1.Study on the mechanism of hyperoside regulating hepatic lipid synthesis to ameliorate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice
Changrui LONG ; Shijian XIANG ; Zhenhua ZHANG ; Huixing WU ; Benjie ZHOU ; Chengyu LU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(6):668-673
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement mechanism of hyperoside (HYP) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal (NFD) group, model (HFD) group and HYP group, with 8 mice in each group. Except for NFD group, the mice in other groups were fed with HF60 high-fat diet to establish NAFLD model; HYP group was simultaneously given HYP 100 mg/kg intragastrically every day, for 16 consecutive weeks. The body weight and liver weight of mice in each group were recorded 16 h after the last medication; the histopathological changes and lipid accumulation in the liver were observed, and the contents of triglyceride (TAG) in liver tissue and serum contents of TAG, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were measured; LC-MS/MS method was adopted to detect lipid changes in the liver tissue of mice for lipidomics analysis, and protein expressions of lipid synthesis-associated proteins peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) were also tested. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 was divided into normal control group, model group, HYP low-concentration group (50 μmol/L), HYP high-concentration group (100 μmol/L), HYP low-concentration+GW6471 (PPARαinhibitor) group, and HYP high-concentration+GW6471 group. Except for normal control group, the remaining cells were induced with oleic acid and palmitic acid to establish a high-fat cell model. The accumulation of lipid droplets in each group of cells was observed, and the TAG content was detected. RESULTS Compared with HFD group, HYP group exhibited significant reductions in liver fat vacuoles, lipid accumulation, liver weight, and TAG content in liver tissue, as well as serum contents of ALT, AST and TAG (P<0.05). Additionally, the expression of PPARα protein in liver tissue was significantly increased (P<0.05), and the pathological morphological changes associated with NAFLD were alleviated. Lipidomic analysis revealed that HYP significantly reduced the levels of TAG, diacylglycerol and other lipids in the liver. Compared with model group, cellular lipid droplet accumulation and TAG content decreased significantly in HYP low- and high-concentration groups (P<0.05); GW6471 could significantly reverse the improvement effect of HYP on above indicators (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HYP can effectively ameliorate NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet in mice, and the mechanism may be related to the activation of PPARα to regulate hepatic lipid synthesis.
2.Study on chemical composition,pharmacodynamic consistency and mechanism between Hugan qingzhi formula decoction and its formulated granules
Zhenhua ZHANG ; Changrui LONG ; Huixing WU ; Shijian XIANG ; Benjie ZHOU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(12):1442-1448
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the contents of characteristic components in Hugan qingzhi formula (HGQZ) decoction and formulated granules and the pharmacodynamic consistency of them on high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model mice, and explore their potential underlying mechanisms of action. METHODS Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze and compare the contents of six characteristic components in HGQZ decoction and formulated granules. Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, HGQZ decoction low- dose and high-dose groups (13, 26 g/kg, calculated by crude drugs), and HGQZ formulated granules low-dose and high-dose groups (13, 26 g/kg, calculated by crude drugs), with 6 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, which was fed a regular diet, the mice in the other groups were fed a high-fat diet for 20 weeks to establish the NAFLD model; at the same time, the mice in each group were gavaged with the corresponding drugs/water once. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, glucose and insulin tolerance, body weight, liver index, white adipose Δ 基金项目 国家自然科学基金项目(No.82074078);广东省基础 tissue index, brown adipose tissue index, as well as lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglycerides) and liver function indicators (aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase) were measured. Additionally, histopathological changes and lipid accumulation in liver tissues were observed. The serum samples of mice in the model group, HGQZ decoction high-dose group and HGQZ formulated granules high-dose group were taken for metabolomics analysis, and validation of the underlying mechanisms was conducted. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in the contents of ginsenoside Rb1, typhaneoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside, hyperoside, nuciferine, and 23-acetylalismol B between HGQZ decoction and HGQZ formulated granules (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the hepatic histopathological changes in mice were alleviated in both the HGQZ decoction group and all dose groups of HGQZ formulated granules. Inflammatory cell infiltration and lipid vacuoles were reduced. Additionally, there was a general improvement in FBG levels, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, body weight, liver index, white/brown adipose tissue index, lipid levels, and liver function indicators (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between these treatment groups (P>0.05). There were 234 and 136 differentially expressed serum metabolites identified in the model group versus HGQZ decoction high-dose group, and model group versus HGQZ formulated granules high-dose group, respectively. After taking the intersection, 65 common differentially expressed metabolites were obtained, which were enriched in metabolic pathways such as purine metabolism and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolism. Among these, the content of citrate in the model group was significantly lower than that in both the HGQZ decoction group and HGQZ formulated granules high-dose group (P<0.05). Both high-dose HGQZ decoction and formulated granules could significantly elevate the phosphorylation levels of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS HGQZ decoction and formulated granules contain comparable amounts of characteristic components, and both exhibit equivalent efficacy on NAFLD model mice. The anti-NAFLD effects of HGQZ are associated with the activation of the AMPK energy metabolism pathway.
3.Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of Bone Cement in Experimental Pigs Using Vertebroplasty
Zhenhua LIN ; Xiangyu CHU ; Zhenxi WEI ; Chuanjun DONG ; Zenglin ZHAO ; Xiaoxia SUN ; Qingyu LI ; Qi ZHANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):466-472
ObjectiveThe full name of vertebroplasty is percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP). It is a clinical technique that injects bone cement into the diseased vertebral body to achieve strengthening of the vertebra. The research on the safety and efficacy of bone cement is the basis for clinical application. In this study, vertebroplasty is used to evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of Tecres and radiopaque bone cement in experimental pigs, and to determine the puncture method suitable for pigs and the pre-clinical evaluation method for the safety and efficacy of bone cement. MethodsTwenty-four experimental pigs (with a body weight of 60-80 kg) were randomly divided into an experimental group (Group A) and a control group (Group B). Group A was the Tecres bone cement group, and Group B was the radiopaque bone cement group, with 12 pigs in each group. Under the monitoring of a C-arm X-ray machine, the materials were implanted into the 1st lumbar vertebra (L1) and 4th lumbar vertebra (L4) of the pigs via percutaneous puncture using the unilateral pedicle approach. The animals were euthanized at 4 weeks and 26 weeks after the operation, respectively. The L4 vertebrae were taken for compressive strength testing, and the L1 vertebrae were taken for hard tissue pathological examination to observe the inflammatory response, bone necrosis, and degree of osseointegration at the implantation site. ResultsThe test results of compressive strength between groups A and B showed no significant difference at 4 weeks and 26 weeks after bone cement implantation (P > 0.05). Observation under an optical microscope (×100) revealed that at 4 weeks postoperatively, both groups A and B showed that the bone cement was surrounded by proliferative fibrous tissue, with lymphocyte infiltration around it. The bone cement was combined with bone tissue, the trabecular arrangement was disordered, and osteoblasts and a small amount of osteoid were formed. At 26 weeks postoperatively, bone cement was visible in both groups A and B. The new bone tissue was mineralized, the trabeculae were fused, the trabecular structure was regular and dense with good continuity, and no obvious inflammatory reaction was observed. ConclusionIn experimental pig vertebrae, there were no significant differences observed in the compressive strength, inflammation response, bone destruction, and integration with the bone between Tecres and non-radiopaque bone cement. Both exhibited good biocompatibility and osteogenic properties. It indicates that using vertebroplasty to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bone cement in pigs is scientifically sound.
4.Essential tremor plus affects disease prognosis: A longitudinal study.
Runcheng HE ; Mingqiang LI ; Xun ZHOU ; Lanqing LIU ; Zhenhua LIU ; Qian XU ; Jifeng GUO ; Xinxiang YAN ; Chunyu WANG ; Hainan ZHANG ; Irene X Y WU ; Beisha TANG ; Sheng ZENG ; Qiying SUN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(1):117-119
5.Prefrontal dysfunction and mismatch negativity in adolescent depression: A multimodal fNIRS-ERP study.
Hongyi SUN ; Lin ZHANG ; Jing LI ; Zhenhua LI ; Jiaxi HUANG ; Zhong ZHENG ; Ke ZOU
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(4):701-706
Early identification of adolescent depression requires objective biomarkers. This study investigated the functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) activation patterns and mismatch negativity (MMN) characteristics in adolescents with first-episode mild-to-moderate depression. We enrolled 33 patients and 33 matched healthy controls, measuring oxyhemoglobin (Oxy-Hb) concentration in the frontal cortex during verbal fluency tasks via fNIRS, and recording MMN latency/amplitude at Fz/Cz electrodes using event-related potentials (ERP). Compared with healthy controls, the depression group showed significantly prolonged MMN latency [Fz: (227.88 ± 31.08) ms vs. (208.70 ± 25.35) ms, P < 0.01; Cz: (223.73 ± 29.03) ms vs. (204.18 ± 22.43) ms, P < 0.01], and obviously reduced Fz amplitude [(2.42 ± 2.18) μV vs. (5.65 ± 5.59) μV, P = 0.03]. A significant positive correlation was observed between MMN latencies at Fz and Cz electrodes ( P < 0.01). Oxy-Hb in left frontopolar prefrontal channels (CH15/17) was significantly decreased in patient group ( P < 0.05). Our findings suggest that adolescents with depression exhibit hypofunction in the left prefrontal cortex and impaired automatic sensory processing. The combined application of fNIRS and ERP techniques may provide an objective basis for early clinical identification.
Humans
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Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods*
;
Adolescent
;
Prefrontal Cortex/physiopathology*
;
Evoked Potentials/physiology*
;
Depression/physiopathology*
;
Female
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Male
;
Oxyhemoglobins
;
Electroencephalography
6.Investigation on the Role of Medical Recombinant Human-Derived Collagen Functional Dressings in Wound Healing.
Xiaoxiao GAI ; Xiaoxia SUN ; Wenqian MA ; Zhenhua LIN ; Xinyuan LI ; Chenghu LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Instrumentation 2025;49(4):415-422
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the biological effect of medical recombinant human-derived collagen functional dressings in wound healing.
METHODS:
MTT assay and RTCA assay were used to detect cell toxicity and proliferation. Scratch assay and Transwell cell migration assay were used to detect cell motility and migration ability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the contents of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31) in the supernatant of four types of cells. After animal surgery, the surgical wound was taken at 1 week, 4 weeks and 13 weeks, respectively, for hematoxylin eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry to observe the inflammatory response and CD31 expression of the wound.
RESULTS:
Medical recombinant human-derived collagen functional dressing promotes cell proliferation and migration, enhances wound angiogenesis by upregulating the expression of VEGF, FGF, and CD31 in human dermal vascular endothelial cells (HDVEC) and human vascular endothelial cells (HVEC), thereby improving local blood supply to the wound, regulating the inflammatory response of the wound, and accelerating wound healing.
CONCLUSION
Recombinant type Ⅲ humanized collagen plays an important role in wound healing.
Humans
;
Wound Healing/drug effects*
;
Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology*
;
Animals
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Cell Movement
;
Collagen/pharmacology*
;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
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Bandages
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Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism*
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Endothelial Cells
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Fibroblast Growth Factors/metabolism*
7.Association between serum albumin levels after albumin infusion and 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.
Liupan ZHANG ; Xiaotong SHI ; Lulan LI ; Rui SHI ; Shengli AN ; Zhenhua ZENG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):1074-1081
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the association of serum albumin level after human albumin infusion with 28-day mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and its impact on 90-day outcomes of the patients.
METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on the MIMIC IV database (2008-2019), including 5918 AKI patients treated with albumin in the ICU. Based on serum albumin levels within 72 h after albumin infusion, the patients were divided into low (<30 g/L), medium (30-35 g/L), and high albumin (>35 g/L) groups. Restricted cubic spline regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the association of albumin levels with patient mortality, and the results were verified in a external validation cohort consisting of 110 sepsis-induced AKI patients treated in Nanfang Hospital between 2017 and 2022 using survival analysis and multivariate adjustment.
RESULTS:
In the MIMIC training cohort, multivariate logistic regression showed no significant differences in 28-day mortality of the patients with different albumin levels (P>0.05). However, restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a non-linear dose-response relationship between albumin levels and 28-day mortality (threshold effect: risk increased when albumin levels >3.6 g/dL). Secondary endpoint analysis revealed that the patients with high albumin levels had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (P<0.001) but a longer ICU stay (P<0.001). In the validation cohort, albumin levels ≥30 g/L were significantly associated with a reduced 28-day mortality rate (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The association between increased serum albumin levels following albumin infusion and 28-day mortality of critically ill patients with AKI exhibits a cohort dependency and can be influenced by multiple factors including disease type and severity, infusion strategies, and statistical methods.
Humans
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Acute Kidney Injury/therapy*
;
Critical Illness/mortality*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Serum Albumin/analysis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Intensive Care Units
;
Middle Aged
;
Logistic Models
;
Aged
8.Tongmai Kaiqiao Pills Treat Vascular Dementia in Rats by Regulating Mitochondrial Autophagy via HIF-1α/BNIP3 Signaling Pathway
Huimin DING ; Yanjie LI ; Hewei QIN ; Chenyuan HAO ; Nannan ZHAO ; Zhenhua XU ; Mengyan SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):52-60
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Tongmai Kaiqiao pills on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/adenovirus E1B 19 kD-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) signaling pathway and mitochondrial autophagy in the hippocampus of the rat model of vascular dementia (VD). MethodNinety male SD rats underwent adaptive feeding for one week before the study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the sham group, where the common carotid artery was isolated without ligation. The remaining rats were subjected to sequential ligation of the common carotid artery for the modeling of VD. The successfully modeled rats were randomly assigned into the following groups: model, high-, medium-, and low-dose (27.6, 13.8, 6.9 g·kg-1, respectively) Tongmai Kaiqiao pills, donepezil hydrochloride (0.45 mg·kg-1), and combination (27.6 g·kg-1 Tongmai Kaiqiao pills + 2.5 mg·kg-1 HIF-1α inhibitor YC-1) groups. After 4 weeks of treatment, samples were collected. Nissl staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining were performed to observe the loss of neurons and pathological changes, respectively, in the hippocampal region. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of HIF-1α, BNIP3, Beclin-1, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) in the hippocampal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the mitochondrial ultrastructure and the number of autophagosomes in the hippocampal tissue. Immunofluorescence was employed to observe the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α, BNIP3, and LC3B in the hippocampal tissue. ResultCompared with the sham group, the model group showed prolonged escape latency (P<0.01), decreased number of platform crossings (P<0.01), reduced and disarranged neuronal layers in the hippocampal region, decreased number of Nissl bodies, disrupted mitochondrial cristae, damaged mitochondrial double-membrane structures, increased number of autophagosomes, upregulated expression of HIF-1α, BNIP3, beclin1, and LC3B (P<0.05, P<0.01), and enhanced fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α, BNIP3, and LC3B (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Tongmai Kaiqiao pills and donepezil hydrochloride shortened the searching time for the platform (P<0.01) and increased the number of platform crossings (P<0.01). Moreover, the drugs increased the number of neurons with normal morphology and orderly arrangement and the number of Nissl bodies, alleviated the damage, increased the number of autophagosomes, upregulated the expression of HIF-1α, BNIP3, Beclin1, and LC3B (P<0.05, P<0.01), and enhanced the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α, BNIP3, and LC3B (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with high-dose Tongmai Kaiqiao pills, the combination group prolonged the escape latency (P<0.01), reduced the number of crossing platforms (P<0.01), decreased the number of hippocampal neurons, aggravated the damage, decreased the number of Nissl bodies and autophagosomes, downregulated the expression of HIF-1α, BNIP3, beclin1, and LC3B (P<0.01), and decreased the fluorescence intensity of HIF-1α, BNIP3, and LC3B (P<0.01). ConclusionTongmai Kaiqiao pills may activate the HIF-1α/BNIP3 signaling pathway to promote the occurrence of mitochondrial autophagy, clear damaged mitochondria, provide energy for healthy cells, reduce neuronal cell death, and restore the brain function, thereby reducing ischemic damage to the hippocampal tissue, improving learning and memory abilities, and exerting therapeutic effects on VD in rats.
9.Correlation Analysis of Myelosuppression after Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Its Prognosis
Kunjian XIA ; Lin WANG ; Zhenhua SUN
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(3):475-483
[Objective]To investigate whether severe myelosuppression after chemotherapy is associated with progno-sis in patients with breast cancer.[Methods]Triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)patients who received chemotherapy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from May 2,2013 to May 2,2018 were divided into a control group(no/mild myelosuppression)and a case group(severe myelosuppression).In this study,251 patients with TNBC met the inclusion and exclusion criteria,including 125 patients in the control group(20 patients with grade 0 myelosuppression,43 patients with grade I myelosuppression,62 patients with grade Ⅱ myelosuppression),126 patients in the case group(114 patients with grade Ⅲ myelosuppression,12 patients with grade Ⅳ myelosuppression).The general clinicopathologi-cal data of the patients in the two groups,including age,pathological type of tumor,tumor T stage,tumor N stage,tumor Nottingham grade,intravascular cancer thrombus,were analyzed using the χ2 test.The disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)of the two groups were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.A Cox proportional hazards regres-sion model with multiple factors was used to analyze the impact of post-chemotherapy severe myelosuppression on disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)in patients with TNBC.[Results]The differences in general clinicopatholog-ic data between the two groups of patients were not statistically significant(all P>0.05).The 5-year disease-free survival(DFS)rate was significantly lower in the control group compared with the case group(75.2%vs.85.7%,P=0.027).How-ever,there was no statistically significant difference in the 5-year overall survival(OS)rate between the two groups(88.8%vs.95.2%,P=0.057).The analysis of the multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that post-chemotherapy severe myelosuppression was an independent protective factor for disease-free survival(DFS)(HR=0.332,95%CI:0.173-0.638,P=0.001)and overall survival(OS)(HR=0.193,95%CI:0.062-0.602,P=0.005)in TN-BC patients.[Conclusion]Our results show that TNBC patients with severe myelosuppression after chemotherapy have lon-ger disease-free survival(DFS)than those with no/mild myelosuppression,and overall survival(OS)also tend to be pro-longed compared with those with no/mild myelosuppression,and severe myelosuppression after chemotherapy can be used as an independent predictor of a good prognosis in breast cancer.
10.Serum metabolomics-based study on the mechanism of action of bergapten in the treatment of liver fibrosis
Huixing WU ; Zhenhua ZHANG ; Changrui LONG ; Guifen GUO ; Yanyu WANG ; Yanchun CHEN ; Juxiong FU ; Shijian XIANG ; Benjie ZHOU ; Chengyu LU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(13):1570-1575
OBJECTIVE To study the effects of bergapten in the treatment of liver fibrosis and its mechanism based on serum metabolomics. METHODS Forty mice were divided into normal control group (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution), model group (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium solution), and BP low-dose and high-dose groups (50, 100 mg/kg), with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, the other three groups were all treated with carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis model; they were given relevant medicine/solution intragastrically, once a day, for consecutive 8 weeks. After the last medication, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were detected, and liver pathological changes were observed; the expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Collagen Ⅰ were detected in liver tissue; the serum of the mice was collected for metabolomics analysis. RESULTS Compared with the model group, serum levels of ALT and AST and protein expressions of α-SMA and Collagen Ⅰ in liver tissue were decreased significantly in BP high-dose and low-dose groups (P<0.05), while liver fibrosis was improved significantly. Meanwhile, metabolomics analyses showed that there were a total of 175 serum differential metabolites in the BP high-dose group and model group, of which 18 substances were upregulated and 157 substances were downregulated; the main metabolic pathways involved in bergapten intervention were pyrimidine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, fatty acid synthesis, tyrosine metabolism, β-alanine metabolism, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide metabolism, glutathione metabolism, etc. CONCLUSIONS BP is effective in the treatment of liver fibrosis by regulating pyrimidine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, glutathione metabolism and so on in rats with liver fibrosis.

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