1.Mechanism of artemether in treating diabetic sarcopenia via network pharmacology and animal experiment
Jiaxin LI ; Yuchun CAI ; Xiufen GU ; Yating ZHANG ; Shoupan GAO ; Huili SUN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(6):1032-1044
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of artemether in diabetic sarcopenia(DS)using network pharmacology and animal experiments. MethodsPotential active components and therapeutic targets were screened using artemisinin as the parent compound. The predicted targets were intersected with DS-related targets, followed by construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed to identify the key biological processes and signaling pathways. Molecular docking was further used to evaluate the binding affinity between artemether and core targets. The DS mouse model was established using db/db mice, followed by artemether intervention. Fasting blood glucose, body weight, diabetes-related symptoms, body composition, grip strength, serum and skeletal muscle triglyceride levels, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) were assessed. The expression levels of forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), Atrogin-1, muscle RING finger protein 1 (MuRF1), acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 (CPT2), and fatty acid-binding protein 3 (FABP3) in skeletal muscle were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. In addition, metabolomics was performed to analyze changes in acylcarnitine metabolites in skeletal muscle. ResultsA total of 68 overlapping targets between artemether and diabetic sarcopenia (DS) were identified. The core targets included AKT1, FoxO1, NFKB1, FBXO32, and TRIM63, which were mainly enriched in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, forkhead box O (FoxO) signWaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and insulin resistance-related pathways. Molecular docking analysis showed that artemether exhibited favorable binding affinity with the core targets. Animal experiments demonstrated that artemether reduced fasting blood glucose, ameliorated metabolic symptoms, increased lean mass and grip strength, decreased serum and skeletal muscle triglyceride levels, and increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) in DS mice. In addition, artemether downregulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of FoxO1, FBXO32/Atrogin-1, TRIM63/MuRF1, ACSS2, CPT2, and FABP3, and improved the disturbance of acylcarnitine metabolism in skeletal muscle. ConclusionArtemether improves metabolic and skeletal muscle phenotypes in DS mice. Its effects may be associated with the amelioration of lipid metabolic disorders and the downregulation of FoxO1 and its downstream ubiquitin-proteasome pathway-related factors Atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in skeletal muscle.
2.Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Preventing and Treating Heart Failure Based on Macrophage Metabolism-Immune Regulatory Axis: A Review
Junlin ZHOU ; Xiaojiao ZHANG ; Jiahui CHEN ; Liyu LIN ; Shiyin ZHANG ; Yiyi CHEN ; Xiaoming DONG ; Wenjie LONG ; Huili LIAO ; Lu LU ; Zhongqi YANG ; Shihao NI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(23):269-282
Heart failure (HF) is the end-stage of various cardiovascular diseases, with high morbidity and mortality. The existing “new quadruple” standard treatment can hardly reverse the core pathological process of myocardial remodeling, and long-term medication may pose risks of drug resistance and adverse reactions. Therefore, new therapeutic targets and strategies are urgently needed. Metabolic reprogramming is the upstream core mechanism regulating phenotypic polarization and functional activation of macrophages, which drives the occurrence and development of HF through the core axis of metabolic reprogramming-immune imbalance-ventricular remodeling and has become a cutting-edge potential target for the prevention and treatment of HF. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history in the prevention and treatment of HF. A large number of studies in recent years have confirmed that different therapeutic methods of TCM can correct the polarization imbalance, restore the homeostasis of myocardial immune microenvironment, inhibit myocardial injury, and delay the pathological process of HF by targeting and regulating the metabolic reprogramming of glucose, lipids, mitochondria, and amino acids in macrophages. This paper systematically expounds the core pathological mechanism of metabolic reprogramming of macrophages in HF, sorts out the research progress of TCM in preventing and treating HF by intervening this target, analyzes the regulatory rules, summarizes the limitations of existing research, and puts forward future directions. This review aims to provide a systematic theoretical reference and new research ideas for TCM clinical diagnosis and treatment and new drug development of HF.
3.BK virus nephropathy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a case report and literature review
Wenli ZHANG ; Yingling ZU ; Zhenghua HUANG ; Zhen LI ; Ruirui GUI ; Juan WANG ; Xianjing WANG ; Huili WANG ; Xinxin FAN ; Yongping SONG ; Baijun FANG ; Jian ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(3):273-275
A 20-year-old male patient with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia received 9/10 human leukocyte antigen-compatible unrelated peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. He was transplanted with 5.91×10 8 mononuclear cells/kg and 2.88×10 6 CD34 + cells/kg, and neutrophil engraftment was obtained at +11 days and platelet engraftment at +9 days. After transplantation, he presented with repeatedly increased serum creatinine levels, BK virus (BKV) -associated hemorrhagic cystitis, and BKV viremia. BK virus nephropathy was diagnosed based on renal biopsy and metagenomic next-generation sequencing. After adjusting the immunosuppressant, intravenous immunoglobulin, and donor lymphocyte infusion treatment, the patient’s renal function deteriorated progressively, and he eventually died of multiple organ failure at +289 days.
4.Analysis of the correlation between perivascular space changes on MRI and cognition in patients with subacute ischemic stroke
Yanqiang QIAO ; Yue QIN ; Huili ZOU ; Liyao LIU ; Juan TIAN ; Ruirui LIU ; Ming ZHANG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(6):900-903
Objective To evaluate the changes of perivascular space(PVS)in patients with subacute ischemic stroke(IS),as well as the relationship between PVS and cognitive dysfunction in IS patients,and to analyze the relationship between PVS indicators and cognitive function in subacute IS patients of different ages.Methods A total of 44 healthy controls(HC)and 39 patients with subacute IS were prospectively included.Automated quantitative analysis of MRI data was conducted to determine pPVS in the white matter and subcortical regions.Differences in pPVS between patients with subacute IS and HC were compared.Correlations between age,pPVS,and cognitive dysfunction were analyzed and modeled.Results Compared with the HC,the white matter pPVS in patients with subacute IS was significantly reduced(t=-2.21,P=0.031).In patients with subacute IS,the white matter pPVS showed a significant positive correlation with lesion volume(r=0.42,P=0.030)and mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scores(r=0.44,P=0.018).Both white matter pPVS(r=-0.42,P=0.010)and MMSE scores(r=-3.82,P=0.000 7)were negatively correlated with age.When age was over 61.35 years,there was a positive correlation between the white matter pPVS and MMSE scores.Conclusion PVS are closely related to cognitive impairment in patients with subacute IS.Age is a significant modulating factor in the relationship between PVS and cognitive dysfunction.Early monitoring of PVS and targeting it for intervention may positively impact the improvement of cognitive dysfunction following IS.
5.Analysis of the Correlation between Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Huili ZHANG ; Yuan JIANG ; Peili DU ; Yuee CHEN ; Jingyu LIU ; Chuyi CHEN ; Xiuhua ZHOU ; Lin YU ; Dunjin CHEN ; Guangyi MA
Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2025;41(11):922-927
Objective:To explore the correlation between intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP)and ad-verse pregnancy outcomes.Methods:A total of 511 singleton pregnant women with ICP treated at The Third Affili-ated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from August 2017 to January 2024 were selected as the study sub-jects.Among them,patients were divided into the adverse pregnancy outcome group(n=49)and the control group without adverse pregnancy outcomes(n=462).The general and clinical data of the two groups were com-pared and analyzed.Results:①General situation:The number of pregnancies and deliveries,ICU transfer rate,total hospital stay,and total hospitalization costs were significantly higher in the adverse pregnancy outcome group compared to the control group(P<0.05).The number of prenatal check-ups,diagnostic gestational weeks,and gestational weeks at delivery were significantly lower compared to the control group(P<0.05).②Clinical symp-toms:The incidence of itching in the adverse pregnancy outcome group was lower compared to the control group(10.2%vs.26.6%,P<0.05),while other symptoms such as rash,fatigue,jaundice,and gastrointestinal symp-toms showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).③Laboratory examinations:Compared with the control group,patients in the adverse pregnancy outcome group had significantly the increased levels of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,uric acid,urea nitrogen,and triglycerides,and significantly the decreased levels of alkaline phosphatase and fasting blood glucose,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Other biochemical indicators showed no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).④ICP grading and complications:The proportion of early-onset ICP,severe and very severe ICP in the adverse pregnancy out-come group was significantly higher compared to the control group(P<0.001);the proportion of adverse preg-nancy outcome group with pregnancy-induced hypertension was significantly higher compared to the control group;the incidence of preterm birth,fetal growth restriction,meconium-stained amniotic fluid,and fetal distress in the adverse pregnancy outcome group was significantly higher compared to the control group(P<0.001).⑤Neo-natal outcomes:The neonatal Apgar scores(1 min,5 min,10 min)and neonatal weight in the adverse pregnancy outcome group were lower compared to the control group(P<0.001),and the incidence of mild neonatal asphyx-ia was significantly higher,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.001).Conclusions:The severity of ICP is closely related to the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.Therefore,it is clinically necessary to pay at-tention to the grading of ICP,closely monitor the levels of total bile acids and liver enzymes,and try to avoid ad-verse pregnancy outcomes,especially intrauterine fetal death.
6.Effect and correlation of chemokine CXCL6 on biological behavior of prostate cancer
Huili LIU ; Xiaofan YANG ; Yangyan CAI ; Chunbin ZHANG
Journal of Shenyang Medical College 2025;27(6):583-590
Objective:To investigate the relationship between CXCL6 expression and prostate cancer,as well as its effects on the malignant progression of PC-3 cells and the underlying mechanisms.Methods:Multiple databases were used to analyze CXCL6 expression in prostate cancer.And survival analysis,GO,and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted.According to the concentration of CXCL6,PC-3 cells were divided into 0,100 and 200 ng/ml CXCL6 groups.The effects of up-regulated CXCL6 expression on PC-3 cell proliferation,migration,apoptosis,cycle,and related genes were investigated using CCK-8,EdU assay,scratch test,flow cytometry,and prostate cancer-targeted PCR array.Results:Database analysis revealed that CXCL6 was significantly down-regulated in prostate cancer(P<0.05),and patients with low CXCL6 expression had a worse prognosis(P<0.05).In prostate cancer,proteins associated with CXCL6 expression included CXCL1 and CXCL2,and related genes included MIR325 and RASSF6.GO analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes(DEGs)of CXCL6 were primarily enriched in processes such as response to chemokines and the tubular endoplasmic reticulum network(P<0.05).KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in signaling pathways such as the Hippo signaling pathway(P<0.05).CCK-8,EdU assay,scratch test,and flow cytometry results demonstrated that compared with the 0 ng/ml CXCL6 group,the 100 and 200 ng/ml CXCL6 groups exhibited significantly reduced proliferation and migration rates(P<0.05),significantly increased apoptosis rate(P<0.05).And the proportion of S-phase cells in the 200 ng/ml CXCL6 group was lower compared to the 0 ng/ml CXCL6 group(P<0.05).PCR array results showed that compared with the 0 ng/ml CXCL6 group,the expression of genes such as CDH1 and HAL was increased in the 200 ng/ml CXCL6 group,while the expression of genes such as CD5L and EDNRB was decreased.Conclusion:CXCL6 plays a significant role in the malignant progression of PC-3 cells,and its mechanism may be associated with the methylation of promoters of genes such as RASSF1,RARB,and CDH1.
7.Clinical observation on rapid relief of dyspnea in juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis treated with bevacizumab
Yufei PAN ; Zhenkun YU ; Yuanyuan LU ; Huili HUANG ; Kai LIU ; Huiying HU ; Yonghui ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;60(1):52-57
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab in reducing dyspnea, avoiding tracheostomy, and assessing the overall safety and effectiveness of the treatment in patients with juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP).Methods:This study included 19 patients with JORRP treated with Bevacizumab at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, BenQ Medical Center, from March 2022 to June 2024. The age of patients ranged from 1.0 to 27.0 years (10.47±8.45 years), with age at onset ranging from 0.5 to 15.0 years (3.66±3.70 years). The cohort included 11 males and 8 females. Bevacizumab was administered intravenously at a dose of 10 mg/kg every three weeks for three sessions. Efficacy was evaluated by comparing the standardized lesion volume pre-and post-treatment, with statistical analysis performed using R software (4.3.1).Results:Among the 19 patients, 11 presented with dyspnea before treatment. All patients experienced varying degrees of dyspnea relief within 72 hours following the initial treatment, and only one patient had mild dyspnea by the second treatment session three weeks later. The average reduction rates at 24 and 48 hours post-initia treatment were 25.75% and 47.16%, respectively. Following three treatment cycles, the average cumulative reduction rate was 67.47%, significantly higher than after the first treatment ( Z=3.38, P=0.002). Throughout the treatment period, no adverse events that of grade 2 or higher were noted. Conclusions:Bevacizumab can rapidly alleviate dyspnea symptoms and significantly reduce lesion volume in JORRP patients, exhibiting satisfactory overall safety and effectiveness. However additional large-scale prospective studies are warranted to validate its long-term safety and efficacy.
8.Adjunctive diagnostic value of retinal imaging structural parameters combined with apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms for Alzheimer′s disease
Huiwang ZHANG ; Juan JIANG ; Huixian XIONG ; Qinchuan HOU ; Yongli LAN ; Mo ZHANG ; Peiyuan HE ; Wei PU ; Huili LIU ; Xiao XIAO ; Jun XIAO ; Yuping LIU ; Ping SHUAI
Chinese Journal of Health Management 2025;19(8):590-596
Objective:To investigate the adjunctive diagnostic value of retinal imaging structural parameters combined with apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms for Alzheimer′s disease (AD).Methods:It was a case-control study, 71 confirmed AD patients who attended the Department of Neurology in Sichuan Provincial People′s Hospital from May 2023 to June 2024 and 156 healthy medical checkups who participated in medical checkups in the Health Management Center were continuously with convenience sampling method; the subjects were included as the AD case group and healthy control group, respectively. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure the structural parameters of retinal imaging such as the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the retinal nerve fiber layer-inner plexiform layer (RNFL-IPL) in the study subjects. Information on demographic characteristics and disease history of the study participants were collected through a questionnaire, and venous blood was collected to test for ApoE gene polymorphisms. The retinal imaging structural parameters, ApoE gene polymorphisms and other related indicators were included in a multifactorial logistic regression model to analyze the main factors affecting the risk of AD. Based on the results of the multifactorial analysis, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and the areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of different models in the adjunctive diagnosis of AD.Results:Of the 227 study subjects included in the analysis, 153 were females and 74 were males; there were 71 cases in the AD case group with a mean age of (66.73±8.83) years, and there were 156 subjects in the healthy control group with an average age of (61.95±8.21) years. Educational attainment of elementary school and below ( OR=4.683, 95% CI: 2.133-10.282), living visual acuity<0.5 ( OR=2.716, 95% CI: 1.12-6.583), and carrying ≥1 ApoE ε4 genes ( OR=5.331, 95% CI: 2.309-11.891) were positively correlated with the risk of AD. RNFL thickening ( OR=0.923, 95% CI: 0.854-0.998) was negatively associated with the risk of AD (all P<0.05). The AD risk assessment model (Model 4), which included fundus imaging features and ApoE gene polymorphisms, had the highest predictive efficacy (AUC=0.857, P<0.001). Conclusion:Retinal imaging structural parameters differ significantly between AD patients and healthy examinees, and a risk assessment model combining retinal imaging structural parameters and ApoE gene polymorphisms has high predictive value and is expected to serve as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for AD.
9.Dynamic monitoring of cytokines in patients with sepsis and its clinical significance
Huili MA ; Juanjuan CUI ; Shuang XIAO ; Huiting ZHANG ; Yunnuo LIU ; Weifeng ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Infectious Diseases 2025;43(4):210-218
Objective:To investigate the dynamic changes of cytokine levels in patients with sepsis and to identify potential biomarkers for evaluating the prognosis of the disease.Methods:A total of 195 patients with sepsis hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases and the Department of Critical Care Medicine of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from August 2022 to October 2024 were recruited, and 70 healthy individuals undergoing physical examinations were recruited as the healthy control group. The levels of 11 cytokines, including interferon γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12P70, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared between the sepsis patients and the healthy controls. Spearman correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between cytokine levels and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores in sepsis patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic value of cytokines for sepsis. Delong test was used to compare AUC. Based on the 28-day survival outcomes, the sepsis patients were categorized into non-survival group and survival group. The levels of the 11 cytokines in patients on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th days after confirmed sepsis were dynamically monitored, and their change characteristics were analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistical comparison. Results:The age of the 195 patients with sepsis was 68.0 (55.0, 76.0) years old, including 124 males (63.6%), 64 died and 131 survived.The levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12P70, IL-17A, TNF-α, CRP in the sepsis group were all higher than those in the healthy control group ( Z=-2.99, -5.42, -4.95, -4.09, -5.05, -11.30, -8.66, -8.23, -5.64, -4.75, -2.12 and -10.75, respectively, all P<0.05). The differences were statistical significance. The levels of IL-2 ( r=0.149, P=0.037), IL-6 ( r=0.223, P=0.002), IL-8 ( r=0.159, P=0.026), and IL-10 ( r=0.188, P=0.009) in patients with sepsis were positively correlated with SOFA scores. The AUC of CRP in diagnosing sepsis was 0.989 with the sensitivity of 97.4% and the specificity of 100.0%. The AUC of IL-6 in diagnosing sepsis was 0.953, with the sensitivity of 93.3% and the specificity of 97.1%, and the AUC of IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12P70, IL-17A, and TNF-α were 0.620, 0.718, 0.699, 0.665, 0.703, 0.850, 0.836, 0.727, 0.691, and 0.574, respectively.The AUC of the 11 cytokines were all lower than that of CRP, and the differences were all statistically significant ( Z=2.34, 10.24, 8.03, 8.08, 10.64, 8.70, 5.91, 5.17, 8.91, 9.25 and 4.10, respectively, all P<0.05).During the dynamic monitoring, the IFN-γ and IL-1β levels in the non-survival group increased gradually. The IFN-γ levels on the 14th and 21st day in the non-survival group were higher than those in the survival group ( Z=0.53 and 0.08, respectively, both P<0.05), and IL-1β levels on the 14th, 21st, and 28th days were also higher than those in the survival group ( Z=0.03, 0.26 and 0.31, respectively, all P<0.05). IL-6 and IL-8 levels reached their peaks on the 14th day, which were significantly higher than those in the survival group ( Z=0.01 and 0.02, respectively, both P<0.05), and then decreased, and the differences were all statistically significant. Conclusions:The levels of IFN-γ and IL-1β in the non-survival sepsis patients show a gradually increasing trend. The dynamic changes of IL-6 have certain significance for the prediction of disease severity and prognosis evaluation in sepsis.
10.Overview of the application scope of image reshaping technology in patients with mental disorders
Yingying MIAO ; Juan LI ; Hui XU ; Yi ZHANG ; Xin LI ; Huili LIU
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(13):1651-1657
Objective The purpose of this study is to comprehensively review the application of image reshaping in patients with mental disorders,and provide theoretical bases for the clinical practice of image reshaping in patients with mental disorders in China.Methods Based on the Evidence Integration Handbook published by the Joanna Briggs Institute in Australia as the methodological guidance framework for this scope review,a systematic search was conducted on relevant studies on the application of image reshaping in patients with mental disorders from 12 domestic and foreign databases.The search period was from the establishment of the databases to January 31,2025,and the researchers summarized and analyzed the included literature.Results 18 articles were ultimately included.The core intervention process of image reshaping includes trauma memory recall,image rewriting,and constructing positive outcomes.The forms of intervention include face-to-face intervention,online intervention,and self-directed intervention.The intervention period is 1~17 weeks,and the intervention frequency is usually 1~2 times a week,with each intervention lasting 11-90 minutes.Image reshaping has significant effects on improving patients'emotions and psychological states,cognition and beliefs,behavior and function.Conclusion Image reshaping has a standardized intervention process that can effectively improve patients' emotional,cognitive,and behavioral functions.Future research should explore its optimal intervention plans and further test its applicability in different cultural backgrounds.

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