1.The Effect of Zhiqiao Gancao Decoction (枳壳甘草汤) on Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis and the Hippo-YAP/TAZ Signaling Pathway in Tail Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Rats
Zaishi ZHU ; Zeling HUANG ; Junming CHEN ; Bo XU ; Binjie LU ; Hua CHEN ; Xingxing DUAN ; Yuwei LI ; Xiaofeng SHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(5):509-517
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism by which Zhiqiao Gancao Decoction (枳壳甘草汤, ZGD) delays intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) based on the Hippo-yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group, model group, low-dose ZGD group, high-dose ZGD group, and high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group, with 10 rats in each group. In the sham surgery group, the rats were pierced in the skin and muscle at the Co6/7/8 segments of the tail with a 21G needle (depth approximately 2 mm) without damaging the intervertebral disc. In the other groups, rats were injected with a 21G needle at the Co6/7/8 segments of the tail to establish an IDD model by piercing the tail intervertebral disc 5 mm. One week after modeling, rats in the low-dose and high-dose ZGD groups were given 6.24 and 12.24 g/(kg·d) of the decoction via gastric gavage, respectively. The high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group was given 12.24 g/(kg·d) of the decoction and an intraperitoneal injection of YAP/TAZ inhibitor Verteporfin 10 mg/kg. The sham surgery and model groups were given 5 ml/(kg·d) of normal saline via gavage. The gavage was given once a day, and the intraperitoneal injection was given every other day. After 4 weeks of continuous intervention, the pathological changes of the tail intervertebral discs were observed using HE staining, Oil Red O-Green staining, and Toluidine Blue staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aggrecan and MMP3 in the nucleus pulposus. TUNEL fluorescence staining was performed to detect apoptosis in the nucleus pulposus, and the apoptosis rate was calculated. Western blot was used to detect the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, including YAP, phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP), phosphorylated MST1/2 (p-MST1/2), phosphorylated TAZ (p-TAZ) and apoptosis-related proteins, such as Cleaved Caspase 3, P53, Bcl-2 and Bax. ResultsCompared with sham surgery group, the rats in the model group showed significant degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. The levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins in the nucleus pulposus decreased, while the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and the apoptosis rate increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the drug intervention groups showed partial recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration. The levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins increased, while the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and the apoptosis rate decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The high-dose ZGD group showed more significant recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration compared to the low-dose ZGD group, with a decrease in the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and apoptosis rate, and an increase in the levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the high-dose ZGD group, the high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group showed a reduced recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration, with an increase in the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and apoptosis rate, and a decrease in the levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionZGD may delay intervertebral disc degeneration by inhibiting the phosphorylation of YAP in the nucleus pulposus, maintaining the function of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, and reducing apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.
2.Analysis of main pharmacodynamic components of self-made activated prothrombin complex concentrate
Chinese Journal of Biologicals 2025;38(03):312-317
Objective To analyze the composition of the pharmacodynamic components in the activated prothrombin complex concentrate(aPCC) developed by our research group,and to study the relationship between each pharmacodynamic component and the coagulation factor Ⅷ(FⅧ) bypassing activity.Methods The self-made aPCC concentrates were used as the research object,and the FⅧ bypassing activity was firstly detected by the coagulation method,and then the activities of a series of non-activated coagulation factors,activated coagulation factors and anti-coagulation factors were detected by the coagulation method and chromogenic substrate method.The prothrombin complex concentrate(PCC) in the market was used as a control to analyze the correlation between each pharmacodynamic component and FⅧ bypassing activity.Results The FⅧ bypassing activity of self-made aPCC concentrates and control PCC products were(43.53±3.07) IU/mL and(0.10 ±0.02) IU/mL,respectively,with a significant difference(t=20.16,P <0.01).Compared with the control PCC products,in the non-activated coagulation factors of self-made aPCC concentrates,the activities of coagulation factor Ⅶ(FⅦ) and coagulation factor Ⅸ(FⅨ) were significantly different(t=22.72 and 8.00,respectively,each P <0.05),and the activities of coagulation factor Ⅱ(FⅡ) and coagulation factor Ⅹ(F Ⅹ) showed no significant difference(t=1.67 and-0.96,respectively,each P> 0.05);in the activated coagulation factors of self-made aPCC concentrates,the activities of activated coagulation factor Ⅱ(FⅡ a),activated coagulation factor Ⅸ(FⅨ a),and activated coagulation factor Ⅹ(F Ⅹ a) were significantly different(t=15.92,32.93 and 34.64,respectively,each P <0.01),and there was no significant difference in the activity of activated coagulation factor Ⅶ(FⅦa)(t=2.34,P> 0.05);in the anti-coagulation factors of self-made aPCC concentrates,there was a significant difference in protein S(PS) activity(t=12.82,P <0.01),and there was no significant difference in heparin content or protein C(PC) activity(t=0.85 and-0.34,respectively,each P> 0.05).The FⅧ bypassing activity in the self-made aPCC concentrates and PCC products was significantly correlated with the activities of F Ⅶ,FⅨ,F Ⅱ a,FⅨ a,FⅩa and PS(r=0.999,0.971,0.988,0.994,0.974,and-0.984,respectively,each P <0.01),and was correlated with F Ⅹ a/F Ⅱ(r=0.827,P <0.05).Conclusion Self-made aPCC concentrates contain higher FⅦ bypassing activity,which may be related to the high activity of F Ⅶ,FⅨ,F Ⅱ a,FIX a and FⅩa.
3.Mechanism of Wumen Zhiqiao gancao decoction inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in degenerative intervertebral discs by regulating HIF-1α/VEGF/Ang signal axis
Zeling HUANG ; Zaishi ZHU ; Yuwei LI ; Bo XU ; Junming CHEN ; Baofei ZHANG ; Binjie LU ; Xuefeng CAI ; Hua CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(7):807-814
OBJECTIVE To explore the effect and mechanism of Zhiqiao gancao decoction (ZQGCD) on pathological angiogenesis of degenerative intervertebral disc. METHODS The rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (normal saline), model group (normal saline), hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) inhibitor (YC-1) group [2 mg/(kg·d), tail vein injection], and ZQGCD low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups [3.06, 6.12, 12.24 g/(kg·d)], with 8 rats in each group. Except for sham operation group, lumbar disc degeneration model of rat was constructed in all other groups. After modeling, they were given relevant medicine once a day, for consecutive 3 weeks. After the last medication, pathological changes and angiogenesis of the intervertebral disc tissue in rats were observed; the levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)] and the expressions of angiogenesis-related proteins [HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), angiotensin 1(Ang 1), Ang 2] in the com intervertebral disc tissue in rats were all determined. In cell experiment, the primary nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured from rats, and cellular degeneration was induced using 50 ng/mL TNF-α. The cells were divided into blank control group (10% blank control serum), TNF-α group (10% blank control serum), YC-1 group (10% blank control serum+0.2 mmol/L YC-1), and 5%, 10%, 15% drug-containing serum group (5%, 10%, 15% drug-containing serum). After 24 hours of intervention, the nucleus pulposus cells were co-cultured with HUVEC. The expressions of Collagen Ⅱ, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in nucleus pulposus cells were detected. HUVEC proliferation, migration and tube forming ability were detected, and the expression levels of the HIF-1α/VEGF/Ang signal axis and angiogenesis- related proteins (add MMP-2, MMP-9) in HUVEC were detected. RESULTS Animal experiments had shown that compared with model group, the positive expression of CD31 in the intervertebral disc tissues of rats in each drug group was down-regulated (P< 0.05), the levels of inflammatory factors and angiogenesis-related proteins were decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the pathological changes in the intervertebral disc were alleviated. Cell experiments had shown that compared with TNF-α group, the expression of Collagen Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus cells of all drug groups was significantly up-regulated (P<0.05), and the expression of MMP-3 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05); the proliferation, migration and tubulogenesis of HUVEC were significantly weakened (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α, VEGF, Ang 2 as well as the expression of angiogenesis-related proteins (except for the expression of Ang 2 mRNA and HIF-1α, VEGFR2, Ang 2 protein in 5% drug- containing serum group) were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ZQGCD may inhibit the HIF-1α/VEGF/ Ang signal axis to weaken the angiogenic ability of vascular endothelial cells, improve pathological angiogenesis in the intervertebral disc, and delay the degeneration of the intervertebral disc.
4.Contrast-enhanced CT-based radiomics in predicting post-acute pancreatitis diabetes mellitus incidence
Shuting ZHONG ; Xiaohua HUANG ; Qinglin DU ; Yuwei CHEN ; Shize QIN ; Yu JIANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(3):385-389
Objective To explore the value of dual-phase enhanced CT radiomics in predicting post-acute pancreatitis diabetes mellitus(PPDM-A).Methods A total of 145 patients with acute pancreatitis(AP)were retrospectively collected,including 62 patients in PPDM-A group and 83 patients in non-PPDM-A group.The patients were randomly divided into training set and test set at a ratio of 7︰3,the pancreatic parenchyma in arterial phase and venous phase was delineated and the radiomics features were extracted.Vari-ance threshold method,univariate selection method and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)were used to screen radiomics features.The prediction performance of the model was evaluated by the area under the curve(AUC).The DeLong test was used to compare the prediction efficiency between the models,and the calibration curve and decision curve were used to evaluate the prediction efficiency of the model.Results The AUC of arterial phase model,venous phase model,combined arterial venous phase model,clinical model and radiomics combined clinical model in the training set were 0.845,0.792,0.829,0.656 and 0.862,respec-tively.The DeLong test results showed that only the difference between the radiomics combined clinical model and the clinical model in the training set and the test set was statistically significant(P<0.05).The decision curve showed that the radiomics combined clinical model had high clinical practicability in a certain range,and the calibration curve showed that the radiomics combined clinical model had the best fitting degree with the actual observation value.Conclusion Based on the dual-phase enhanced CT radiomics combined clinical model,PPDM-A can be predicted more accurately,and it can provide a certain reference value for the clinical development of per-sonalized treatment programs.
5.Survey on Status and Development Needs of Evidence-Based Medicine Capability in Ethnic Minority Medicine
Ruifang YU ; Genghang CHEN ; Xueyin CHEN ; Jiaqi LAI ; Qian HUANG ; Lihong YANG ; Yuwei LIU ; Xinfeng GUO ; Shaonan LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(15):1559-1564
ObjectiveTo investigate the current status and development needs of evidence-based medicine (EBM) capability in ethnic minority medicine, and explore effective strategies to enhance EBM capability in this field. MethodsThe questionnaire survey was conducted in various ethnic minority medical institutions and research organisations. The questionnaire covered three dimensions, firstly, perceptions and attitudes towards evidence-based medicine; secondly, advantages and challenges in the development of ethnic minority medicine; thirdly, demands and recommendations for enhancing evidence-based medicine capability in ethnic minority medicine. ResultsA total of 501 valid questionnaires were collected, of which 103 questionnaires were collected by re-sending to minority medicine regions with insufficient participation. The questionnaires included 354 responses (70.66%) from practitioners of minority medicine, including Tibetan medicine, Mongolian medicine, Uyghur medicine, Zhuang medicine, and Korean medicine. Among the 501 questionnaires, 146 respondents (29.14%) indicated that they knew about EBM, 355 respondents (70.86%) had either a "general understanding" or had "not heard about" EBM before, and 469 respondents (93.61%) believed that introducing ECM could promote the development of ethnic minority medicine. The primary challenge in promoting EBM in the field of ethnic minority medicine is the lack of professionals in EBM and a lack of understanding of how to apply it into clinical practice (442 respondents, 88.22%). In the 9-point importance rating for enhancing evidence-based abilities, high scores were achieved in standardization of clinical practice guidelines (7.50±1.90) and methods for sample sizes in clinical research (7.45±1.90). Regarding the demand for improving clinical research literacy, expert academic lectures, and experience sharing (404 respondents, 80.64%) and evidence-based methodology monographs on ethnic minority medicine (401 respondents, 80.04%) were emphasized. ConclusionsPractitioners in ethnic minority medicine hold a positive attitude towards integrating EBM. However, there remains substantial room for the education and dissemination of EBM. Enhancing evidence-based capabilities can be achieved through specific measures such as cultivating or recruiting talents in EBM, establishing evidence-based support platforms for clinical research, organizing regular academic lectures and exchanges, and strengthening the construction of theoretical frameworks and evaluation systems tailored to ethnic minority medicine, thereby following a path of evidence-based practices aligned with the unique characteristics of ethnic minority medicine.
6.Analysis of five Chinese individuals with rare thalassemia mutation HBB: c. 93-21G>A
Guangkuan ZENG ; Yiyuan GE ; Xiaomin MA ; Xiaohua YU ; Bairu LAI ; Yuwei LIAO ; Lili LIU ; Yanbin CAO ; Yanqing ZENG ; Yuchan HUANG ; Jianlian LIANG ; Liye YANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(10):1171-1175
Objective:To explore the hematological phenotype and genotypic characteristics of five Chinese individuals with a rare thalassemia mutation HBB: c. 93-21G>A. Methods:A retrospective study was carried out on five individuals identified by the People′s Hospital of Yangjiang and Guangzhou Hybribio Co., Ltd. from May 2018 to September 2022. Routine blood test and hemoglobin electrophoresis were performed, and the genotypes of five subjects were determined by using PCR combined with reverse dot blotting (RDB), nested PCR, Gap-PCR and Sanger sequencing. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Cornmittee of the People′s Hospital of Yangjiang (Ethics No. 20240001).Results:Among the five individuals, hematological data of one was unavailable, and the remaining four had presented with microcytosis and hypochromia. The results of hemoglobin electrophoresis indicated that all of them had a HbA 2 level of ≥4.7%. Genetic analysis showed that one case had harbored compound heterozygous mutations of ααα anti3.7 triplet and HBB: c. 93-21G>A, one had compound heterozygous mutations of -α 3.7 and HBB: c. 93-21G>A, whilst the remaining three were heterozygous for the HBB: c. 93-21G>A mutation. Conclusion:The hematological phenotype of β-thalassemia carriers ( HBB: c. 93-21G>A) is similar to that of other β + thalassemia heterozygotes with mild β-thalassemia characteristics.
7.Clinical characteristics and genetics functional analysis of two children with Spinal muscular atrophy
Wenchen HUANG ; Jinli BAI ; Hong WANG ; Yuwei JIN ; Xiaoyin PENG ; Xiushan GE ; Hui JIAO ; Yujin QU ; Fang SONG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(10):1187-1194
Objective:To explore the characteristics of SMN1 gene variants and carry out functional verification for two children with Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Methods:Two male children with complicated SMA diagnosed at the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics respectively in July 2021 and April 2022 due to delayed or retrograde motor development were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the children were collected. Primary culture of skin fibroblasts was carried out, and peripheral blood samples were collected from both children and their parents. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, combined long-range PCR and nested PCR, and Sanger sequencing were carried out to detect the copy number and variants of the SMN1 gene. Absolute quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to determine the transcriptional level of the SMN gene, expression of the SMN protein, and the number of functional SMN protein complexes (gems body), respectively. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics (Ethics No. SHERLLM2021009). Results:Child 1, a 1-year-old boy, was clinically diagnosed with type 1 SMA. Child 2, a 2-and-a-half-year-old boy, was clinically diagnosed with type 3 SMA. Both children were found to harbor a paternally derived SMN1 deletion and a maternally derived SMN1 gene variant, namely c. 824G>T (p.Gly275Val) and c. 884A>T (p.*295Leu). Compared with the normal controls and carriers, the levels of full-length SMN1 transcripts in their peripheral blood and skin fibroblast cell lines were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the levels of SMN protein normalized to that of β-actin, and the numbers of gems bodies in the primary fibroblast cells were also significantly lower ( P<0.05). Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, both variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PS3+ PM3+ PM5+ PP3; PS3+ PM3+ PM4+ PP3). Following the diagnosis, both children had received nusinersen treatment. Although their motor function was improved, child 1 still died at the age of 2 due to severe pulmonary infection. The walking ability of child 2 was significantly improved, and his prognosis appeared to be good. Conclusion:Two cases of clinically complicated SMA have been confirmed by genetic testing and experimental studies, which has provided a reference for their accurate treatment.
8.Research on the Improvement Path of Medical Staff's Report Intention on Adverse Events Based on Technology Acceptance Model
Jin WU ; Xinlu TONG ; Binru FANG ; Yu QIAN ; Yuwei FAN ; Xianhong HUANG ; Yongting YANG ; Liming ZHU
Chinese Hospital Management 2024;44(11):51-54,78
Objective Based on the technology acceptance model,to explore the influence mechanism of technical support,perceived interactivity,perceived usefulness,perceived ease of use and perceived risk on medical staff's report intention on adverse events,and to provide path suggestions for improving medical staff's report intention adverse events.Methods The multi-stage sampling method was used to select 637 medical staffs of tertiary public hospitals in Hangzhou who used the information-based platform to report adverse events as the research respondents,and the self-developed scale of report intention on adverse events was used as the research tool,monofactor analysis were conducted by Wilcoxon rank-sum test,and the structural equation model was used to analyze the influence path of their report intention on adverse events.Results Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have positive effects on medical staff's report intention on adverse events(β=0.264,0.658;P<0.001);Perceived risk negatively affected the medical staff's report intention on adverse events(β=-0.143,P<0.001).The indirect effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on medical staff's report intention on adverse events are 0.538 and 0.205,respectively.Conclusion Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use plays a mediating role in perceived interactivity and medical staff's report intention on adverse events.
9.Research on the Improvement Path of Medical Staff's Report Intention on Adverse Events Based on Technology Acceptance Model
Jin WU ; Xinlu TONG ; Binru FANG ; Yu QIAN ; Yuwei FAN ; Xianhong HUANG ; Yongting YANG ; Liming ZHU
Chinese Hospital Management 2024;44(11):51-54,78
Objective Based on the technology acceptance model,to explore the influence mechanism of technical support,perceived interactivity,perceived usefulness,perceived ease of use and perceived risk on medical staff's report intention on adverse events,and to provide path suggestions for improving medical staff's report intention adverse events.Methods The multi-stage sampling method was used to select 637 medical staffs of tertiary public hospitals in Hangzhou who used the information-based platform to report adverse events as the research respondents,and the self-developed scale of report intention on adverse events was used as the research tool,monofactor analysis were conducted by Wilcoxon rank-sum test,and the structural equation model was used to analyze the influence path of their report intention on adverse events.Results Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have positive effects on medical staff's report intention on adverse events(β=0.264,0.658;P<0.001);Perceived risk negatively affected the medical staff's report intention on adverse events(β=-0.143,P<0.001).The indirect effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on medical staff's report intention on adverse events are 0.538 and 0.205,respectively.Conclusion Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use plays a mediating role in perceived interactivity and medical staff's report intention on adverse events.
10.Research on the Improvement Path of Medical Staff's Report Intention on Adverse Events Based on Technology Acceptance Model
Jin WU ; Xinlu TONG ; Binru FANG ; Yu QIAN ; Yuwei FAN ; Xianhong HUANG ; Yongting YANG ; Liming ZHU
Chinese Hospital Management 2024;44(11):51-54,78
Objective Based on the technology acceptance model,to explore the influence mechanism of technical support,perceived interactivity,perceived usefulness,perceived ease of use and perceived risk on medical staff's report intention on adverse events,and to provide path suggestions for improving medical staff's report intention adverse events.Methods The multi-stage sampling method was used to select 637 medical staffs of tertiary public hospitals in Hangzhou who used the information-based platform to report adverse events as the research respondents,and the self-developed scale of report intention on adverse events was used as the research tool,monofactor analysis were conducted by Wilcoxon rank-sum test,and the structural equation model was used to analyze the influence path of their report intention on adverse events.Results Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have positive effects on medical staff's report intention on adverse events(β=0.264,0.658;P<0.001);Perceived risk negatively affected the medical staff's report intention on adverse events(β=-0.143,P<0.001).The indirect effects of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on medical staff's report intention on adverse events are 0.538 and 0.205,respectively.Conclusion Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use plays a mediating role in perceived interactivity and medical staff's report intention on adverse events.


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