1.Pharmacodynamic Substance Basis and Mechanisms of Shangkeling Spray on Knee Osteoarthritis
Pengbo GUO ; Changhao XIAO ; Fei XIA ; Chong QIU ; Jigang WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(6):206-216
ObjectiveTo analyze the pharmacodynamic substance basis of Shangkeling Spray and its potential mechanisms in intervening knee osteoarthritis (KOA) using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), network pharmacology, and molecular docking technology. MethodsUPLC-MS was used to identify the chemical components of Shangkeling Spray. Pharmacokinetic properties were employed to screen potential active ingredients. Network pharmacology methods were utilized to collect potential targets of these ingredients and the pathological gene set of KOA. An "active ingredient-disease" target network was constructed using databases such as STRING. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses were performed using clusterProfiler. Libraries including NumPy were employed to calculate shortest path lengths to identify dominant pharmacodynamic links. Core gene clusters were identified using MCODE, validated through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and molecular docking was performed between key active ingredients and core targets. ResultsA total of 322 and 314 chemical components were identified under positive and negative ion modes, respectively, with 410 components in total after de-duplication, mainly including flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids, organic acids, and alkaloids. Analysis of the "active ingredient-disease" network identified "development and regeneration", "cell growth and death", "immune system", and "nervous system" as the dominant pharmacodynamic links of Shangkeling Spray in the treatment of KOA. Molecular docking showed that key active ingredients, such as bletillin A, formononetin, morin, oxymatrine, aconitine, gallic acid, curdione, apigenin, naringenin, and oleanolic acid, tightly bound to functional domains of 10 key targets including Jun proteins(JUN), interleukin-6 (IL-6), protein kinase B1 (Akt1), Caspase-3, nuclear transcription factor-κB subunit p65(RELA), nuclear factor-kappaB1(NF-κB1), Cyclin D1, mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and Fos proto-oncogene protein (FOS). These interactions synergistically regulated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR-related signaling axis and nervous system-related pathways, mediating cartilage repair, reducing inflammation and pain, and improving KOA. ConclusionThis study preliminarily clarifies the pharmacodynamic substance basis of Shangkeling Spray and suggests that its main active ingredients may improve KOA by synergistically regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR-related pathways, providing a reference for subsequent exploration of its substance benchmark and mechanism of action.
2.Effects of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside on renal injury in rats with diabetic nephropathy
Chong ZHANG ; Chundong SONG ; Mo WANG ; Shuang LIANG ; Xiaoxiao GUO ; Hanhan ZHANG ; Peijia LI ; Ke SONG ; Chenchen CHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(7):815-819
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (TWM) on renal injury in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats through tumor protein p53/microRNA-214 (miR-214)/UNC-51-like kinase 1 (ULK1) axis. METHODS Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=6) and modeling group (n=28); the modeling group was fed with high fat and high glucose plus intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish DN model. The modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, valsartan group [8.33 mg/(kg·d)] and TWM group[6.25 mg/(kg·d)], with 8 rats in each group. Rats in each group were gavaged with the corresponding medication or normal saline, once a day, for 6 consecutive weeks. After the last medication, liver and renal function indexes [24 h urinary total protein (24 h-UTP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), albumin (ALB), alanine transaminase (ALT)], blood lipid indexes (triglycerides, total cholesterol) and blood glucose index (fasting blood glucose) in urine/blood sample of rats were detected in each group. Renal pathologic change was observed, protein and mRNA expressions of p53, ULK1, Beclin-1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), and expression of miR-214 in renal tissue were also determined. RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the renal tubular epithelium of rats in the model group showed obvious edema, cell swelling, accompanied by lymphocyte infiltration; the levels of 24h-UTP, BUN, SCr, ALT and glycolipid indexes, the expressions of p53 protein and mRNA, as well as the expression of miR-214 in rats in the model group and administration groups were significantly increased or up-regulated, while ALB level, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, the expressions of LC3 mRNA, the expressions of ULK1, Beclin-1 protein and mRNA were significantly decreased or down-regulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the histopathological damage of the kidney in rats was improved in administration groups; the levels of 24 h-UTP, BUN, SCr, ALT and glycolipid indexes, the expressions of p53 protein and mRNA, as well as the expression of miR-214 were all significantly decreased or down-regulated, while ALB level, LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ, the expressions of LC3 mRNA, the expressions of ULK1 and Beclin-1 protein and mRNA were significantly increased or up-regulated (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS TG can alleviate renal damage in DN rats, and improve their liver and renal function, as well as glucose and lipid levels. These effects may be related to the regulation of the p53/miR-214/ULK1 axis and the restoration of cellular autophagy.
6.Mendelian randomization analysis of the relationship between gut microbiota and renal cell carcinoma
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(3):248-254
Objective: To explore the correlation between gut microbiota and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with Mendelian randomization analysis. Methods: Data involved with genome-wide association of the gut microbiome were retrieved from MiBioGen Consortium as the exposure group data,and RCC data were obtained from the FinnGen GWAS database.Next,a rigorous Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted utilizing multiple methods,including inverse variance weighted (IVW),MR-Egger,maximum likelihood,and weighted median.Additionally,sensitivity analysis was performed to address heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy concerns. Results: A total of 2564 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the complete gut microbiota were analyzed.IVW analysis showed that bacillus (OR=0.780,95% CI:0.614-0.991,P=0.042) and anaerobic bacillus (OR=0.723,95% CI:0.533-0.981,P=0.037) reduced the risk of RCC.Actinomycetes (OR=1.302,95% CI:1.015-1.672,P=0.038),family Ⅺ (OR=1.197,95% CI: 1.023-1.400,P=0.024),coprococcus 2 genera (OR=1.440,95% CI:1.046-1.982,P=0.026),clostridium lactate (OR=1.732,95% CI:1.254-2.392,P=0.001) and Odoribacter (OR=1.685,95% CI:1.150-2.469,P=0.007) were associated with an increased risk of RCC.Sensitivity analysis did not identify any abnormal SNPs,indicating the robustness and reliability of our findings. Conclusion: There may be a cause-and-effect relationship between different types of gut microbiota and genetically predited renal cell carcinoma,and different microbiota may be respectively associated with an increase or decrease in RCC.
7.Preliminary efficacy observation of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace combined with McKenzie therapy in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation.
Ning-Xia WANG ; Ping CHEN ; Hai-Dong WANG ; Jing JI ; Fang-Hong NIAN ; Xin LIU ; Chong-Fei JIN ; Duo-Ming ZHAO ; Hao-Lin LI ; Wei-Gang CHENG ; Gui-Lin LAI ; Guo-Biao WU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(10):1047-1054
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the clinical efficacy of 3D printing spinal external fixator combined with McKenzie therapy for patients with lumbar dics herniation (LDH).
METHODS:
Sixty patients with LDH between January 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients were given McKinsey training. According to different treatment methods, all patients were divided into McKenzie group and McKenzie + 3D printing group, 30 patients in each group. The McKenzie group provided McKenzie therapy. The McKenzie + 3D printing group were treated with 3D printing spinal external fixation brace on the basis of McKenzie therapy. Patients in both groups were between 25 and 60 years of age and had their first illness. In the McKenzie group, there were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of (48.57±5.86) years old, and the disease duration was (7.03 ±2.39) months. The McKenzie + 3D printing group, there were 21 males and 9 females, with an average age of (48.80±5.92) years old, and the disease duration was(7.30±2.56) months. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and lumbar spine function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. VAS, ODI and JOA scores were compared between two groups before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment.
RESULTS:
All patients were followed up for 12 months. The VAS for the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(6.533±0.860), (5.133±1.008), (3.933±0.868), (2.900±0.759), (2.067±0.640), (1.433±0.504), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were (6.467±0.860), (5.067±1.048), (4.600±0.968), (3.533±1.008), (2.567±0.728), (1.967±0.809), respectively. The ODI of the McKenzie group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were (41.033±6.810)%, (37.933±6.209)%, (35.467±6.962)%, (27.567±10.081)%, (20.800±7.531)%, (13.533±5.158)%, respectively. For the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group, the corresponding ODI were(38.033±5.605)%, (33.000±6.192)%, (28.767±7.045)%, (22.200±5.517)%, (17.700±4.836)%, (11.900±2.771)%, respectively. The JOA scores of the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(8.900±2.074), (13.133±2.330), (15.700±3.583), (20.400±3.480), (22.267±3.084), (24.833±2.640), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were(9.200±2.091), (12.267±2.406), (15.333±3.198), (18.467±2.240), (20.133±2.751), (22.467±2.849), respectively. Before the initiation of treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the VAS, ODI, and JOA scores between two groups (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the VAS in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly lower than that in the McKenzie group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The comparison of ODI between two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the JOA score in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the McKenzie-only group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The combination of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace with McKenzie therapy can significantly improve and maintain lumbar function in patients with LDH.
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Printing, Three-Dimensional
;
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery*
;
External Fixators
;
Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery*
;
Adult
;
Braces
;
Treatment Outcome
9.Re-Exploration for Dietary Iodine Intake in Chinese Adults using the Obligatory Iodine Loss Hypothesis.
Xiao Bing LIU ; Jun WANG ; Ya Jie LI ; Hong Xing TAN ; De Qian MAO ; Yan Yan LIU ; Wei Dong LI ; Wei YU ; Jun An YAN ; Jian Hua PIAO ; Chong Zheng GUO ; Xiao Li LIU ; Xiao Guang YANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):952-960
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to reexplore minimum iodine excretion and to build a dietary iodine recommendation for Chinese adults using the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis.
METHODS:
Data from 171 Chinese adults (19-21 years old) were collected and analyzed based on three balance studies in Shenzhen, Yinchuan, and Changzhi. The single exponential equation was accordingly used to simulate the trajectory of 24 h urinary iodine excretion as the low iodine experimental diets offered (iodine intake: 11-26 μg/day) and to further deduce the dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for iodine, including estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended nutrient intake (RNI).
RESULTS:
The minimum iodine excretion was estimated as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day in three balance studies, respectively. Moreover, it was further suggested as 57, 58, and 51 μg/day for iodine EAR, and 80, 81, and 71 μg/day for iodine RNI or expressed as 1.42, 1.41, and 1.20 μg/(day·kg) of body weight.
CONCLUSION
The iodine DRIs for Chinese adults were established based on the obligatory iodine loss hypothesis, which provides scientific support for the amendment of nutrient requirements.
Humans
;
Iodine/administration & dosage*
;
Male
;
Female
;
China
;
Young Adult
;
Diet
;
Adult
;
Nutritional Requirements
;
East Asian People
10.Bioinformatic analysis of TCGA database based on INPP4B gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and its experimental validation
Limei WEN ; Yali GUO ; Wenmei MA ; Taotao XUE ; Ruoyu GENG ; Chong MA ; Xinhong ZHANG ; Jianhua YANG
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(6):1618-1629
Objective:To discuss the expression and clinical significance of inositol polyphosphate-4-phosphatase type Ⅱ(INPP4B)gene in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database and experimental verification with clinical samples.Methods:Based on data from 424 clinical samples in the TCGA database(including 374 HCC tissues and 50 paracarcinoma tissues),Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between INPP4B gene and the clinical characteristics and survival prognosis of the HCC patients.The correlations between INPP4B gene and the number of 24 types of immune cells,matrix,immune cell infiltration and tumor purity in tumor tissue,and the expression level of the high-frequency mutant gene tumor protein 53(TP53)in HCC were analyzed.The clinicopathological data and paraffin-embedded tissue sections of 60 HCC patients treated with surgical resection from December 2022 to December 2023 were collected.According to clinical diagnosis,they were divided into poorly differentiated group(HCC-L group),moderately differentiated group(HCC-M group)and well-differentiated group(HCC-H group),with 20 cases in each group;20 patients during the same period who underwent biopsy and were pathologically diagnosed as non-tumor were selected as normal group,and their clinicopathologic data and liver tissue paraffin sections were collected.HE staining was used to observe the pathomorphology of HCC tissue and normal liver tissue of the subjects in various groups;immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expressions of Ki-67 and INPP4B proteins in the HCC tissue and normal liver tissue of the subjects in various groups.Results:The TCGA database analysis results showed that compared with normal tissue,the expression level of INPP4B mRNA in HCC tissue was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with INPP4B low expression group,the overall survival(OS)of the patients in INPP4B high expression group was significantly prolonged(P<0.05).The univariate Cox regression analysis results showed that tumor stage,pathological stage,tumor status and residual tumor had impacts on OS of the HCC patients(P<0.05).The univariate regression analysis results showed that the INPP4B prognostic risk model score ratio was HR=0.781,95%confidence interval(CI):0.552-1.105,P=0.168.The AUC value for the impact of INPP4B on OS of the HCC patients was 0.558,indicating that the INPP4B gene prognostic risk model had certain predictive value in survival prognosis.The INPP4B mRNA expression level was not correlated with TNM stage,stage,patient gender,age,race or body mass index(BMI)(P>0.05).In tumor tissue with high and low INPP4B expression,22 types of immune cells showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05);the INPP4B mRNA expression level was positively correlated with the number of 23 types of immune cells except T helper(Th)17 cells(r>0),among which all Th cells except natural killer(NK)CD56+cells were statistically significant(P<0.01);INPP4B was significantly correlated with matrix(r=0.475),immune cell infiltration(r=0.641)and tumor purity(r=0.599)in tumor tissue(P<0.01).INPP4B was correlated with TP53(r=0.287,P<0.01).The HE staining results showed that clear and complete lobular structure,neatly arranged cells and slight inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in liver tissue of the subjects in normal group;completely destroyed lobular structure,significant hepatocellular steatosis,massive inflammatory cell infiltration,and lesions such as ballooning degeneration and small cell hyperplasia in some cells were observed in HCC tissue of the patients in HCC-L,HCC-M and HCC-H groups,and the lower the HCC differentiation degree,the more severe the tissue destruction;The immunohistochemistry results showed that compared with normal group,the expression levels of Ki-67 protein in HCC tissue of the patients in HCC-L,HCC-M and HCC-H groups were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the lower the differentiation degree of the HCC patients,the higher the Ki-67 positive rate.Brownish-yellow granules evenly distributed in the cells and INPP4B protein was highly expressed in liver tissue of the subjects in normal group;compared with normal group,the expression levels of INPP4B protein in HCC tissue of the patients in HCC-L,HCC-M and HCC-H groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the lower the differentiation degree of the HCC tissue,the lower the INPP4B positive rate.Conclusion:INPP4B is a protective factor for the prognosis of HCC patients;as a new tumor suppressor gene,INPP4B may become a potential target for new drug screening in HCC treatment.

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