). If CRC screening coverage rate in China (2.3%) remains unchanged, the overall DALYs in 2030 are predicted to increase by 37.2% (45.1% of those aged ≥65 years). More optimistically, the DALYs would then decrease by 0.7% in 2030 (from 5,902,454 to 5,860,200) if the coverage could be increased to 25.0%. A sensitivity analysis revealed that using local DWs would change the base-case values by 5.7%.
CONCLUSIONS
The estimated CRC-DALYs in China using population-specific DWs were considerably lower (with a higher percentage of YLDs) than the global burden of disease (GBD) estimates (5,865,004, of 4.6% for YLDs), suggesting the impact extent of applying local parameters. Sustainable scale-up CRC screening needs to be in place to moderate the growth trend of CRC-DALYs in China.
Humans
;
Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis*
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Disability-Adjusted Life Years
;
Male
;
Prevalence
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Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
Early Detection of Cancer
;
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
;
Adult
;
Incidence
5.Corrigendum: Comparative analysis of cancer statistics in China and the United States in 2024.
Yujie WU ; Siyi HE ; Mengdi CAO ; Yi TENG ; Qianru LI ; Nuopei TAN ; Jiachen WANG ; Tingting ZUO ; Tianyi LI ; Yuanjie ZHENG ; Changfa XIA ; Wanqing CHEN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1260-1260
6.Inhibition of CCT5-mediated asparagine biosynthesis and anti-PD-L1 produce synergistic antitumor effects in colorectal cancer.
Yujie ZHANG ; Weiyi ZHAO ; Ling WU ; Tianjing AI ; Jie HE ; Zetao CHEN ; Chuangyuan WANG ; Hui WANG ; Rui ZHOU ; Chaoqun LIU ; Liang ZHAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2480-2497
Abnormal amino acid metabolism promotes tumor progression by inducing malignant behaviors in tumor cells and altering the immune landscape within the tumor microenvironment. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we constructed colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids and patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models, performing multifaceted validation to confirm that T-complex protein 1 subunit epsilon (CCT5), mediates the biosynthesis of aspartate and enhances sensitivity to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Mechanistically, CCT5 directly binds to asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and promotes the synthesis of aspartate (Asn). The Asn-mTORC1 axis facilitates tumor cell proliferation while upregulating PD-L1 expression, which leads to a reduction in the number of effector CD8+ T cells. Treatment with l-asparaginase (ASNase) combined with anti-PD-L1 therapy effectively reverses the growth of CRC characterized by high CCT5 expression. In summary, we identify CCT5 as a potential biomarker to guide the combined use of ASNase and anti-PD-L1 antibodies in CRC treatment.
7.Dual-ferroptosis induction-based microneedle patches for enhanced chemodynamic/photothermal combination therapy against triple-negative breast cancer.
Yujie WANG ; Zhaoyou CHU ; Peisan WANG ; Tao LI ; Yu JIN ; Silong WU ; Xiaowei SONG ; Weinan ZHANG ; Miaomiao YANG ; Zhengbao ZHA ; Haisheng QIAN ; Yan MA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4210-4224
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a refractory subtype of breast cancer due to its resistance to various therapeutic strategies. In this study, we introduce a "brake-release and accelerator-pressing" approach to engineer a microneedle patch embedded with copper-doped Prussian blue nanoparticles (Cu-PB) and the ferroptosis inducer sorafenib (SRF) for raised chemodynamic (CDT)/photothermal (PTT) combination therapy against TNBC. Upon transdermal insertion, the dissolving microneedles swiftly disintegrate and facilitate the release of SRF. Under gentle external light exposure, copper ions (Cu2+) and iron ions (Fe3+) were liberated from Cu-PB. The direct chelation of Cu2+ and the indirect suppression by SRF, collectively attenuate glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) enzymatic function, destabilizing the cellular redox equilibrium (referred to as the "brake-release" strategy). The release of Cu2+ and Fe3+ ions instigates a Fenton/Fenton-like reaction within tumor cells, further yielding hydroxyl radicals and elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations (referred to as the "accelerator-pressing" strategy). This overwhelming ROS accumulation, coupled with the impaired clearance of resultant lipid peroxides (LPO), ultimately triggers a robust ferroptosis cell death response. In summary, this study presents an innovative combinatorial therapeutic strategy based on dual-ferroptosis induction for TNBC, implying a promising therapeutic platform for developing ferroptosis-centered treatments for this aggressive breast cancer subtype.
8.PARylation promotes acute kidney injury via RACK1 dimerization-mediated HIF-1α degradation.
Xiangyu LI ; Xiaoyu SHEN ; Xinfei MAO ; Yuqing WANG ; Yuhang DONG ; Shuai SUN ; Mengmeng ZHANG ; Jie WEI ; Jianan WANG ; Chao LI ; Minglu JI ; Xiaowei HU ; Xinyu CHEN ; Juan JIN ; Jiagen WEN ; Yujie LIU ; Mingfei WU ; Jutao YU ; Xiaoming MENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4673-4691
Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation) is a specific form of post-translational modification (PTM) predominantly triggered by the activation of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1). However, the role and mechanism of PARylation in the advancement of acute kidney injury (AKI) remain undetermined. Here, we demonstrated the significant upregulation of PARP1 and its associated PARylation in murine models of AKI, consistent with renal biopsy findings in patients with AKI. This elevation in PARP1 expression might be attributed to trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3). Furthermore, a reduction in PARylation levels mitigated renal dysfunction in the AKI mouse models. Mechanistically, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry indicated that PARylation mainly occurred in receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), thereby facilitating its subsequent phosphorylation. Moreover, the phosphorylation of RACK1 enhanced its dimerization and accelerated the ubiquitination-mediated hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) degradation, thereby exacerbating kidney injury. Additionally, we identified a PARP1 proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), A19, as a PARP1 degrader that demonstrated superior protective effects against renal injury compared with PJ34, a previously identified PARP1 inhibitor. Collectively, both genetic and drug-based inhibition of PARylation mitigated kidney injury, indicating that the PARylated RACK1/HIF-1α axis could be a promising therapeutic target for AKI treatment.
9.Cloning, prokaryotic expression, and functional validation of flavonoid 3-O-glycosyltransferase gene (Rh3GT) from Rhododendron hybridum Hort.
Yicheng YAN ; Zehang WU ; Yuhang JIANG ; Gaoyuan HU ; Yujie YANG ; Xiaohong XIE ; Yueyan WU ; Yonghong JIA
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(2):881-895
Flavonoid 3-O-glucosyltransferase (3GT) is a key enzyme in the glucosidation of anthocyanins. To investigate the 3GT gene in rhododendron, we cloned an open reading frame (ORF) of 3GT gene (named Rh3GT) from Rhododendron hybridum Hort (Red cultivar) and then characterized this gene and the deduced protein in terms of the biochemical characteristics, expression level, and enzymatic function. The results showed that Rh3GT had a full length of 993 bp and encoded 330 amino acid residues. The deduced protein was hydrophilic, stable, weak acid, belonging to the glycosyltransferase family (GT-B type), with glutamine (Q) at position 44 in the PSPG box. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Rh3GT was most closely related to Vc3GT from Vaccinium corymbosum and Vm3GT from Vaccinium myrtillus. Rh3GT was expressed in the stems, leaves, and flowers and almost not expressed in the roots, with the highest expression level in petals during full blooming stage. Introduction of pCAMBIAL1302-Rh3GT into petals significantly up-regulated the expression level of Rh3GT and increased the total anthocyanin accumulation. Rh3GT was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 in the form of inclusion bodies with a size of about 36 kDa. The results of HPLC showed that the recombinant Rh3GT after denaturation, purification, and dilution could catalyze the synthesis of cyanidin and UDP-glucose to synthesize cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, indicating that the expressed protein had 3GT activity. This study provides basic data for further studying the molecular regulation mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis and theoretical support for molecular breeding of rhododendron.
Rhododendron/classification*
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Glucosyltransferases/metabolism*
;
Cloning, Molecular
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Escherichia coli/metabolism*
;
Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis*
;
Anthocyanins/biosynthesis*
;
Phylogeny
;
Plant Proteins/metabolism*
;
Amino Acid Sequence
10.Accuracy analysis of 3 digital techniques in the implantation surgery in anterior dental aesthetic area
Weidan ZHANG ; Ting WANG ; Yujie LIU ; Haiyan LIN ; Hui WU ; Hongyu JIA
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2024;40(5):691-697
Objective:To compare the accuracy of dynamic navigation system,fully-guided and Pilot-drill guided implant surgery in anterior dental aesthetic area.Methods:45 patients underwent single tooth implantation in anterior dental aesthetic area were random-ly divided into 3 groups(n=15).Dynamic navigation system imlanting(A),3D printing fully-guided template with ASTRA EV assis-ted orthopedic implantation(B)and Pilot-drill guided implantation(C)were respectively used for the patients in group A,B and C.The deviation between the preoperative design and actual results were measured by CBCT and/or 3D reconstruction with navigation de-sign software or 3SHAPE software.SPSS 25.0 software package was used and(x)±s was used for descriptive analysis,results were pair-wise compared among the 3 groups using ANOVA.Results:Data were normally distributed and the variance of the data was homoge-neous.In group A,the distance deviation of implant top center was(0.571±0.196)mm,the horizontal deviation was(0.405±0.222)mm,the distance deviation of implant apical center was(0.449±0.267)mm,the vertical deviation was(0.312±0.223)mm,the de-viation of the connection angle between the two centers was 2.257°±0.989°.In group B,those were(0.520±0.242)mm,(0.219±0.201)mm,(0.643±0.284)mm,(0.464±0.292)mm and 1.272°±0.951° respectively.In group C those were(1.179±0.365)mm,(0.667±0.276)mm,(1.518±0.566)mm,(0.967±0.444)mm and 2.568°±0.632°.The deviation of all the measurments of group A and B was lower than those of group C(P<0.05).The deviation of the connection angle between the 2 centers of group B was less than that of group A(P<0.05),but no statistical significance(P>0.05)was found in other 4 measured items.Conslusion:The accuracy of the dynamic navigation system and the fully-guided implantation is significantly higher than that of the Pilot-drill guided implantation,but is not statistically significant between dynamic navigation and the fully-guided system.

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