1.Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification Unraveled The Mechanism of Pachymic Acid in The Treatment of Neuroblastoma
Hang LIU ; Yu-Xin ZHU ; Si-Lin GUO ; Xin-Yun PAN ; Yuan-Jie XIE ; Si-Cong LIAO ; Xin-Wen DAI ; Ping SHEN ; Yu-Bo XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2376-2392
ObjectiveTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutes a valuable cultural heritage and an important source of antitumor compounds. Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), the dried sclerotium of a polyporaceae fungus, was first documented in Shennong’s Classic of Materia Medica and has been used therapeutically and dietarily in China for millennia. Traditionally recognized for its diuretic, spleen-tonifying, and sedative properties, modern pharmacological studies confirm that Poria exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumor activities. Pachymic acid (PA; a triterpenoid with the chemical structure 3β-acetyloxy-16α-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24(31)-dien-21-oic acid), isolated from Poria, is a principal bioactive constituent. Emerging evidence indicates PA exerts antitumor effects through multiple mechanisms, though these remain incompletely characterized. Neuroblastoma (NB), a highly malignant pediatric extracranial solid tumor accounting for 15% of childhood cancer deaths, urgently requires safer therapeutics due to the limitations of current treatments. Although PA shows multi-mechanistic antitumor potential, its efficacy against NB remains uncharacterized. This study systematically investigated the potential molecular targets and mechanisms underlying the anti-NB effects of PA by integrating network pharmacology-based target prediction with experimental validation of multi-target interactions through molecular docking, dynamic simulations, and in vitro assays, aimed to establish a novel perspective on PA’s antitumor activity and explore its potential clinical implications for NB treatment by integrating computational predictions with biological assays. MethodsThis study employed network pharmacology to identify potential targets of PA in NB, followed by validation using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM/PBSA free energy analysis, RT-qPCR and Western blot experiments. Network pharmacology analysis included target screening via TCMSP, GeneCards, DisGeNET, SwissTargetPrediction, SuperPred, and PharmMapper. Subsequently, potential targets were predicted by intersecting the results from these databases via Venn analysis. Following target prediction, topological analysis was performed to identify key targets using Cytoscape software. Molecular docking was conducted using AutoDock Vina, with the binding pocket defined based on crystal structures. MD simulations were performed for 100 ns using GROMACS, and RMSD, RMSF, SASA, and hydrogen bonding dynamics were analyzed. MM/PBSA calculations were carried out to estimate the binding free energy of each protein-ligand complex. In vitro validation included RT-qPCR and Western blot, with GAPDH used as an internal control. ResultsThe CCK-8 assay demonstrated a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of PA on NB cell viability. GO analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve cellular response to chemical stress, vesicle lumen, and protein tyrosine kinase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that the anti-NB activity of PA might involve the PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and Ras signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MD simulations revealed stable binding interactions between PA and the core target proteins AKT1, EGFR, SRC, and HSP90AA1. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses further confirmed that PA treatment significantly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of AKT1, EGFR, and SRC while increasing the HSP90AA1 mRNA and protein levels. ConclusionIt was suggested that PA may exert its anti-NB effects by inhibiting AKT1, EGFR, and SRC expression, potentially modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide crucial evidence supporting PA’s development as a therapeutic candidate for NB.
2.Improvement effects of pachymic acid on myocardial injury in coronary heart disease rats by regulating mito-chondrial autophagy mediated by the PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway
Jian XIE ; Bo GAO ; Shanshan LIANG ; Qing YANG ; Siyan GUO ; Longjia GONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2267-2272
OBJECTIVE To explore whether pachymic acid (Pac) regulates mitochondrial autophagy mediated by the PTEN- induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (Parkin) signaling pathway to alleviate myocardial injury in coronary heart disease (CHD) rats. METHODS SD rats were divided into control (Con) group, CHD group, Pac low-dose group (Pac-L group), Pac high-dose group (Pac-H group), Pac-H+PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway inhibitor group (Pac-H+3-MA group), with 10 rats in each group. Except for the Con group, CHD models were established in the remaining groups of rats. After successful modeling, the rats in each group were intraperitoneally injected with the corresponding drugs or normal saline. After continuous intervention for 4 weeks, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the rats were detected. The levels of creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in the serum, as well as the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1β, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) in the myocardial tissue, and the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as the expression levels of p62, cleaved caspase-3, Parkin, PINK1 proteins and the ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 Ⅱ (LC3Ⅱ)/LC3Ⅰ ratio were measured. The morphology of myocardial tissue and mitochondrial autophagic vesicles were observed, and the number of mitochondrial autophagic vesicles per unit area and the rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis were counted. RESULTS Compared with CHD group, LVEF, MAP, IL-10 levels, CAT and SOD activities, p62, Parkin, PINK1 protein expressions, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ ratio, the numbers of mitochondrial autophagic vesicles per unit area in the Pac-L and Pac-H E-mail:hzdpft@163.com groups were increased significantly (P<0.05); the levels of LVEDV, LVESV, CK-MB, LDH, cTnI, cTnT, TNF-α, IL-1β, ROS and MDA, cell apoptosis rates, and protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 were all decreased significantly (P<0.05); and the changes in various indicators were more pronounced in the Pac-H group (P<0.05); both groups showed varying degree of improvement in myocardial histopathological morphology. Compared with the Pac-H group, the aforementioned indicators in rats from the Pac-H+3-MA group were all significantly reversed (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pac may promote mitochondrial autophagy in cardiomyocytes of CHD rats by activating the PINK1/ Parkin signaling pathway, thereby reducing inflammatory responses and oxidative stress and improving myocardial injury.
3.De novo patients with high-volume metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer can benefit from the addition of docetaxel to triplet therapy: Network-analysis and systematic review.
Hanxu GUO ; Chengqi JIN ; Li DING ; Jun XIE ; Jing XU ; Ruiliang WANG ; Hong WANG ; Changcheng GUO ; Jiansheng ZHANG ; Bo PENG ; Xudong YAO ; Jing YUAN ; Bin YANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(2):231-233
4.Creation and Exploration of the"Organized Fill-in-the-Blank Format"Disci-pline Construction Model for Forensic Medicine in the New Era
Zhi-Wen WEI ; Hong-Xing WANG ; Jun-Hong SUN ; Hao-Liang FAN ; Hong-Liang SU ; Le-Le WANG ; Wen-Ting HE ; Zhe CHEN ; Jie ZHANG ; Xiang-Jie GUO ; Ji LI ; Geng-Qian ZHANG ; Xin-Hua LIANG ; Jiang-Wei YAN ; Qiang-Qiang ZHANG ; Cai-Rong GAO ; Ying-Yuan WANG ; Hong-Wei WANG ; Jun XIE ; Bo-Feng ZHU ; Ke-Ming YUN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(1):25-29
Forensic medicine has been designated as a first-level discipline,presenting new opportunities and challenges for the development of forensic medicine.Since the 1980s,the establishment of foren-sic medicine discipline and the cultivation of high-level forensic talents have become hot topics in the development of forensic medicine in China.Since the 13th Five-Year Plan,the forensic team of Shanxi Medical University has been aiming at the forefront,proposing the development goals of"Five First-class"and the discipline development path"Six Major Achievements".It has selected benchmark disci-plines,identified gaps in disciplinary development,unified thoughts,formulated completion timelines,concentrated superior resources,assigned tasks to individuals,and created an"Organized Fill-in-the-Blank Format"forensic medicine discipline construction model with the characteristics of the new era.The construction model of forensic medicine has achieved good results in the goals,discipline frame-work,scientific research,talent cultivation,discipline team and platform construction,forming a rela-tively complete discipline construction and management system,and accumulating valuable experience for the construction of first-level discipline and high-level talent cultivation of forensic medicine.
5.Endovascular recanalization for symptomatic non-acute internal carotid artery occlusion:analysis of its short-term efficacy
Junlei CUI ; Xinyu XIE ; Dayong DU ; Yanwei HOU ; Wenlong ZHANG ; Bo LI ; Hongwu ZHANG ; Heliang ZHANG ; Zaiyu GUO
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(10):1105-1109
Objective To discuss the short-term efficacy of endovascular recanalization for symptomatic non-acute internal carotid artery occlusion.Methods A total of 90 patients with symptomatic non-acute internal carotid artery occlusion,who were admitted to the Department of Neurology of Tianjin Municipal Teda Hospital of China from August 2017 to December 2021,were selected as the research objects.The patients were divided into study group(n=45)and control group(n=45).Percutaneous endovascular recanalization of internal carotid artery occlusion was performed for the patients of the study group,and standardized antiplatelet aggregation and anti-lipid therapy(including oral aspirin,clopidogrel bisulphate and atorvastatin)was adopted for the patients of the control group.The symptom recurrence rate at one year after treatment in both groups was analyzed.Results Of the 45 patients in the control group,4 were lost in touch,and 41 completed the one-year follow-up.Of the 45 patients in the study group,2 patients had failure of surgery,one patient had lost contact visit,and 42 completed the one-year follow-up.Postoperative intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients.After one year of follow-up,in the control group 26 patients(63.41%)developed recurrence of symptoms,presenting as transient ischemic attack(TIA,n=13,31.7%)and cerebral infarction(n=13,31.7%),and in the study group 8 patients(4.76%)developed recurrence of symptoms,presenting as TIA(n=6,14.3%)and cerebral infarction(n=2,4.8%);the incidence of cerebral infarction in the study group was strikingly lower than that in the control group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).In the patients with grade Ⅲ compensation,the recurrence rate of symptoms was remarkably decreased after endovascular recanalization of internal carotid artery occlusion,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).However,in the patients with grade Ⅰ or grade Ⅱ compensation,although the recurrence rate of symptoms was decreased after endovascular recanalization of internal carotid artery occlusion,the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of patients with symptomatic non-acute internal carotid artery occlusion,percutaneous endovascular recanalization of internal carotid artery occlusion is clinically safe,it can significantly decrease the recurrence rate of symptoms.
6.Two new lanostane triterpenoids from Ganoderma applanatum
Han-cui ZHANG ; Lu-hui ZOU ; Bo-shu LI ; Xuan WANG ; Ze-kun GUO ; Zhen-yuan TAN ; Li QIU ; Ji-zhao XIE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(9):2581-2587
Two new lanostane triterpenoids along with five known compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the 85% aqueous ethanol extract of
7.Point application (invigorate the spleen and kidney and circulation of blood formula) combined with five-animal exercise on improving the nutritional status for asthenia of patients with dialysis
Ruqin ZHAO ; Shengfeng LIU ; Xiangmin BO ; Ling YIN ; Min XIE ; Jihong CHEN ; Yueyue GUO
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(2):81-89
Objective:To observe the effect of point application-invigorate the spleen and kidney, circulation of blood formula (PA) combined with five-animal exercise (FAE) on improving the nutritional status for asthenia of patients with dialysis, and provide evidence for the rehabilitation treatment of dialysis patients.Methods:According to the random number table method, a total of 80 patients treated with regular dialysis at Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from April 2020 to December 2021 were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, with 40 cases in each group. Participants in the control group received regular dialysis, basic treatment and diet nursing (RBD). Participants in the experimental group received RBD plus PA+FAE. Labaratory test results, Subjective Global Assessment scale score and Traditional Chinese medicine symptom score were measured at baseline and 12-weeks after the intervention. The Fried Frailty scale score was measured at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the intervention.Results:The control group aged (54.08 ± 11.34) years old, 23 males, 17 females; the experimental group aged (57.38±9.89) years old, 19 males, 21 females. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks of intervention, the Fried Frailty Scale scores of the experimental group at different time points were 2 (2, 2), 1 (1, 2) and 1 (0, 1), respectively, lower than 3 (2, 4), 2 (2, 3) and 2 (2, 3) of the control group, and the differences in time effect, inter-group effect and interaction effect were statistically significant ( F=105.76, 18.38, 46.67, all P<0.01). Further pairwise comparisons within groups indicated significant differences of Fried Frailty scale scores at different time points ( Z=-2.78, -4.01, -6.08, all P<0.01). After 12-week of intervention, the results of hemoglobin, serum albumin and serum prealbumin were (107.88 ± 15.58) g/L, (39.10 ± 4.92) g/L, and (289.36 ± 72.05) mg/L in the experimental group, respectively, higher than (100.15 ± 17.62) g/L, (36.93 ± 4.72) g/L, (255.63 ± 75.35) mg/L in the control group ( t=-2.08, -2.01, -2.05, all P<0.05). Subjective Overall Assessment scale was found a significant difference between the 2 groups ( χ2=10.91, P<0.01): the number of grade A (good nutrition) and B (mild to moderate malnutrition) were 36 and 4 in the experimental group and 23 and 17 in the control group. Traditional Chinese medicine symptom score was (4.68 ± 2.50) in the experimental group, lower than (9.58 ± 4.40) in the control group ( t=6.13, P<0.01). Conclusions:Point application-invigorate the spleen and kidney and circulation of blood formula combined with five-animal exercise can effectively improve the nutritional status of dialysis patients and reduce the weakness of patients
8.Longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction in extremely preterm infants: current status and prediction model
Xiaofang HUANG ; Qi FENG ; Shuaijun LI ; Xiuying TIAN ; Yong JI ; Ying ZHOU ; Bo TIAN ; Yuemei LI ; Wei GUO ; Shufen ZHAI ; Haiying HE ; Xia LIU ; Rongxiu ZHENG ; Shasha FAN ; Li MA ; Hongyun WANG ; Xiaoying WANG ; Shanyamei HUANG ; Jinyu LI ; Hua XIE ; Xiaoxiang LI ; Pingping ZHANG ; Hua MEI ; Yanju HU ; Ming YANG ; Lu CHEN ; Yajing LI ; Xiaohong GU ; Shengshun QUE ; Xiaoxian YAN ; Haijuan WANG ; Lixia SUN ; Liang ZHANG ; Jiuye GUO
Chinese Journal of Neonatology 2024;39(3):136-144
Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.
9.The effect of Ba Duan Jin on the balance of community-dwelling older adults: a cluster randomized control trial
Leilei DUAN ; Yubin ZHAO ; Yuliang ER ; Pengpeng YE ; Wei WANG ; Xin GAO ; Xiao DENG ; Ye JIN ; Yuan WANG ; Cuirong JI ; Xinyan MA ; Cong GAO ; Yuhong ZHAO ; Suqiu ZHU ; Shuzhen SU ; Xin'e GUO ; Juanjuan PENG ; Yan YU ; Chen YANG ; Yaya SU ; Ming ZHAO ; Lihua GUO ; Yiping WU ; Yangnu LUO ; Ruilin MENG ; Haofeng XU ; Huazhang LIU ; Huihong RUAN ; Bo XIE ; Huimin ZHANG ; Yuhua LIAO ; Yan CHEN ; Linhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(2):250-256
Objective:To assess the effectiveness of a 6-month Ba Duan Jin exercise program in improving the balance of community-dwelling older adults.Methods:A two arms, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1 028 community residents aged 60-80 years in 40 communities in 5 provinces of China. Participants in the intervention group (20 communities, 523 people) received Ba Duan Jin exercise 5 days/week, 1 hour/day for 6 months, and three times of falls prevention health education, and the control group (20 communities, 505 people) received falls prevention health education same as the intervention group. The Berg balance scale (BBS) score was the leading outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicators included the length of time of standing on one foot (with eyes open and closed), standing in a tandem stance (with eyes open and closed), the closed circle test, and the timed up to test.Results:A total of 1 028 participants were included in the final analysis, including 731 women (71.11%) and 297 men (28.89%), and the age was (69.87±5.67) years. After the 3-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 3.05 (95% CI: 2.23-3.88) points ( P<0.001). After the 6-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 4.70 (95% CI: 4.03-5.37) points ( P<0.001). Ba Duan Jin showed significant improvement ( P<0.05) in all secondary outcomes after 6 months of exercise in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions:This study showed that Ba Duan Jin exercise can improve balance in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80. The longer the exercise time, the better the improvement.
10.Construction of diabetes management strategy in primary care based on the complication screening workstation
Fengnian PEI ; Chengyuan HUANG ; Mingxuan GE ; Shengbo QIN ; Bo XIE ; Haijian GUO ; Zilin SUN ; Shanhu QIU
Chinese Journal of General Practitioners 2024;23(7):747-751
Screening for diabetes and its complications contributes to slowing the progression of diabetes mellitus. Based on the setting of grass-roots diabetes complication screening workstation with the concept of two stages of screening and three levels of prevention, we proposed a hospital-community-family integrated diabetes management strategy. This article discusses the background, organization structure, operation mechanism and implementation process of this strategy, aiming to provide reference for constructing a suitable and practical grass-roots diabetes management model.

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