1.Research Tackling Paradigm and Technological Layout Strategies Based on Erectile Dysfunction, A Clinical Dominant Disease of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Qi ZHAO ; Yun CHEN ; Baoxing LIU ; Xuejun SHANG ; Fei SUN ; Xiaozhi ZHAO ; Zhigang WU ; Chao SUN ; Peihai ZHANG ; Wanjun CHENG ; Xing ZHOU ; Zhan QIN ; Yufeng PAN ; Weiwei TAO ; Jianhuai CHEN ; Mei MO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Xing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):291-299
To thoroughly implement the strategic deployment outlined in the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Promoting the Inheritance and Innovative Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine regarding research on dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine and to uphold the development philosophy of equal emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine,the China Association of Chinese Medicine has fully played a leading academic role by systematically organizing and conducting a series of academic youth salons on clinical dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine. On September 13,2024,the 36th Youth Salon on Clinical Dominant Diseases was successfully held in Nanjing,focusing on the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine and the integrative traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The conference brought together leading experts from traditional Chinese medicine,western medicine,and interdisciplinary fields,facilitating in-depth multidisciplinary discussions that led to key consensus on optimizing traditional Chinese medicine treatment protocols for ED,researching and developing new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine,and advancing interdisciplinary development in traditional Chinese medicine. This salon systematically sorted out the clinical strengths and distinctive features of traditional Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of ED. Based on current research foundations and clinical needs,it identified key directions for future scientific layout and scientific research tackling: (1) Standardization of syndrome differentiation system of traditional Chinese medicine for ED. (2) Optimization and standardization of intervention methods of integrated traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine. (3) High-quality clinical research guided by evidence-based medicine. (4) In-depth analysis of the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of ED. (5) Clinical translation and application promotion of new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine. (6) Interdisciplinary integration and innovation in traditional Chinese medicine. For each research direction,key focus areas,expected objectives,and clinical value were further refined,along with the establishment of a scientifically sound priority funding level evaluation system. Therefore,building on the series of salons on the ED-focused dominant diseases of traditional Chinese medicine,this paper provides standardized guidance for clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine in ED management,effectively contributing to the high-quality development of traditional Chinese medicine. It serves as a valuable reference for national scientific and technological strategic layout, research and development decision-making in new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine,research topic planning,and clinical guideline formulation.
2.Mechanistic Interpretation of Zheng’s San Qi San Powder in Treating Skeletal Muscle Injury via Bioinformatics Prediction, Chemical Analysis and Experimental Verification
Ding-Rui WANG ; Yun-Xin LIU ; Jun-Jie XU ; Liu YANG ; Jia-Hao LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Lei LÜ ; Bei-Bei QIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1028-1047
ObjectiveZheng’s San Qi San (ZSQS) power, a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used for treating soft tissue injuries involving muscles, tendons, and ligaments. However, its underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to screen and identify pharmaceutically active ingredients and their candidate biomolecule targets, and further elucidate the molecular mechanism of ZSQS in the treatment of skeletal muscle injury. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to construct “ZSQS-component-target”, “protein-protein interaction (PPI)” and “active ingredient-core protein-pathway” networks to predict the key active ingredients and potential core targets of ZSQS for skeletal muscle injury. The predicted results were then validated via microarray data from the GEO database. Molecular docking was then performed to assess the binding ability between the screened active ingredients of ZSQS and the candidate core targets. Moreover, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis to verify the active components of the drug and ZSQS serum. Finally, an animal model of eccentric exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury and a myotube cell model of oxidative stress-induced injury were established to validate the effects of ZSQS and its interventional effects on the biological functions of critical targets, thereby demonstrating the potential therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. ResultsAmong the 111 active components identified in ZSQS and their corresponding 204 targets related to the skeletal muscle injury repair process, 14 core targets (including AKT1) and 4 core active components (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and β‑sitosterol) were screened out, while the corresponding metabolites of quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were detected in the ZSQS serum. Among these targets, 5 candidate genes (IL-6, CASP3, HIF1A, STAT3, and JUN) overlapped with the differential expression screening results with GEO data, and IL-6 was confirmed to be enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. Combined with the prediction results of the AKT expression levels, these findings suggest that the phosphorylation level of AKT1 plays a core role in the therapeutic mechanism of ZSQS. Molecular docking analysis further revealed that the PH domain of AKT1 had high binding energy with all 4 core active components, as verified by LC-MS. Finally, animal model studies have shown the promoting effect of ZSQS administration on skeletal muscle injury repair and its possible antioxidant damage mechanism. Cell model studies further demonstrated that ZSQS-containing serum, core active ingredient combination therapy, and quercetin monomer could increase the phosphorylation level of AKT, promote the nuclear translocation of Nrf2, upregulate the expression of downstream antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and GR), and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α), thereby alleviating oxidative stress and the inflammatory response. ConclusionZSQS alleviates skeletal muscle injury mainly by activating the AKT/Nrf2 signaling pathway, enhancing cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for the clinical application and modernized development of ZSQS.
3.Treatment of 149 cases of large-volume benign prostatic hyperplasia with blue laser vaporization
Haifeng CHENG ; Chao WANG ; Quan DU ; Guoxiong LIU ; Zhenwei FAN ; Xiaoliang FU ; Nan LI ; Wanglong YUN ; Xiaofeng XU
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(5):443-445
Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of blue laser vaporization in the treatment of large-volume (>80 mL) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 149 BPH patients with prostate volume>80 mL who underwent blue laser vaporization at our hospital during Aug. 2023 and Aug. 2025. The 1-month postoperative maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and international prostate symptom score (IPSS), operation time, postoperative hemoglobin drop, bladder irrigation volume, catheter indwelling time, and incidence of postoperative complications were recorded and analyzed. Results All operations were successfully completed, without conversion to other approaches. The operation time was (41.47±11.05) minutes, postoperative hemoglobin drop (2.78±1.19) g/L, bladder irrigation volume (9.97±1.49) bags, and catheter indwelling time (3.30±1.85) days. One month after surgery, the Qmax was significantly higher than the preoperative value [(20.19±3.39) mL/s vs. (2.39±2.17) mL/s], while the IPSS was significantly lower [(4.46±0.87) vs. (27.69±2.06)], with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). Postoperative complications included 1 case of incontinence (0.67%), 2 cases of urethral stricture/bladder neck contracture (1.34%), and 1 case of secondary bleeding (0.67%), all of which improved with symptomatic treatment. Conclusion Blue laser vaporization is effective for treating large-volume BPH, with advantages such as minimal bleeding risk, short operation time, fast recovery and safety.
4.Fluorescence Suppression Method of Raman Spectroscopy and Its Application in Skin and Cosmetics Analysis
Yun-Xia CHEN ; Jia-Rong WANG ; Jian-Yu ZHU ; Shi-Wen LIN ; Ya-Nan LIU ; Xiao-Yue MA ; Guang-Cheng XI ; Juan LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1914-1926
Owing to its inherent advantages—such as being non-destructive, rapid, highly molecule-specific, and minimally interfered with by moisture—Raman spectroscopy has been widely adopted in the fields of skin barrier function assessment, monitoring the transdermal penetration of active cosmetic ingredients, and the identification and quality control of cosmetic products. Despite these strengths, the practical application of this technique faces a significant bottleneck: the strong fluorescence background generated by endogenous skin components and exogenous cosmetic additives. Endogenous skin substances, such as structural proteins (e.g., collagen and elastin), metabolic coenzymes (e.g., nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), and pigments (e.g., melanin), together with exogenous cosmetic constituents like organic colorants, chemical sunscreens, and fragrances, often possess strong absorption and emission characteristics. When excited by lasers, these components produce a fluorescence background that can be 106 to 108 times stronger than the Raman scattering signals, effectively masking the inherently weak vibrational fingerprint information. In recent years, driven by the rapid development of optoelectronic hardware and artificial intelligence algorithms, fluorescence suppression strategies have evolved from isolated, single-method approaches into comprehensive, multi-level synergistic systems. These systems are categorized into three distinct tiers: sample preparation, signal acquisition, and data processing. At the sample preparation level, techniques such as photobleaching and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are employed to eliminate or bypass the generation of fluorescence at the source. At the signal acquisition level, instrumental improvements—including the use of long-wavelength near-infrared excitation (typically 785 nm or 1 064 nm), confocal spatial filtering, and shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS)— are utilized to physically isolate Raman signals from the fluorescence background. Furthermore, at the data processing level, numerical baseline correction methods such as polynomial fitting, penalized least squares (e.g., airPLS, arPLS), wavelet transform, and derivative algorithms are increasingly integrated into the analytical pipeline to extract Raman spectral features from mixed signals without increasing hardware costs or acquisition time. This review provides a systematic categorization and critical evaluation of these fluorescence suppression methods, detailing their underlying principles, technical advantages, and inherent limitations in diverse experimental setups. By focusing on critical application scenarios—including skin barrier assessment, percutaneous absorption monitoring, the routine quality control of cosmetics, and the emerging field of portable on-site detection—this paper explores the current state of technique selection and optimization. Finally, the article discusses future development trends, emphasizing the necessity of constructing adaptive, tiered suppression strategies, developing intelligent and automated data processing algorithms, and promoting the integration of portable, multi-modal diagnostic devices. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive technical reference to facilitate the transition of Raman spectroscopy from a specialized laboratory tool into a routine, robust analytical platform for advancements in skin science and cosmetic research.
5.Peripheral Immune Response Patterns Under Vital Qi-Strengthening and Toxin-Eliminating Therapy and Their Value in Assessing Vital Qi Deficiency in Lung Cancer Metastasis: A Group-Based Trajectory Modeling
Fan XU ; Jianhui TIAN ; Yuan YAO ; Zhenyang CHENG ; Yanhong WANG ; Bin LUO ; Jialiang YAO ; Wang YAO ; Xinyi LU ; Yuchen BAO ; Xiaoyu YANG ; Youjun LIU ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Jianchun WU ; Minghua LI ; Wenfei SHI ; Yajing CUI ; Qingzhong LIU ; Yan LI ; Yun YANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(9):711-717
Objective On the basis of the theory of the tumor metastatic state, this work aims to explore the metastasis trajectories and peripheral immune response patterns in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving vital qi-strengthening and toxin-eliminating therapy (Fuzheng Juandu) and reveal the value of peripheral immunity in assessing vital qi deficiency during metastasis. Methods A retrospective study design was adopted. Patients with NSCLC admitted from January 1, 2018, to October 31, 2025 were enrolled. Data on metastasis status and peripheral immune indices were collected at the follow-up time points of one, two, three, and five years. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to fit metastasis trajectories, and the independent predictors of trajectory grouping were analyzed through multifactor and multiclassification logistic regression. Results A total of 184 patients with NSCLC were included, and three different groups of metastasis trajectories were identified, namely, the low-risk stable (46.74%, n=86), low-risk rising (13.59%, n=25), and high-risk stable (39.67%, n=73) groups. Univariate analysis revealed substantial differences in peripheral immune indices among the three trajectory groups. Multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage, absolute neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, absolute monocyte count, platelet volume, SAA:CRP ratio, and NLR were independent predictors of the low-risk rising group, whereas TNM stage, absolute monocyte count, basophil count, SII, and NLR were independent predictors of the high-risk stable group. Conclusion Under Fuzheng Juandu therapy, patients with NSCLC exhibit three distinct metastasis trajectories, each
6.Brain-heart Axis in Neurodegenerative and Cardiovascular Comorbidity: Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Biomarkers
Xu-Lin LIU ; Ying-Ao XIE ; Yun-Fei WANG ; Jing CHENG ; Qiao-Qiao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2558-2582
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), particularly Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including heart failure (HF) and coronary artery disease (CAD), are major chronic disorders associated with population aging. Their frequent coexistence in clinical practice suggests that they may not progress independently, but may instead be linked through bidirectional pathological communication within the brain-heart axis. Epidemiological evidence underscores this clinical burden: systematic reviews and meta-analyses have reported pooled relative risks for dementia of approximately 1.27 among individuals with a history of CAD and 1.60 among those with HF, while the pooled prevalence of cognitive impairment and dementia in patients with HF has been estimated at approximately 41.42% and 19.79%, respectively. This review synthesizes current evidence on the mechanistic links, disease-state manifestations, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic strategies involved in the comorbidity between NDs and CVDs from the perspective of the brain-heart axis. The brain and heart communicate through autonomic, neuroendocrine, neuroimmune, vascular, and humoral pathways. Sympathetic activation, parasympathetic withdrawal, vagal dysfunction, cerebral hypoperfusion, endothelial injury, blood-brain barrier (BBB) alterations, peripheral immune activation, and circulating inflammatory mediators may jointly contribute to cross-organ pathological signaling. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are not specific to the brain-heart axis; rather, they may act as candidate amplifying processes within this network. Mitochondrial dysfunction and NADPH oxidase activation can increase the generation of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, which may activate nuclear factor-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and mitogen-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling. These pathways can promote the release of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor‑α, and other inflammatory mediators, which may in turn aggravate mitochondrial injury, endothelial dysfunction, immune cell activation, and further oxidant generation. Cytokines, chemokines, oxidized lipids, mitochondrial DNA, damage-associated molecular patterns, and extracellular vesicles may transmit these signals between the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, whereas autonomic reflexes provide an additional route for bidirectional amplification. Distinct disease states illustrate different manifestations of this network. The association between AD and CVDs may involve vascular risk factors, impaired amyloid-β clearance, abnormal cholesterol homeostasis, cerebral microvascular injury, neuroinflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. HF-related cognitive impairment may be linked to reduced cardiac output, recurrent cerebral hypoperfusion, hypoxia-related signaling, BBB dysfunction, circulating inflammation, and impaired autonomic feedback. In PD, cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction and abnormalities in heart rate and blood pressure regulation may interact with vascular injury, reduced cerebral perfusion, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, the relationship between PD and CAD remains heterogeneous and may be modified by age, ethnicity, medication use, metabolic factors, and coexisting diseases. Biomarker evaluation should therefore move beyond isolated indicators. Traditional markers, including malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6, reflect systemic oxidative or inflammatory burden but lack sufficient specificity to distinguish primary neurodegeneration, cardiovascular injury, or a comorbid state involving both. Greater clinical value may be obtained from cross-system panels that combine oxidative stress and inflammatory markers with cardiac stress or injury biomarkers, such as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide; glial or neuronal biomarkers, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light chain; BBB- or endothelial injury-related biomarkers; and omics-derived candidates, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation signatures, metabolites, and proteins. Multi-omics integration and artificial intelligence-assisted analysis may support risk stratification, disease monitoring, and prediction of treatment response. However, these approaches require standardized analytical platforms, validation in independent cohorts, and careful distinction between associative findings and causal mechanisms. Potential interventions include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, mitochondria-targeted, and multi-target combination strategies, together with emerging approaches such as nanodelivery, CRISPR/Cas9- or CRISPR/dCas9-based regulation, mesenchymal stem cell-mediated mitochondrial transfer, and ergothioneine supplementation. Nevertheless, most available evidence is indirect, preclinical, or derived from other disease indications, and no single drug or technology can currently be regarded as specific to brain-heart axis comorbidity. The clinical relevance of these strategies will depend on whether they can be matched to dominant pathological phenotypes and improve both neurological and cardiovascular outcomes. Overall, comorbidity between NDs and CVDs is more appropriately understood as a heterogeneous cross-organ regulatory network than as a disorder driven by a single pathway. Future research should prioritize multicenter longitudinal cohorts, standardized clinical phenotyping, validation of cross-system biomarker panels, and mechanism-guided interventions in clearly defined patient subgroups, with integrated assessment of cognitive function, cardiovascular events, quality of life, long-term safety, and treatment response.
7.Therapeutic effect of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression and insomnia-like behavior in mice.
Hong-Bo CHENG ; Xian LIU ; Hui-Ying SHANG ; Rong GAO ; Wan-Yun DANG ; Ye-Hui GAO ; Cheng-Rong XIAO ; Yue GAO ; Zeng-Chun MA
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1817-1829
This paper aims to study the effect of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts on chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)-induced depression-like and insomnia behavior models of mice. The CUMS-induced depression-like and insomnia behavior model of mice was established by CUMS treatment for three weeks. The mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, positive drug diazepam group(2 mg·kg~(-1)), as well as low-dose group(1.95 g·kg~(-1)), medium-dose group(3.9 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose group(7.8 g·kg~(-1)) of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts, with 18 mice in each group. On the 15th day of modeling, the drug was administered intragastrically once a day for one week. Then, the pentobarbital sodium cooperative righting experiment, open field experiment, and elevated plus maze experiment were carried out, respectively. The contents of neurotransmitters 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid(5-HIAA) in serum and thalamus of mice, as well as the levels of corticotropin releasing hormone(CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), and corticosterone(CORT) in serum, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The neuron damage in the hippocampus of mice was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and Nissl staining. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of tryptophan hydroxylase 2(TPH2), serotonin transporter(SERT), monoamine oxidase A(MAOA), five prime repressors under dual repression binding protein 1(Freud1), synaptic plasticity-related proteins [cellular gene FOS(C-FOS), postsynaptic density protein 95(PSD95), synapsin 1(SYN1), and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated gene(ARC)], blood-brain barrier(BBB) permeability-related proteins [zonula occludens 1(ZO-1), occludin, and claudin 1], inflammatory factors [NOD-, LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), gasdermin D(GSDMD), caspase-3, and caspase-8], and antioxidant factors [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2) and heme oxygenase 1(HO1)] in thalamic tissue of mice. The results indicated that compared with that in the model group, the sleep latency was significantly shortened, and the sleep duration was significantly prolonged in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. The number of visits to the central area of the open field and the distance and time of visits were significantly increased in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. In addition, the proportion of distance and time of entering the open arm area of the elevated plus maze was significantly increased in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts. The contents of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in serum and thalamus of mice increased to varying degrees in each dose group of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts; the contents of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in serum of mice were significantly decreased. The protein expression of TPH2 was significantly increased. The protein expression of MAOA, SERT, and Freud1 was significantly decreased. Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts could also significantly reduce the protein expression of C-FOS but significantly increase the protein expression of PSD95, ARC, and SYN1. They could reduce the pathological damage of the hippocampus in mice and significantly increase the protein expression of ZO-1, occluding, and claudin 1. The protein expression of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, caspase-3, and caspase-8 in the thalamic tissue of mice was significantly decreased, and the protein expression of HO1 and NRF2 was significantly increased. In conclusion, Ziziphi Spinosae Semen extracts could effectively improve sleep disorders and depression-like behaviors in CUMS-induced model mice, which may be related to regulating the 5-HT anabolism process and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA) axis-related hormone levels, reducing pathological damage in the hippocampus, improving synaptic plasticity, repairing BBB integrity, and alleviating inflammatory response and oxidative stress damage.
Animals
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Ziziphus/chemistry*
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Mice
;
Male
;
Depression/psychology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology*
;
Stress, Psychological/complications*
;
Behavior, Animal/drug effects*
;
Humans
;
Disease Models, Animal
8.Dahuang Zhechong Pills delay heart aging by reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Wen-Jie LIU ; Yue TU ; Wei-Ming HE ; Si-Yi LIU ; Liu-Yun-Xin PAN ; Kai-Zhi WEN ; Cheng-Juan LI ; Chao HAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1276-1285
This study aimed to investigate the effect of Dahuang Zhechong Pills(DHZCP) in delaying heart aging(HA) and explore the potential mechanism. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to explore the targets and potential mechanisms of DHZCP in delaying HA. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were conducted with the DHZCP-containing serum to verify key targets and pathways in D-galactose(D-gal)-induced aging of cardiomyocytes. Active components of DHZCP were searched against the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCSMP), and relevant targets were predicted. HA-related targets were screened from the GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), and DisGeNET. The common targets shared by the active components of DHZCP and HA were used to construct a protein-protein interaction network in STRING 12.0, and core targets were screened based on degree in Cytoscape 3.9.1. Metaspace was used for Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses of the core targets to predict the mechanisms. Molecular docking was performed in AutoDock Vina. The results indicated that a total of 774 targets of the active components of DHZCP and 4 520 targets related to HA were screened out, including 510 common targets. Core targets included B-cell lymphoma 2(BCL-2), serine/threonine kinase 1(AKT1), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit A(HIF1A). The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that DHZCP mainly exerted its effects via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1α signaling pathway, longevity signaling pathway, and apoptosis signaling pathway. Among the pathways predicted by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway was selected for verification. The cell-counting kit 8(CCK-8) assay showed that D-gal significantly inhibited the proliferation of H9c2 cells, while DHZCP-containing serum increased the viability of H9c2 cells. SA-β-gal staining revealed a significant increase in the number of blue-green positive cells in the D-gal group, which was reduced by DHZCP-containing serum. TUNEL staining showed that DHZCP-containing serum decreased the number of apoptotic cells. After treatment with DHZCP-containing serum, the protein levels of Klotho, BCL-2, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT1/AKT1, and HIF-1α were up-regulated, while those of P21, P16, BCL-2 associated X protein(Bax), and cleaved caspase-3 were down-regulated. The results indicated that DHZCP delayed HA via multiple components, targets, and pathways. Specifically, DHZCP may delay HA by reducing apoptosis via activating the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Myocytes, Cardiac/cytology*
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
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Animals
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Rats
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Humans
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Aging/metabolism*
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Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
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Heart/drug effects*
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Network Pharmacology
9.Lumbar Spondylolysis in Chinese Adults: Prevalence and Musculoskeletal Conditions.
Dong YAN ; Yan Dong LIU ; Ling WANG ; Kai LI ; Wen Shuang ZHANG ; Yi YUAN ; Jian GENG ; Kang Kang MA ; Feng Yun ZHOU ; Zi Tong CHENG ; Xiao Guang CHENG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(5):598-606
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the prevalence of lumbar spondylolysis (LS) and the proportion of spondylolytic spondylolisthesis (SS) in China, and to evaluate the musculoskeletal status of patients with LS and SS.
METHODS:
Spine Computed Tomography (CT) images were collected from community populations aged 40 and above in a nationwide multi-center project. LS was diagnosed, and SS was graded by an experienced radiologist. Bone mineral density (BMD) and paraspinal muscle parameters were quantified based on CT images.
RESULTS:
One hundred and seventeen patients of a total of 3,317 individuals were diagnosed with LS, corresponding to a prevalence rate of 3.53%. 63 of the 1,214 males (5.18%) and 54 of the 2,103 females (2.57%) were diagnosed with LS. SS occurred in 64/121 vertebrae (52.89%). BMD was not associated with LS ( P = 0.341). The L5 extensor paraspinal muscle density was higher in the LS group than in the non-LS group. In the LS group, patients with SS had a smaller L5 paraspinal extensor muscle cross-sectional area than those without SS ( P = 0.003).
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of LS in Chinese adults was 3.53%, with prevalence rates of 5.18% in males and 2.57% in females. Patients with LS have higher muscle density, whereas those with SS have smaller muscle cross-sectional areas at the L5 level.
Humans
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Male
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Female
;
Middle Aged
;
China/epidemiology*
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Prevalence
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Adult
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Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging*
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Spondylolysis/diagnostic imaging*
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Aged
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Bone Density
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Aged, 80 and over
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Spondylolisthesis/epidemiology*
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East Asian People
10.Occupational Hazard Factors and the Trajectory of Fasting Blood Glucose Changes in Chinese Male Steelworkers Based on Environmental Risk Scores: A Prospective Cohort Study.
Ming Xia ZOU ; Wei DU ; Qin KANG ; Yu Hao XIA ; Nuo Yun ZHANG ; Liu FENG ; Fei Yue LI ; Tian Cheng MA ; Ya Jing BAO ; Hong Min FAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(6):666-677
OBJECTIVE:
We aimed to investigate the patterns of fasting blood glucose (FBG) trajectories and analyze the relationship between various occupational hazard factors and FBG trajectories in male steelworkers.
METHODS:
The study cohort included 3,728 workers who met the selection criteria for the Tanggang Occupational Cohort (TGOC) between 2017 and 2022. A group-based trajectory model was used to identify the FBG trajectories. Environmental risk scores (ERS) were constructed using regression coefficients from the occupational hazard model as weights. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the effects of occupational hazard factors using the ERS on FBG trajectories.
RESULTS:
FBG trajectories were categorized into three groups. An association was observed between high temperature, noise exposure, and FBG trajectory ( P < 0.05). Using the first quartile group of ERS1 as a reference, the fourth quartile group of ERS1 had an increased risk of medium and high FBG by 1.90 and 2.21 times, respectively (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.17-3.10; OR = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.09-4.45).
CONCLUSION
An association was observed between occupational hazards based on ERS and FBG trajectories. The risk of FBG trajectory levels increase with an increase in ERS.
Humans
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Male
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Adult
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Blood Glucose/analysis*
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China
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Prospective Studies
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Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*
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Risk Factors
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Middle Aged
;
Steel
;
Fasting/blood*
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Metal Workers
;
East Asian People

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