1.Mechanism of vanillic acid against cardiac fibrosis induced by isoproterenol in mice based on Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways.
Hai-Bo HE ; Mian WU ; Jie XU ; Qian-Qian XU ; Fang-Zhu WAN ; Hua-Qiao ZHONG ; Ji-Hong ZHANG ; Gang ZHOU ; Hui-Lin QIN ; Hao-Ran LI ; Hai-Ming TANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(8):2193-2208
This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of vanillic acid(VA) against cardiac fibrosis(CF) induced by isoproterenol(ISO) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, VA group(100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc), ISO + VA group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO + dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) inhibitor(Mdivi-1) group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip), and ISO + VA + Mdivi-1 group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip). The treatment groups received the corresponding medications once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the day after the last administration, cardiac functions were evaluated, and serum and cardiac tissue samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), cardiac troponin I(cTnI), reactive oxygen species(ROS), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, as well as cardiac tissue catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) activities, and cytochrome C levels in mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, uranium acetate and lead citrate staining were used to observe morphological and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in the cardiac tissues, and myocardial injury area and collagen volume fraction were calculated. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the relative content and M1/M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage polarization markers [CD86, CD206, arginase 1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)], CF markers [type Ⅰ collagen(Coll Ⅰ), Coll Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)], and cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α) in cardiac tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, α-SMA, Drp1, p-Drp1, voltage-dependent anion channel(VDAC), hexokinase 1(HK1), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D(GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D(GSDMD-N), IL-1β, IL-18, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-xl(Bcl-xl), Bcl-2-associated death promoter(Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1), pro-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1), and cleaved-PARP-1 in cardiac tissues. The results showed that VA significantly improved cardiac function in mice with CF, reduced myocardial injury area and cardiac index, and decreased serum levels of AST, CK-MB, cTnI, LDH, ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. VA also lowered MDA and MPO levels, mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and mRNA and protein expressions of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA in cardiac tissues, and increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cardiac tissue levels of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC, and mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, VA ameliorated cardiac pathological damage, inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition, reduced collagen volume fraction, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. VA decreased the ratio of F4/80~+CD86~+ M1 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD86 and iNOS in cardiac tissue, and increased the ratio of F4/80~+CD206~+ M2 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD206 and Arg-1. VA also reduced protein expressions of p-Drp1, VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, IL-18, Bad, Bax, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP-1, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C, and increased the expressions of HK1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9 proteins, as well as the Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bad ratios and mitochondrial cytochrome C content. These results indicate that VA has a significant ameliorative effect on ISO-induced CF in mice, alleviates ISO-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways, suppression of myocardial cell inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, reduction of collagen volume fraction and CollⅠ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA expressions, thus mitigating CF.
Animals
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Isoproterenol/adverse effects*
;
Male
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Mice
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Vanillic Acid/administration & dosage*
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Dynamins/genetics*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Fibrosis/genetics*
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Mitochondria/metabolism*
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
;
Myocardium/metabolism*
;
Humans
2.Overall strategy for development and application of core outcome set of traditional Chinese medicine.
Jun-Hua ZHANG ; Bo PANG ; Yu-Yun LI ; Hui-Zhong ZHU ; Feng-Wen YANG ; Bo-Li ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3506-3512
The scientific and standardized evaluation of clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the core requirement for promoting the high-quality development of TCM. Building a recognized evaluation outcome system that conforms to the clinical efficacy characteristics of TCM is a key fundamental issue in the production and transformation of clinical evidence in TCM. In response to the heterogeneity of evaluation outcomes and core issues such as "western law in the middle", the research on the core outcome set of TCM(COS-TCM) has undergone more than ten years of exploration and practice. Its methodological system has continued to deepen under the coordinated development of theoretical basis, technical methods, platform support, and talent team, achieving an important leap from early introduction to standardized system construction and entering a new stage of systematic development. However, the overall research scale, quality, and the translation and application of research results in COS-TCM are still insufficient. In response to the opportunities and challenges of the new development stage, this article systematically reviews the development history and research status of COS-TCM, clarifies the basic principles of "international standards + TCM characteristics" and the key tasks of "selection, improvement, and creation", and proposes a three-step development path of "exploration and research, standard development, and regulatory transformation" to promote the standardization, systematization, and scientific development of related research. To ensure the effective implementation of research results, key promotion strategies such as upgrading research platforms, strengthening support systems, and optimizing collaborative mechanisms have been planned to drive COS-TCM to better serve clinical research, evidence translation, and new drug review.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/standards*
3.Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Epidemiological Characterization of the First Imported Case of Lassa Fever in China.
Yu Liang FENG ; Wei LI ; Ming Feng JIANG ; Hong Rong ZHONG ; Wei WU ; Lyu Bo TIAN ; Guo CHEN ; Zhen Hua CHEN ; Can LUO ; Rong Mei YUAN ; Xing Yu ZHOU ; Jian Dong LI ; Xiao Rong YANG ; Ming PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):279-289
OBJECTIVE:
This study reports the first imported case of Lassa fever (LF) in China. Laboratory detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of the Lassa virus (LASV) from this case offer valuable insights for the prevention and control of LF.
METHODS:
Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, urine, saliva, and environmental materials were collected from the patient and their close contacts for LASV nucleotide detection. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on positive samples to analyze the genetic characteristics of the virus.
RESULTS:
LASV was detected in the patient's CSF, blood, and urine, while all samples from close contacts and the environment tested negative. The virus belongs to the lineage IV strain and shares the highest homology with strains from Sierra Leone. The variability in the glycoprotein complex (GPC) among different strains ranged from 3.9% to 15.1%, higher than previously reported for the seven known lineages. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed multiple mutations within the GPC immunogenic epitopes, increasing strain diversity and potentially impacting immune response.
CONCLUSION
The case was confirmed through nucleotide detection, with no evidence of secondary transmission or viral spread. The LASV strain identified belongs to lineage IV, with broader GPC variability than previously reported. Mutations in the immune-related sites of GPC may affect immune responses, necessitating heightened vigilance regarding the virus.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
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Genome, Viral
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Lassa Fever/virology*
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Lassa virus/classification*
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Molecular Epidemiology
;
Phylogeny
4.Interpretation of the Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2025 edition)
Bo ZHANG ; Runbo ZHONG ; Hua ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2025;47(10):981-986
The "Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2025 edition)" was collaboratively completed under the leadership of Professor Han Baohui from the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Shanghai Chest Hospital and Professor Wang Jie from the Department of Medical Oncology at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College. The guideline involved the cooperation of more than 50 lung cancer diagnosis and treatment institutions and over 100 experts across China. Since the completion of the first edition in 2018, the guideline is typically revised annually to promptly incorporate the latest advancements in the field of lung cancer. The most distinctive feature of these guidelines is that they exclusively reference the indications approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China. At the same time, particular emphasis is placed on integrating clinical research data from Chinese scholars based on Chinese patients, thereby enhancing the guidelines' authority, applicability, and drug accessibility. The "Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2025 edition)" was officially published in September 2025. To better introduce the key points of the guidelines to peers, this interpretation has been prepared.
5.Mechanism of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate promoting the development of polycystic ovary syndrome
Liang CAI ; An-Ni FENG ; Yu-Hua CHEN ; Yu-Bo XIAO ; Zhong-Cheng MO ; Yuan-Jie XIE
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(5):625-633
Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate(DEHP)is an environmental pollutant commonly found in plastic products and has toxic effects on female reproductive system.DEHP can interfere with the synthesis of progesterone,testosterone and estradiol through female hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis,aggravate insulin resistance and obesity by affecting glucose and lipid metabolism,and cause ovarian damage through inducing oxidative stress,excessive autophagy and pyroptosis of oocyte or granulosa cells.It can also alter epigenetic genes relating to follicular development and prevent follicles from mature.These factors are closely contribute to the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome.We systematically summarizes the mechanism of DEHP interfering with ovarian function and inducing polycystic ovary syndrome,in order to provide help for the prevention and treatment of female reproductive injury from environmental pollutant.
6.Interpretation of the Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2025 edition)
Bo ZHANG ; Runbo ZHONG ; Hua ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2025;47(10):981-986
The "Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2025 edition)" was collaboratively completed under the leadership of Professor Han Baohui from the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Shanghai Chest Hospital and Professor Wang Jie from the Department of Medical Oncology at the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College. The guideline involved the cooperation of more than 50 lung cancer diagnosis and treatment institutions and over 100 experts across China. Since the completion of the first edition in 2018, the guideline is typically revised annually to promptly incorporate the latest advancements in the field of lung cancer. The most distinctive feature of these guidelines is that they exclusively reference the indications approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China. At the same time, particular emphasis is placed on integrating clinical research data from Chinese scholars based on Chinese patients, thereby enhancing the guidelines' authority, applicability, and drug accessibility. The "Chinese Medical Association guideline for clinical diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer (2025 edition)" was officially published in September 2025. To better introduce the key points of the guidelines to peers, this interpretation has been prepared.
7.Clinical trial of insulin therapy in elderly patients with coronary heart disease combined with type 2 diabetes
Ya-Tao DING ; Zhong-Hua WANG ; Bo CHEN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(1):3-6
Objective This study aimed to investigate the correlation between insulin resistance score after insulin treatment in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular outcomes.Methods Elderly patients with coronary heart disease complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected as the study subjects.All enrolled patients received insulin treatment with an initial dose of 3 U,administered subcutaneously before meals.The total daily dose of insulin was controlled at 0.3-0.8 U·kg-1.The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)was recorded,and the correlation between insulin resistance score(METS-IR)and cardiovascular outcomes,as well as the predictive value for the occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events was analyzed.Results Before and after insulin treatment in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus,the average body mass index(BMI)were(26.03±3.12)and(25.23±0.02)kg·m-2,triglycerides(TG)were(123.60±21.46)and(113.70±19.75)mg·dL-1,total cholesterol(TC)were(155.80±14.19)and(153.40±13.98)mg·dL-1,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)were(94.58±9.85)and(91.74±9.56)mg·dL-1,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)were(46.02±4.47)and(49.73±4.83)mg·dL-1,and fasting blood glucose(FBG)were(98.55±10.58)and(93.62±10.05)mg·dL-1,respectively.The METS-IR scores were 39.26±4.80 and 36.89±4.50,respectively.Except for plasma TC,the differences in the above indicators before and after treatment were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Among the enrolled patients,a total of 48 cases(22.2%)experienced MACE,including 23 cases of hypertension,14 cases of angina pectoris,8 cases of hospitalization for myocardial infarction,3 cases of hospitalization for heart failure.Spearman correlation analysis showed that METS-IR was significantly positively correlated with the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events(P<0.01).ROC curve analysis indicated that METS-IR had a high predictive value for the occurrence of MACE in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Conclusion After insulin treatment in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus,METS-IR was significantly positively correlated with the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events and had good predictive value for cardiovascular outcomes.
8.Toxicity evaluation of alcohol extract of Polygonum multiflorum based on 3D hepatocyte ball model
Hua-Long SU ; Xiang-Cao YAO ; Jia-Min CHEN ; Bo-Hong CEN ; Ping WANG ; Zong-Zheng CHEN ; Zhong-Yuan XU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(9):1272-1276
Objective To explore the toxicity of Polygonum multiflorum alcohol extract on 3D hepatospheres.Methods Variations in culture conditions and cell ratios were implemented,followed by the assessment of cell sphere diameter,density,and roundness,aiming to explore the optimal culture conditions.The 3D hepatocyte spheres were divided into control group and experimental-L,-M,-H groups.The experimental-L,-M,-H groups were treated with 0.25,1.00 and 2.50 mg·mL-1 Polygounm multiforum alcohol extract,and the control group was given the same amount of culture medium.The cell viability of the cell spheroids was tested by CellTiter-Glo reagent,the expression level of liver function related genes was detected by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qRCR).The toxicity of cell spheres was detected by double fluorescent staining of living and dead cells.Results The ideal culture condition of cell sphere was 500 cells per micropore,and the cell ratio was HepG2-Huvec-LX-2=8∶1∶1.It displayed the values of 0.91±0.07 for circularity,0.91±0.02 for firmness,1.12±0.14 for aspect ratio,and(170.97±14.79)μm for diameter.On the 3rd,7th,10th and 14th days,the expression levels of albumin(ALB)mRNA were 1.00±0.02,0.96±0.02,0.54±0.07,0.52±0.07,and the expression levels of cytochrome P450 1A2(CYP1A2)mRNA were 1.00±0.10,2.15±0.16,2.45±0.33,1.30±0.03,respectively.The expression levels of multidrug resistance protein 2(MPR2)in the control group and the experimental-L,-M,-H groups were 1.00±0.31,1.38±0.24,1.48±0.06 and 1.90±0.08,respectively;spheroid viability were(98.19±0.49)%,(88.53±0.90)%,(71.60±2.91)%and(56.65±5.41)%.There were statistically significant differences in the above indexes between the experimental-L,-M,-H groups and the control group(all P<0.05).Conclusion The established hepatocyte sphere co-culture model showed varying degrees of expression of phase Ⅰ/Ⅱ drug metabolism enzymes,transporters,and liver cell specific marker molecule albumin and can be used to evaluate the toxicity of multiflorum multiflorum,which provides further reference for the clinical application of multiflorum multiflorum.
9.IgA nephropathy with mesangial type Ⅲ collagen deposition:2 cases report
Jie-Bo HUANG ; Xiao-Fan CAI ; Zhong-Hua ZHAO ; Zhi-Gang ZHANG ; Qiang SHEN ; Hao WANG ; Hui-Juan WU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(3):426-430
As interstitial collagen,type Ⅲ collagen(Col Ⅲ)does not express in normal glomeruli.However,in Col Ⅲ nephropathy,a large amount of Col Ⅲ deposit in the mesangial and subendothelial area of the glomeruli.IgA nephropathy with Col Ⅲ deposition was extremely rare.In this article,we reported two cases of such disease.After treating with immunosuppressive agents or traditional Chinese medicine decoction,the renal function of the two patients remained stable and the urinary protein levels reduced significantly.
10.Introduction to the 9 th edition of TNM classification for lung cancer
Bo ZHANG ; Wentao FANG ; Hua ZHONG
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2024;46(3):206-210
Lung cancer is the second commonly diagnosed cancer and remained the leading cause of cancer-related death, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths in 2020. The identification of driver gene mutation and administration of corresponding tyrosine kinase inhibitor have improved overall survival and quality of life in advanced lung cancer patients. Check point inhibitor has revolutionized treatment strategy of driver gene negative advanced NSCLC patients. TNM staging system is the most widely used classification method, providing an international common language during academic communication and important tool for predicting prognosis and subsequent treatment decision making. Accumulating knowledge about prognostic factors in lung cancer promotes the update of TNM classification. In the World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) held in Singapore, September, 2023, International Association for Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) released the forthcoming 9 th edition of TNM classification for lung cancer, which is supposed to be adopted at January, 2024. The manuscript discussed the history, data resource and limitation of the TNM staging system.

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