1.Mechanism of pachymic acid in ameliorating renal injury in pregnancy induced hypertension rats by regulating the Sirt1/PGC‑1α pathway
Junjiang ZHU ; Jincheng LIN ; Jiajian WU ; Yi ZENG ; Jun HU ; Min LI ; Hongying LIU ; Jinfen LI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(2):186-191
OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of pachymic acid on renal injury in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) rats by regulating the silent information regulator transcript 1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (Sirt1/PGC-1α) pathway. METHODS Pregnant SD rats were prepared by co-caging and PIH model was induced using N-nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) method. PIH rats were randomly divided into model group, L-pachymic acid (low-dose pachymic acid, 10 mg/kg) group, H-pachymic acid (high-dose pachymic acid, 20 mg/kg) group, and H-pachymic acid+EX527 (20 mg/kg pachymic acid+10 mg/kg EX527) group, with 6 rats in each group. Another 6 normal pregnant rats were selected as blank group. Each group was given relevant medicine or solvent intragastrically or intraperitoneally daily, once a day, for 28 consecutive days. After the last administration, 24 h urinary protein and tail artery systolic blood pressure (SBP) were measured in pregnant rats from each group, along with the levels of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN),uric acid (UA), and cystatin C (Cys-C). The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in renal tissue, as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt1 and PGC-1α, were also determined. Meanwhile, renal histopathological changes in rats from each group were evaluated using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. RESULTS Compared with model group, L-pachymic acid group and H-pachymic acid group exhibited significant decreases in 24 h urine protein quantification, tail artery SBP, Scr, BUN, UA, Cys-C levels, glomerulosclerosis index score of renal tissue, renal tubular injury score, the percentage of PAS positive area, MDA and 8-OHdG (P<0.05). Conversely, the contents of SOD and GSH-Px, along with the mRNA and protein expression levels of Sirt1 and PGC-1α, were significantly increased (P<0.05). Moreover, these improvements were more pronounced in H-pachymic acid group (P<0.05). Compared with H-pachymic acid group, the aforementioned indicators in pregnant rats from the H-pachymic acid+EX527 group showed significant reversal (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pachymic acid significantly ameliorates renal injury induced by PIH in rats, potentially through activation of the Sirt1/PGC-1α pathway.
2.Association between takeout fast foods and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among first year junior high school students in Yunnan Province
HU Dongyue, ZHANG Zhengwu, XU Zenglei, TAO Lei, ZENG Anna, GUAN Liao, CHANG Litao,〖JZ〗 HUANG Xin, CHEN Weiwei, LI Jiangli, XU Honglü ;
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(1):23-26
Objective:
To explore the association between takeout fast foods and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among first year junior high school students in Yunnan Province, so as to provide theoretical basis for the prevention of anxiety and depressive symptoms co-occurrence among adolescents.
Methods:
A random cluster sampling involving 8 500 first year junior high school students in 11 counties in Yunnan Province was conducted by a questionnaire survey from October to December 2022. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was applied to assess anxiety and depressive symptoms in first year junior high school students. Chi-square test was used to compare the anxiety-depression co-occurrence symptoms of first year junior high school students with different demographic characteristics. The association between takeout fast foods and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms of adolescents was analyzed by binary Logistic regression models.
Results:
The detection rate of co-occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms among first year junior high school students in Yunnan Province was 26.92%. After controlling for demographic variables and other confounders, takeout fast foods and sugar sweetened beverage consumption( OR=1.50, 95%CI =1.27-1.77) was associated with anxiety-depression co-occurrence symptoms among first year junior high school students in Yunnan Province ( P <0.01). Stratified analysis showed that both Han ( OR=1.37, 95%CI =1.07-1.77) and ethnic minorities ( OR=1.60, 95%CI =1.29-2.00) exhibited statistically significant associations between takeout fast foods and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms(both P <0.05).
Conclusions
Takeout fast foods and sugar sweetened beverage consumption increases the risk of co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among first year junior high school students in Yunnan Province. It is recommended to strengthen guidance on the consumption of such products among junior high school students to prevent co-occurrence of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
3.Treatment of Colorectal Cancer with Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Hippo Signaling Pathway: A Review
Shuo ZENG ; Suqin HU ; Yang HU ; Lei LUO ; Mingyan LI ; Qinsheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):297-305
Colorectal cancer, a leading malignant gastrointestinal tumor globally in terms of incidence and mortality, has seen a consistent annual rise in newly diagnosed cases. While conventional therapies like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are available, problems such as lack of early diagnosis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance remain significant burdens for patients. Given the complex and diverse pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, there is an urgent clinical need for safe, effective, reliable, and multi-targeted therapeutic strategies. The Hippo signaling pathway, closely linked to mechanisms like tumorigenesis, cancer cell invasion, migration, and drug resistance, extensively participates in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer, so targeting the signaling pathway for cancer prevention and treatment has become a crucial research direction in recent years. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers multi-faceted, multi-pathway, and multi-target advantages and becomes an important therapy for colorectal cancer by enhancing patients' immunity, improving the life quality, and prolonging survival. Studies show that the active components of TCM, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, alkaloids, quinones, lignans, and saponins, as well as TCM compounds such as modified Sijunzi decoction, Jiedu Sangen decoction, Jianpi Jiedu compound, and Quyu Jiedu decoction, exhibit significant targeting effects on the Hippo signaling pathway. These TCMs can exert an anti-colorectal cancer effect through various mechanisms, such as inducing cancer cell autophagy and apoptosis, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, reversing drug resistance of the tumor, and blocking the cancer cell cycle. This paper reviewed and analyzed Chinese and international research on the action mechanisms of TCM in regulating the Hippo signaling pathway for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer with a comprehensive overview presentation, aiming to provide new references and ideas for the clinical application of TCM and the development of new pharmacological agents in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
4.Treatment of Colorectal Cancer with Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Hippo Signaling Pathway: A Review
Shuo ZENG ; Suqin HU ; Yang HU ; Lei LUO ; Mingyan LI ; Qinsheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):297-305
Colorectal cancer, a leading malignant gastrointestinal tumor globally in terms of incidence and mortality, has seen a consistent annual rise in newly diagnosed cases. While conventional therapies like radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are available, problems such as lack of early diagnosis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance remain significant burdens for patients. Given the complex and diverse pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, there is an urgent clinical need for safe, effective, reliable, and multi-targeted therapeutic strategies. The Hippo signaling pathway, closely linked to mechanisms like tumorigenesis, cancer cell invasion, migration, and drug resistance, extensively participates in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer, so targeting the signaling pathway for cancer prevention and treatment has become a crucial research direction in recent years. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers multi-faceted, multi-pathway, and multi-target advantages and becomes an important therapy for colorectal cancer by enhancing patients' immunity, improving the life quality, and prolonging survival. Studies show that the active components of TCM, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, alkaloids, quinones, lignans, and saponins, as well as TCM compounds such as modified Sijunzi decoction, Jiedu Sangen decoction, Jianpi Jiedu compound, and Quyu Jiedu decoction, exhibit significant targeting effects on the Hippo signaling pathway. These TCMs can exert an anti-colorectal cancer effect through various mechanisms, such as inducing cancer cell autophagy and apoptosis, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, reversing drug resistance of the tumor, and blocking the cancer cell cycle. This paper reviewed and analyzed Chinese and international research on the action mechanisms of TCM in regulating the Hippo signaling pathway for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer with a comprehensive overview presentation, aiming to provide new references and ideas for the clinical application of TCM and the development of new pharmacological agents in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
5.Construction and validation of circadian rhythm genes-related prognostic risk model for lung adenocarcinoma
Yanqi CUI ; Hu ZHAO ; Yawei ZHANG ; Lin NI ; Duohuang LIAN ; Jingrong YANG ; Shixin YE ; Fengfeng XU ; Jincan ZHANG ; Zhiyong ZENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(04):550-558
Objective To explore the relationship between circadian rhythm genes and the occurrence, development, prognosis, and tumor microenvironment (TME) of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas data were used to evaluate the expression, copy number variation, and somatic mutation frequency of circadian gene sets in LUAD. Gene ontology, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes, and gene set enrichment analysis were used to explore the potential mechanisms by which circadian rhythm genes affected LUAD progression. Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, support vector machine recursive feature elimination, and random forest screened circadian genes and established prognostic models, and on this basis constructed nomogram to predict patients’ 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and time-dependent ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive ability of the model, and the external dataset of GEO further verified the prognostic value of the prediction model. In addition, we evaluated the association of the prognostic model with immune cells and immune checkpoint genes. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was used to explore the molecular characteristics between prognostically relevant circadian genes and different immune cell populations in TME. Results Differentially expressed circadian rhythm genes were mainly enriched in biological processes related to cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Seven circadian rhythm genes: LGR4, CDK1, KLF10, ARNTL2, RORA, NPAS2, PTGDS were screened out, and a RiskScore model was established. According to the median RiskScore, samples were divided into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. Compared with patients in the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group showed a poorer prognosis (P<0.001). Immunological characterization analysis showed that there were differences in the infiltration of multiple immune cells between the low-risk group and high-risk group. Most immune checkpoint genes had higher expression levels in the high-risk group than those in the low-risk group, and RiskScore was positively correlated with the expression of CD276, TNFSF4, PDCD1LG2, CD274, and TNFRSF9, and negatively correlated with the expression of CD40LG and TNFSF15. The scRNA-seq analysis showed that RORA and KLF10 were mainly expressed in natural killer cells. Conclusion The prognostic model based on seven feature circadian rhythm genes has certain predictive value for predicting survival of LUAD patients. Dysregulated expression of circadian genes may regulate the occurrence, progression as well as prognosis of LUAD through affecting TME, which provides a possible direction for finding potential strategies for treating LUAD from the perspective of mechanism by which circadian disorder affects immune cells.
6.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Based on AMPK Signaling Pathway: A Review
Yang HU ; Suqin HU ; Shuo ZENG ; Lei LUO ; Mingyan LI ; Qinsheng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):266-275
Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system. In recent years, its incidence rate and mortality are increasing year by year. Due to the complex pathogenesis and poor prognosis of patients, colorectal cancer poses a serious threat to human physical and mental health. Currently, although Western medicine treatment methods can to some extent inhibit tumor growth and alleviate patient symptoms, postoperative recurrence, metastasis, multiple adverse reactions, and susceptibility to drug resistance are prominent issues, resulting in unsatisfactory overall treatment outcomes. Therefore, exploring more efficient and safe treatment methods has become an urgent task. The adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway plays a regulatory role in the growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and autophagy of colorectal cancer cells, and is widely involved in the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer. It is considered an important target for colorectal cancer treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine has unique advantages in the treatment of colorectal cancer, as it can exert its effects through multiple mechanisms and pathways. It can prevent postoperative recurrence and metastasis, reduce adverse reactions to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and improve patients' quality of life. It has become a key means of treating colorectal cancer. Research has shown that active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine such as flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, and esters, as well as traditional Chinese medicine compounds such as Qingjie Fuzheng Granules and some traditional Chinese medicine extracts, have significant regulatory effects on AMPK and its interaction signaling pathways. They exert their anti-colorectal cancer effects by inducing autophagy and apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells, promoting ferroptosis, inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, reversing drug resistance, and arresting the cell cycle. This article reviewed and summarized the relevant research on traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of colorectal cancer in recent years, with a focus on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in regulating the AMPK signaling pathway for the treatment of colorectal cancer. It is expected to provide ideas and references for the development of new drugs for clinical anti-colorectal cancer treatment.
7.Baseline Inflammatory Burden Index Predicts Primary Resistance to Combinations of ICIs With Chemotherapy in Patients With HER-2-Negative Advanced Gastric Cancer
Tingting WANG ; Huihui ZENG ; Ting HU ; Junhao ZHANG ; Zishu WANG
Journal of Gastric Cancer 2025;25(2):266-275
Purpose:
Combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and chemotherapy have become the standard first-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)-negative advanced gastric cancer. However, primary resistance remains a challenge, with no effective biomarkers available for its prediction. This retrospective study explores the relationship between the baseline inflammatory burden index (IBI) and primary resistance in such context.
Materials and Methods:
We analyzed 62 patients with HER-2-negative advanced gastric cancer who received ICIs and chemotherapy as their first-line treatment. The IBI was calculated as follows: C-reactive protein (mg/L) × neutrophil count (10 3 /mm 3 )/lymphocyte count (10 3 /mm 3 ). Based on disease progression within 6 months, patients were categorized into the primary resistant or the control group. We compared baseline characteristics and IBI scores between the groups and assessed the predictive value of the IBI using the receiver operating characteristic curve. Both univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors influencing primary resistance.
Results:
Nineteen patients were included in the primary resistance group, and forty-three patients were included in the control group. The IBI was significantly higher in the resistant group compared to the control group (P<0.01). The area under the curve for the IBI was 0.82, indicating a strong predictive value. Multivariate analysis identified the IBI as an independent predictor of primary resistance (P=0.014).
Conclusions
The baseline IBI holds promise as a predictor of primary resistance to combined ICIs and chemotherapy in patients with HER-2-negative advanced gastric cancer.
8.Improvement effects and mechanism of water extract from Chrysanthemum morifolium on muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke
Ruocong YANG ; Hu QI ; Yuanlin GAO ; Zeyang ZHANG ; Xiaorui CHEN ; Rong LIU ; Nan ZENG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):535-539
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects and potential mechanisms of water extract from Chrysanthemum morifolium on skeletal muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, ATP group (10 mg/kg), C. morifolium water extract high-dose and low-dose groups (1.08, 0.54 g/kg). Except for sham operation group, ischemic stroke models were induced in rats from the other groups using middle cerebral artery occlusion. Starting from the first day after surgery, rats in each group were given corresponding drug/normal saline intragastrically, once a day, for consecutive 7 days. On the 7th day post-surgery, the rats’ body weights were measured, and their motor functions were evaluated, including Longa scores, exercise distance, grip strength; the electrophysiological signals of the skeletal muscles in rats were measured; the pathological morphology of the soleus muscle in rats was observed; the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum and soleus muscle were measured; the expressions of proteins related to TNF-α/c-Jun N- terminal kinase (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in the soleus muscle were determined. RESULTS Compared with sham operation group, the body weight, grip strength and exercise distance of rats were decreased/ shortened significantly (P<0.01); additionally, there was a notable reduction in the interpeak value of skeletal muscle electrophysiology (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Longa score, as well as the levels of TNF-α in serum and soleus muscle, and the expression levels of TNF-α, phosphorylated JNK, phosphorylated MAPK, muscle ring-finger protein-1, and muscle atrophy Fbox- 1 protein in the soleus muscle, were all significantly elevated (P<0.01). The skeletal muscle cells of the soleus muscle in the model group showed significant atrophy, with a markedly decreased cross-sectional area (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the levels of the aforementioned indicators were significantly reversed in C. morifolium water extract groups (P<0.05 or P< 0.01), and the skeletal muscle cells of the soleus muscle were markedly enlarged. CONCLUSIONS C. morifolium water extract can improve skeletal muscle atrophy in rats after ischemic stroke, the mechanism of which may be associated with suppressing the activation of the TNF- α/JNK/MAPK E-mail:19932015@cdutcm.edu.cn signaling pathway.
9.Dynamic Monitoring and Correlation Analysis of General Body Indicators, Blood Glucose, and Blood Lipid in Obese Cynomolgus Monkeys
Yanye WEI ; Guo SHEN ; Pengfei ZHANG ; Songping SHI ; Jiahao HU ; Xuzhe ZHANG ; Huiyuan HUA ; Guanyang HUA ; Hongzheng LU ; Yong ZENG ; Feng JI ; Zhumei WEI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(1):30-36
ObjectiveThis study aims to investigate the dynamic changes in general body parameters, blood glucose, and blood lipid profiles in obese cynomolgus monkeys, exploring the correlations among these parameters and providing a reference for research on the obese cynomolgus monkey model. Methods30 normal male cynomolgus monkeys aged 5 - 17 years old (with body mass index < 35 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin content < 4.50%) and 99 spontaneously obese male cynomolgus monkeys (with body mass index ≥35 kg/m² and glycated hemoglobin content < 4.50%) were selected. Over a period of three years, their abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and four blood lipid indicators were monitored. The correlations between each indicator were analyzed using repeated measurement ANOVA, simple linear regression, and multiple linear regression correlation analysis method. Results Compared to the control group, the obese group exhibited significantly higher levels of abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, and triglyceride (P<0.05). In the control group, skinfold thickness increased annually, while other indicators remained stable. Compared with the first year, the obese group showed significantly increased abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, body mass index, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose in the second year(P<0.05), with this increasing trend persisting in the third year (P<0.05). In the control group, the obesity incidence rates in the second and third years were 16.67% and 23.33%, respectively, while the prevalence of diabetes remained at 16.67%. In the obese group, the diabetes incidence rates were 29.29% and 44.44% in years 2 and 3, respectively. Among the 11-13 year age group, the incidence rates were 36.36% and 44.68%, while for the group older than 13 years, the rates were 28.13% and 51.35%. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations (P<0.05) between fasting blood glucose and age, abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, body weight, and triglyceride in the diabetic monkeys. Conclusion Long-term obesity can lead to the increases in general physical indicators and fasting blood glucose levels in cynomolgus monkeys, and an increase in the incidence of diabetes. In diabetic cynomolgus monkeys caused by obesity, there is a high correlation between their fasting blood glucose and age, weight, abdominal circumference, skinfold thickness, and triglyceride levels, which is of some significance for predicting the occurrence of spontaneous diabetes.
10.Influencing factors and network analysis of aggressive behavior among Chinese college students based on propensity score matching
ZENG Rui, ZHAO Mengxiao, HU Mengmeng, LIU Xin, CHANG Hongjuan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(3):358-363
Objective:
To explore the influencing factors and network structure of aggressive behaviors among college students based on propensity score matching (PSM), so as to provide precise targeted interventions for the prevention and improvement of aggressive behaviors among college students.
Methods:
A total of 2 652 college students were selected by convenient sampling method from three colleges in Wuhan, Hubei Province in June 2023. Questionnaire surveys were carried out by using the Buss-Warren Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Chinese Version (CERQ-C), Family APGAR Index (APGAR) ,Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNES).By bias score matching (PSM) for 1∶1 matching, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and network analysis were conducted on the college students.
Results:
College students with higher levels of ruminant thinking,non adaptive emotional regulation and fear of negative appraisal were more likely to have highly aggressive behaviors( OR =1.14,1.18,1.06),and those with higher adaptive emotional regulation and family care index were more likely to have highly aggressive behaviors ( OR =0.88,0.82)( P < 0.01 ). Network structure was significantly different between the two groups ( M =0.27, P <0.05). The core affective factors of college students with high levels of aggressive behavior were brooding reflective pondering and symptom rumination( EI =3.50, 3.49, 3.48 ),low aggressive behavior college students core affective factors were adaptive emotion regulation growth and non adaptive emotion regulation( EI =4.37, 4.12, 4.08).
Conclusion
Factors affecting Chinese college students aggressive behaviors are of different characteristics on different behaviour types, and targeted interventions should be adopted to reduce aggressive behaviors of college students.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail