1.Effect of Shaoyao Gancaotang on Proliferation and Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells in Rats with Limb Spasticity of Cerebral Apoplexy
Runbo WU ; Chunxue MENG ; Fei WANG ; Qianxi NA ; Bin GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):11-20
ObjectiveThis paper aims to analyze the damage degree of muscle tone in rats with spasticity of cerebral apoplexy (SCA) and the expression of Nestin and β-catenin in the M1 region of the cerebral cortex, thereby investigating the action mechanism of different doses of Shaoyao Gancaotang on rats with SCA. MethodsThe rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a positive control group (baclofen, 5.25 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high-dose groups of Shaoyao Gancaotang (2.1, 4.2, 8.4 g·kg-1), with nine rats in each group. A rat model with SCA was established by using a modified phrenic nerve block combined with intraventricular injection of anhydrous ethanol. Following behavioral scoring to confirm model validity, drug interventions were conducted. Neurological deficits and muscle tone were evaluated by behavioral assessments. The open field test was used to measure locomotor distance. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to examine the synaptic structures. Skeletal muscle adenosine triphosphate (ATP)ase staining was used to analyze myofibrillar changes. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histomorphological changes. Immunohistochemistry, Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), and Western blot were employed to detect mRNA levels and protein expressions of Nestin and β-catenin in the M1 region of the cerebral cortex. ResultsCompared with the blank group, rats in the model group exhibited significantly increased neurological deficit scores (P<0.01), markedly elevated muscle tone scores (P<0.01), substantially reduced locomotor distance (P<0.01), prominent structural swelling and blurring, severe destruction of cerebral cortical cells, a significant increase in the proportion of skeletal muscle ATPase type Ⅰ fibers (P<0.01), a significant decrease in mRNA levels and protein expression of Nestin (P<0.01), and a significant increase in mRNA levels and protein expression of β-catenin (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Shaoyao Gancaotang group exhibited reduced neurological deficit scores and muscle tone scores in rats with SCA (P<0.01) and increased locomotor distance (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscopy revealed clearer and more intact synaptic structures in the rats from the Shaoyao Gancaotang group, with increased vesicle numbers and improved morphology. HE staining revealed intact neuronal cell structures with regular arrangement and reduced vacuolated cells in the rats from Shaoyao Gancaotang. ATPase staining result indicated a decreased proportion of type Ⅰ muscle fibers in the rats from the Shaoyao Gancaotang group (P<0.01). Real-time PCR results demonstrated increased mRNA expressions of Nestin and β-catenin in the rats from the Shaoyao Gancaotang group (P<0.01). Immunohistochemistry and western blot analyses indicated elevated protein expressions of Nestin and β-catenin in rats with SCA from the Shaoyao Gancaotang group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionShaoyao Gancaotang may improve neurological function impairment and limb spasticity in model rats with SCA by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the cerebral cortex M1 region.
2.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.
3.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.
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.Changing trend of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among young people aged 20—44 years in East Asian countries in 1990—2023
Fei SU ; Chunzhi SU ; Xianxin MENG ; Jingyao LI ; Xiaodi ZHU ; Jinli ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(5):1048-1055
ObjectiveTo investigate the disease burden of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among young people in East Asian countries (including China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea) in 1990—2023, and to provide a basis for formulating and adjusting the prevention and treatment strategies for NAFLD. MethodsRelated disease burden data of NAFLD among the young people in these five East Asian countries were collected from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 (GBD 2023) database, including incidence rate, prevalence rate, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and the young people were divided into groups based on country, sex, and age. Estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) was used to comprehensively evaluate the changing trend of the disease burden of NAFLD among young people from 1990 to 2023, and the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model was used to predict the disease burden of NAFLD among the young people in China. ResultsIn 2023, the standardized incidence rates of NAFLD among the young people in China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea were 926.57/100 000, 805.83/100 000, 412.66/100 000, 747.66/100 000, and 534.08/100 000, respectively; the standardized prevalence rates of NAFLD among the young people in China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea were 16 817.94/100 000, 14 500.98/100 000, 8 534.40/100 000, 13 705.28/100 000, and 11 587.93/100 000, respectively; the standardized DALY rates of NAFLD among the young people in China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea were 6.34/100 000, 10.18/100 000, 5.23/100 000, 47.93/100 000, and 6.76/100 000, respectively. From 1990 to 2023, there was a tendency of increase in the standardized incidence rate of NAFLD among the young people in China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea, with an EAPC of 0.87%, 0.52%, 0.26%, 0.48%, and 0.87%, respectively; there was also a tendency of increase in the standardized prevalence rate of NAFLD among the young people in China, North Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea, with an EAPC of 0.99%, 0.49%, 0.24%, 0.59%, and 0.93%, respectively; conversely, there was a tendency of reduction in the standardized DALY rate of NAFLD among the young people in China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea, with an EAPC of -2.21%, -2.01%, -0.37%, and -4.62%, respectively, while the standardized DALY rate of NAFLD among the young people in North Korea remained relatively stable, with an EAPC of -0.01%. The subgroup analysis based on sex showed that there was a significant difference in the disease burden of NAFLD between the young people with different sexes in the five East Asian countries, and the subgroup analysis based on age showed that the incidence rate of NAFLD in young people decreased with the increase in age, while the prevalence rate and DALY rate of NAFLD increased with age. In addition, the standardized incidence rate and standardized prevalence rate of NAFLD among Chinese young people would further increase in the future, while there would be a reduction in standardized DALY rate in the future. ConclusionThere is a significant difference in the disease burden of NAFLD in young people across different countries, sexes, and age groups. In the future, targeted prevention and treatment measures should be developed based on the distribution characteristics of the disease burden of NAFLD, in order to effectively reduce the disease burden of NAFLD among young people.
6.Study on accumulation of polysaccharide and steroid components in Polyporus umbellatus infected by Armillaria spp.
Ming-shu YANG ; Yi-fei YIN ; Juan CHEN ; Bing LI ; Meng-yan HOU ; Chun-yan LENG ; Yong-mei XING ; Shun-xing GUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):232-238
In view of the few studies on the influence of
7.Sini Powder Alleviates Stress Response and Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development by Restoring Gut Microbiota.
Si MEI ; Zhe DENG ; Fan-Ying MENG ; Qian-Qian GUO ; He-Yun TAO ; Lin ZHANG ; Chang XI ; Qing ZHOU ; Xue-Fei TIAN
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(9):802-811
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the underlying pharmacological mechanisms and its potential effects of Chinese medicine herbal formula Sini Powder (SNP) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS:
The active components of SNP and their in vivo distribution were identified using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Construction of component-target-disease networks, protein-protein interaction network, Gene Ontology function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking were employed to analyze the active components and anti-HCC mechanisms of SNP. Cell viability assay and wound healing assay were utilized to confirm the effect of SNP-containing serum (2.5%, 5.0%, 10%, 20%, and 40%), isoprenaline or propranolol (both 10, 100, and 1,000 µ mol/L) on proliferation and migration of HepG 2 or Huh7 cells. Meanwhile, the effect of isoprenaline or propranolol on the β 2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) mRNA expression on HepG2 cells were measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcription (RT-qPCR). Mice with subcutaneous tumors were either subjected to chronic restraint stress (CRS) followed by SNP administration (364 mg/mL) or directly treated with SNP (364 mg/mL). These two parallel experiments were performed to validate the effects of SNP on stress responses. Stress-related proteins and hormones were quantified using RT-qPCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and immunohistochemistry. Metagenomic sequencing was performed to confirm the influence of SNP on the gut microbiota in the tumor-bearing CRS mice.
RESULTS:
The distribution of the 12 active components of SNP was confirmed in various tissues and feces. Network pharmacology analysis confirmed the anti-HCC effects of the 5 active components. The potential anti-HCC mechanisms of SNP may involve the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src (SRC) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways. SNP-containing serum inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 and Huh7 cells at concentrations of 2.5% and 5.0%, respectively, after 24 h of treatment. Furthermore, SNP suppressed tumor progression in tumor-bearing mice exposed to CRS. SNP treatment also downregulated the expressions of stress-related proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines, primarily by modulating the gut microbiota. Specifically, the abundance of Alistipes and Prevotella, which belong to the phylum Bacteroidetes, increased in the SNP-treated group, whereas Lachnospira, in the phylum Firmicutes, decreased.
CONCLUSION
SNP can combat HCC by alleviating stress responses through the regulation of gut microbiota.
Animals
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Liver Neoplasms/microbiology*
;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/microbiology*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Powders
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Mice
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Cell Line, Tumor
;
Hep G2 Cells
;
Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2/genetics*
;
Stress, Physiological/drug effects*
;
Cell Movement/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
;
Cell Survival/drug effects*
;
Proto-Oncogene Mas
8.Glucocorticoid Discontinuation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis under Background of Chinese Medicine: Challenges and Potentials Coexist.
Chuan-Hui YAO ; Chi ZHANG ; Meng-Ge SONG ; Cong-Min XIA ; Tian CHANG ; Xie-Li MA ; Wei-Xiang LIU ; Zi-Xia LIU ; Jia-Meng LIU ; Xiao-Po TANG ; Ying LIU ; Jian LIU ; Jiang-Yun PENG ; Dong-Yi HE ; Qing-Chun HUANG ; Ming-Li GAO ; Jian-Ping YU ; Wei LIU ; Jian-Yong ZHANG ; Yue-Lan ZHU ; Xiu-Juan HOU ; Hai-Dong WANG ; Yong-Fei FANG ; Yue WANG ; Yin SU ; Xin-Ping TIAN ; Ai-Ping LYU ; Xun GONG ; Quan JIANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(7):581-589
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM).
METHODS:
This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis.
RESULTS:
Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings.
CONCLUSIONS
RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
;
Middle Aged
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy*
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Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Retrospective Studies
9.The in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of metformin on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells
Shan LIU ; Meng HU ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Fei XIONG ; Pingshang WU ; Xueman LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(17):2113-2119
OBJECTIVE To explore the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects and mechanism of metformin on the malignant biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cells by the hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/interleukin-8 (IL-8) signaling pathway. METHODS Human ESCC TE1 cells were assigned into blank group, metformin low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (0.5, 1, 2 mmol/L), IDF-11774 (HIF-1α inhibitor) group (20 μmol/L), and high-dose metformin+HIF-1α activator dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) group. After 24 h treatment, cell proliferation [measured by the positive rate of 5-ethynyl- 2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) and optical density at 450 nm (OD450 value)], apoptosis, invasion and migration as well as mRNA expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim), migration and invasion enhancer 1 (MIEN1), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8 in the cells were detected. The xenograft tumor model of nude mice was established. Thirty nude mice were randomly divided into blank group, metformin low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (i.g. administration of metformin 62.5, 125, 250 mg/kg+i.p. administration of equal volume of normal saline), IDF-11774 group (i.g. administration of 50 mg/kg IDF-11774+i.p. administration of equal volume of normal saline) and high-dose metformin+DMOG group (i.g. administration of metformin 250 mg/kg+i.p. administration of DMOG 250 mg/kg), with 5 mice in each group. They were given relevant medicine, once a day, for 4 consecutive weeks; the mass and volume of the tumor and protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8 in the tumor tissue were determined. RESULTS The EdU positive rate, OD450 value, cell invasion number, scratch healing rate, mRNA expressions of PCNA, MIEN1 and MMP-9, protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8, as well as the mass and volume of transplanted tumors and protein expressions of HIF-1α and IL-8 in tumor tissues were decreased by metformin in concentration/dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Additionally,metformin increased the apoptosis rate and mRNA expression of Bim in cells (P<0.05). The trend of changes in corresponding indicators in the IDF-11774 group was consistent with that in the metformin groups, whereas DMOG could significantly attenuate the aforementioned effects of high-concentration/high-dose metformin (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Metformin can inhibit the proliferation, invasion, migration of TE1 cells, and tumor growth of nude mice, and induce cell apoptosis, the mechanism of which may be related to the inhibition of HIF-1α/IL-8 signaling pathway.
10.Efficacy analysis of a novel inguinal tourniquet for compression hemostasis
Peng-Fei LIU ; Hao SUN ; Meng-Jie DOU ; Ya-Hua LIU ; Shao-Bin CHAI ; Si-Yu CHEN ; Fa-Qin LYU ; Wei CHEN
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(6):688-694
Objective To assess the efficacy of a novel inguinal tourniquet in healthy individuals and to investigate the relationship between localized inguinal compression and femoral artery blood flow occlusion.Methods A self-controlled study was conducted.From November 9 to November 30,2024,11 volunteers were recruited at the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital.Three compression methods--finger pressure,a novel groin tourniquet,and a SAM junction tourniquet(SJT)—were applied bilaterally to the inguinal region until distal blood flow signals disappeared.Each compression method was tested in 22 trials with a 5-minute interval between operations.Differences in hemostatic efficacy between bilateral inguinal regions and across compression methods were compared.Subsequently,the novel tourniquet was incrementally pressurized in 120 mmHg multiples using an integrated pressure device to analyze trends in popliteal artery blood flow velocity.Observational indicators included the internal pressure of the tourniquet pressurization device,peak systolic velocity(PSV)of popliteal artery,inguinal surface pressure magnitude,inguinal surface pressure distribution,and pain scores(assessed using a single-dimensional numerical rating scale).Results No statistically significant difference was observed in the minimum pressure required to occlude femoral artery blood flow bilaterally(P>0.05).The success rates of femoral artery blood flow occlusion at the inguinal region were 100%for the novel inguinal tourniquet,SJT,and finger pressure.The novel inguinal tourniquet induced the highest pain scores,ranging from 5 to 8.A significant reduction in PSV of popliteal artery was noted when the intra-tourniquet pressure reached 360 mmHg and 480 mmHg(P<0.05),with a 95%hemostasis efficacy observed within the range of 360-600 mmHg.No significant association was observed between the recovery of popliteal artery blood flow after limb movement and inguinal pressure distribution(P>0.05).The PSV of popliteal artery exhibited the strongest negative correlation with the average pressure within the inguinal compression area(r=-0.79,P<0.001),with a linear regression fitting line of y=69.69-0.13x(P<0.001,R2=0.58).Conclusions The novel inguinal tourniquet effectively occludes femoral artery blood flow within a pressure range of 360-600 mmHg,accompanied by moderate-to-severe pain.Its hemostatic mechanism mainly relies on increasing the mean pressure within the inguinal compression area.

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