1.Application of 3D printed titanium cage cutting model in anterior cervical vertebrae subtotal decompression and bone graft fusion
Yingao JIA ; Shitao GAO ; Fei WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):604-611
BACKGROUND:As a mainstream surgical technique for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy through the anterior cervical subtotal decompression and bone graft fusion,it has many advantages.However,due to the high risk of this surgery and the particularity of the cervical anatomy,it is also a challenge for the surgeon.The gradual maturity of 3D printing technology and the continuous development of applications in the medical field are now able to provide more perfect personalized treatment.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of 3D printed titanium cage cutting model in anterior cervical vertebrae subtotal decompression and bone graft fusion.METHODS:Medical records of 57 patients undergoing anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion surgery admitted to the Department of Spine Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University from April 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the 3D printed titanium cage cutting model was used in the operation,the patients were divided into the traditional titanium cage bone grafting group(control group,n=30)and the 3D printed titanium cage model group(observation group,n=27).The general data,amount of blood loss during operation,number ofC-arm X-ray machine fluoroscopy during operation,operation time,as well as anterior intervertebral edge height(H1),posterior intervertebral edge height(H2)and C2-C7 Cobb angle of the two groups measured on the cervical lateral X-ray films before,3 days and 6 months after operation were recorded and analyzed.The settling degree of the titanium cage was assessed with the distance of the height of the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body at 3 days and 6 months after surgery.Visual analog scale was used to evaluate neck pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association was used to evaluate nerve function.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Follow-up was conducted for at least 6 months.(2)The amount of intraoperative blood loss and fluoroscopy times in the observation group were less than those in the control group(P<0.05).The operative time of the observation group was significantly shorter than that of the control group(P<0.05).(3)There were no significant differences in C2-C7 Cobb angle,visual analog scale score,Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,anterior vertebral border height(H1)and posterior vertebral border height(H2)before surgery,3 days and 6 months after surgery between the two groups(P>0.05).(4)There were five patients in the observation group(with severe subsidence rate of 19%)with severe subsidence at the anterior and posterior edges of the surgical segment,and seven patients in the control group(with severe subsidence rate of 23%)with severe subsidence(H1 or H2 subsidence≥3 mm)at the surgical segment 6 months after surgery.There was no significant difference in the rate of severe subsidence of titanium cage between the two groups(P>0.05).(5)At the last follow-up,bone fusion was achieved at the operative level in both groups,and there was no statistical significance in bone graft fusion rate between the two groups(P>0.05).(6)The results showed that the application of 3D printed titanium cage cutting model in anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion surgery had the same clinical effect as that of traditional surgery,but the former could effectively reduce the fluoroscopy times of C-arm X-ray machine,the amount of blood loss and the operation time,and had unique advantages in the pruning and implantation of titanium cage during surgery.
2.Application of 3D printed titanium cage cutting model in anterior cervical vertebrae subtotal decompression and bone graft fusion
Yingao JIA ; Shitao GAO ; Fei WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):604-611
BACKGROUND:As a mainstream surgical technique for the treatment of cervical spondylotic myelopathy through the anterior cervical subtotal decompression and bone graft fusion,it has many advantages.However,due to the high risk of this surgery and the particularity of the cervical anatomy,it is also a challenge for the surgeon.The gradual maturity of 3D printing technology and the continuous development of applications in the medical field are now able to provide more perfect personalized treatment.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the efficacy of 3D printed titanium cage cutting model in anterior cervical vertebrae subtotal decompression and bone graft fusion.METHODS:Medical records of 57 patients undergoing anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion surgery admitted to the Department of Spine Surgery of Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University from April 2021 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the 3D printed titanium cage cutting model was used in the operation,the patients were divided into the traditional titanium cage bone grafting group(control group,n=30)and the 3D printed titanium cage model group(observation group,n=27).The general data,amount of blood loss during operation,number ofC-arm X-ray machine fluoroscopy during operation,operation time,as well as anterior intervertebral edge height(H1),posterior intervertebral edge height(H2)and C2-C7 Cobb angle of the two groups measured on the cervical lateral X-ray films before,3 days and 6 months after operation were recorded and analyzed.The settling degree of the titanium cage was assessed with the distance of the height of the anterior and posterior edges of the vertebral body at 3 days and 6 months after surgery.Visual analog scale was used to evaluate neck pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association was used to evaluate nerve function.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Follow-up was conducted for at least 6 months.(2)The amount of intraoperative blood loss and fluoroscopy times in the observation group were less than those in the control group(P<0.05).The operative time of the observation group was significantly shorter than that of the control group(P<0.05).(3)There were no significant differences in C2-C7 Cobb angle,visual analog scale score,Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,anterior vertebral border height(H1)and posterior vertebral border height(H2)before surgery,3 days and 6 months after surgery between the two groups(P>0.05).(4)There were five patients in the observation group(with severe subsidence rate of 19%)with severe subsidence at the anterior and posterior edges of the surgical segment,and seven patients in the control group(with severe subsidence rate of 23%)with severe subsidence(H1 or H2 subsidence≥3 mm)at the surgical segment 6 months after surgery.There was no significant difference in the rate of severe subsidence of titanium cage between the two groups(P>0.05).(5)At the last follow-up,bone fusion was achieved at the operative level in both groups,and there was no statistical significance in bone graft fusion rate between the two groups(P>0.05).(6)The results showed that the application of 3D printed titanium cage cutting model in anterior cervical corpectomy decompression and fusion surgery had the same clinical effect as that of traditional surgery,but the former could effectively reduce the fluoroscopy times of C-arm X-ray machine,the amount of blood loss and the operation time,and had unique advantages in the pruning and implantation of titanium cage during surgery.
3.Epidemiological characteristics and etiology of foodborne diseases among farmers in Guizhou Province in 2022 - 2024
Fei YU ; Ying REN ; Shaofeng WEI ; Hongxia LIAO ; Lin LIU ; Yafang WANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(3):19-23
Objective To analyze the case data of farmers' foodborne disease surveillance reports in Guizhou Province from 2022 to 2024, and to provide reference for the precise prevention and control of foodborne diseases among farmers in Guizhou Province. Methods Case data of foodborne disease surveillance reports of farmers were systematically collected from 2022 to 2024 in Guizhou Province. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal, geographical, and demographic distribution of foodborne diseases among farmers, along with their primary clinical symptoms and pathogen detection results. Results From 2022 to 2024, a total of 22,882 cases of foodborne diseases were reported among farmers in Guizhou Province. The majority of clinical symptoms (97.81%) were related to the digestive system, with summer being the peak season. While females outnumbered males, the gender difference was statistically insignificant (P >0.05). The 36-55 age group accounted for the highest proportion (38.83%), with Zunyi City (34.89%) and Qiandongnan Prefecture (23.21%) reporting the most cases. Fungal products were the most frequently reported suspected food items (26.96%), and home-made preparation was the primary processing method (58.63%). A total of 1 210 fecal samples were collected through active monitoring with an overall detection rate of 13.22%. Norovirus showed the highest detection rate (9.92%, 120/1 210). Statistically significant differences were observed among different seasons, age groups, regions, types and processing methods of suspected food exposure, and pathogen detection rates (P <0.001). Conclusion Foodborne disease prevention and control among farmers in Guizhou Province should focus on the risks of wild mushroom poisoning in summer and homemade foods, and continuously improve farmers' awareness of the dangers of foodborne diseases and food safety.
4.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
5.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
6.Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure Based on Thinking of Five Differentiation
Kun LIAN ; Lichong MENG ; Manting YI ; Lin LI ; Fei WANG ; Siyuan HU ; Zhixi HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):160-168
Chronic heart failure (CHF) refers to a clinical syndrome in which the function or structure of the heart is changed due to damage to the original myocardium, resulting in reduced pumping and/or filling functions of the heart. In recent years, the mechanisms, pathways, and targets of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of CHF have been continuously confirmed, and the application of TCM theories in guiding the syndrome differentiation and precise treatment of CHF is currently a research hotspot. On the basis of the syndrome differentiation and treatment in TCM, Professor LI Candong innovatively proposed the thinking of five differentiation: Disease differentiation, syndrome differentiation, pathogenesis differentiation, symptom differentiation, and individual differentiation. This article explores the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CHF from this thinking, emphasizing comprehensive syndrome differentiation, objective analysis, dynamic assessment, and individualized treatment. In terms of diagnosis, the first is to identify the disease name, cause, location, severity, and type of CHF, determine the type and its evolution, and clarify the process of transmission and transformation between deficiency and excess. Secondly, it is necessary to distinguish the authenticity, severity, primary and secondary, urgency and complexity of CHF syndromes, providing scientific guidance for syndrome differentiation and treatment. Thirdly, according to the symptoms and the principles of deficiency and excess, the physician should identify the core pathogenesis of CHF from the perspectives of Qi, blood, Yin, Yang, deficiency, stasis, phlegm, water, and toxins. Fourthly, from the macro, meso and micro levels, the physician should carefully distinguish the presence or absence, severity, authenticity, and completeness of the symptoms to guide the diagnosis and treatment process of CHF. Finally, personalized medication for CHF should be promoted based on the patient's gender, age, constitution, and living habits. In terms of treatment, based on the thinking of five differentiation, we propose that the treatment of CHF should integrate the disease and syndrome, clarify the pathogenesis, and apply precise treatment. The treatment should be people-oriented, staged, and typed, and the medication should be adjusted according to symptoms. This diagnostic and therapeutic approach is based on the holistic concept and syndrome differentiation and treatment, and combines the three causes for appropriate treatment, providing new ideas and insights for the diagnosis and treatment of CHF.
7.Association of school bullying and insomnia with depression-anxiety-stress emotions among primary and secondary school students
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(1):85-89
Objective:
To explore the interaction between school bullying and insomnia in relation to depression-anxiety-stress emotions among primary and secondary school students,so as to provide a basis for preventing negative emotional states in adolescents.
Methods:
In October 2024, a stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 3 058 students in grade 5-6 of primary, junior and senior high school in Sheyang County of Jiangsu Province. The Delaware Bullying Victimization Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale-21, and Study Condition Questionnaire were employed to investigate school bullying, insomnia, depression-anxiety-stress emotions, and academic performance. The χ 2 test and Logistic regression were used to analyze the association between school bullying and insomnia interactions and depression-anxiety-stress emotions among primary and secondary school students, multiplicative interaction analysis was conducted, and additive interaction analysis was performed using R software.
Results:
The detection rates of depression-anxiety-stress emotions among primary and secondary school students were 21.6%, 28.4% and 10.8%, respectively. The detection rates of physical bullying, relationship bullying, verbal bullying and cyberbullying in school bullying were 10.6%, 14.0%, 22.3%, and 6.2%, respectively. The detection rate for insomnia was 23.1%. Results from Logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for relevant factors, physical, relational, verbal, and cyberbullying and insomnia were positively correlated with the detection rates of depression ( OR = 5.72- 10.93), anxiety ( OR =6.35-12.17), and stress emotions ( OR =5.97-14.52) among primary and secondary school students (all P <0.01). The multiplicative interaction between physical, relational, verbal, and cyberbullying and insomnia was positively correlated with the detection rates of depression ( OR =8.00-18.01), anxiety ( OR =11.35-17.76), and stress emotions ( OR =7.64-9.12) in primary and secondary school students (all P <0.01). Additive interactions were observed between physical, relational, verbal, and cyberbullying and insomnia in relation to the detection rates of depression, anxiety, and stress emotions among primary and secondary school students (both RERI and AP >0 and the credible interval excluded 0, SI >1 and the credible interval excluded 1).
Conclusion
School bullying and insomnia are associated with depression, anxiety, and stress emotions among primary and secondary school students, and they exhibit both multiplicative and additive interactions.
8.Association between core symptoms and biological markers in children with autism spectrum disorders
FEI Xianyan, WANG Rui, CHAI Yangyang, HE Xianming, ZHENG Shizhu
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(1):125-128
Objective:
To explore the relationship between serum homocysteine (Hcy), interleukin-5 (IL-5), folate and core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders, so as to provide potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and intervention of diseases.
Methods:
A total of 106 children with autism spectrum disorders and 106 healthy children with matched sex and age in Lu an People s Hospital were enrolled as autism group and healthy group between May 2020 to December 2023. On the day of admission, levels of serum Hcy, IL-5 and folate were detected. The core symptoms in autism group were evaluated by Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-fourth edition(WPPSI-IV), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). The levels of serum Hcy, IL-5 and folate in the two groups were compared by t- test. The relationship between serum Hcy, IL-5, folate and core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders was determined by Pearson correlation analysis.
Results:
The levels of serum Hcy and IL-5 in autism group were (7.48±0.32) μmol/L and (345.77±32.51) pg/mL, higher than those in healthy group [(6.11±0.54) μmol/L, (274.04±25.17) pg/mL], while folate level was lower than that in healthy group [(15.24±3.47) ng/mL, (22.51±4.69) ng/mL], the differences were statistically significant ( t =22.47, 17.96, 12.83, all P < 0.05 ). In autism group, levels of serum Hcy and IL-5 were positively correlated with scores of ABC, CARS and SRS ( r =0.29, 0.53 , 0.54; 0.45, 0.41, 0.50), while negatively correlated with WPPSI-IV score ( r =-0.28, -0.26)(all P <0.05). The folate level was negatively correlated with scores of ABC, CARS and SRS ( r =-0.55, -0.40, -0.25), while positively correlated with WPPSI-IV score ( r =0.41) (all P <0.05).
Conclusion
Children with ASD show elevated serum Hcy and IL-5 alongside decreased folate,and three markers correlate with core symptoms and intellectual level.
9.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.
10.Ameliorating Effect of Yifei Tongluo Prescription on Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats via Regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Signaling Pathway and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition
Bowen ZHOU ; Zefeng LI ; Xian MA ; Xuannian LI ; Jingwen WANG ; Fei XU ; Huaman LIU ; Xinhua JIA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):150-159
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Yifei Tongluo prescription on the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis. MethodsTracheal instillation of bleomycin was conducted to establish a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a prednisone acetate group (1.17 mg·kg-1), and low- and high-dose Yifei Tongluo prescription groups (10.62 and 21.24 g·kg-1, respectively). Administration started on the 7th day after modeling, once a day for 28 consecutive days. The lung coefficient of each group was calculated. The pathological changes of lung tissues in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin in rat lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, E-cadherin (E-cad), and typeⅠ collagen (ColⅠ) in lung tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. The content of hydroxyproline (HYP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-18, and IL-1β in rat serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), IL-1β, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in rat lung tissues were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The protein expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, and Caspase-1 in rat lung tissues were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a significantly increased lung coefficient (P<0.01) and significantly increased range of pulmonary interstitial inflammation and collagen deposition. In addition, the levels of α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cad, and ColⅠ in lung tissues were significantly increased (P<0.01). The levels of fibrosis- and inflammation-related factors HYP, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β in serum were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). The levels of factors related to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung tissues, including NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and TGF-β1, were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Yifei Tongluo prescription groups showed improved lung coefficients. Additionally, the extent of lung inflammation and collagen deposition was significantly reduced. The expression of α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cad, and ColⅠ in lung tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The levels of HYP, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β in serum were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were also significantly decreased (P<0.01). ConclusionYifei Tongluo prescription can regulate the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, down-regulate release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines, alleviate NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and EMT, and thereby improve pulmonary fibrosis in rats.


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