1.Study on the role of oleuropein in enhancing muscle endurance
Huan LI ; Zhen ZHANG ; Jiayi FENG ; Weidong ZHANG ; Xia LIU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2026;44(3):126-131
Objective Orosomucoid1 (ORM1) is a novel target in the quest for anti-fatigue pharmacotherapy. Preliminary investigations have illuminated oleuropein (OLE) as a promising candidate molecule, poised to enhance ORM1 expression. To elucidate the influence of OLE on ORM1 protein expression and assess its ramifications on muscle endurance. Methods The impact of OLE on ORM1 protein expressions within hepatocytes and liver tissue was meticulously quantified through Western blotting; the effects of OLE on muscle endurance were evaluated via the rotarod and forced swimming tests; glycogen content within liver and muscle tissues was determined utilizing a specialized kit; and PAS staining was employed to visualize glycogen deposition in the gastrocnemius muscle. Results OLE demonstrated a capacity to elevate ORM1 protein expression in hepatocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner, concurrently prolonging the duration of swimming and rotarod performance in mice, also in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, OLE augmented ORM1 expression in liver tissue, elevated serum ORM1 levels, and enhanced glycogen reserves within the liver and muscle. Conclusion OLE may serve to amplify muscle endurance by elevating ORM1 levels in vivo and augmenting glycogen stores within skeletal muscle.
2.SIRT5 Potentiates Hepatocarcinogenesis by Modulating Protein Acylation in Mice
Yu ZHANG ; Feng-Rui REN ; Jia-Yun LI ; Xiang-Yu CHEN ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Qi SUN ; Jun-Cheng ZHAO ; Ye ZHANG ; Zhen HUANG ; Hao HU ; Tao-Tao WEI ; Min XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1712-1722
ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.
3.The first record of Anopheles messeae (Diptera: Culicidae) parasitized by water mites in China
Xue-ru CHEN ; Wen-zhen YAO ; Yu-hao LI ; Gui-chang LI ; Tao MENG ; Qun-ling FENG ; Xin-hui LIU ; Li-hong QIAO ; Xiang-ting WU ; Xue-feng ZHANG ; Cheng-lin LI ; Xue-cheng DONG ; Da-wei WANG ; Xiao-yan SI ; Yu-hong GUO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(1):53-57
Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.
4.Two sample Mendelian randomization study on causal relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 and colorectal cancer
Huaxia MU ; Weixiao BU ; Shuting DING ; Mengyao GAO ; Weiqiang SU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Qifu BO ; Feng LIU ; Fuyan SHI ; Qinghua WANG ; Yujia KONG ; Suzhen WANG
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(2):479-485
Objective:To explore the causal association between insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)and colorectal cancer(CRC)based on two sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods:A bidirectional two sample MR analysis was conducted based on publicly aggregated data from the IEU OpenGWAS project.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the main analysis model to assess the causal relationship between IGF-1 and CRC.Additional analyses were performed using weighted median(WM),MR-Egger regression,weighted mode estimator(WME),and simple mode(SM)methods.Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the results.Results:A total of 386 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were selected as instrumental variables(IVs)with IGF-1 as the exposure factor.The MR analysis results revealed a positive causal association between IGF-1 and the risk of CRC[odds ratio(OR)=1.178,95%confidence interval(CI):1.092-1.272)](P<0.001),and the association remained significant after adjusting for height[OR(95%CI)=1.214(1.111,1.327)](P<0.001).Cochran's Q-test showed heterogeneity among the IVs(P<0.05),while the horizontal pleiotropy of IV was not detected by the MR-Egger regression(P>0.05).The leave-one-out analysis showed that the MR results were robust.Reverse MR analysis indicated no reverse causal relationship between IGF-1 and CRC[OR(95%CI):1.017(0.997,1.037)](P=0.103).Conclusion:There is a causal relationship between IGF-1 level and CRC,and elevated IGF-1 level could be a risk factor for CRC.
5.Establishment of preparation process and quality standard for Zhenggu Pills
Wen-ming ZHANG ; Zi-fang FENG ; Li-hong GU ; Ping QIN ; Zhen-hua BIAN ; Min-min HU ; Xiao-wei CHEN
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(9):2863-2869
AIM To establish the preparation process and quality standard for Zhenggu Pills.METHODS With decoction time,decoction frequency and water addition as influencing factors,comprehensive score for extract yield and transfer rates of epicatechin and naringin as an evaluation index,the decoction process was optimized by orthogonal test.With sugarless paste relative density,medicinal powder fineness,sugarless paste-corn starch ratio,drying temperature and drying time as influencing factors,soft material traits,pill formability,moisture and disintegration time limit as evaluation indices,the formability process was optimized by single factor test.TLC was adopted in the qualitative identification of Dipsaci Radix,salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus,cooked Rhei Radix et Rhizoma and Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.HPLC was used for the content determination of paeoniflorin and naringin.RESULTS The optimal decoction process was determined to be 0.5 h for decoction time,two times for decoction frequency,and 10 times for water addition,the comprehensive score was 0.93.The optimal formability process was determined to be 1.21-1.22 for sugarless paste relative density,80 mesh for medicinal powder fineness,1∶0.17-1∶0.18 for sugarless paste-corn starch ratio,70 ℃ for drying temperature,and 24 h for drying time,good soft material traits and pill formability were observable,and moisture and disintegration time limit accored with 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia requirements.The TLC spots were clear without negative interference.Two constituents showed good linear relationships within 61.30-490.41 μg/mL(r=0.999 8)and 3.27-26.18 μg/mL(r=0.999 8),whose average recoveries were 100.15%and 98.15%with the RSDs of 0.55%and 2.30%,respectively.CONCLUSION This stable,reliable and specific method can be used for the production and quality evaluation of Zhenggu Pills.
6.Establishment of quantitative models for effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture
Zi-fang FENG ; Min-min HU ; Xiao-wei CHEN ; Wen-ming ZHANG ; Li-hong GU ; Ping QIN ; Yi PENG ; Zhen-hua BIAN ; Qing-you YANG ; Tu-lin LU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(10):3177-3184
AIM To establish the quantitative models for gallic acid,mononucleoside,loganin,resveratrol,and rhein in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture.METHODS HPLC was adopted in the content determination of various effective components,after which the near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 128 batches of samples and pretreatment was conducted,competitive adaptive reweighting sampling(CARS)algorithm was used for screening wavelength,partial least square method(PLS)regression analysis was performed.RESULTS There were no significant differences between the predicted values obtained by PLS models and measured values obtained by HPLC for various effective components(P>0.05).CONCLUSION The quantitative models established by NIRS combined with chemometrics display good predictive performance,which can be used for the rapid determination of effective components in Yishen Xiezhuo Mixture,and provide a reference for the rapid monitoring of other traditional Chinese medicine preparations in production processes.
7.Effects of Orexin-A/OX1R/OX2R on iron death and lipid peroxidation regulation in chronic unpredictable mild stress depressed rats
Zhen ZHANG ; Ming CHENG ; Zhaoshu JIANG ; Jie YANG ; Zhenliang LUO ; Feng CAO
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(16):2507-2514
Objective To investigate whether orexin A(orexin-A),orexin receptor 1(OX1R)and orexin receptor 2(OX2R)are involved in iron death and lipid peroxidation regulation in chronically unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)depressed rats.Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into a normal group(NC group),a modeling group(Mod group),an exogenous Orexin-A group(Orexin-A group,),and an OX1R/OX2R blocker group(TCS1102 group),with 10 rats in each group.After modeling,behavioral changes were observed using the absent field test(OFT),sugar-water preference test(SPT)and forced swimming test(FST),action potential(PA)and resting membrane potential(Vm)were detected by diaphragm-clamp technique,Orexin-A/OX1R/OX2R protein expression in orbital frontal cortex(OFC)tissues was detected by protein immunoblotting(WB)method,RT-PCR The mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),long chain acyl coenzyme A synthase 4(ACSL4)and cysteine/glutamate transporter light chain(SLC7A11)were detected by RT-PCR method,and the intensity of the expression of rat glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynon-enal(4-HNE)was labeled by immunofluorescence.Results Compared with the NC group,there were significant differences in OFT,SPT and FST behavioral in the Mod group(P<0.01),with lower number of PA issuance(P<0.001),higher Vm(P<0.01),and higher expression of Orexin-A/OX1R/OX2R proteins(P<0.01,P<0.001,and P<0.001).GPX4/SLC7A11 mRNA expression was decreased(P<0.01),ACSL4 mRNA expression was elevated(P<0.01),and the fluorescence intensity expression of both GFAP and 4-HNE was elevated(P<0.001);the number of PA issuance was decreased in the Orexin-A group compared to the Mod group(P<0.05),and the Orexin-A/OX1R/OX2R protein expression was elevated(P<0.05,P<0.01),GPX4/SLC7A11 mRNA ex-pression was decreased(P<0.05),ACSL4 mRNA expression was elevated(P<0.05),and the fluorescence in-tensity of GFAP and 4-HNE expression was elevated(P<0.05,P<0.01);the TCS1102 group had higher expres-sion of GFAP and 4-HNE in the behavioral,Orexin-A/OX1R/OX2R protein expression,PA and Vm,GPX4/SLC7A11/ACSL4 mRNA,and GFAP and 4-HNE fluorescence intensity expression showed a reversed trend.Con-clusions Orexin-A/OX1R/OX2R is involved in the regulation of iron death and lipid peroxidation in CUMS de-pressed rats,and the mechanism may be that Orexin-A enhances the excitability of OFC neurons by activating the OX1R/OX2R signaling pathway,up-regulates the expression of the key factor of iron death,ACSL4/4-HNE,and decreases the expression of GPX4/SLC7A11,which promotes lipid peroxidation and iron death.
8.Clinical efficacy analysis of Shibao Decoction in the treatment of late-onset hypogonadism with kidney essence deficiency
Shao-kang CHEN ; Yi SHAN ; Zhen-fu SHI ; Hai-feng XU ; Yao-hua ZHANG ; Yi LU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(7):630-636
Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of"Shibao Decoction"in the management of late-onset hypogonadism(LOH)caused by deficiency of kidney essence.Methods:Sixty male patients with late-onset hypogonadism of kidney essence defi-ciency type were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group,each with 30 cases.The patients in treatment group were treated with oral Shibao Decoction,while the control group was treated with oral Testosterone Undecanoate Capsules.The patients in both groups were treated for 12 weeks.The PADAM symptom score,TCM syndrome score,serum total testosterone(TT),serum free testosterone(FT),sex hormone binding globulin(SHBG),body mass index(BMI),total skeletal muscle mass index(SMI),appendicular skeletal muscle mass index(ASMI),FBG,FINS,and insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR)levels were compared be-tween the two groups.Results:After treatment,PADAM scores for each item and TCM symptoms score decreased,TT and FT in-creased in both groups,all with statistically significant differences from those of pre-treatment(P<0.05).The level of SHBG in the control group decreased(P<0.05),which had not changed significantly in the treatment group(P>0.05).After treatment,SMI and ASMI increased in both groups significantly(P<0.05).BMI decreased in the control group(P<0.05),which had not changed significantly in the treatment group(P>0.05).The level of FINS decreased in the control group(P<0.05),which had not changed significantly in the treatment group(P>0.05).FPG had not changed significantly in both groups(P>0.05),and the insulin resist-ance index(HOMA-IR)had significantly improved in both groups,all with statistically significant differences from those of pre-treat-ment(P<0.05).After treatment,the total effective rates of PADAM score and TCM syndrome score in the treatment group were 73.3%and 86.6%respectively,and the total effective rates in the control group were 66.7%and 76.6%respectively.The total ef-fective rates of the two scores in the treatment group were slightly higher than those in the control group(P>0.05).There was no sig-nificant difference in the indicators between the two groups after treatment,and the treatment group is generally comparable with the control group in the therapeutic effects(P>0.05).And no adverse reactions occurred during treatment in both groups.Conclu-sion:The"Shibao Decoction"has a remarkable therapeutic effect on late-onset hypogonadism caused by deficiency of kidney essence and has good safety.It can be used as an alternative to testosterone undecanoate and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.
9.Pattern Identification and Treatment of Malignant Transformation in Pulmonary Nodules Based on the Theory of"Mass Hardness and Latent Yang"
Huijuan CHENG ; Zhen ZHANG ; Cuili LIN ; Weilan LIN ; Shun CHEN ; Feng LU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(12):1683-1690
Pulmonary nodules(PNs),a critical imaging indicator for early lung cancer screening,require deeper mechanistic explo-ration of their malignant transformation.Current Western medicine strategies—primarily surveillance—suffer from delayed interven-tion,while traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)theories(e.g.,"phlegm-blood stasis binding")inadequately explain the dynamic pro-gression of malignancy.Integrating You Yi's theory of"where there is mass hardness,there must be latent yang"with modern research on PN malignant transformation,this study proposes a novel pathogenic mechanism of"latent yang as cause,mass hardness as effect":Depressed latent yang drives pro-tumorigenic microenvironments(e.g.,immunosuppression,hypoxic stress,chronic inflammation),leading to the coagulation of phlegm,stasis,fire,and toxins into cancer toxin.Based on this framework,a core therapeutic principle of"dispersing latent yang and intercepting malignant transition in stages"was established,providing a new paradigm for TCM-based early intervention against PN malignancy.
10.Etiological surveillance and antimicrobial resistance analysis of Legionella pneumophila in the aqueous environment of public places in Shanghai, 2011-2020
Jun FENG ; Wei GAO ; Yuan ZHUANG ; Lingyue YUAN ; Yanxin CHEN ; Zhen XU ; Jiayuan LUO ; Yong CHEN ; Huanyu WU ; Xin CHEN ; Jing ZHANG ; Min CHEN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(9):1600-1609
Objective:To understand the etiological surveillance and drug resistance characteristics of Legionella pneumophila (LP) from the aqueous environment of public places in Shanghai, from 2011 to 2020, and provide evidence for surveillance of the disease. Methods:Environmental water samples were systematically collected from public venues in urban and suburban districts of Shanghai for LP surveillance. All the identified LP isolates underwent a series of testings including serotyping, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), sequence-based typing, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. χ2 test or Cochran-Armitage trend tests were used for statistical analysis and for temporal resistance patterns. Results:Among 6 263 water samples, the LP-positive rate was 20.93% (1 311/6 263). The positivity rate decreased from 24.98% (287/1 149) in 2011-2012 to 20.02% (1 024/5 114) in 2013-2020 ( χ2=13.92, P<0.001), with the highest monthly positivity observed from June to August (23.79%, 745/3 132). A total of 1 365 LP strains were isolated, of which 912 were further characterized, including 10 serotypes, 149 PFGE patterns, and 33 sequence types (ST). The predominant serotype was Lp1 (86.84%, 792/912), and the dominant ST was ST752 (29.50%, 269/912). ST clustering revealed two major clonal groups CG1 and CG2, accounting for 91.12% (831/912) of the isolates. The 190 LPs involved in the drug sensitivity test showed three resistance profiles: azithromycin resistance (31.05%, 59/190), ciprofloxacin resistance (0.53%, 1/190) and azithromycin+ciprofloxacin resistance (0.53%, 1/190). Azithromycin-resistant strains were predominantly ST1 (64.41%, 38/59). The antimicrobial resistance rate showed a significant decline, from 48.65% (18/37) in 2011-2012 to 28.10% (43/153) in 2013-2020 ( χ2=9.38, P=0.002). Conclusions:Compared to from 2011 to 2012, both the positivity rate and antimicrobial resistance prevalence of LP in public aqueous environments of Shanghai exhibited an overall decline from 2013 to 2020. The predominant types of LP were serotype Lp1 and sequence type ST752, with notable high-level resistance to azithromycin. Measures as enhancing the enforcement of water safety regulations and prioritizing surveillance of azithromycin resistance in LP were recommended to mitigate public health risks.


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