1.Regulatory Effect of Danhe Granules on Oxidative Stress in Rats with Mixed Hyperlipidemia
Jingke MENG ; Susu LIU ; Pan GAO ; Mingjiao JIA ; Bochao JIA ; Qingzheng XING ; Yulong CHEN ; Wei WANG ; Xinlou CHAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):112-122
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology, as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM). Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) induced by palmitic acid (PA), followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-, medium-, and high-dose Danhe granules groups (1.134, 2.268, and 4.536 g·kg-1, respectively), as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium (4.020 mg·kg-1). After eight weeks of intervention, serum lipid levels, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indices, and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia, with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway, AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while increasing catalase (CAT) activity (P<0.05), thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in HepG2. In animal experiments, Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P<0.05), reduced hepatic MDA levels, and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis, upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expressions, and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels, enhancing SOD and CAT activities, scavenging excessive ROS, inhibiting oxidative stress, and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.
2.Regulatory Effect of Danhe Granules on Oxidative Stress in Rats with Mixed Hyperlipidemia
Jingke MENG ; Susu LIU ; Pan GAO ; Mingjiao JIA ; Bochao JIA ; Qingzheng XING ; Yulong CHEN ; Wei WANG ; Xinlou CHAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):112-122
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology, as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM). Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) induced by palmitic acid (PA), followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-, medium-, and high-dose Danhe granules groups (1.134, 2.268, and 4.536 g·kg-1, respectively), as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium (4.020 mg·kg-1). After eight weeks of intervention, serum lipid levels, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indices, and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia, with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway, AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while increasing catalase (CAT) activity (P<0.05), thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in HepG2. In animal experiments, Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P<0.05), reduced hepatic MDA levels, and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis, upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expressions, and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels, enhancing SOD and CAT activities, scavenging excessive ROS, inhibiting oxidative stress, and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.
3.Application Analysis of Alzheimer's Disease Animal Models Based on Data Mining
Zhichen WANG ; Senlin CHEN ; Yulong ZOU ; Gengzhao CHEN ; Qianhong ZHU ; Saie HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):244-252
ObjectiveThis paper aims to systematically summarize the construction methods and characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) animal models, providing a reference for improving AD animal models. MethodsLiterature related to AD animal models published between January 2022 and April 2025 was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Wanfang Data, and VIP Database. Information such as experimental animal species, month of age, sex, modeling methods, and period, as well as evaluation indicators, was collated, extracted, and imported into Microsoft Excel 2024 to establish the database. In addition, various modeling methods and detection means were summarized and compared. ResultsA total of 400 articles were included. Among the AD animal models, amyloid precursor protein/presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) mice were used most frequently, with a predominance of male animals. Typically, 3-4-month-old rats or 5-6-month-old mice were selected. The main modeling methods included natural aging, accelerated aging, surgical intervention, drug induction, and transgenic technology. The modeling period was mainly concentrated in a single day or 6-8 weeks. Detection indicators of the models focused on physiological, behavioral, pathological-morphological, and biochemical phenotypes. ConclusionThe construction methods of AD animal models are relatively mature, with multifactorial interventions effectively simulating human pathology, though certain limitations remain. By systematically reviewing and analyzing recent experimental literature of AD animal models, this study aims to provide theoretical support and a reference for further improving the construction of the AD animal model.
4.Clinical effect and mechanism of Gongliuxiao capsule combined with dienogest in treating refractory/recurrent endometriosis
Hui YUAN ; Yalin MAO ; Xiangqian XU ; Yulong CHEN ; Shoufang KONG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1468-1472
OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical efficacy and mechanism of Gongliuxiao capsule combined with dienogest (DNG) in the treatment of refractory/recurrent endometriosis (EMT). METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 94 patients with refractory/recurrent EMT admitted to Qingdao TCM Hospital from January 2022 to January 2025. According to different treatment methods, they were divided into a monotherapy group (47 cases, receiving DNG monotherapy) and a combination group (47 cases, receiving Gongliuxiao capsule combined with DNG). The cl inical efficacy, symptom and sign scores [Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) scores ] , vascular endothelial function indicators [serum transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1 ), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) ] , serum pathological factors [carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125), CA199, anti-endometrial antibody (EMAb) ] , and Th1/Th2 drift indicators [interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-4 (IL-4) ] were compared between the two groups before and after 6 months of treatment. RESULTS After treatment, the VAS and PBAC scores, serum levels of TGF-β 1 , VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, bFGF, CA125, CA199, EMAb, and IL-4 in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment, while IFN-γ levels were significantly higher than those before treatment ( P <0.05). Moreover, the magnitude of increase or decrease in the combination group was significantly greater than that in the monotherapy group ( P <0.05). The total effective rate in the combination group was significantly higher than that in the monotherapy group (93.62% vs. 76.60%, P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of Gongliuxiao capsule and DNG is effective in treating refractory/recurrent EMT, and can effectively improve the degree of dysmenorrhea and abnormal menstrual volume in patients. The mechanism may be related to improving vascular endothelial function, inhibiting the expression of tumor pathological factors, and correcting Th1/Th2 drift.
5.Role of Autophagy Flux in Chemoresistance of Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma and Sensitizing Effect of Chloroquine Combined with Doxorubicin
Yating CHEN ; Xueyu WANG ; Yulong WANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(7):516-522
Objective To investigate the role of cellular autophagy in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) under doxorubicin (DOX)-induced stress and chemoresistance and to evaluate the synergistic antitumor effect of combining the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) with DOX. Methods The human MTC cell line TT was used as an in vitro model and assigned to four groups: control, DOX, CQ, and DOX+CQ combination. Autophagy flux was assessed by Western blot analysis of LC3-Ⅱ protein expression, whereas autophagic structures were observed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An MTC xenograft model was established in nude mice, and tumor-bearing mice were randomly allocated to corresponding treatment groups. Tumor growth volume and weight were monitored, and autophagy levels in tumor tissues were detected. Results In vitro experiments showed that DOX treatment considerablyincreased LC3-Ⅱ levels, indicating autophagy induction. The combination of DOX and CQ led to further LC3-Ⅱaccumulation, and TEM revealed numerous undegraded autophagosomes and abnormal autolysosomes, confirming the successful blockade of autophagic flux. In vivo, the DOX+CQ combination therapy inhibited tumor growth significantly more effectively than any single-agent treatment (tumor inhibition rate: 60.0%, P<0.01) without causing considerable systemic toxicity. Marked accumulation of LC3-Ⅱ in tumor tissues from the combination group indicated the effective inhibition of autophagic flux in vivo. Conclusion Functional autophagy flux is a key mechanism underlying DOX chemoresistance in MTC. CQ can effectively reverse this resistance by blocking autophagic flux, and its combination with DOX exhibits a considerable synergistic antitumor effect. These findings suggest a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of advanced MTC.
6.Mechanism of Huanglian Wendantang on Damp-heat Type Diabetes Enteropathy Rats Based on TGR5/GLP-1 Signaling Pathway and Intestinal Flora
Yujin WANG ; Yulong QIE ; Hua JIANG ; Chen YUAN ; Xirui DENG ; Xuelian MENG ; Wenli WANG ; Yanjin SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):10-18
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Huanglian Wendantang on damp-heat type diabetes enteropathy rats based on the G protein coupled bile acid receptor 5/glucagon like peptide-1 (TGR5/GLP-1) signaling pathway and intestinal flora. MethodsA total of 72 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were adaptively fed for one week. Twelve SD rats were randomly selected as a blank group and fed with an ordinary diet. The rest of the SD rats were fasted for 12 hours without water. A rat model with damp-heat type diabetes enteropathy was made by left intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg·kg-1) and high sugar and high fat diet (20% sucrose solution + high fat diet) in a humid and hot environment (artificial climate box: temperature 30-34 ℃, relative humidity: 85%-95%). After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group, a metformin group (200 mg·kg-1), low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose Huanglian Wendantang groups (7.10, 14.20, 28.39 g·kg-1), with 12 rats in each group. The normal group and the model group were orally administered with physiological saline once a day for 6 consecutive weeks. During the observation period, the weight and blood glucose levels of rats were measured and recorded weekly. After the administration, fresh feces were collected from rats, and 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used to study the differences and changes in intestinal flora among different groups. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the serum of rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the pathological morphological changes of colon tissue were examined. The expression of TGR5 and GLP-1 in colon tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of TGR5 and GLP-1 proteins in colon tissue was measured by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed a decrease in body weight, an increase in blood glucose, and significant damp-heat symptoms. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were significantly increased (P<0.01). The expression of TGR5 and GLP-1 was decreased (P<0.01), and the pathogenic bacteria were increased. Compared with the model group, the treatment groups exhibited improvements in body weight, blood glucose levels, and damp-heat syndrome in rats. Among them, the high-dose group of Huanglian Wendantang displayed the most significant improvement effect, with significantly reduced inflammation levels (P<0.01) and elevated expression of TGR5 and GLP-1 (P<0.01). Colonic pathological sections showed that Huanglian Wendantang could effectively ameliorate colonic pathological changes. The 16S rRNA sequencing result indicated a significant increase in beneficial bacteria in the treatment groups. ConclusionHuanglian Wendantang can effectively ameliorate the damp-heat symptoms and blood glucose levels in rats with damp-heat type diabetes enteropathy, and it may exert an effect by regulating the TGR5/GLP-1 signaling pathway and intestinal flora disorder.
7.Distribution of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes in 2 027 Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Jianing JIAN ; Yulong CHEN ; Ruohan LI ; Runze GUO ; Yaling ZHANG ; Yuling ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):173-181
ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics and distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in the patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). MethodsAn electronic questionnaire was developed to collect the general data and four examination information of ESCC patients treated in 10 areas with high incidence of esophageal cancer in China from June 2020 to March 2021. Multiple analyses including frequency analysis, factor analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed to analyze the potential syndrome elements, disease location, and common syndromes of ESCC. ResultsA total of 2 027 patients with ESCC were included. Statistical analysis was performed on 113 symptoms, physical signs, 33 tongue manifestation variables, and 23 pulse manifestation variables of the patients’ four examination information. Factor analysis was performed on 55 variables with frequency>10%, extracting 19 common factors. According to clinical experience and expert opinions, the main lesions of patients with ESCC were in the spleen and stomach, and the main syndrome elements were Qi stagnation, blood stasis, phlegm, dampness, and Qi deficiency, with the syndrome element combination of phlegm obstruction + Qi stagnation + blood stasis being the most common. The syndromes can be classified into four categories of liver-stomach disharmony + combined phlegm and Qi obstruction, kidney-spleen dysfunction + combined phlegm and stasis, spleen-kidney Yang deficiency + obstinate phlegm and blood stasis, and liver-kidney Yin deficiency + obstinate phlegm and blood stasis. The main syndrome of ESCC was liver-stomach disharmony + combined phlegm and Qi obstruction in the early stage, liver-spleen dysfunction + combined phlegm and stasis in the middle stage, and spleen-kidney Yang deficiency + obstinate phlegm and blood stasis in the late stage. ConclusionESCC mainly has main pathological features of internal deficiency and external excess and combined deficiency and excess, with the key syndrome elements being phlegm obstruction, Qi stagnation, and blood stasis. The main disease locations are in the spleen and stomach, involving the liver, kidney, chest and diaphragm, heart, and lung. The main syndrome is liver-stomach disharmony + combined phlegm and Qi obstruction. In clinical practice, it is necessary to grasp the pathogenesis dynamics of the disease and use prescriptions according to patients’ syndromes.
8.Off-the-shelf human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cell product in acute-on-chronic liver failure: A multicenter phase I/II clinical trial.
Lina CUI ; Huaibin ZOU ; Shaoli YOU ; Changcun GUO ; Jundong GU ; Yulong SHANG ; Gui JIA ; Linhua ZHENG ; Juan DENG ; Xiufang WANG ; Ruiqing SUN ; Dawei DING ; Weijie WANG ; Xia ZHOU ; Guanya GUO ; Yansheng LIU ; Zhongchao HAN ; Zhibo HAN ; Yu CHEN ; Ying HAN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(18):2347-2349
9.A critical role for Phocaeicola vulgatus in negatively impacting metformin response in diabetes.
Manyun CHEN ; Yilei PENG ; Yuhui HU ; Zhiqiang KANG ; Ting CHEN ; Yulong ZHANG ; Xiaoping CHEN ; Qing LI ; Zuyi YUAN ; Yue WU ; Heng XU ; Gan ZHOU ; Tao LIU ; Honghao ZHOU ; Chunsu YUAN ; Weihua HUANG ; Wei ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2511-2528
Metformin has been demonstrated to attenuate hyperglycaemia by modulating the gut microbiota. However, the mechanisms through which the microbiome mediates metformin monotherapy failure (MMF) are unclear. Herein, in a prospective clinical cohort study of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients treated with metformin monotherapy, metagenomic sequencing of faecal samples revealed that Phocaeicola vulgatus abundance was approximately 12 times higher in nonresponders than in responders. P. vulgatus rapidly hydrolysed taurine-conjugated bile acids, leading to ceramide accumulation and reversing the improvements in glucose intolerance conferred by metformin in high-fat diet-fed mice. Interestingly, C22:0 ceramide bound to mitochondrial fission factor to induce mitochondrial fragmentation and impair hepatic oxidative phosphorylation in P. vulgatus-colonized hyperglycaemic mice, which could be exacerbated by metformin. This work suggests that metformin may be unsuitable for P. vulgatus-rich T2DM patients and that clinicians should be aware of metformin toxicity to mitochondria. Suppressing P. vulgatus growth with cefaclor or improving mitochondrial function using adenosylcobalamin may represent simple, safe, effective therapeutic strategies for addressing MMF.
10.Status and influencing factors of air quality in static state of clean operating rooms in 41 medical institutions in Xi'an from 2017 to 2021
Ruru LIU ; Xin WANG ; Chen CHEN ; Fei WANG ; Wenhao LI ; Pengfei WANG ; Yulong LIU ; Han FU
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(15):2368-2373
OBJECTIVE To investigate the current status of air quality in clean operating rooms in Xi'an and explore the possible influencing factors,thus to provide data support for improving the quality of operating room manage-ment.METHODS According to GB50333-2013"Architectural technical code for hospital clean operating depart-ment",on-site monitoring was conducted from 2017 to 2021 on the air quality of 242 clean operating rooms in 41 hospitals in Xi'an,and the results were compared and analyzed.RESULTS Among the operating rooms being sur-veyed,130 were from secondary hospitals,112 from tertiary hospitals;seventy-nine were ClassⅠoperating rooms,26 were ClassⅡ,137 were ClassⅢ.The pass rate for settling bacterial was 98.35%,with 94.94%for ClassⅠoperating rooms,which was significantly lower than that in ClassⅡand ClassⅢ operating rooms(χ2=6.565,P=0.022).The pass rate for dust particles was 69.01%,with 43.04%for ClassⅠoperating rooms,and there was significant difference among different levels of operating rooms(χ2=37.304,P<0.001).The pass rate for dust particles in tertiary hospitals was 61.61%,lower than that in secondary hospitals(75.38%;χ2=5.340,P=0.021).The pass rate for dust particles≥0.5μm and≥5μm were 85.12%and 74.79%,respectively.Among the operating rooms with unqualified dust particles,those with both≥0.5 μm and≥5 μm dust particles not meeting standards accounted for 29.33%,and those with only≥0.5 μm dust particles not meeting standards accounted for 18.67%.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that influencing factors for air quality in clean operating rooms included the year of monitoring and the level of the operating room,while the sampling area and hospital level were not statistically associated with the outcomes.CONCLUSION The overall air quality of op-erating rooms in Xi'an is not optimistic,the pass rate is affected by the year of monitoring and the clean levels of the operating rooms,indicating a need to strengthen routine management and monitoring of clean operating rooms.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail