1.Effect and Mechanisms of Luteolin on Gout
Jinlai CHENG ; Xiaoyu ZHANG ; Yuyan XU ; Huajing WANG ; Yuqing TAN ; Feng SUI ; Miyi YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):140-149
ObjectiveTo integrate network pharmacology prediction with multi-level experimental verification methods, and to explore in depth the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanism of luteolin in treating gout. MethodsDatabases were used to obtain potential pharmacodynamic targets of luteolin. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and network pharmacology analysis techniques were used to screen key core targets of luteolin in gout treatment. Further biological function enrichment analysis and signaling pathway analysis were performed on these targets. Molecular docking simulation was used to calculate the binding energy between luteolin and potential core targets, clarifying the strength of their interactions. In the in vivo experiment for hyperuricemia, 48 mice were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an allopurinol group (5 mg·kg-1), and low-dose (10 mg·kg-1), medium-dose (30 mg·kg-1), and high-dose (90 mg·kg-1) luteolin groups. For the first three days, the blank and model groups were gavaged with an equal volume of normal saline, while the allopurinol group and luteolin groups were gavaged with corresponding drugs. From day 4 onwards, modeling was performed by intraperitoneal injection at 12:00 daily (normal saline for the blank group, and oxonic acid potassium-hypoxanthine mixture for other groups, with 300 mg·kg-1 for each group). Gavage intervention was administered at 18:00 daily (normal saline for the blank/model groups, and corresponding drugs for the treatment groups) until day 7. After sampling, levels of serum uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured. Levels of xanthine oxidase (XO) in the liver and kidney, ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the kidney, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver were determined. Renal HE staining was also performed. In the pharmacodynamic study of gouty arthritis, 36 rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a colchicine group (0.315 mg·kg-1), and low-dose (7 mg·kg-1), medium-dose (21 mg·kg-1), and high-dose (63 mg·kg-1) luteolin groups. The model was established by vertically injecting 100 µL of 25 g·L-1 monosodium urate suspension into the posterior lateral aspect of the right ankle joint (the blank group was injected with an equal volume of normal saline), with repeated injections every two days for reinforcement. From day 2 after modeling, daily gavage administration was performed (normal saline for the blank/model groups, and corresponding drugs for the treatment groups) for a total of 16 days. During the experiment, ankle swelling and pain threshold were measured regularly. After sampling, levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were determined. Ankle joints were subjected to HE, Masson, and safranin O-fast green staining, and HE staining was also performed on ankle synovial tissue and various organs. Western blot was used to determine the expression levels of key proteins in gout-related signaling pathways. ResultsNetwork pharmacology analysis predicted that luteolin may regulate over 20 core targets, such as XO, ABCG2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and SOD, through acting on signaling pathways including NF-κB, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), and ABC transporters, thereby affecting uric acid metabolism and inflammatory responses. In the hyperuricemia model, compared with the blank group, the model group showed significantly increased serum UA level, liver and kidney XO activity, renal ABCG2 expression, and liver SOD activity (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose luteolin group significantly reduced serum UA level (P<0.01), inhibited liver and kidney XO activity (P<0.01), and significantly increased renal ABCG2 expression and liver SOD activity (P<0.01), effectively alleviating renal oxidative stress damage and improving renal histopathological status. In the gouty arthritis model, compared with the blank group, the model group showed significant ankle swelling, decreased pain threshold, and significantly increased levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in serum and synovial tissue (P<0.01). The high-dose luteolin group significantly reduced ankle swelling, prolonged hot plate pain threshold, effectively decreased the levels of the above inflammatory factors in serum and synovial tissue (P<0.01), and significantly improved ankle pathological damage, showing good analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Western blot results further confirmed that luteolin significantly upregulated Nrf2 protein expression and downregulated XO and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) expression in animals. ConclusionLuteolin can improve symptoms of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis, and its potential mechanism may be related to inhibiting XO activity, increasing ABCG2 and SOD levels, and regulating Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress-related pathways.
2.Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Chemical Constituents in Gualou Niubangtang by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and HPLC
Yiyi ZHANG ; Jing YANG ; Yuqing CHENG ; Huimin GAO ; Jin QIN ; Li YAO ; Xiyang DU ; Raorao LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):179-187
ObjectiveThis paper aims to clarify the material basis of Gualou Niubangtang and establish a quantitative analysis method for its main constituents, providing a reference for the overall quality control of this preparation. MethodsThe constituents in the formula were systematically characterized based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Identification was performed by matching with the UNIFI 9.6 software and utilizing database platforms such as PubChem, ChemicalBook, and ChemSpider, combined with relevant literature reports. A quantitative analysis method for the seven main constituents in Gualou Niubangtang was established by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). ResultsUPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis identified 155 constituents, including 69 flavonoids, 36 terpenoids, 23 phenylpropanoids, 8 phenylethanoid glycosides, and 19 other types of constituents. In the established quantitative analysis method, the seven main constituents showed good linearity within their respective linear ranges. The precision, repeatability, stability, and spike recovery all met the required standards. The results showed that the content ranges of geniposide, liquiritin, hesperidin, arctiin, baicalin, oroxylin A-7-O-β-D-glucuronide, and wogonoside in 15 batches of Gualou Niubangtang were 13.67-21.25, 1.20-7.64, 5.45-7.45, 22.97-33.51, 29.95-39.07, 2.58-4.80, and 6.56-9.31 mg·g-1, respectively. ConclusionThis study successfully characterizes and attributes multi-category constituents in Gualou Niubangtang, clarifying that its material basis is primarily composed of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylethanoid glycosides, and phenylpropanoids. Furthermore, it enables the quantification of seven constituents within the formula. This work lays a foundation for research on the quality control, action mechanism, and clinical application of this formula.
3.Research progress on colorectal alpha-fetoprotein-producing carcinoma
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(10):1364-1368
Alpha-fetoprotein-producing carcinoma(AFPC)is a rare and highly aggressive tumor that may arise in various organs,including the gastrointestinal tract,pancreas,ovary,lung,gallbladder,uterus,and urological system.To date,most clinical studies have focused on gastric AFPC,which was characterized by deep invasion and high rate of lymph node and liver metastasis.In contrast,only a few studies have investigated colorectal AFPC,and these findings suggested that colorectal AFPC exhibits distinct clinicopathological features compared with conventional colorectal carci-noma.This review summarized the clinicopathological characteristics and recent research progress of colorectal AFPC,with the aim of improving the recognition and understanding of this entity among clinicians or pathologists.
4.Clinicopathological features of early gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma
Wang GENGFANG ; Li TING ; He CHONGFANG ; Zhuang SHAOHUA ; Chen YINGTING ; Cheng YUQING
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2025;52(11):557-564
Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with early gastric carcinoma with lymphoid stroma(EGCLS).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 27 consecutive patients with EGCLS who underwent radical surgery at The Second People's Hospital of Changzhou between January 2007 and December 2023.Sixty-nine cases of conventional early gastric carcinoma with matched T stages were randomly selected as controls.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression of P53,mismatch repair(MMR)proteins,programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1),E-cadherin,and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)in the study cohort.FISH analysis was conducted on HER2 2+cases,and in situ hybridization was used to detect Epstein-Barr virus(EBV).Res-ults:No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of patient sex,age,tumor location,size,ulceration,lymph-ovascular or perineural invasion,tumor budding grade,P53 expression,or MMR protein deficiency.The EGCLS group showed significantly higher proportions of SM2 invasion(88.9%),poor tumor differentiation(70.4%),pushing tumor border(48.1%),PD-L1 positivity(59.3%),Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA(EBER)positivity(55.6%),and abnormal E-cadherin expression(48.1%)compared to the control group(59.4%,46.4%,18.8%,24.6%,1.4%,and 23.2%,respectively;P<0.05).The frequency of lymph node metastasis(7.4%)and the pro-portion of elevated macroscopic type(14.8%)in the EGCLS group were significantly lower than in the control group(30.4%and 40.6%,re-spectively;P<0.05).Lymphovascular invasion,tumor budding grade,and non-EGCLS status were identified as risk factors for lymph node metastasis,with lymphovascular invasion being the only independent risk factor.Conclusions:EGCLS is a rare subtype of early gastric car-cinoma characterized by a low frequency of lymph node metastasis and a high proportion of EBER positivity or MMR protein deficiency.En-doscopic resection or immunotherapy may be preferred treatment options for patients who are not suitable candidates for surgery.
5.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.
6.Advantages and potential ecological risks of genetically modified crops.
Qingjie CHEN ; Yuqing CHENG ; Yu MA ; Ning XU
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3891-3906
Genetically modified (GM) crops, as a pivotal innovation in modern agriculture, exhibit significant advantages such as pest and disease resistance, herbicide tolerance, stress tolerance, and yield enhancement. However, their widespread adoption has been associated with potential ecological risks, including weediness of transgenic plants, gene flow, emergence of novel viral strains in virus-resistant crops, impacts on non-target organisms and soil ecosystems, and evolution of target pest resistance. This review focuses on the dual characteristics of GM crops, systematically examining their agronomic benefits and the underlying mechanisms of ecological risks. This review provides a theoretical foundation for optimizing the development of GM crops and ecological risk management, facilitating sustainable agricultural practices.
Plants, Genetically Modified/growth & development*
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Crops, Agricultural/growth & development*
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Ecosystem
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Ecology
7.Progress in the treatment of Alzheimer′s disease by Chinese medicine extracts based on C . elegans model
Yuqing Pei ; Chunyu Xu ; Xindi Shao ; Yujie Zhu ; Siyue Zhou ; Zhiyi Zheng ; Fei Cheng ; Xuan Shi ; Zhangyue Chen
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(4):760-765
Abstract
Alzheimer′s disease(AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease. It has been found that AD is related to various pathogenic factors such as genetics, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and excessive phosphorylation of tau protein. However, no definitive conclusions on its pathogenesis have been reached. In this paper, the research progress on the pathogenesis of AD inC.elegansmodel and the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine extracts on AD are reviewed, providing a basis for further research on the alleviating effects of Chinese medicine extracts on AD.
8.Analysis of efficacy and prognosis in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor dose reduction regimen
Juan SHEN ; Jinjin ZHU ; Mimi XU ; Yuqing TU ; Nan CHEN ; Shushu XU ; Jia CHENG
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2025;34(10):586-591
Objective:To explore the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) dose reduction regimen in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and its prognostic impact.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data of patients with chronic-phase CML treated with reduced-dose TKI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2018 and December 2022 were collected. Patients were divided into groups based on Sokal score, European Treatment and Outcome Study long-term survival (ELTS) score, TKI drug classification and dose reduction, and treatment phase. The overall survival (OS), the cumulative incidence of major molecular response (MMR), the cumulative molecular recurrence rate and event-free survival (EFS) among patients in different strata were compared. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.Results:Among 154 patients with chronic-phase CML, the median duration [ M ( IQR)] of reduced-dose TKI therapy was 35.4 months (34.9 months); Sokal score high-risk and low-/intermediate-risk groups comprised 20 cases (12.99%) and 134 cases (87.01%), respectively; ELTS score high-risk and low-/intermediate-risk groups comprised 14 cases (9.09%) and 140 cases (90.91%), respectively. Among 154 patients, 83 cases (53.90%) received imatinib therapy, while 71 cases (46.10%) received second-generation TKI; 138 patients (89.61%) maintained stable TKI dosing at the first dose level, and 16 patients (10.39%) maintained it at the second dose level. The induction therapy group comprised 33 patients (21.43%), while the maintenance therapy group included 121 patients (78.57%). The 3-year OS rate of all 154 patients was 90.6%. Patients in the Sokal score high-risk group demonstrated a lower 3-year OS rate compared to those in the low-/intermediate-risk group (64.1% vs. 96.7%) ( P < 0.001); patients in the ELTS score high-risk group had a lower 3-year OS rate compared to those in the low-/intermediate-risk group (62.9% vs. 95.8%) ( P = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the 3-year OS rate of patients receiving the first dose level and those receiving the second dose level (90.6% vs. 90.0%, P = 0.478); there was no statistically significant difference in the 3-year OS rate of the induction therapy group and the maintenance therapy group (88.9% vs. 91.4%, P = 0.868). Among the 33 patients in the induction therapy group, all received the first dose level. After treatment, 28 achieved MMR, and 2 achieved molecular response 4.0 (MR4.0). The cumulative 1-year MMR rate of all patients in reduction therapy group was 95.8%, with a median time to MMR of 8.4 months; patients in the high-risk Sokal score group had a 1-year cumulative MMR rate of 50.0%, which was lower than that of the low-/intermediate-risk group (95.3%) ( P = 0.014); the median time to MMR was 14.7 months and 7.8 months, respectively. The cumulative 1-year MMR rate of patients treated with first-generation TKI was lower than that in those treated with second-generation TKI (65.0% vs. 100.0%, P = 0.034), and the median time to MMR of patients treated with first-generation TKI was longer than that those treated with second-generation TKI (9.1 months vs. 6.9 months). Among the 149 patients who achieved MMR, 5 experienced molecular relapse, resulting in a 3-year cumulative molecular relapse rate of 8.3%. In the Sokal score low-/intermediate-risk group, the 3-year cumulative molecular relapse rate (1.5% vs. 39.8%, P < 0.001), EFS rate (92.3% vs. 57.1%, P < 0.001), and OS rate (100.0% vs. 62.8%, P < 0.001) were better than those in the Sokal score high-risk group. The 3-year cumulative molecular relapse rate and 3-year EFS rate in patients receiving first dose level therapy were better than those in patients receiving second dose level therapy, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.001). Conclusions:Patients with chronic-phase CML can still obtain good outcomes when receiving dose-reduced TKI, while the prognosis of patients in high-risk group is relatively poor. The choice of TKI and the dosage reduction should be individualized based on patients' characteristics.
9.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a study by the Jiangsu Cooperative Lymphoma Group (JCLG)
Yi XIA ; Jing HE ; Weiying GU ; Tao JIA ; Tingxun LU ; Yongle LI ; Jiahao ZHOU ; Bingzong LI ; Haiying HUA ; Ping LIU ; Yuqing MIAO ; Yuexin CHENG ; Xiaoyan XIE ; Yunping ZHANG ; Wenzhong WU ; Zhuxia JIA ; Xuzhang LU ; Chunling WANG ; Liang YU ; Min XU ; Jinning SHI ; Weifeng CHEN ; Wanchuan ZHUANG ; Zhen QIAN ; Jun QIAN ; Haiwen NI ; Yifei CHEN ; Qiudan SHEN ; Jianyong LI ; Wenyu SHI
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(6):504-513
Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and analyze the factors associated with prognosis.Methods:A case series study was conducted by retrospectively collecting clinical data from patients aged over 60 years with newly diagnosed stage Ⅰ DLBCL across 20 medical centers in Jiangsu Province, China, between June 2010 and April 2023. The involved site, classification and treatment plan were summarized. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression model.Results:The study included 255 patients with a median age of 69 years, of whom 130 (51.0%) were male, 66 (25.9%) were aged ≥75 years and 26 (10.1%) had a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of ≥2. Extranodal involvement was observed in 163 (63.9%) patients, with the stomach (37.4%, 61/163), intestine (19.0%, 31/163), testes (11.0%, 18/163), and breast (7.4%, 12/163) being the most frequently affected sites. The non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) subtype was prevalent in 63.7% of patients (142/223), with no significant difference between the nodal and extranodal groups ( P=0.681). Furthermore, 73.9% (184/249) and 11.7% (29/249) of patients received the R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and R-miniCHOP regimen, respectively. The overall 3-year PFS rate was 81.5%, and the 3-year OS rate was 85.6%. Patients aged ≥75 years ( HR=2.910, 95% CI 1.565-5.408, P=0.001) and/or with a CCI score ≥2 ( HR=2.324, 95% CI 1.141-4.732, P=0.020) had a significantly poorer PFS. Incorporating age ≥75 years and CCI score ≥2 into the stage-modified international prognostic index (sm-IPI) can better stratify the prognosis of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL. The 3-year PFS rate was 48.7% in the high-risk group versus 85.7% in the low-risk group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Our findings show that the elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL were predominantly characterized by extranodal involvement (particularly in the stomach and intestinal tract) and non-GCB subtype. Age ≥75 years and CCI ≥2 were identified as independent prognostic factors. The newly established sm-IPI-75-CCI incorporating these factors demonstrated superior prognostic discrimination compared to conventional risk assessment systems.
10.Research progress on colorectal alpha-fetoprotein-producing carcinoma
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(10):1364-1368
Alpha-fetoprotein-producing carcinoma(AFPC)is a rare and highly aggressive tumor that may arise in various organs,including the gastrointestinal tract,pancreas,ovary,lung,gallbladder,uterus,and urological system.To date,most clinical studies have focused on gastric AFPC,which was characterized by deep invasion and high rate of lymph node and liver metastasis.In contrast,only a few studies have investigated colorectal AFPC,and these findings suggested that colorectal AFPC exhibits distinct clinicopathological features compared with conventional colorectal carci-noma.This review summarized the clinicopathological characteristics and recent research progress of colorectal AFPC,with the aim of improving the recognition and understanding of this entity among clinicians or pathologists.


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