1.Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to promote chronic wound healing
Zhenhui ZHU ; Zhi LI ; Yu LENG ; Tao CAI ; Xuefa SHEN ; Xianxue XIANG ; Yongxin HUANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(8):1019-1024
The pathogenesis of chronic wound healing is complex. It is often difficult to heal due to a long course of disease, difficulty in treatment, and it seriously affects the quality of life in patients. The active ingredients, couplet medicinals, and compound formulas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) possess unique advantages in the treatment of chronic wound healing. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway is extremely critical in the treatment of chronic wound healing by regulating a series of biological processes, including cell apoptosis, angiogenesis, and inflammatory responses. This article reviews the relevant research on the regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by TCM to promote chronic wound healing. It has been found that the active ingredients of TCM (such as geniposide, astragaloside, and ginsenosides, etc.), and compound formulas (such as Chonghe ointment, Huanglian ointment, Shirun shaoshang ointment, etc.) mainly reduce inflammatory responses, promote angiogenesis, regulate cell autophagy, and accelerate wound healing by activating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway; at the same time, there are also a few couplet medicinals( such as Huangqi-Honghua) and compound formulas (such as Xiangpi Shengji ointment) that exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting this signaling pathway, to promote wound healing.
2.Recent progress in ergothioneine of edible fungi.
Linlei YANG ; Zhenhui SHEN ; Xiangying LUO ; Rongping LI ; Rongchun LI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(2):574-587
Ergothioneine is a natural antioxidant known for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. It has been applied in various sectors such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Edible fungi, both wild and cultivated, stand as the primary natural sources capable of synthesizing ergothioneine. This paper reviews the research progress in the content, physiological functions, extraction and detection methods, synthetic genes and pathways, mycelium fermentation, and engineering strain construction for ergothioneine production. The aim is to provide a comprehensive reference for advancing the research and industrial development related to ergothioneine in edible fungi.
Ergothioneine/isolation & purification*
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Fungi/genetics*
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Antioxidants/metabolism*
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Fermentation
3.Analysis of the status and related factors of hyperopic reserve among non-myopia children aged 5-12 years in Guangdong Province
JIANG Jing, LI Meng, SUN Yi, LIN Rong, HUANG Zhenhui, LIU Rong, QIN Ran, GUO Xin, QU Yabin
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(12):1787-1791
Objective:
To explore the current status of hyperopic reserve and its related factors among non-myopia preschool and primary school students aged 5 to 12 years in Guangdong Province, so as to provide a basis for formulating intervention strategies for the pre myopia stage of children.
Methods:
From October to December 2023, by using stratified cluster random sampling method, a survey on hyperopic reserve among preschool children and primary school students in Guangdong were conducted. And a total of 10 567 children from the senior class of kindergarten to the sixth grade of primary school who completed autorefraction measurements with and without cycloplegia and the questionnaire survey were included in the study. The prevalence characteristics of low hyperopic reserve among non-myopia children were analyzed, and multivariable Logistic regression was used to analyze the related factors.
Results:
The prevalence rate of low hyperopic reserve among 8 790 non-myopia children was 62.4%. The average spherical equivalent (SE) for children aged 5 to 12 years was 0.88 (0.25, 1.25)D, decreasing from 1.13 ( 0.75 , 1.50)D in senior kindergarten to -1.00 (-2.50, 0.38)D in sixth grade, with the difference was statistically significant ( H=2 475.3, P <0.01). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for confounders including gender, urban and rural, and grade, revealed that parental myopia was a risk factor for low hyperopic reserve in the preschool stage (one parent with myopia: OR=1.62, 95%CI =1.35-1.93; both parents with myopia: OR=2.05, 95%CI = 1.66 -2.55); in the lower primary school stage, parental myopia (one parent with myopia: OR=1.46, 95%CI =1.27-1.68; both parents with myopia: OR=1.58, 95%CI =1.33-1.89), frequently or always reading or using electronic screens while lying down or on one s stomach ( OR=1.43, 95%CI =1.13-1.81), and never or occasionally maintaining a viewing distance of over 3 meters when watching TV/playing video games ( OR=1.34, 95%CI =1.04-1.72) were risk factors; in the higher primary school stage, failing to take a break every hour during near work ( OR=1.79, 95%CI =1.16-2.75) was a risk factor (all P <0.05).
Conclusions
The emmetropization of children aged 5-12 years in Guangdong Province is accelerated, and non-myopia children generally exhibit insufficient hyperopic reserve. The contributing factors for insufficient hyperopia reserve in non-myopia children vary across different educational stages, necessitating targeted precision interventions.
4.Historical Evolution and Modern Research Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine Simmering Method
Zhenhui LI ; Benye WANG ; Yuhang SHU ; Qipan JIAN ; Jiyuan TU ; Yanju LIU ; Guangzhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(9):293-298
Simmering method is one of the traditional processing methods of Chinese materia medica, which has been documented in the herbal literature and medical books of the past dynasties and has a great variety, but at present, there are not many specific varieties of Chinese materia medica involved, and there are few related researches. By reviewing the ancient and modern related information, the authors have organized and analyzed the historical evolution, processing purpose, modern representative Chinese materia medica(processing technology, quality evaluation, pharmacological research) of simmering method. After sorting out, it was found that the simmering method was widely used in ancient times, which was first seen in Huashi Zhongzangjing of the Eastern Han dynasty, and was enriched and developed through the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and entered its heyday in Ming and Qing dynasties along with the economic prosperity and development of the Ming dynasty, involving as many as 159 varieties of Chinese materia medica, and gradually perfecting the processing theory of the simmering method. However, the number of varieties that still use the simmering method in modern times significantly decreased. The main purposes of using simmering method in modern Chinese materia medica are to reduce adverse reactions, moderate medicinal properties, enhance therapeutic effects, remove non-medicinal parts, and facilitate further processing, etc. This paper combed the key information of simmering methods for Chinese materia medica from ancient to modern times, which can provide a literature basis for the clinical application and modern research of simmered products of Chinese materia medica.
5.Targets and validation of Salvia miltiorrhiza in myopia through network pharmacology
Xiaonan LU ; Jie LI ; Guangqi AN ; Zhenhui LIU ; Chunyu LIANG ; Shuzhen DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2024;42(4):322-328
Objective:To explore and validate the targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza in myopia using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods:The TCMSP database was used to extract the targets of Salvia miltiorrhiza.GeneCards, DisGeNET, Malacard and OMIM databases were used to extract the myopia-related targets.The target intersection was taken, and the intersecting targets were selected to extract the corresponding active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and construct the pharmacological regulatory network of TCM using Cytoscape.The protein interaction network map for the key target genes was constructed using the String database, and the relevant proteins were selected to download the three-dimensional structures of the active ingredients from the PubChem database, and molecular docking was performed using AutoDockvina software.Twelve 3-week-old guinea pigs were induced with lens-induced myopia (LIM) in the right eye and randomly divided into normal saline group and sodium danshensu group, with 6 animals in each group.During the maintenance of LIM, periocular injection of 1 ml normal saline or sodium danshensu was performed daily.The contralateral eye was used as a negative control.On days 0, 14, and 28 of the experiment, the axial length of both eyes was measured by A-scan ultrasonography, and the refractive status was assessed with a streak retinoscope.To avoid individual differences, relative spherical equivalent (treated eye-contralateral eye) and relative axial length (treated eye-contralateral eye) were compared.On day 28, the relative expression levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) proteins were determined by Western blot.The feeding and use of laboratory animals followed the 3R principle, and the research program was approved by the Ethics Committee of Experimental Animal Center of Zhengzhou University (No.ZZU-LAC 202320405[02]). Results:Sixteen intersecting key targets were screened for myopia and TCM components derived from Salvia divinorum.A TCM network pharmacology map and protein interaction map were constructed with Salvia divinorum as a drug candidate, and the corresponding proteins of target genes, such as MMP2, TGFB1, and MMP9 were screened to perform molecular docking with the active ingredients, such as lignocellulosic acid, danshensu, tanshinone ⅡA, and so on.After 14 days of induction, the relative spherical equivalent and relative axial length were (-4.67±1.03)D and (0.67±0.26)mm in sodium danshensu group, and (-6.30±1.22)D and (1.08±0.34)mm normal saline group, indicating slower myopia progression and axial elongation in sodium danshensu group, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.412, P=0.039; t=2.750, P=0.049). The relative expression levels of HIF-1α protein were 0.20±0.01, 1.29±0.05 and 0.63±0.02, and the relative expression levels of TGF-β1 protein were 0.93±0.05, 0.25±0.01 and 0.74±0.05 in the negative control, normal saline and sodium danshensu groups, respectively.The expression of HIF-1α protein was higher in sodium danshensu group than in negative control group but lower than in the normal saline group, and the expression of TGF-β1 protein was lower in sodium danshensu group than in negative control group but higher than in the normal saline group, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:Natural compounds extracted from Salvia divinorum extracts may serve as potential drug candidates to combat scleral hypoxia and improve scleral extracellular matrix remodeling.
6.Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulates Oxidative Stress-related Signaling Pathways to Prevent and Treat Bronchial Asthma: A Review
Xuyang ZHENG ; Zhenhui SHU ; Yi LI ; Ziyue QU ; Weilin LI ; Kexin MA ; Junsheng SHA ; Limin ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(18):260-269
Bronchial asthma (asthma for short) is a common clinical respiratory disease mainly characterized by chronic airway inflammation, with complicated pathogenesis and a long treatment cycle. It is lingering and difficult to be cured, and lack specific drugs. Oxidative stress is a new focus in the research on the pathogenesis of asthma and a potential key target for the treatment. Under physiological conditions, the oxidative and antioxidative systems in the body are in a dynamic balance, and the two antagonize each other to maintain normal life activities. In the case of asthma attack, oxidation products such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) are produced excessively, while the content of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) is reduced. As a result, the oxidation exceeds the removal of oxidation products, which aggravates oxidative stress. In addition, the overproduction of ROS activates oxidative stress-related signaling pathways to produce pro-inflammatory factors, exacerbating inflammation, which leads to lung and airway tissue damage. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has garnering increasing attention because of the unique advantages in the treatment of asthma, especially in regulating redox balance, alleviating oxidative stress in asthma patients, and reducing inflammation. On the one hand, by inhibiting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and transcription factor (NF)-κB signaling pathways, traditional Chinese medicine can reduce the content of oxidation products and pro-inflammatory factors from the source. On the other hand, by activating the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NrF2) signaling pathway, traditional Chinese medicine can elevate the levels of antioxidant enzymes and enhance the antioxidant system to neutralize the excessive accumulation of oxidation products. Therefore, the adjustment of redox balance state by traditional Chinese medicine may be a new means and a new direction for the prevention and treatment of asthma in the future. This paper summarizes the oxidative stress-related pathways in the pathogenesis of asthma and reviews the latest research progress in the regulation of oxidative stress-related pathways by Chinese medicine extracts and prescriptions in the treatment of asthma, with a view to providing a fuller, more solid, and more scientific theoretical basis for the clinical and basic research on the prevention and treatment of asthma by traditional Chinese medicine.
7.Artificial intelligence-based analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte spatial distribution for colorectal cancer prognosis
Ming CAI ; Ke ZHAO ; Lin WU ; Yanqi HUANG ; Minning ZHAO ; Qingru HU ; Qicong CHEN ; Su YAO ; Zhenhui LI ; Xinjuan FAN ; Zaiyi LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(4):421-430
Background::Artificial intelligence (AI) technology represented by deep learning has made remarkable achievements in digital pathology, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of diagnosis and prognosis evaluation. The spatial distribution of CD3 + and CD8 + T cells within the tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate CD3 CT (CD3 + T cells density in the core of the tumor [CT]) prognostic ability in patients with CRC by using AI technology. Methods::The study involved the enrollment of 492 patients from two distinct medical centers, with 358 patients assigned to the training cohort and an additional 134 patients allocated to the validation cohort. To facilitate tissue segmentation and T-cells quantification in whole-slide images (WSIs), a fully automated workflow based on deep learning was devised. Upon the completion of tissue segmentation and subsequent cell segmentation, a comprehensive analysis was conducted.Results::The evaluation of various positive T cell densities revealed comparable discriminatory ability between CD3 CT and CD3-CD8 (the combination of CD3 + and CD8 + T cells density within the CT and invasive margin) in predicting mortality (C-index in training cohort: 0.65 vs. 0.64; validation cohort: 0.69 vs. 0.69). The CD3 CT was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor, with high CD3 CT density associated with increased overall survival (OS) in the training cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.12–0.38, P <0.001) and validation cohort (HR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.05–0.92, P = 0.037). Conclusions::We quantify the spatial distribution of CD3 + and CD8 + T cells within tissue regions in WSIs using AI technology. The CD3 CT confirmed as a stage-independent predictor for OS in CRC patients. Moreover, CD3 CT shows promise in simplifying the CD3-CD8 system and facilitating its practical application in clinical settings.
8.Diagnostic Value of Echocardiography in Unroofed Coronary Sinus Syndrome With Endocardial Cushion Defect
Yu LIANG ; Muzi LI ; Jingjin WANG ; Linyuan WAN ; Hongxia QI ; Zhenhui ZHU ; Jun YAN ; Hong MENG
Chinese Circulation Journal 2024;39(9):889-895
Objectives:To evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography in unroofed coronary sinus syndrome(UCSS)with endocardial cushion defect(ECD). Methods:The echocardiographic data of 43 patients of UCSS with ECD who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital from July 2017 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The diagnostic accuracy was evaluated by comparing the echocardiographic findings with the intraoperative exploration results. Results:According to Kirklin and Barratt-Boyes classification,there were 26 cases of type Ⅰ(60.5%),9 cases of type Ⅱ(20.9%),2 cases of type Ⅲ(4.7%),4 cases of type Ⅳ(9.3%),and 2 cases of type Ⅲ combined with type Ⅳ(4.7%).There were 26 cases(60.5%)of partial ECD,7 cases(16.3%)of intermediate ECD,10 cases(23.3%)of total ECD.Twenty two cases(51.2%)were associated with single atrium.Twenty seven cases(62.8%)were associated with persistent left superior vena cava(PLSVC).Other coexisting complicated malformations were as follows:2 cases of double outlet of right ventricle,1 case of pulmonary atresia,1 case of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection,and 1 case of aplenia syndrome.The coexisting simple malformations included 4 cases of ostium secundum atrial septal defect,2 cases of ventricular septal defect,3 cases of patent ductus arterial,and 6 cases of patent foramen ovale.Other abnormalities included 5 cases of absence of hepatic segment of inferior vena cava,1 case of hypoplasia of right superior vena cava,1 case of absence of right superior vena cava,3 cases of cor triatriatum,1 case of isolated levocardia,1 case of mirror image dextrocardia,4 cases of right aortic arch.Of the 43 patients,30(69.8%)were correctly diagnosed by preoperative echocardiography and 13(30.2%)by intraoperative exploration.UCSS was misdiagnosed as inferior vena cava type sinus septal defect and PLSVC was missed in 1 case.UCSS was missed in 12 cases,and PLSVC was missed in 3 cases of them. Conclusions:Diagnosis UCSS with ECD by echocardiography is valuable and challenging.It is necessary to strengthen the understanding of the embryonic development and pathological anatomy characteristics of these malformations to improve the diagnostic accuracy.
9.Atractylodin induces apoptosis and autophagy of lung cancer cells via ROS/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway
Zhenhui WU ; Hongmiao WANG ; Jingyi LI ; Meigui YOU ; Yaping XU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(11):2050-2058
AIM:This study investigates the apoptotic and autophagic effects of atractylodin on lung cancer cells,elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms.METHODS:Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)A549 and H460 cells,in addition to non-cancerous HBE cells,were cultured in vitro.The effects of atractylodin at various concen-trations on cell viability were assessed using CCK-8 assay.Apoptotic effects were evaluated through Hoechst staining and flow cytometry,while Western blot analysis was performed to detect changes in protein expressions associated with apopto-sis and autophagy,including P62,beclin-1,microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3),Kelch-like epichloro-hydrin(ECH)-associated protein-1(Keap-1),nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1).Autophagic flux was further analyzed using acridine orange(AO)stain-ing,and immunofluorescence for LC3 and Nrf2.Additionally,autophagy inhibition experiments were conducted using chloroquine(CQ),followed by analyses of autophagy and apoptosis.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were quanti-fied using DCFH-DA.RESULTS:Treatment with atractylodin significantly reduced the viability of A549 and H460 lung cancer cells,promoting apoptosis and inducing autophagy.This was evidenced by an increase in acidic autophagic vesi-cles,upregulation of LC3 and beclin-1,and downregulation of P62.Inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine reversed atrac-tylodin-induced apoptosis.Moreover,atractylodin heightened ROS production,inhibited Keap-1,and stimulated the ex-pression of Nrf2,HO-1 and NQO1.CONCLUSION:Atractylodin effectively inhibits the proliferation of lung cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and autophagy.These effects are mediated through the modulation of the ROS/Nrf2/HO-1 sig-naling pathway,underscoring its potential as a therapeutic agent in lung cancer treatment.
10.Effect of Interval Between Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Surgery on Oncological Outcomes in Poor Responders With Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
Man LONG ; Chunxia LI ; Keyu MAO ; Zhenhui LI ; Zhen LI ; Guili DONG ; Xia ZHENG ; Songliang GAO ; Zhuolin LI ; Guangjun YANG ; Yu XIE
Journal of Breast Cancer 2024;27(4):270-280
Purpose:
The interval between neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and surgery for locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) remains controversial. At the same time, the prognostic effect of delayed surgery in patients with poor responses is currently unclear.
Methods:
Data was collected from patients who had poor responses to NAC and underwent modified radical surgery from January 2013 to December 2018. The interval from completion of NAC to surgery was divided into two groups: a longer (greater than four weeks) or shorter (four weeks or less) interval. The associations of these interval groups with overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were evaluated by multivariable Cox models adjusting for the existing prognostic factors. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to minimize election bias.
Results:
A total of 1,229 patients (mean age, 47.2 ± 8.9 years; median follow-up duration, 32.67 [6.57–52.63] months) were included. The 5-year OS rates were 73.2% and 60.8% in the shorter (n = 171) and longer interval group (n = 1,058), respectively, while the 3-year RFS rates were 80.8% and 71.7%, respectively. In multivariate Cox analysis, the longer interval was associated with an increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–2.02; p = 0.046) and recurrence (HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.12–1.99; p = 0.006).There was an interaction between the molecular subtype and the surgery interval for OS (pinteraction = 0.014) and RFS (pinteraction = 0.027). After PSM, no significant difference in OS (p = 0.180) and RFS (p = 0.069) was observed between the two groups.
Conclusion
Among LABC patients with a poor response, those with a longer interval between NAC and surgery had worse OS and RFS. The results indicate that these patients should receive modified radical surgery timely, which may in turn improve their prognosis.


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