1.Protective effect of asiaticoside on isoproterenol induced myocardial injury in mice
Ziyu Ma ; Xinmeng Zuo ; Zhenyu Wang ; Mingming Wang ; Cui Li
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(1):59-65
Abstract:
To study the protective effect of asiaticoside(AS) on Isoproterenol Hydrochloride(ISO)-induced myocardial injury in mice.
Methods:
Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into blank control(CON) group, model group [ISO,ISO 10/(kg·d)], Low dose group [ISO+AS-L,ISO 10 mg/(kg·d)+AS 5 mg/(kg·d)], Medium dose group [ISO+AS-M, ISO 10 mg/(kg·d)+AS 10 mg/(kg·d)], High dose group [ISO+AS-H, ISO 10 mg/(kg·d)+AS 20 mg/(kg·d)]. Heart mass ratio was counted; changes were observed in electrocardiogram; Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin(IL)-1β and cardiac troponin T(cTn-T) in serum; Masson staining was used to observe the fibrosis of mouse myocardial tissue; Western blot was used to detect the ratio of Bax and Bcl-2 protein expression levels(Bax/Bcl-2) and the expression levels of Caspase-3 and NLRP3 proteins in myocardial tissue; real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels ofANP,BNP,β-MHC,TNF-α, IL-6, Type Ⅰ collagen(COLⅠ), and Type Ⅲ collagen(COLⅢ).
Results:
Compared with the CON group, the ISO group had an elevated heart-to-mass ratio(P<0.01), a lower heart rate(P<0.05), a prolonged QT interval(P<0.05), elevated expression of myocardial injury markers cTn-T,ANP,BNP, andβ-MHC(P<0.01); increased expression of IL-1β in the serum(P<0.01), increased expression ofTNF-αin the cardiac tissue and increasedIL-6expression(P<0.001), and NLRP3 protein expression was elevated(P<0.05); myocardium showed a large number of collagen fibers bluish staining(P<0.001),COLⅠ,COLⅢmRNA expression levels increased(P<0.001), and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio(P<0.001) and Caspase-3 expression were significantly elevated(P<0.05). Compared with ISO group, heart-to-mass ratio of mice in ISO+AS-L and ISO+AS-M groups decreased(P<0.05), heart rate increased, QT interval was shortened, cTn-T, ANP, BNP and β-MHC decreased(P<0.001), myocardial collagen fiber blue-staining decreased(P<0.01). The mRNA expression levels ofCOLⅠandCOLⅢdecreased(P<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α decreased(P<0.01). NLRP3, Caspase-3 protein expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio decreased(P<0.05). The expression level ofIL-6in ISO+AS-M group decreased(P<0.01). The expression levels ofANP,BNP, andTNF-αmRNA expression were reduced in the ISO+AS-H group(P<0.001); the degree of myocardial fibrosis was improved(P<0.05), and the expression levels ofCOLⅠandCOLⅢmRNA were reduced(P<0.05).
Conclusion
AS has a protective effect against ISO-induced myocardial injury in mice by ameliorating cardiac fibrosis, inhibiting cardiomyocyte apoptosis and attenuating myocardial tissue inflammatory response.
2.Research Progress on the Mechanism of Lipocalin-2 in Neurological Diseases
Yongtai ZHOU ; Zhenyu YANG ; Yan LI ; Jiajing WU ; Bo ZHAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):330-337
Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a member of the human lipocalin family, has been demonstrated to be closely associated with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and renal disorders. Recent studies have indicated that LCN2 plays a significant regulatory role in the pathogenesis and progression of various neurological diseases by mediating pathways such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis. This article reviews the research advancements on the mechanism of LCN2 in neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular diseases, cognitive impairment disorders, Parkinson's disease, depression, and anxiety disorders, aiming to enhance clinical understanding.
3.Paclitaxel Oral Preparations: A Review
Jie GAO ; Shiyang LI ; Jing GUO ; Rongsheng LI ; Zhenyu XUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):322-330
Paclitaxel, a highly effective natural antitumor drug, has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer. The traditional paclitaxel injections have been observed to present certain issues, including overt adverse reactions and a decline in the quality of life of patients following treatment. This ultimately leads to an inability to meet the comprehensive needs of patients, thereby limiting the clinical applications of the drugs. Compared with injectable administration, the oral administration can avoid the risk of infection present in the invasive route, is conducive to improving patient compliance and quality of life, and reduces healthcare costs, and has a good application prospect. However, paclitaxel has low solubility, poor permeability, and is susceptible to the exocytosis of P-glycoprotein, which presents a significant challenge in the development of its oral preparations. Novel drug delivery technologies can enhance the solubility of paclitaxel and facilitate its controlled release, which is beneficial for the oral absorption and efficacy. The paper reviews the development history of oral preparations of paclitaxel, and summarizes the delivery technologies such as polymer micelles, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions and nanocrystals, and discusses the application mechanisms, advantages and limitations of these technologies and their adaptability in different cancer treatments. Finally, the challenges faced in the development of oral preparations of paclitaxel are summarized, and future research directions are proposed in order to provide new ideas for the development of oral delivery of paclitaxel.
4.Paclitaxel Oral Preparations: A Review
Jie GAO ; Shiyang LI ; Jing GUO ; Rongsheng LI ; Zhenyu XUAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):322-330
Paclitaxel, a highly effective natural antitumor drug, has been demonstrated to be efficacious in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and lung cancer. The traditional paclitaxel injections have been observed to present certain issues, including overt adverse reactions and a decline in the quality of life of patients following treatment. This ultimately leads to an inability to meet the comprehensive needs of patients, thereby limiting the clinical applications of the drugs. Compared with injectable administration, the oral administration can avoid the risk of infection present in the invasive route, is conducive to improving patient compliance and quality of life, and reduces healthcare costs, and has a good application prospect. However, paclitaxel has low solubility, poor permeability, and is susceptible to the exocytosis of P-glycoprotein, which presents a significant challenge in the development of its oral preparations. Novel drug delivery technologies can enhance the solubility of paclitaxel and facilitate its controlled release, which is beneficial for the oral absorption and efficacy. The paper reviews the development history of oral preparations of paclitaxel, and summarizes the delivery technologies such as polymer micelles, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions and nanocrystals, and discusses the application mechanisms, advantages and limitations of these technologies and their adaptability in different cancer treatments. Finally, the challenges faced in the development of oral preparations of paclitaxel are summarized, and future research directions are proposed in order to provide new ideas for the development of oral delivery of paclitaxel.
5.Overview of Studies on the Intervention of Chinese Medicinals in Energy Metabolism Reconstruction in Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Wenxiao LI ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Yang GUO ; Panpan ZHOU ; Ludan ZHAO ; Lin LI
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(10):1073-1077
Energy metabolism reconstruction is the new target of the treatment of heart failure. By combing the researches of Chinese medicinals for energy metabolism reconstruction of heart failure, it was found that Chinese medicinal compound formula and single Chinese medicinal have a certain role in regulating energy metabolism, mainly through three aspects, including the optimization of substrate utilization, improvement of mitochondrial structure, function, and homeostasis, and improvement of mitochondrial energy transport, so as to make the energy metabolism of the cardiomyocyte adjusted in the direction of beneficial to the organism, increasing the supply of energy, and improving the cardiac function.
6.Shenfu Injection Improve Chronic Heart Failure by Regulates Glycolytic Pathway Mediated by HIF-1α/PFKFB3 Pathway
Ji OUYANG ; Kun LIAN ; Xiaoqian LIAO ; Lichong MENG ; Lin LI ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):136-145
ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the mechanism and targets of Shenfu Injection in regulating glycolysis to intervene in myocardial fibrosis in chronic heart failure based on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/ 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) signaling pathway. MethodsA rat model of chronic heart failure was established by subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol (ISO). After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into the Sham group, Model group, Shenfu injection (SFI, 6 mL·kg-1) group, and inhibitor (3PO, 35 mg·kg-1) group, according to a random number table, and they were treated for 15 days. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography, and serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fasting body weight and heart weight were measured, and the heart index (HI) was calculated. Pathological changes in myocardial tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining, and the fibrosis rate was calculated. Biochemical assays were used to determine serum levels of glucose (GLU), lactic acid (LA), and pyruvic acid (PA). Western blot was used to analyze the expression of proteins related to the HIF-1α/PFKFB3 signaling pathway (HIF-1α and PFKFB3), glycolysis-related proteins (HK1, HK2, PKM2, and LDHA), and fibrosis-related proteins [transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and Collagen type Ⅰ α1 (ColⅠA1)]. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of HIF-1α and PFKFB3 in myocardial tissue. ResultsCompared with the Sham group, the Model group showed significantly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular shortening fraction (LVFS), interventricular septal thickness (IVSd), and interventricular septal strain (IVSs) (P<0.05), while left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole (LVDd) and end-systole (LVIDs) were increased (P<0.05). Serum NT-proBNP levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), and body weight was decreased. Heart weight was increased, and the HIT index was increased (P<0.05). Myocardial tissue exhibited inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, and the fibrosis rate was significantly increased (P<0.05). Serum GLU was decreased (P<0.05), while LA and PA levels were increased (P<0.05). Protein expressions of HIF-1α, PFKFB3, HK1, HK2, PKM2, LDHA, TGF-β1, α-SMA, and ColⅠA1, as well as the mRNA expression of HIF-1α and PFKFB3 were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the Model group, both the SFI group and 3PO groups showed significant improvements in LVEF, LVFS, IVSd, and IVSs (P<0.05) and decreases in LVDd, LVIDs, and NT-proBNP levels (P<0.05). Body weight was significantly increased. Heart weight was significantly decreased, and the HIT index was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fiber deposition, and the fibrosis rate were significantly decreased (P<0.05). Serum GLU levels were significantly increased (P<0.05), while LA and PA levels were decreased (P<0.05). Expressions of glycolysis-related proteins, fibrosis-related proteins, and HIF-1α/PFKFB3 pathway-related proteins and mRNAs were significantly suppressed (P<0.05). ConclusionSFI improves cardiac function in chronic heart failure by downregulating the expression of HIF-1α/PFKFB3 signaling pathway-related proteins, regulating glycolysis, and inhibiting myocardial fibrosis.
7.Exploring on Mechanism of Forsythiae Fructus-Lonicerae Japonicae Flos in Treatment of Acute Lung Injury Based on Serum Metabolomics
Wanshun CHANG ; Kang LI ; Zhaohua CHEN ; Yuqing HAN ; Yanwen CHEN ; Yanhui ZHU ; Zhenyu CHENG ; Haiying HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):117-125
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Forsythiae Fructus-Lonicerae Japonicae Flos(FF) in the treatment of acute lung injury(ALI) by investigating the effects of FF on serum metabolomics of rats with ALI. MethodsThirty male SD rats were acclimated for 1 week, and 6 rats were randomly selected as the blank group. The other 24 rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) solution by tracheal drip to establish an ALI model. After successful model establishment, the rats were randomly divided into the model group, the FF low-dose group(3.0 g·kg-1), the FF high-dose group(6.0 g·kg-1), and the dexamethasone group(5 mg·kg-1), with six rats in each group. The FF low- and high-dose groups and the dexamethasone group were received daily oral administration of the corresponding drug solution, and the blank group and the model group were gavaged with an equal amount of saline, treatment was administered continuously for 3 d. The pathological conditions of rat lung tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, wet/dry mass ratio(W/D) of the lung tissues, and protein concentration in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF). Metabolomic analysis of rat serum was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), combined with multivariate statistical analysis, the potential biomarkers of FF in treating ALI were screened by variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1, P<0.05 from t-test, and log2fold change(FC)>1 or log2FC<-1. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) database combined with MetaboAnalyst were used for pathway analysis of the screened differential metabolites. The protein expression levels of sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B1(Akt1), and phosphorylated Akt1(p-Akt1) were examined by Western bolt. The expression levels of interleukin(IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in BALF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). ResultsCompared with the blank group, rats in the model group showed ALI pathological features such as alveolar lumen dilatation, interstitial hemorrhage and massive inflammatory cell infiltration, and the protein concentration in BALF and W/D of the lung tissues were significantly elevated(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the low- and high-dose groups of FF as well as the dexamethasone group exhibited reduced pulmonary bronchial hemorrhage in rats, and the protein concentration in BALF and W/D were significantly decreased(P<0.05), and the lung injury was significantly alleviated. Analysis of rat serum metabolomics revealed that FF downregulated 38 biomarkers. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that FF primarily exerted therapeutic effects through 7 key metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis, sphingomyelin metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, niacin and nicotinamide metabolism, and retinol metabolism. The results of Western bolt and ELISA showed that, compared with the blank group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated expression levels of S1P, PI3K, Akt1 and p-Akt1 proteins in the lung tissues, as well as increased expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in BALF(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of the aforementioned indicators were significantly downregulated in the low- and high-dose FF groups as well as the dexamethasone group(P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionFF may play a role in ALI by regulating amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of S1P/PI3K/Akt1 signaling pathway to attenuate the inflammatory response caused by ALI.
8.Diagnostic strategies for peripheral neuropathy
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(4):387-392
Peripheral neuropathies are commonly diagnosed in different clinical department of the hospital. The diagnosis is generated by a set of reasonable process based on the manifestations of patients. According to the age of onset, the speed of disease development and the symptoms of peripheral nerve lesions, the peripheral neuropathy is divided into a definite clinical subtype for a particular patient. On this basis, utility of the nerve conduction studies and electromyography is conducted to confirm the anatomical locations of peripheral neuropathy. The etiologic diagnosis is based on anatomical diagnosis of peripheral nerve with a reasonable choice of auxiliary tests, including serological testing, peripheral nerve imaging and biopsy. Genetic tests are chosen for patients with clinical suspective diagnosis of hereditary disease. Finally, therapy evaluation on the basis of etiologic diagnosis is important for forming a treatment plan.
9.Research progress in the mechanism of stimulator of interferon genes in type 2 diabetes mellitus and its microvascular complication
Min LI ; Xiaoyan QI ; Zhenyu YANG ; Weiran YE ; Yanbo LI
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2024;32(3):227-230
Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a chronic metabolic disease that can lead to the damage of multiple tissues and organs throughout the body.Stimulator of interferon genes(STING)is an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein that acts as an indirect cytoplasmic DNA sensor.The activation of the STING signaling pathway may be involved in T2DM and its microvascular complications through various mechanisms.This article reviews the research progress in the mechanism of STING in T2DM and its microvascular complications.
10.Overseas imported cystic echinococcosis misdiagnosed as pulmonary and hepatic cysts: a case report
Zhenyu HUANG ; Yuan LI ; Shitong GAO ; Lisha ZHANG ; Jing LI ; Lixiang MI
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2024;36(4):435-438
Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to human health and animal husbandry development, is prevalent across the world and predominantly occurs in agricultural and pastoral regions. However, cystic echinococcosis cases are rare in non-endemic areas, which is likely to cause misdiagnosis or missing diagnosis, resulting in delay in treatment. This report presents an overseas imported cystic echinococcosis case misdiagnosed as pulmonary and hepatic cysts, so as to provide insights into diagnosis and treatment of cystic echinococcosis in non-endemic areas.


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