1.Proteomic Profiling of Qi-blood Deficiency vs Damp-heat Syndrome in Colorectal Cancer: Therapeutic Targeting by Astragaloside IV-berberine
Zhao-Huan LI ; Jing-Wen ZHAO ; Xin ZHANG ; Jian-Jin GUO ; Jie XU ; Zeng-Qiang YANG ; Hao TU ; Min ZOU ; Ming-Bin GUI ; Feng GAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(9):2462-2479
ObjectiveColorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation is widely used in its clinical management. However, the biological basis underlying different TCM syndromes remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the proteomic differences between qi-blood deficiency syndrome (QBDS) and damp-heat syndrome (DHS) in CRC patients and to establish a “syndrome-differential protein-herbal component” network for exploring potential molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets associated with syndrome-specific treatment strategies. MethodsTumor tissue samples were collected from 10 patients with pathologically confirmed CRC, including 5 patients diagnosed with QBDS and 5 with DHS according to standardized TCM syndrome differentiation criteria. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics was employed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between the two syndrome groups. Functional enrichment analyses, including Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses, were performed to characterize the biological functions and signaling pathways associated with the identified DEPs. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was further applied to screen key syndrome-related proteins and construct a core protein prediction model. Subsequently, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the binding affinities between representative herbal compounds, astragaloside IV and berberine, and the identified core proteins. Finally, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were performed in HCT 116 and HT-29 colorectal cancer cell lines to validate the anti-proliferative activities of these compounds in vitro. ResultsA total of 44 DEPs were identified between QBDS and DHS tissues, including 21 upregulated and 23 downregulated proteins in the QBDS group relative to the DHS group. Functional enrichment analyses revealed that these proteins were primarily associated with antiviral immune responses, regulation of inflammatory signaling, NF‑κB signaling pathways, cholesterol metabolism, and other biological processes relevant to tumor progression and host immune regulation. LASSO regression analysis identified eight core proteins with potential syndrome-specific significance. Among them, ST7, GPCPD1, and PODXL were closely associated with QBDS, whereas FAT1, GRB7, KRT7, MAFF, and MMP8 were associated with DHS. Molecular docking demonstrated favorable interactions between astragaloside IV and QBDS-related proteins, with binding energies lower than -5 kcal/mol, indicating stable binding activity. Berberine exhibited even lower binding energies and stronger binding specificity toward DHS-related core proteins. In vitro experiments further confirmed that both compounds inhibited CRC cell proliferation, while berberine displayed significantly greater anti-proliferative efficacy. The lowest 48 h IC50 value of berberine reached 15.21 mg/L in CRC cells, indicating a stronger growth-inhibitory effect than astragaloside IV. ConclusionCRC patients with QBDS and DHS exhibit distinct proteomic characteristics, suggesting that different TCM syndromes possess unique molecular signatures. The identified core proteins may serve as potential biomarkers for syndrome differentiation, while astragaloside IV and berberine may exert therapeutic effects through targeting syndrome-specific molecular networks. These findings provide preliminary proteomic evidence supporting syndrome-guided precision integrative medicine in CRC and offer new insights into the biological basis of TCM syndrome differentiation and individualized therapeutic strategies.
2.Association of angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody and sperm motility in human semen.
Dao-Qin TU ; Yu-Huan YANG ; Gui-Fang YANG ; Yi-Nan ZHANG ; Yao CHEN ; Xue-Ming LI ; Yu-Hui SHI ; Xiao-Li YANG ; Feng WANG
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(5):387-394
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship between angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA) and semen parameters. Methods: The semen samples of 820 male patients who were treated in the Reproductive Medicine Center of Taiyuan Central Hospital from August 2022 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The levels of AT1-AA and Ang Ⅱ of semen were detected by ELISA, and the function of AT1-AA was detected by cardiomyocyte beating assay in suckling rats. The patients were divided into low group, median group and high group according to the OD values of AT1-AA. The differences in general data and semen parameters between different groups were analyzed. And the correlation between AT1-AA level and semen parameters in semen of all study subjects was analyzed by the method of Spearman analysis. And the relationships between AT1-AA OD value, Ang Ⅱ level and semen parameters in the AT1-AA high value group were analyzed as well.
RESULTS:
AT1-AA was present in semen with good function. There was no significant difference in the general data of patients in different AT1-AA levels (P>0.05). In the comparison of semen parameters among the groups with different levels of AT1-AA, there were differences in sperm concentration, PR concentration, NP%, and ALH among the three groups (P<0.05). And AT1-AA OD value was positively correlated with total sperm count, sperm concentration, PR concentration, and NP%, and negatively correlated with semen volume (P<0.05). In the AT1-AA high value group, the OD value of AT1-AA in semen was negatively correlated with inactive sperm, and positively correlated with total motility ([PR+NP]%), curve rate, mean path rate, and ALH. However, there was no correlation between the level of Ang Ⅱ in semen and semen parameters (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
The presence of AT1-AA in semen may be associated with the promotion of sperm motility.
Male
;
Humans
;
Autoantibodies
;
Sperm Motility
;
Semen
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1/immunology*
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Animals
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Rats
;
Angiotensin II
;
Adult
;
Sperm Count
;
Semen Analysis
;
Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2/immunology*
3.Health economics evaluation of inoculation of children with type b Haemophilus influenzae vaccine
Sisi CHEN ; Lu YANG ; Tian TANG ; Xinping ZHANG ; Huan QIN ; Chengfeng XIE ; Yi ZENG ; Fei CAO ; Hongying LI ; Feina DENG ; Zhengbo TU ; Xiuwen CHEN
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(17):2651-2655
OBJECTIVE T o carry out the health economics evaluation and cost-benefit analysis of the type b Hae-mophilus influenzae(Hib)vaccination for the children who were hospitalized due to Hib infection so as to provide evidence for public health policies.METHODS The children who were diagnosed with Hib-related respiratory tract infections or meningitis and were hospitalized in respiratory medicine department,infection management depart-ment,emergency rooms and neurology department of Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital from Jan.1,2021 to Dec.31,2023 were recruited as the research subjects.Based on a 1∶1 matching condition,the matching variables included four items such as the same age for the admission to the hospital,same gender,same department and same grade of disease severity.The children for whom the primary immunization of Hib vaccination(including Hib monovalent vaccine and Hib-containing combination vaccine)were completed and the integrity of vaccination infor-mation could be checked out were assigned as the intervention group,while the children for whom the primary im-munization of Hib vaccination was not completed were chosen as the control group.The clinical data,vaccination data and the data such as length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost were collected from the children.The cost-benefit of the Hib vaccination among the children with Hib infection was observed.RESULTS A total of 622 hospi-talized children who were detected with Hib-positive respiratory tract infections or meningitis were enrolled in the study,and 73 children(20 children from infection management department,27 children from respiratory medi-cine department,26 children from emergency rooms)were finally included in the intervention group after matc-hing and multiple rounds of screening,73 children were chosen as the control group based on a 1∶1 matching con-dition.The male children accounted for 57.53%(42 cases)in both groups,and the female children accounted for 42.47%(31 cases)in both groups.With the respect to the length of hospital stay,it was 7.00(5.00,8.00)days in the intervention group,7.00(6.00,8.00)days in the control group(Z=-0.341,P=0.733).In terms of the hospitalization cost,it was 7 756.17(6 617.92,10 617.69)yuan in the intervention group,9 040.65(8 033.76,10 935.84)yuan in the control group(Z=-2.795,P=0.005).The cost of Hib vaccination was 343.03 yuan per capita in the intervention group,and the benefit-cost ratio(BCR)was 1∶3.74(343.03 yuan/1 284.48 yuan).CONCLUSIONS The Hib vaccination can save the hospitalization cost and has high cost effectiveness.It is sugges-ted that the Hib vaccination should be promoted and the coverage rate of Hib vaccination should be raised among the age-eligible children.
4.Arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation for posterior root tear of the medial meniscus
Feng TU ; Lin ZHANG ; Jia LI ; Huan YU ; Chen ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2025;27(7):599-606
Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation in the treatment of posterior root tear of the medial meniscus.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the patients who had been treated for posterior root tear of the medial meniscus by arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation from January 2018 to December 2021 at Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Hospital of Wuhan. There were 11 males and 23 females with an age of (55.6±4.0) years. Lysholm subjective function score and Tegner motor function score were used to evaluate the knee function, the Kellgren Lawrence grading of the weight-bearing X-ray film of the affected limb was used to evaluate the osteoarthritis of the affected knee, and MRI was used to evaluate the medial meniscus exostosis.Results:All patients were followed up for 28.0 (26.0, 33.3) months. Their Lysholm subjective function score [90.0 (89.0, 91.0) points] at the last follow-up was significantly higher than the preoperative one [57.5 (55.0, 60.0) points], and their Tegner motor function score at the last follow-up [6.0 (6.0, 6.0) points] significantly better than the preoperative one [4.0 (3.8, 4.0) points] ( P<0.05). The Kellgren Lawrence grading resulted in grade 1 in 8 cases, grade 2 in 24 cases, grade 3 in 2 cases at the last follow-up, comparing with grade 0 in 2 cases, grade 1 in 9 cases, and grade 2 in 23 cases before operation. The medial meniscus exostosis was grade 1 in 8 cases and grade 2 in 26 cases at the last follow-up, comparing with 5 cases of grade 1 and 29 cases of grade 2 before operation. The above comparisons showed no significant difference between the last follow-up and preoperation ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:For patients with posterior root tear of the medial meniscus, arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation can improve significantly their knee joint function, but can hardly improve their medial meniscus exostosis.
5.Correlation of CDFI and shear wave elastography with pathological classification and prognosis of breast cancer patients
Qiuping WANG ; Jizheng TU ; Jun WANG ; Huan WANG
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(2):208-212
Objective:To investigate the correlation of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and shear wave elastography (SWE) with pathological classification and prognosis of breast cancer patients.Methods:A total of 87 patients (103 lesions) with breast cancer admitted to Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital and the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University From May. 2021 to Mar. 2024 were retrospectively included. All patients underwent CDFI and SWE examinations before surgery. The pathological characteristics and molecular typing of each lesion were recorded, and the correlation of CDFI and SWE examination parameters with molecular typing of breast cancer was evaluated. Patients were followed up for 1 year, and the predictive value of CDFI and SWE parameters in lymph node metastasis was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) .Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the pulse index (PI) , resistance index (RI) , maximum lesion elastic modulus (E max) , and the ratio between the elastic value at the hardest lesion and the elastic value of adipose tissue (E ratio) among patients with different pathological types ( F=0.64, 0.13, 0.81, 2.84, P>0.05) . There were no statistically significant differences in PI and RI values among patients with different tumor sizes ( F=2.99, 1.81, P>0.05) , and statistically significant differences in E max and E ratio among patients with different tumor sizes ( F=6.42, 34.31, P<0.05) . The differences among different molecular types PI, RI, E max, and E ratio were statistically significant ( F=406.59, 245.23, 206.30, 204.36, P<0.05) , and Luminal B type PI, RI, E max, and E ratio were the highest, followed by HER2-positive, triple-negative, and Luminal A type, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05) . PI, RI, E max and E ratio in patients with positive lymph node metastasis were higher than those in patients with negative lymph node metastasis ( t=4.99, 3.04, 2.70, 3.13, all P<0.05) . ROC results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of PI, RI, E max and E ratio for predicting lymph node metastasis of breast cancer were 0.654, 0.704, 0.664 and 0.696, respectively. The sensitivity to predict lymph node metastasis of breast cancer was 74.19%, 54.84%, 51.61%, 64.52, and the specificity was 54.17%, 79.17%, 79.17%, 70.83% (all P<0.05) . Conclusions:The correlation of CDFI and SWE examination parameters are correlated with the molecular classification of breast cancer, and the prediction of lymph node metastasis of breast cancer is good.
6.Correlation of CDFI and shear wave elastography with pathological classification and prognosis of breast cancer patients
Qiuping WANG ; Jizheng TU ; Jun WANG ; Huan WANG
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(2):208-212
Objective:To investigate the correlation of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and shear wave elastography (SWE) with pathological classification and prognosis of breast cancer patients.Methods:A total of 87 patients (103 lesions) with breast cancer admitted to Shanxi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital and the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University From May. 2021 to Mar. 2024 were retrospectively included. All patients underwent CDFI and SWE examinations before surgery. The pathological characteristics and molecular typing of each lesion were recorded, and the correlation of CDFI and SWE examination parameters with molecular typing of breast cancer was evaluated. Patients were followed up for 1 year, and the predictive value of CDFI and SWE parameters in lymph node metastasis was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) .Results:There were no statistically significant differences in the pulse index (PI) , resistance index (RI) , maximum lesion elastic modulus (E max) , and the ratio between the elastic value at the hardest lesion and the elastic value of adipose tissue (E ratio) among patients with different pathological types ( F=0.64, 0.13, 0.81, 2.84, P>0.05) . There were no statistically significant differences in PI and RI values among patients with different tumor sizes ( F=2.99, 1.81, P>0.05) , and statistically significant differences in E max and E ratio among patients with different tumor sizes ( F=6.42, 34.31, P<0.05) . The differences among different molecular types PI, RI, E max, and E ratio were statistically significant ( F=406.59, 245.23, 206.30, 204.36, P<0.05) , and Luminal B type PI, RI, E max, and E ratio were the highest, followed by HER2-positive, triple-negative, and Luminal A type, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05) . PI, RI, E max and E ratio in patients with positive lymph node metastasis were higher than those in patients with negative lymph node metastasis ( t=4.99, 3.04, 2.70, 3.13, all P<0.05) . ROC results showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of PI, RI, E max and E ratio for predicting lymph node metastasis of breast cancer were 0.654, 0.704, 0.664 and 0.696, respectively. The sensitivity to predict lymph node metastasis of breast cancer was 74.19%, 54.84%, 51.61%, 64.52, and the specificity was 54.17%, 79.17%, 79.17%, 70.83% (all P<0.05) . Conclusions:The correlation of CDFI and SWE examination parameters are correlated with the molecular classification of breast cancer, and the prediction of lymph node metastasis of breast cancer is good.
7.Health economics evaluation of inoculation of children with type b Haemophilus influenzae vaccine
Sisi CHEN ; Lu YANG ; Tian TANG ; Xinping ZHANG ; Huan QIN ; Chengfeng XIE ; Yi ZENG ; Fei CAO ; Hongying LI ; Feina DENG ; Zhengbo TU ; Xiuwen CHEN
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(17):2651-2655
OBJECTIVE T o carry out the health economics evaluation and cost-benefit analysis of the type b Hae-mophilus influenzae(Hib)vaccination for the children who were hospitalized due to Hib infection so as to provide evidence for public health policies.METHODS The children who were diagnosed with Hib-related respiratory tract infections or meningitis and were hospitalized in respiratory medicine department,infection management depart-ment,emergency rooms and neurology department of Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital from Jan.1,2021 to Dec.31,2023 were recruited as the research subjects.Based on a 1∶1 matching condition,the matching variables included four items such as the same age for the admission to the hospital,same gender,same department and same grade of disease severity.The children for whom the primary immunization of Hib vaccination(including Hib monovalent vaccine and Hib-containing combination vaccine)were completed and the integrity of vaccination infor-mation could be checked out were assigned as the intervention group,while the children for whom the primary im-munization of Hib vaccination was not completed were chosen as the control group.The clinical data,vaccination data and the data such as length of hospital stay and hospitalization cost were collected from the children.The cost-benefit of the Hib vaccination among the children with Hib infection was observed.RESULTS A total of 622 hospi-talized children who were detected with Hib-positive respiratory tract infections or meningitis were enrolled in the study,and 73 children(20 children from infection management department,27 children from respiratory medi-cine department,26 children from emergency rooms)were finally included in the intervention group after matc-hing and multiple rounds of screening,73 children were chosen as the control group based on a 1∶1 matching con-dition.The male children accounted for 57.53%(42 cases)in both groups,and the female children accounted for 42.47%(31 cases)in both groups.With the respect to the length of hospital stay,it was 7.00(5.00,8.00)days in the intervention group,7.00(6.00,8.00)days in the control group(Z=-0.341,P=0.733).In terms of the hospitalization cost,it was 7 756.17(6 617.92,10 617.69)yuan in the intervention group,9 040.65(8 033.76,10 935.84)yuan in the control group(Z=-2.795,P=0.005).The cost of Hib vaccination was 343.03 yuan per capita in the intervention group,and the benefit-cost ratio(BCR)was 1∶3.74(343.03 yuan/1 284.48 yuan).CONCLUSIONS The Hib vaccination can save the hospitalization cost and has high cost effectiveness.It is sugges-ted that the Hib vaccination should be promoted and the coverage rate of Hib vaccination should be raised among the age-eligible children.
8.Arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation for posterior root tear of the medial meniscus
Feng TU ; Lin ZHANG ; Jia LI ; Huan YU ; Chen ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma 2025;27(7):599-606
Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation in the treatment of posterior root tear of the medial meniscus.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of the patients who had been treated for posterior root tear of the medial meniscus by arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation from January 2018 to December 2021 at Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, The First Hospital of Wuhan. There were 11 males and 23 females with an age of (55.6±4.0) years. Lysholm subjective function score and Tegner motor function score were used to evaluate the knee function, the Kellgren Lawrence grading of the weight-bearing X-ray film of the affected limb was used to evaluate the osteoarthritis of the affected knee, and MRI was used to evaluate the medial meniscus exostosis.Results:All patients were followed up for 28.0 (26.0, 33.3) months. Their Lysholm subjective function score [90.0 (89.0, 91.0) points] at the last follow-up was significantly higher than the preoperative one [57.5 (55.0, 60.0) points], and their Tegner motor function score at the last follow-up [6.0 (6.0, 6.0) points] significantly better than the preoperative one [4.0 (3.8, 4.0) points] ( P<0.05). The Kellgren Lawrence grading resulted in grade 1 in 8 cases, grade 2 in 24 cases, grade 3 in 2 cases at the last follow-up, comparing with grade 0 in 2 cases, grade 1 in 9 cases, and grade 2 in 23 cases before operation. The medial meniscus exostosis was grade 1 in 8 cases and grade 2 in 26 cases at the last follow-up, comparing with 5 cases of grade 1 and 29 cases of grade 2 before operation. The above comparisons showed no significant difference between the last follow-up and preoperation ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:For patients with posterior root tear of the medial meniscus, arthroscopic double locking suture combined with single-row suture fixation can improve significantly their knee joint function, but can hardly improve their medial meniscus exostosis.
9.Pharmacovigilance for Radiopharmaceuticals
Yue SUN ; Yuxuan ZHENG ; Zhenjiang ZHANG ; Yuxian ZHANG ; Ran ZHANG ; Chang LU ; Li ZHANG ; Ding LI ; Jiachen TU ; Jing XIE ; Huan ZHOU ; Jian GONG
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(10):1615-1619
Radiopharmaceuticals play an important role in the medical field,but they also carry certion risks and potential safety concerns.Medical institutions implement pharmacovigilance to ensure the safety of patients'drug use,including the safety of Radiopharmaceuticals.The operation and management of the pharmacovigilance system in the United States and the European Union are relatively mature.China can learn from their advanced concepts and establish our own radiopharmaciligence system.
10.Advances in pharmacological mechanism and toxicology of gambogic acid.
Ke-Rong TU ; Shang-Qin YANG ; Qi-Qi XU ; Liang-Liang LYU ; Xian-Mei JIANG ; Yao QI ; Huan-Huan DING ; Hong-Mei LIU ; Lu-Lu CAI ; Qiang SUN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2024;49(24):6593-6603
Gambogic acid, a caged xanthone compound derived from Garcinia, has been proven to be an important substance basis for the pharmacological effects of the plant. In recent years, it has received continuous attention due to its broad and significant pharmacological activities. Modern pharmacological investigations have demonstrated that gambogic acid endows various therapeutic effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor activities, as well as benefits in retinopathy, organ protection, anti-microbial infection, bone protection, and neuropathic pain relief. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of systematic summary and integration of the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of gambogic acid, which is critical for advancing the clinical application of this natural product. In addition, current research has raised concerns about potential safety risks associated with gambogic acid, such as organ toxicity, developmental toxicity, and hemolysis. Given this, this paper systematically reviewed and summarized the pharmacological effects, mechanisms, and toxicological profiles of gambogic acid, aiming to provide reference and data support for its clinical translation.
Xanthones/toxicity*
;
Humans
;
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/toxicity*
;
Garcinia/chemistry*

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