1.Effect of Slicing Angle and Initial Water Content on Water Migration and Effective Ingredient Content in Drying Process of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma
Guohong YANG ; Bingqian ZHOU ; Heng LU ; Xiao WANG ; Lanping GUO ; Wei LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):208-216
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of angle and original moisture content on the moisture distribution, migration and contents of effective components in the drying process of sliced Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(SMRR). MethodsSet the slicing angles of SMRR at 30°, 45°, and 90°. Cut the fresh samples, 1/3 dehydrated samples, and 2/3 dehydrated samples, dry them in an oven at 40 ℃ and take samples at the set time points. Low-field nuclear magnetic resonance(LF-NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) were used to analyze the changes in transverse relaxation time(T2) of SMRR samples in 9 treatment groups at specific times, as well as the distribution and migration of water in the samples. The contents of tanshinone ⅡA, tanshinone Ⅰ, cryptotanshinone, and salvianolic acid B in samples from 9 different treatment groups were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and the best processing technology of SMRR was screened by combining with One-way ANOVA, Duncan multiple comparison and principal component analysis(PCA). ResultsThe moisture content of dry basis of SMRR in each treatment group decreased with the extension of drying time. The drying rate of fresh cut group decreased slowly at first, while the drying rate of water loss group showed a trend of increasing at first and then decreasing. The internal water of SMRR could be divided into three states, including bound water, non flowing water and free water. During the drying process, the water migration law showed that the free water of fresh cut group disappeared after drying for 12 h, the content of bound water gradually decreased, and the overall fluidity deteriorated. In the water loss group, part of the free water was transformed into more cohesive and non flowing water after drying for 3 h, and the three kinds of water basically disappeared after drying for 12 h. The MRI results showed that the entire dehydration process slowly moved from the outer side to the center, and the internal water eventually dissipated. In terms of the contents of active ingredients, the order of the effect of slicing angle on the total content of active ingredients in SMRR was 30°>45°>90°. The content of tanshinones was ranked as 1/3 dehydrated group>2/3 dehydrated group>fresh cut group, and the content of salvianolic acid B was ranked as 1/3 dehydrated group>fresh cut group>2/3 dehydrated group. Combined with the results of PCA and comprehensive scoring results, the overall level of effective component content in SMRR was the highest when cut at 30° after 1/3 of water loss. ConclusionAfter comprehensive evaluation, SMRR can be sliced at 30° after 1/3 of water loss. It is not only easy to cut, but also the surface and cross-sectional colors remain basically unchanged after drying, which is similar to the color under traditional processing, and the effective ingredients are preserved the highest. This study can provide a basis for the optimization of processing technology of SMRR.
2.Construction and Functional Validation of GTKO/hCD55 Gene-Edited Xenotransplant Donor Pigs
Jiaoxiang WANG ; Lu ZHANG ; Shuhan CHEN ; Deling JIAO ; Heng ZHAO ; Taiyun WEI ; Jianxiong GUO ; Kaixiang XU ; Hongjiang WEI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):379-392
Objective To develop GTKO (α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout, GTKO)/hCD55 (human CD55) gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs and verify their function. Methods In this study, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9), PiggyBac transposon technology and somatic cell nuclear transfer technology were used to construct GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited Diannan miniature pigs. The phenotype and function of GTKO/hCD55 pigs were analyzed by Sanger sequencing, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, bisulfite sequencing, antigen-antibody binding assays, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays. Results After transfection of PX458 and PiggyBac gene editing vectors into wild-type fetal pig fibroblasts, 48 single-cell colonies were obtained through puromycin drug screening. Two single-cell colonies were selected for somatic cell nuclear transfer, resulting in two fetal pigs at 33 days of gestation. The GGTA1(α-1,3-galactosyltransferase) genotypes of fetal pig F01 were -17 bp and wild type (WT), while the GGTA1 genotypes of fetal pig F02 were -26 bp/+2 bp and -3 bp. The hCD55 mRNA expression levels of both fetal pigs were significantly higher than those of WT pigs (P<0.01). The fetal pig F02 was selected as the donor cell source for recloning, 11 surviving piglets were obtained, all identified as GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pigs. These pigs showed absence of α-Gal antigen expression, but weak or no expression of hCD55 was observed. Methylation analysis of the hCD55 gene's CpG island showed hypermethylation in kidney tissue lacking hCD55 expression, whereas it was not methylated or partially methylated in kidney tissue expressing hCD55. Moreover, codon optimization of the CpG island of the hCD55 gene to reduce CG content could achieve stable expression of the hCD55 gene. In addition, antigen-antibody binding experiment showed that the amount of human IgM binding to GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pig fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of WT pigs (P<0.01). Complement-dependent cytotoxicity experiment showed that the survival rate of fibroblasts in GTKO/hCD55 pigs was significantly higher than that in WT pigs (P<0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates the successful generation of GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs. Methylation-induced gene silencing of the hCD55 gene can be effectively avoided by reducing the CG content of the CpG island through codon optimization. This study provides a reference for the development of xenotransplant donor pigs and guides subsequent research on xenotransplantation.
3.Oxidative Stress-related Signaling Pathways and Antioxidant Therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease
Li TANG ; Yun-Long SHEN ; De-Jian PENG ; Tian-Lu RAN ; Zi-Heng PAN ; Xin-Yi ZENG ; Hui LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2486-2498
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive cognitive decline, functional impairment, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It represents the most prevalent form of dementia among the elderly population. Accumulating evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of AD. Notably, elevated levels of oxidative stress have been observed in the brains of AD patients, where excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause extensive damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA, ultimately compromising neuronal structure and function. Amyloid β‑protein (Aβ) has been shown to induce mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium overload, thereby promoting the generation of ROS. This, in turn, exacerbates Aβ aggregation and enhances tau phosphorylation, leading to the formation of two pathological features of AD: extracellular Aβ plaque deposition and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These events ultimately culminate in neuronal death, forming a vicious cycle. The interplay between oxidative stress and these pathological processes constitutes a core link in the pathogenesis of AD. The signaling pathways mediating oxidative stress in AD include Nrf2, RCAN1, PP2A, CREB, Notch1, NF‑κB, ApoE, and ferroptosis. Nrf2 signaling pathway serves as a key regulator of cellular redox homeostasis, exerts important antioxidant capacity and protective effects in AD. RCAN1 signaling pathway, as a calcineurin inhibitor, and modulates AD progression through multiple mechanisms. PP2A signaling pathway is involved in regulating tau phosphorylation and neuroinflammation processes. CREB signaling pathway contributes to neuroplasticity and memory formation; activation of CREB improves cognitive function and reduce oxidative stress. Notch1 signaling pathway regulates neuronal development and memory, participates in modulation of Aβ production, and interacts with Nrf2 toco-regulate antioxidant activity. NF‑κB signaling pathway governs immune and inflammatory responses; sustained activation of this pathway forms “inflammatory memory”, thereby exacerbating AD pathology. ApoE signaling pathway is associated with lipid metabolism; among its isoforms, ApoE-ε4 significantly increases the risk of AD, leading to elevated oxidative stress, abnormal lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation. The ferroptosis signaling pathway is driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, and the subsequent release of lipid peroxidation products and ROS exacerbate oxidative stress and neuronal damage. These interconnected pathways form a complex regulatory network that regulates the progression of AD through oxidative stress and related pathological cascades. In terms of therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress, among the drugs currently used in clinical practice for AD treatment, memantine and donepezil demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy and can improve the level of oxidative stress in AD patients. Some compounds with antioxidant effects (such asα-lipoic acid and melatonin) have shown certain potential in AD treatment research and can be used as dietary supplements to ameliorate AD symptoms. In addition, non-drug interventions such as calorie restriction and exercise have been proven to exerted neuroprotective effects and have a positive effect on the treatment of AD. By comprehensively utilizing the therapeutic characteristics of different signaling pathways, it is expected that more comprehensive multi-target combination therapy regimens and combined nanomolecular delivery systems will be developed in the future to bypass the blood-brain barrier, providing more effective therapeutic strategies for AD.
4.Imaging findings of 14 cases of intestinal schwannoma
Yong YU ; Shen-Chu GONG ; Rui-Ting WANG ; Kai HOU ; Xiu-Liang LU ; Li-Heng LIU ; Jian-Jun ZHOU ; Yu-Qin DING
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(1):62-68
Objective To investigate the imaging features of intestinal schwannoma(IS)in order to improve the diagnostic ability of the disease.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 14 patients with surgically and pathologically confirmed IS were retrospectively analyzed,including the location,size,morphology,nature,growth pattern,CT density,MRI signal,PET/CT metabolism and other characteristics of the tumors.Results Of the 14 IS cases,the lesions of 3 cases were located in the duodenum,2 cases in the cecum,8 cases in the colon and 1 case in the rectum.The lesions were all round or oval,with an average maximum diameter of(2.4±1.1)cm.The lesions were solid in 13 cases,extraluminal growth in 10 cases,cystic degeneration in 1 case and myxoid degeneration in 1 case.Chronic inflammatory lymph nodes were seen around the diseased intestines in 9 cases,and the short diameter of lymph nodes was greater than 5 mm in 6 cases.All 14 cases of IS showed low attenuation on plain CT scan,and progressive enhancement after contrast injection,including 1 case of mild enhancement,2 cases of moderate enhancement,and 11 cases of obvious enhancement.Two cases of IS showed low signal intensity on T1WI,slightly high signal intensity on T2WI,significantly high signal intensity on DWI,and obvious progressive enhancement after contrast injection on MRI.Two cases of IS showed high metabolism on 18F-FDG-PET/CT,and the SUVmax was 9.4 and 8.8,respectively.Conclusion The imaging findings of IS were characteristic to a certain extent.They mainly manifested as solid nodules or masses derived from the intestinal submucosa,with uniform attenuation or signal intensity,obvious progressive enhancement after contrast injection,obvious hypermetabolism on 18F-FDG-PET/CT,and slightly larger homogeneous lymph nodes were common around the lesions.
5.Early result of postoperative echocardiographic evaluation in 28 patients underwent left ventricular assist device implantation
Yong LIN ; Guican ZHANG ; Xiaofu DAI ; Qianzhen LI ; Guanhua FANG ; Zhihuang QIU ; Heng LU ; Yi DONG ; Liangwan CHEN
Chinese Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;40(1):7-11
Objective:To extract the early result of postoperative echocardiographic evaluation in patients underwent left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, and to assess the efficacy of surgical treatment for end-staged heart failure.Methods:Between June 2019 and May 2023, the patients underwent left ventricular assist device implantation were enrolled in this study. Demographic baseline characteristics and perioperative echocardiographic parameters were collected and analyzed.Results:A total of 28 patients were included in the study. After LVAD implantation, the heart sizes of the patients obviously reduced and the left heart contractibility function improved. The right ventricular contractibility remained stable. The proportion of the patients with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation was significantly reduced, but patients with mild to moderate aortic insufficiency increased. No serious complications such as death, pericardial tamponade and thrombosis events were observed during the follow-up period.Conclusion:LVAD implantation improved the left cardiac function, while the right cardiac function remained stable. However, it should be paid attention that the aortic valve function was impaired after the surgery. Generally, the early results of LVAD implantation for the treatment of end-stage heart failure were satisfactory.
6.Drug resistance and genetic diversity of clinical strains of Helicobacter pylori in the Qiannan Prefecture and Guiyang City,and their relationships with diseases
Yuan-Yuan ZHANG ; Ke PAN ; Meng-Heng MI ; Yu-Zhu GUAN ; Qiu-Dan LU ; Juan ZHENG ; Jin ZHANG ; Tian-Shu WANG ; Qi LIU ; Zheng-Hong CHEN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(1):46-55
To understand Helicobacter pylori's drug resistance,genetic diversity,and relationship with clinical diseases in the Guiyang and Qiannan minority areas of Guizhou Province,we collected samples through endoscopy,and isolated and cul-tured H.pylori.The drug resistance and genotype characteristics were determined.The differences in different regions and dis-ease types were compared,and the structural characteristics of H.pylori and mixed infections with different strains of H.py-lori in Qiannan Prefecture were analyzed.A difference in the composition ratio of EPYIA typing in the cagA variable region was observed between the two areas(P=0.012),and the composition ratio of the vacA genotype differed(P=0.000).A total of 94.6%(53/56)new sequences of H.pylori strains from two regions were obtained by MLST.The rate of infection by H.pylori mixed with different strains was 44.4%in Qiannan Pre-fecture,and no significant difference was observed in the com-position of H.pylori mixed infections among patients with dif-ferent clinical diseases(P=0.349).Differences in EPI YA typ-ing and the vacA genotype composition ratio in the cagA varia-ble region of H.pylori were observed between the Qiannan Prefecture and Guiyang City.
7.Mito-TEMPO Ameliorates Sodium Palmitate Induced Ferroptosis in MIN6 Cells through PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy
Chang BAOLEI ; Su YANYU ; Li TINGTING ; Zheng YANXIA ; Yang RUIRUI ; Lu HENG ; Wang HAO ; Ding YUSONG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(10):1128-1141
Objective Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(mtROS)could cause damage to pancreatic β-cells,rendering them susceptible to oxidative damage.Hence,investigating the potential of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant(Mito-TEMPO)to protect pancreatic β-cells from ferroptosis by mitigating lipid peroxidation becomes crucial. Methods MIN6 cells were cultured in vitro with 100 μmol/L sodium palmitate(SP)to simulate diabetes.FerroOrange was utilized for the detection of Fe2+fluorescence staining,BODIPY581/591C11 for lipid reactive oxygen species,and MitoSox-Red for mtROS.Alterations in mitophagy levels were assessed through the co-localization of lysosomal and mitochondrial fluorescence.Western blotting was employed to quantify protein levels of Acsl4,GPX4,FSP1,FE,PINK1,Parkin,TOMM20,P62,and LC3.Subsequently,interventions were implemented using Mito-TEMPO and Carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone(CCCP)to observe changes in ferroptosis and mitophagy within MIN6 cells. Results We found that SP induced a dose-dependent increase in Fe2+and lipid ROS in MIN6 cells while decreasing the expression levels of GPX4 and FSP1 proteins.Through bioinformatics analysis,it has been uncovered that mitophagy assumes a crucial role within the ferroptosis pathway associated with diabetes.Additionally,SP decreased the expression of mitophagy-related proteins PINK1 and Parkin,leading to mtROS overproduction.Conversely,Mito-TEMPO effectively eliminated mtROS while activating the mitophagy pathways involving PINK1 and Parkin,thereby reducing the occurrence of ferroptosis in MIN6 cells.CCCP also demonstrated efficacy in reducing ferroptosis in MIN6 cells. Conclusion In summary,Mito-TEMPO proved effective in attenuating mtROS production and initiating mitophagy pathways mediated by PINK1 and Parkin in MIN6 cells.Consequently,this decreased iron overload and lipid peroxidation,ultimately safeguarding the cells from ferroptosis.
8.Effect and underlying mechanism of glutamine on radiosensitivity of colon cancer cells
Heng LU ; Xiangmin NI ; Shengcai YU ; Xinyu LIANG ; Wenyi ZHU ; Zhongjun LI ; Jian WANG
Journal of Army Medical University 2024;46(9):1007-1014
Objective To observe the effect of different concentrations of glutamine(Gln)on the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells and explore the possible mechanism.Methods According to different Gln concentrations,HT-29 cells at logarithmical growth were divided into control group(2 mmol/L,as the basal medium concentration group)and experimental groups Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ(4,6 and 8 mmol/L).After a 2-hour pre-treatment,all groups were exposed to 8 Gy irradiation of a Co-60 radiation source.CCK-8 assay and clonal formation assay were used respectively to explore the effects of different Gln concentrations on cell viability and cell radiosensitivity after irradiation.The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in each group was measured in 24 h after irradiation,and the apoptotic rate was detected with flow cytometry in 48 h after irradiation.The protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,and cleaved-Caspase3 were determined by Western blotting.Results In 24 h after Gln intervention,the cell viability of experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲof non-irradiated HT-29 cells was significantly higher than that of the control group and of experimental group Ⅰ(P<0.05).In 24 h after radiation,the cell viability of each experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).In 14 d after radiation,there were more clone formation in each experimental group than the control group(P<0.05).The ROS level was significantly lower in each experimental group than the control group in 24 h after radiation(P<0.05).After 48 h of radiation,the apoptotic rate was notably lower in each experimental group than the control group(P<0.05).The expression level of Nrf2 in the experimental group Ⅰ was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05),those of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were higher than those of the control group and experimental group Ⅰ(P<0.05).While the expression of cleaved-Caspase3 in the experimental groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ was lower than the control group and experimental group Ⅰ(P<0.05),and it in the experimental group Ⅲ was lower than that of experimental group Ⅱ(P<0.05).Conclusion Gln can significantly reduce the radiosensitivity of HT-29 cells,which is associated with its reducing oxidative stress damage and reducing cell apoptosis.Our results suggest that Gln might be detrimental to radiation therapy in patients with colorectal cancer.
9.Analysis of Acupoint Selection Rules of Acupuncture and Moxibustion in the Treatment of Female Menopausal Obesity
Min XU ; Yan TAN ; Wen-Ying SHI ; Chao KE ; Lu CAO ; Heng-Fen ZHANG ; Wei ZHANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(5):1262-1269
Objective To explore the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of female menopausal obesity and to provide reference for clinical acupuncture treatment of female menopausal obesity based on data mining techniques.Methods Clinical literature on acupuncture treatment of female menopausal obesity was searched by computer in CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,SinoMed,and PubMed database,and the time limit of searching was from the establishment of database to the date of 1 August 2023,and the literature was screened and extracted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The association rule analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Moderler 18.0 software,and cluster analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 software.Results A total of 50 literature meeting the requirements were screened out,and 83 groups of acupoint prescriptions were extracted.Descriptive analysis showed that the intervention measures of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of female menopausal obesity were mainly acupoint catgut embedding,electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture.The top 7 acupoints with the highest frequency were Sanyinjiao(SP6),Zusanli(ST36),Shenshu(BL23),Tianshu(ST25),Guanyuan(RN4),Zhongwan(RN12)and Qihai(RN6).Stomach meridian of foot yangming,conception vessel,bladder meridian of foot taiyang and spleen meridian of foot taiyin are the most commonly selected meridians.In terms of specific acupoints,the main acupoints are intersection points,front-mu points and back-shu points.The acupoints are mainly distributed in the chest and abdomen,lower limbs and waist and back.By using data mining technology,the core acupoint pair of acupuncture and moxibustion for menopausal obesity is'Zusanli-Sanyinjiao',and the core acupoint prescription is'Zusanli,Sanyinjiao,Zhongwan,Tianshu,Shenshu,Guanyuan,Qihai';cluster analysis found 7 types of clinical acupoint clustering.Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of female menopausal obesity focuses on tonifying the essence of the kidney and restoring the qi mechanism and characteristics of acupoint selection of spleen and stomach qi.
10.Analysis of Fecal Non-Targeted Metabolomics in Patients with Chronic Aplastic Anemia and Its Correlation with Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Types
Lu-Qi CHEN ; Jing-Jing XIE ; Heng WANG ; Jun LI
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(11):2831-2839
Objective To reveal the material base of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome types of chronic aplastic anemia(CAA)by investigating the differences of fecal non-targeted metabolomics changes in patients with CAA and normal people,and by analyzing the differential fecal metabolite profiles in CAA patients with various TCM syndrome types.Methods The analysis was performed on 21 CAA patients(CAA group)who were initially treated at Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from July 2018 to June 2021 and on 24 volunteers who had healthy medical checkup(normal group)during the same period.The 21 cases of CAA patients were categorized into four cases of kidney yang deficiency group,12 cases of kidney yin deficiency group,and five cases of deficiency of kidney yin and yang group according to the criteria of TCM syndrome differentiation and classification.Differential metabolites were screened after stool collection,gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)analysis and multivariate statistical analysis,and then enrichment analysis of the metabolic pathway was conducted.Results(1)Obvious differences were presented in 38 kinds of metabolites between the CAA group and the normal group,of which there were 27 metabolites,including 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid,adenine,isocitric acid,L-glutamine,uric acid and guanine,having the up-regulated relative contents in CAA group,while there were 11 metabolites,including 3'-adenosine,eicosanoic acid,inosine,N-acetylornithine and norepinephrine,having the down-regulated relative contents in CAA group.The primary enriched metabolic pathways of the differential metabolites included arginine biosynthesis,purine metabolism,central carbon metabolism in cancer,glyoxylate and dicarboxylic acid metabolism,GABAergic synapses,metabolism of alanine,aspartate and glutamate,and D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism.(2)There were significant differences in 16 kinds of metabolites among the CAA patients with various TCM syndrome types,including 5-methoxytryptamine,epinephrine,arbutin,β-alanine,pentanediamine,inositol,pyruvate and tyramine,etc.The primary enriched metabolic pathways of the differential metabolites included neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions,tyrosine metabolism,phosphatidylinositol signaling system,pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis,glycolysis/gluconeogenesis,primary bile acid biosynthesis,phosphoinositide metabolism,ascorbic acid and aldehyde acid metabolism,type Ⅱ diabetes mellitus,and adrenergic signal transduction in cardiomyocytes.Conclusion Significant differences exist in the fecal metabolomics between the CAA patients and the normal volunteers,which may reflect the metabolic changes of immune dysregulation and hematopoietic failure mediated by the altered intestinal flora in CAA patients.This study revealed the material base of CAA of various kidney deficiency syndromes for the first time at the level of fecal metabolomics,which provides a novel approach for the study of modernization of TCM syndrome.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail