1.Differential analysis of saponins in Platycodon grandiflorus from different origins based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Tingting ZHANG ; Jingjing HUANG ; Jinglei LIANG ; Tao PANG ; Wansheng CHEN ; Feng ZHANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2026;44(4):189-199
Objective To establish a highly efficient and sensitive technical system for the identification and analysis of platycodin-type saponins, systematically compare the differences in platycodin-type saponins among Platycodon grandiflorum from different producing areas, and provide scientific references for the screening of high-quality Platycodon grandiflorum resources, authenticity evaluation, and construction of standardized quality control systems. Methods A total of 45 batches of P. grandiflorum medicinal materials from 3 producing areas (Anhui, Henan, and Jilin, with 15 batches per area) were selected as research objects. Qualitative identification and semi-quantitative analysis of saponin components were performed based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS) technology. Meanwhile, two multivariate statistical methods, principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), were combined to analyze the differences in platycodin-type saponins of Platycodon grandiflorus from different producing areas. Results A total of 28 saponin components were identified from Platycodon grandiflorus of the three producing areas. PCA results showed that there were minor differences in platycodin-type saponins between Henan Platycodon grandiflorus and Jilin Platycodon grandiflorus, while Anhui P. grandiflorum exhibited significant differences from both. PLS-DA further screened 15 major differential compounds. Among them, the contents of 6 components including 3''-O-acetylpolygalacin D2 and platycodin H in Anhui Platycodon grandiflorus were higher than those in Henan and Jilin Platycodon grandiflorus; platycodigenic acid A had the highest content in Jilin Platycodon grandiflorus; the contents of platycodin D3, polygalacin J, and polygalacin D were relatively higher in Henan Platycodon grandiflorus. Conclusion This study clarified the characteristic differences in core components of Platycodon grandiflorus from the three major producing areas, which provided an important theoretical basis for the screening of high-quality Platycodon grandiflorus resources, elucidation of the mechanism underlying its authenticity, and construction of a standardized quality control system.
2.Neuroprotective effect and mechanism of eleutheroside B on Parkinson’s disease model mice by regulating the IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway
Xiaoli WANG ; Hua RONG ; Siwen PAN ; Chunlei YU ; Tianjiao XU ; Yu SUN ; Huan CONG ; Yu PANG ; Gang CHEN ; Xiaoming LI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(8):998-1002
OBJECTIVE To investigate the neuroprotective effect and mechanism of eleutheroside B (ELB) on Parkinson’s disease (PD) model mice by regulating the IκB kinase β (IKKβ)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. METHODS Fifty mice were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, positive control group (selegiline hydrochloride, 10 mg/kg), and ELB low-dose and high-dose groups (80, 160 mg/kg), with 10 mice in each group. Each group was given relevant medicine or normal saline intragastrically for 14 consecutive days. Starting from the 10th day of administration, the model group and all administration groups were intraperitoneally injected with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) 30 mg/kg, for five consecutive days to establish the chronic PD model. After the last administration for 24 h, six mice were randomly selected from each group to test their behavioral abilities; detect the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in brain tissue and their mRNA expressions were measured, and positive expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), protein expressions of TH, α -synuclein ( α -syn), ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1), as well as phosphorylation levels of IKKβ and NF-κB p65 proteins in the brain tissue were detected. The ultrastructure of neurons in substantia nigra was observed. RESULTS Compared with the model group, rotarod endurance time and climbing score of each administration group (except for the ELB low-dose group) were increased significantly ( P <0.05), while the levels and mRNA expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, α -syn, and Iba-1, as well as phosphorylation levels of IKKβ and NF-κB p65 proteins in brain tissue were decreased significantly (except for TNF-α in the ELB low-dose group). Conversely, the level and mRNA expression of IL-10 (except for the ELB low-dose group), TH positive expression and protein expressions were significantly increased ( P <0.05). Typical neurodegenerative pathological changes, such as neuronal karyopyknosis, mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization, and endoplasmic reticulum dilation, all showed varying degrees of improvement. CONCLUSIONS ELB may exert neuroprotective effects by inhibiting the activation of the IKKβ/NF-κB signaling pathway, alleviating inflammatory responses, reducing abnormal α -syn aggregation and neuronal loss, and further improving motor dysfunction in PD mice.
3.A scoping review of the relationship between 24 hour movement behaviors and physical and mental health among college students
XIAO Rui, ZHAO Lei, PANG Kehan, LI Zhiru, CHEN Xin, XU Linyan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(4):593-598
Objective:
To review the relationship between 24 hour movement behaviors and physical and mental health among college students, in order to provide evidence to support health promotion and further research in universities.
Methods:
Following the Joanna Briggs Institude(JBI) scoping review guidelines, relevant studies published in databases from inception date to December 26, 2025 were searched, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang Data. For studies meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a descriptive analysis was conducted to summarize the measurement tools used, adherence rates with guidelines, and the relationship between physical and mental health.
Results:
A total of 30 studies were included. Measurement tools exhibited a high heterogeneity, with questionnaires being the primary method. The rate of full adherence with 24 hour movement behaviors among college students was less than 30%. Moderate to vigorous physical activity and high quality sleep were associated with improvements in physical fitness, cardiopulmonary function, and mental health, while prolonged sitting was negatively associated with obesity and depression. Equivalent time substitution analysis indicated that increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity and reducing prolonged sitting could significantly improve health outcomes.
Conclusions
The adherence rate for 24 hour movement behaviors among college students is low and it is closely associated with physical and mental health. Future studies should standardize measurement tools, and implement targeted interventions based on the optimization of daily activity patterns.
4.Shared genetic architecture between arrhythmia and obsessive-compulsive disorder: a heart-brain axis study based on multi-omics integration
Jiaqing XU ; Chen XU ; Xiaochu GU ; Lijun PANG ; Jing SHEN ; Liya YE
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(2):149-157
BackgroundArrhythmia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) frequently co-occur in clinical and epidemiological settings, yet their shared genetic basis and potential heart-brain axis mechanisms remain unclear. ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the genetic correlation between arrhythmia and OCD, and to elucidate their underlying molecular genetic mechanisms, so as to provide molecular evidence for the "heart-brain axis" to support risk assessment and integrated clinical strategies for these comorbidities. MethodsThe aggregated data from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of arrhythmia in the UK Biobank (7 207 cases and 477 391 controls) and the GWAS data of OCD released by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (2 688 cases and 7 037 controls) were integrated, all of which were limited to individuals of European ancestry. The genome-wide genetic correlations were estimated using the linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) and the high-definition likelihood (HDL). Local genetic correlation analysis was conducted using the local analysis of variance annotation (LAVA). Multi-trait analysis of GWAS (MTAG) was employed to identify pleiotropic loci. Shared risk genes were identified by combining summary-data based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS). Functional enrichment analysis was performed based on the functional mapping and annotation (FUMA) platform. ResultsBoth LDSC (rg=0.248, 95% CI: 0.159–0.336, P=4.82×10-3) and HDL (rg=0.294, 95% CI: 0.237–0.351, P=5.87×10-4) revealed significant positive genetic correlation between arrhythmia and OCD. LAVA identified 23 significantly local correlated regions in the genome (P<2.0×10-5). MTAG discovered 11 genome-wide significant pleiotropic SNPs, among which rs12754189 (intron of KCNN3) had potential functional harmfulness (CADD>12.37). SMR and TWAS jointly identified 20 shared genes, enriched in neural-cardiovascular tissues such as the cerebral cortex, amygdala, and left ventricle, and involved in DNA damage response, RNA metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and FAS signaling pathway (FDR<0.05). ConclusionArrhythmia and OCD share a common genetic basis. The co-morbidity mechanism may involve the common vulnerability of neurons and cardiac muscle cells in terms of gene expression regulation and stress response, supporting the role of the brain-heart axis in the pathophysiology of both conditions.
5.Impact of a Rapid Optimization Clinic on Glycemic Control and Insulin Deintensification in Patients With Diabetes: An Early Retrospective Audit
Pang Hoy Yan ; Varuna Shashti Dhevi Marimuthu ; Amir Ridzwan Maula Mohd Nasir ; Muhammad Firdaus Ghani ; Chen Chiew Yee ; Hidayatil Alimi Keya Nordin ; Elliyyin Katiman
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):41-42
Introduction:
Improving glycemic control while minimizing unnecessary
insulin exposure is an important goal in diabetes
management. The Rapid Optimization Clinic (ROC) was
established as a structured multidisciplinary service to
support therapy individualization, close follow-up, and
timely insulin deintensification. This audit evaluated early
changes in glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and insulin
treatment burden following ROC care over 3 months.
Methodology:
We conducted a retrospective audit of routine clinical
data from patients with diabetes managed in the ROC at a
district hospital. Baseline and 3-month HbA1c and insulin
data were extracted from non-electronic clinic records.
Insulin dose was standardized as total daily dose (TDD)
in units/kg/day. Insulin deintensification was evaluated
primarily by change in TDD from baseline to 3 months and
by the proportion of patients who discontinued insulin
during follow-up. Paired analyses were performed for patients with complete baseline and follow-up data for
each outcome. Continuous variables are presented as mean
± standard deviation or median with interquartile range,
as appropriate. Exploratory analyses were undertaken to
assess whether available patient factors were associated
with HbA1c improvement.
Results:
Twenty-three patients were included. Paired HbA1c data
were available for 12 patients, whereas paired TDD data
were available for 21 patients. Mean HbA1c decreased
from 10.78 ± 2.59% at baseline to 8.42 ± 2.29% at 3 months,
representing a mean reduction of 2.36 percentage points
(95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09–4.62; p = 0.043). Mean TDD
decreased from 0.434 ± 0.248 to 0.286 ± 0.313 units/kg/day,
corresponding to a mean reduction of 0.148 units/kg/day
(95% CI 0.077–0.219; p <0.001). Insulin was discontinued in
9 of 21 patients (42.9%). No clear association was observed
between HbA1c improvement and age, sex, or number of
visits. Interpretation is limited by the small sample size,
reflecting the early phase of a newly established clinic.
Conclusion
In this early audit, ROC care was associated with clinically
meaningful improvement in glycemic control and
significant insulin deintensification over 3 months. These
findings support the potential role of a structured multidisciplinary optimization clinic in delivering individualized
diabetes care and facilitating safe reduction of insulin
burden.
Humans
;
Glycemic Control
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Diabetes Mellitus
;
Insulins
6.The role of zinc finger CCCH-type containing 13 in gastric cancer based on bioinformatics analysis
Yuemei LAN ; Lili PANG ; Wangcheng CHEN ; Baihong ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(17):13-19
Objective To explore the expression level of zinc finger CCCH-type containing 13 (ZC3H13)in gastric cancer based on bioinformatics techniques,along with clinicopathological stag-ing,prognostic survival,immune infiltration,correlation analysis,protein-protein interactions,and enrichment analysis.Methods Using the UALCAN database and the Gene Expression Profiling Inter-active Analysis(GEPIA)databases,the expression differences of ZC3H13 between normal gastric tis-sues and gastric cancer tissues,as well as the significance of clinical pathological data were compared.The correlation between ZC3H13 expression levels in gastric cancer tissues and patient survival progno-sis was assessed using univariate survival analysis through the Kaplan-Meier Plotter website and the GEPIA database.The relationship between ZC3H13 expression and immune infiltration levels in gastric cancer was explored using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource(TIMER)database.Co-expression genes significantly correlated with ZC3H13 expression in gastric cancer were identified through the Linkedomics database.The protein-protein interaction network of ZC3H13 and its common target genes in gastric cancer was constructed using the STRING website,followed by Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses.Results Compared to normal gastric tissues,ZC3H13 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer,and its high ex-pression was closely associated with patient age,ethnicity,tissue subtype,and other factors.Pa-tients with high ZC3H13 expression showed no statistically significant difference in overall survival(OS)or progression-free survival(PFS)time compared to patients with low expression(P>0.05).Immune analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between ZC3H13 expression and the infiltration density of CD8+T cells,macrophages,neutrophils,and dendritic immune cells in gastric cancer(P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that ZC3H13 expression in gastric cancer was significantly positively correlated with the gene expression of DAK,DDK1,and BCL7C,and negatively correlated with the expression of FAM10A4,SLC6A7,and TAC1(P<0.05).The pro-tein interaction network indicated that proteins interacting with ZC3H13 in gastric cancer included VIRMA,WTAP,METTL3,METTL14,RBM15,and others.Enrichment analysis revealed that dif-ferentially expressed genes in gastric cancer were mainly enriched in RNA polymerase,nucleotide excision repair,thyroid hormone signaling pathway,and other pathways.Conclusion ZC3H13 is overexpressed in gastric cancer,and its elevated expression is linked to the clinicopathological stage,patient survival time,and immune cell infiltration levels.Additionally,ZC3H13 may partici-pate in the initiation and progression of gastric cancer through interactions with key molecules such as VIRMA and METTL3.These findings suggest that ZC3H13 could serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for gastric cancer prognosis.
7.Predictive modeling of efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer using ultrasound and immunohistochemistry
Zhaoyun LI ; Yue PANG ; Cuijing CHEN ; Jingning MAO ; Rui DU ; Wanqing HAN ; Hongli TIAN ; Yuejuan GAO ; Ling BAI
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(9):687-693
Objective To establish a model that integrates ultrasound features and immunological characteristics for predicting the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)in breast cancer patients.Methods A total of 203 breast cancer patients undergoing preoperative NAC at the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital between July 2021 and July 2024 were screened.In line with the inclusion/exclusion criteria,177 patients were included.Data on ultrasound and immunohistochemistry was collected.These patients were divided into pathological complete response(pCR)and non-pathological complete response(non-pCR)groups based on postoperative pathology.Factors with P<0.0 1 in univariate analysis were evaluated using multivariate Logistic regression.Independent predictive factors were used to construct and validate the ultrasound-immunohistochemical model via Bootstrap.Results The reduction rateof the maximum diameter of lesions,posterior echo attenuation,PR status and HER-2 status were identified as independent predictors of pCR(all P<0.05).The model proved to be highly accurate and stable.Conclusion The model that combines ultrasound and immunohistochemical features can effectively evaluatep CR after NAC in breast cancer patients.
8.The value of dual phase 18 F-flurodeoxyglucose PET/CT imaging and ultrasound to diagnose cervical lymph node metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer
Jingmiao Zhang ; Xiaoxi Pang ; Shan Huang ; Hong Chen ; Fei Li
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(6):1113-1119
Objective :
To assess and to compare the diagnostic performance of cervical ultrasound and 18F fluorodeoxyglucose(18F-FDG PET/CT) in identifying cervical lymph node metastases in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer(DTC) following total thyroidectomy, focusing on both early and delayed imaging phases.
Methods :
A retrospective review was performed on 83 DTC patients with DTC who had undergone total thyroidectomy. A total of 143 cervical lymph nodes, comprising both metastatic and non-metastatic nodes, were evaluated using 18F-FDG PET/CT and ultrasound. Sensitivity, specificity, and overall diagnostic accuracy were calculated for each imaging modality. Differences in lymph node detection rates across cervical regions using ultrasound were analyzed, along with nodal size parameters(long and short axis diameters), to investigate potential limitations of ultrasound in this context. Additionally, PET/CT parameters including axial ratio, early and delayed maximum standardized uptake values(SUVmax), and changes in SUVmax between imaging timepoints(ΔSUVmax) were compared between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes to evaluate the diagnostic value and underlying mechanisms of PET/CT in this clinical setting.
Results :
18 F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated a sensitivity of 91 . 58% (98/107) , a specificity of 72. 22% (26/36) , and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 86. 71% (124/143) in identifying cervical lymph node metastases post-total thyroidectomy in DTC patients . In comparison , ultrasound showed a lower sensitivity of 50. 47% (54/107) , but a higher specificity of 97. 22% (35/36) , with an overall accuracy of 62. 24% (89/ 143) . Notably , ultrasound exhibited a significantly higher false-negative rate in the first cervical lymph node group compared to the second group [56. 6% (30/53 ) vs 43 . 4% (23/53 ) ; χ2 = 20. 396 , P < 0. 001] . In delayed PET/CT imaging , metastatic lymph nodes showed a significantly increased SUV max compared to early-phase imaging (Z = - 8. 147 , P < 0. 001) . Using an SUV max threshold of 2. 5 , delayed imaging identified a greater number of positive lymph nodes than early imaging ( χ2 = 18. 127 , P < 0. 001) . Furthermore , metastatic lymph nodes exhibi- ted a significantly lower axial ratio than non-metastatic nodes (Z = - 4. 529 , P < 0. 001) . Both early and delayed SUV max values were significantly higher in malignant nodes compared to benign ones (Z = - 3 . 689 , P < 0. 001 and Z = - 4. 550 , P < 0. 001 , respectively) . Additionally , ΔSUV max was markedly elevated in metastatic lymph nodes (Z = - 4. 189 , P < 0. 001) .
Conclusion
Dual-phase 18 F-FDG PET/CT proves to be superior to ultrasound in di- agnosing cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) following total thyroid- ectomy . Delayed-phase imaging offers higher tumor-to-background ratio , which enhances the visibility of metastatic lymph nodes . In addition , dual-phase 18 F-FDG PET/CT plays greater advantages in the differential diagnosis be- tween metastatic lymph nodes and non-metastatic lymph nodes .
9.Research progress in analytical technologies for characterizing pharmacodynamic substance basis of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions
Yuan YUAN ; Di NIU ; Xinxin PANG ; Chaoyang DU ; Yanan WANG ; Ruifang CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(21):2738-2741
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescriptions serve as crucial practical embodiments of TCM theoretical frameworks, characterized by their complex multi-component composition and multi-target interactions. The research on the material basis of their pharmacological effects has gradually become the key to promoting the modernization of TCM. In recent years, new ideas and theories regarding the research on pharmacodynamic substance basis of TCM compound prescriptions have been continuously proposed. This review systematically summarizes and reviews analytical techniques such as targeted fishing technology, spectrum-effect relationship analysis, serum pharmacochemistry, network pharmacology, high-throughput screening, and cell membrane chromatography. It is found that these techniques exhibit unique advantages in areas including target-specific analysis, component-pharmacological effect correlation analysis, identification of the material basis in vitro and in vivo, prediction of multi-target mechanisms, efficient screening of active ingredients, and analysis of interactions between cell membrane receptors. These techniques compensate for the shortcomings of traditional research methods, enhance the systematicness and precision of research on pharmacodynamic substance based TCM compound prescriptions, and can provide theoretical support for the promotion and clinical application of TCM compound prescriptions.
10.Validity and Cost-Consequence Analysis of the Brief Version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment for Discriminating Cognitive Impairment in a Community-Based Middle-Aged and Elderly Population.
Ting PANG ; Ya-Ping ZHANG ; Ren-Wei CHEN ; Ai-Ju MA ; Xiao-Yi YU ; Yi-Wen HUANG ; Yi-Chun LU ; Xin XU
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(3):382-389
Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity and perform cost-consequence analysis of the brief version of the Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)for identifying cognitive impairment in a community-based population ≥50 years of age.Methods The internal consistency and retest reliability of the brief version of the MoCA were analyzed,and the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity were determined to discriminate mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and dementia with the clinical dementia rating(CDR)as the diagnostic criterion.The consistency between the brief version and the full version was analyzed by the Kappa test and the Bland-Altman method,and the number of individuals entering the diagnostic assessment and the overall assessment time were estimated and compared between the two versions.Results A total of 303 individuals were included in this study,of whom 192,94,and 17 had normal cognitive function,MCI,and dementia,respectively.The Cronbach's α and re-test coefficients of the brief version of MoCA were 0.754 and 0.711(P<0.001),respectively.The brief version showed the AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of 0.889,74.5%,and 93.8% for identifying MCI,and 0.994,100%,and 93.8% for identifying dementia,respectively.When the brief version of MoCA was used to identify 94 patients with MCI in 303 individuals,107 individuals required additional diagnostic assessment,with an overall assessment time of 142.4 h,which represented decreases of 21.3% and 32.7%,respectively,compared with those of the full version.When the brief version of MoCA was used to identify 17 patients with dementia in 303 individuals,35 individuals required additional diagnostic assessment,with an overall assessment time of 70.4 h,a decrease of 29.5% in the time cost compared with the full version.Conclusions The brief version of MoCA can identify cognitively impaired individuals in a community-based middle-aged and elderly population,with diagnostic validity comparable to that of the full version but less time cost and fewer individuals needing additional diagnostic assessment to detect true-positive cases.It could be expanded for use in the community-based primary screening setting.
Humans
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Cognitive Dysfunction/diagnosis*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Mental Status and Dementia Tests
;
Reproducibility of Results
;
Dementia/diagnosis*
;
Sensitivity and Specificity
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Cost-Benefit Analysis


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