1.Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Modified Sinisan in Ameliorating Anxiety-like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress in Mice
Jie ZHAO ; Zhengyu FANG ; He XIAO ; Na GUO ; Hongwei WU ; Hongjun YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):70-79
ObjectiveTo elucidate the potential mechanism of modified Sinisan (MSNS) in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in mice at the metabolic level based on serum untargeted metabolomics and identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by MSNS. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into six groups: control, model, high-dose (2.4 g·kg-1) MSNS, medium-dose (1.2 g·kg-1) MSNS, low-dose (0.6 g·kg-1) MSNS, and positive control (fluoxetine, 2.6 mg·kg-1). Except the control group, the other groups were subjected to CRS for the modeling of anxiety. Mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage 2 h before daily restraint for 14 days. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and light/dark box (LDB) test. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) were measured via ELISA to assess stress levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to detect 9 metabolites in the brain tissue and serum metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was adopted to identify differential metabolites (VIP>1.0, P<0.05). MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed reductions in the central activity time and central distance in the OFT (P<0.05), the proportions of open-arm residence time and open-arm residence times in the EPM test (P<0.01), and the proportions of open box activity time and open box activity distance in the LDB test (P<0.05), which were increased in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in the serum (P<0.01), and the elevations were diminished in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups (P<0.05). UPLC-MS results indicated that compared with the control group, the model group presented declined DA, GABA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05, P<0.01) and raised Glu, NE, Kyn, and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, high-dose MSNS increased the GABA, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05) and lowered the Glu and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Untargeted metabolomics identified that 16 CRS-induced metabolic disturbances were reversed by MSNS. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSNS primarily modulated eight core pathways including alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, TCA cycle, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms involved multidimensional biological processes, including neurotransmitter homeostasis regulation, TCA cycle energy metabolism optimization, and inflammatory response suppression. ConclusionMSNS alleviates CRS-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by mitigating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, improving hippocampal neurotransmitter and tryptophan metabolic pathways, and regulating alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, and TCA cycle.
2.Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Modified Sinisan in Ameliorating Anxiety-like Behaviors Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress in Mice
Jie ZHAO ; Zhengyu FANG ; He XIAO ; Na GUO ; Hongwei WU ; Hongjun YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):70-79
ObjectiveTo elucidate the potential mechanism of modified Sinisan (MSNS) in alleviating anxiety-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in mice at the metabolic level based on serum untargeted metabolomics and identify key metabolites and metabolic pathways regulated by MSNS. MethodsSeventy-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned into six groups: control, model, high-dose (2.4 g·kg-1) MSNS, medium-dose (1.2 g·kg-1) MSNS, low-dose (0.6 g·kg-1) MSNS, and positive control (fluoxetine, 2.6 mg·kg-1). Except the control group, the other groups were subjected to CRS for the modeling of anxiety. Mice were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage 2 h before daily restraint for 14 days. Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated by the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, and light/dark box (LDB) test. Serum levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone (CORT) were measured via ELISA to assess stress levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to detect 9 metabolites in the brain tissue and serum metabolites. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was adopted to identify differential metabolites (VIP>1.0, P<0.05). MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of the differential metabolites. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed reductions in the central activity time and central distance in the OFT (P<0.05), the proportions of open-arm residence time and open-arm residence times in the EPM test (P<0.01), and the proportions of open box activity time and open box activity distance in the LDB test (P<0.05), which were increased in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups compared with the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group showed elevated levels of CRH, ACTH, and CORT in the serum (P<0.01), and the elevations were diminished in the medium- and high-dose MSNS groups (P<0.05). UPLC-MS results indicated that compared with the control group, the model group presented declined DA, GABA, 5-HIAA, 5-HT, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05, P<0.01) and raised Glu, NE, Kyn, and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, high-dose MSNS increased the GABA, 5-HIAA, and 5-HT/Trp levels (P<0.05) and lowered the Glu and Kyn/Trp levels (P<0.05). Untargeted metabolomics identified that 16 CRS-induced metabolic disturbances were reversed by MSNS. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that MSNS primarily modulated eight core pathways including alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, TCA cycle, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms involved multidimensional biological processes, including neurotransmitter homeostasis regulation, TCA cycle energy metabolism optimization, and inflammatory response suppression. ConclusionMSNS alleviates CRS-induced anxiety-like behaviors in mice by mitigating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, improving hippocampal neurotransmitter and tryptophan metabolic pathways, and regulating alanine/aspartate/glutamate metabolism, butyrate metabolism, arginine-proline metabolism, and TCA cycle.
3.Fine-tuning a large multimodal neural network with clinical and dermoscopic images for accurate detection and histopathological subtype prediction of basal cell carcinoma in long-tailed distributions.
Yukun WANG ; Xingkuo ZHANG ; Hongjun WU ; Li XIAO ; Jie LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1251-1253
4.Targeting inflammation to prevent and treat sensorineural hearing loss.
Ting LI ; Wenting YU ; Wenyang LEI ; Shimin ZONG ; Hongjun XIAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1248-1250
5.Research progress of liposome drug delivery system in the treatment of head and neck cancer.
Bo LIU ; Yaqin TU ; Nan WU ; Hongjun XIAO
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(1):91-96
Head and neck tumors are one of the major diseases that threaten human health. Targeted chemotherapy is an important treatment for head and neck tumors. However, many anti-cancer drugs are difficult to reach effective concentrations in tumors and can cause damage to normal tissues. Therefore, the efficient delivery of anti-tumor drugs, improvement of their therapeutic effects, and reduction of their adverse effects on the whole body and locally are urgent issues in targeted drug research. Liposomes have been widely studied due to their unique characteristics, including amphiphilicity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. This article outlines the current applications and prospects of liposome drug delivery systems in different treatment modalities for head and neck tumors in recent years, aiming to provide more options for the treatment of head and neck tumors.
Humans
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Liposomes
;
Head and Neck Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Drug Delivery Systems
;
Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage*
6.Cigarette Smoke Extract-TreatedMouse Airway Epithelial Cells-Derived Exosomal LncRNA MEG3 Promotes M1 Macrophage Polarization and Pyroptosis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Upregulating TREM-1 via m6A Methylation
Lijing WANG ; Qiao YU ; Jian XIAO ; Qiong CHEN ; Min FANG ; Hongjun ZHAO
Immune Network 2024;24(2):e3-
Cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-treated mouse airway epithelial cells (MAECs)-derived exosomes accelerate the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by upregulating triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1); however, the specific mechanism remains unclear. We aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of CSE-treated MAECs-derived exosomes on M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in COPD. In vitro, exosomes were extracted from CSE-treated MAECs, followed by co-culture with macrophages.In vivo, mice exposed to cigarette smoke (CS) to induce COPD, followed by injection or/and intranasal instillation with oe-TREM-1 lentivirus. Lung function and pathological changes were evaluated. CD68 + cell number and the levels of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β (M1 macrophage marker), and pyroptosis-related proteins (NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruitment domain, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D [GSDMD], and GSDMD-N) were examined. The expression of maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3), spleen focus forming virus proviral integration oncogene (SPI1), methyltransferase 3 (METTL3), and TREM-1 was detected and the binding relationships among them were verified. MEG3 increased N6-methyladenosine methylation of TREM-1 by recruiting SPI1 to activate METTL3. Overexpression of TREM-1 or METTL3 negated the alleviative effects of MEG3 inhibition on M1 polarization and pyroptosis. In mice exposed to CS, EXO−CSE further aggravated lung injury, M1 polarization, and pyroptosis, which were reversed by MEG3 inhibition. TREM-1 overexpression negated the palliative effects of MEG3 inhibition on COPD mouse lung injury. Collectively, CSE-treated MAECs-derived exosomal long non-coding RNA MEG3 may expedite M1 macrophage polarization and pyroptosis in COPD via the SPI1/METTL3/TREM-1 axis.
8.Evaluation of the montreal cognitive assessment in idiopathic tinnitus patients with mild hearing loss.
Xingqian SHEN ; Yingzhao LIU ; Hui PAN ; Linlin WANG ; Bo LIU ; Hongjun XIAO
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2024;38(12):1134-1139
Objective:To explore the effect of mild hearing loss on cognitive function by evaluating the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA) in idiopathic tinnitus patients with mild hearing loss. Methods:102 patients with idiopathic tinnitus(68 patients with normal hearing and 34 patients with mild hearing loss) whose first complaint is tinnitus and 34 healthy volunteers(control group) were included. All subjects were asked to fill the MoCA, Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI), Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS), Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Index(PQSI) after collecting medical history, pure tone audiometry, tinnitus matching and masking test. The clinical characteristics and scores of each scale were compared among the groups. Results:The score and each dimension score of MoCA in idiopathic tinnitus patients with normal hearing were significantly lower than the normal population(P<0.05); compared with patients with idiopathic tinnitus with normal hearing, patients with mild hearing loss were older(P<0.01) and had lower MoCA scores(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in MoCA scores(P>0.05) between tinnitus patients with normal hearing and mild hearing loss after correcting confounding factors(age, gender, years of education, duration of tinnitus, frequency of tinnitus tones, side of tinnitus, THI score, SAS score, SDS score, and PQSI score); idiopathic tinnitus patients with mild hearing loss scored significantly lower in attention and working memory dimensions than idiopathic tinnitus patients with normal hearing(P<0.01). Conclusion:Patients with idiopathic tinnitus may have cognitive dysfunction, and mild hearing loss may not be a factor that promotes the further aggravation of cognitive dysfunction in patients with idiopathic tinnitus. The role of hearing loss in cognitive dysfunction in patients with idiopathic tinnitus needs further research.
Humans
;
Tinnitus/psychology*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Hearing Loss/complications*
;
Middle Aged
;
Mental Status and Dementia Tests
;
Cognition
;
Audiometry, Pure-Tone
;
Case-Control Studies
;
Adult
9.Herbal Textual Research on Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in Famous Classical Formulas
Xiao DU ; Yapeng WANG ; Jinxiu QIAN ; Hongjun YANG ; Huihui LIU ; Zhilai ZHAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(5):68-83
By reviewing ancient materia medica, prescription and medical books, combined with modern literature, the paper made textual research on the name, origin, producing area, quality evaluation, harvesting and processing methods of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, so as to provide a basis for the selection and use of these two herbs in the development of famous classical formulas. Through textual research, it can be found that Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix were mixed together in the early history of China, but the distinction was first made during the Southern and Northern dynasties, and since then there have been constant controversies, and it is not until contemporary times that they are distinguished clearly. In the past dynasties, Duhuo and Qianghuo were used as the rectification of names, some aliases and trade names were also seen. Angelica biserrata is the mainstream origin of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix in the past dynasties, and there are many plants belonging to Angelica, Heracleum and Aralia, which are also used as this medicine. However, the origin of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix used in the past dynasties is mostly Notopterygium incisum or N. franchetii, which is relatively uniform. The producing areas of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix are mostly concentrated in the western and northwestern regions of China, among which Angelicae Pubescentis Radix is mainly produced in Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Shaanxi and other places, and the border area between Hubei and Chongqing is the geo-authentic area. Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix is mainly produced in Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi and others with the western and northern Sichuan and southern Gansu as the geo-authentic areas. Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in the past dynasties were harvested in spring and autumn, especially in February and August of the lunar calendar. Angelicae Pubescentis Radix with strong main roots, few branches, firm texture and strong aroma is superior, and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix with strong rhizomes, tightly raised knots, purple-brown skin, tight cross-section, strong aroma and silkworm-like shape is superior. The processing methods of Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix are mostly cut after cutting the reeds, and the raw product is used as medicine. Based on the above research results, it is recommended that the roots of A. biserrata should be used for Angelicae Pubescentis Radix and the roots of N. incisum should be used for Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix in the development of famous classical formulas, and raw products should be used in the formulas that do not specify processing requirements.
10.A case report of prostate mucinous adenocarcinoma
Xinyuan YU ; Xiao LI ; Hongjun ZHAO ; Bao LI ; Huimin SUN ; Quan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Urology 2023;44(3):224-225
Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate is a rare pathological type of prostate cancer. We reported one case. The patient went to see a doctor because of intermittent hematuria. He was diagnosed as prostate adenocarcinoma before operation. He underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Postoperative pathological examination showed mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The patient was followed up for six months. Imaging showed no signs of recurrence and metastasis with normal tPSA.

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