1.The Mechanisms of Quercetin in Improving Alzheimer’s Disease
Yu-Meng ZHANG ; Yu-Shan TIAN ; Jie LI ; Wen-Jun MU ; Chang-Feng YIN ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):334-347
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. As the incidence of AD continues to rise annually, researchers have shown keen interest in the active components found in natural plants and their neuroprotective effects against AD. Quercetin, a flavonol widely present in fruits and vegetables, has multiple biological effects including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD, and the antioxidant properties of quercetin are essential for its neuroprotective function. Quercetin can modulate multiple signaling pathways related to AD, such as Nrf2-ARE, JNK, p38 MAPK, PON2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC, all of which are closely related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, quercetin is capable of inhibiting the aggregation of β‑amyloid protein (Aβ) and the phosphorylation of tau protein, as well as the activity of β‑secretase 1 and acetylcholinesterase, thus slowing down the progression of the disease.The review also provides insights into the pharmacokinetic properties of quercetin, including its absorption, metabolism, and excretion, as well as its bioavailability challenges and clinical applications. To improve the bioavailability and enhance the targeting of quercetin, the potential of quercetin nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of AD is also discussed. In summary, the multifaceted mechanisms of quercetin against AD provide a new perspective for drug development. However, translating these findings into clinical practice requires overcoming current limitations and ongoing research. In this way, its therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD can be fully utilized.
2.Differentiation and Syndrome-treatment of Liver Heat and Liver Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ethnomedicine
Jiangfeng CHEN ; Min GUO ; Saixue WEI ; Huan YANG ; Xiaodong LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):218-227
As one of the core pathogenesis during treatment with traditional Chinese medicine,liver heat runs through different stages of liver disease. The interpretation of its meaning in different medicine categories(traditional Chinese medicine,Tibetan medicine,Mongolian medicine,Uygur medicine,Dai medicine,Yao medicine,etc.) is not unified, and the phenomena of the same name with different meanings,confusion, and misappropriation emerge. This seriously restricts the inheritance,innovation, and clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine and ethnomedicine. By tracing and analyzing liver heat, it is found that liver heat in traditional Chinese medicine is caused by disordered rest and diet, as well as internal injury due to emotional disorder, which leads to liver dysfunction, Qi stagnation, and heat turning to fire in the liver meridian. The liver heat in Tibetan medicine is caused by the accumulated heat of the liver nature and the evil heat in the liver, which stimulates the toxin of Chiba fever. The liver heat in Mongolian medicine derives from the abnormal diet and rest, making excessive Sheila accumulate in the liver and causing disease. The above etiologies are all related to diet, rest,exogenous evil,emotion,and so on, and the pathogenesis is related to the imbalance of Qi and the metabolic disorder of organs. The clinical symptoms are pain in the liver region,yellow eyes, bitter mouth, fever,digestion,and loss of appetite. The principle of treatment and compatibility of prescription are heat-based, with auxiliary detoxification. Other ethnomedicine, such as Uygur medicine, Dai medicine, Yao Medicine,Miao medicine, and She medicine do not have a clear discussion on liver heat,and their etiology, pathogenesis, treatment,and prescription are not systematic,mostly based on a single drug or proven prescriptions.Through the systematic tracing,mining,induction,analysis, and arrangement of the liver heat based on existing literature information database in China,this paper regarded syndrome as the outline and disease as the goal,clarified the similarities and differences of the pathogenesis of liver heat in traditional Chinese medicine,and determined the relationship between liver heat and liver disease and the status quo of syndrome and treatment.This review provides evidence and reference for clinical prevention and treatment,as well as drug development for liver disease.
3.Incremental effectiveness of two-dose of mumps-containing vaccine in chidren
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(6):883-887
Objective:
To evaluate the incremental vaccine effectiveness (VE) of two dose of the mumps containing vaccine (MuCV) in chidren, so as to provide a basis for optimizing mumps immunization strategies.
Methods:
A 1∶2 frequency matched case-control study was conducted by using reported mumps cases in childcare centers or schools from Lu an, Hefei, Ma anshan and Huainan cities of Anhui Province from September 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, as a case group(383 cases). And healthy children in the same classroom were selected as a control group(766 cases). The MuCV immunization histories of participants were collected to estimate the incremental VE of the second dose of MuCV against mumps. Group comparisons were performed using the Chi square test or t-test. For matched case-control pairs, the Cox regression model was employed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for two dose MuCV vaccination and to estimate the incremental vaccine effectiveness (VE).
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences between the case and control groups regarding gender, age, dosage of MuCV vaccination and the time interval since the last dose vaccination( χ 2/t=0.05, 0.20, 0.94, -0.02, P >0.05). The proportions of the case and control groups vaccinated with two doses of MuCV were 26.63% and 29.37%, respectively, and the overall incremental VE of the second dose of MuCV was 40.73% (95% CI=3.03%-63.77%, P <0.05). Subgroup analyses revealed that the incremental VE for children with a period of ≥1 year between the two doses of MuCV was 54.13% (95% CI=1.90%-78.56%, P <0.05), while for children with a period of <1 year, it was 30.63% (95% CI=-28.59%-62.58%, P >0.05). The incremental VE of the second dose of MuCV was 30.36% (95% CI=-25.95%-61.50%, P >0.05) in kindergarten children and 66.73% (95% CI=14.92%-86.99%, P <0.05) in elementary and secondary school students. The incremental VE was 28.78% (95% CI=-27.46%-60.21%, P >0.05) within five years of the last dose of MuCV vaccination and 66.07% (95% CI=-41.56%-91.87%, P >0.05) for vaccinations administered beyond five years.
Conclusions
The second dose of MuCV may offer additional protection for children; however, extending the interval between two dose of MuCV (<1 year) has shown limited incremental protective effects. Therefore, it is crucial to consider optimizing current immunization strategies for mumps.
4.The Application of Spatial Resolved Metabolomics in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Lu-Tao XU ; Qian LI ; Shu-Lei HAN ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU ; Qing-Yuan HU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2346-2359
The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is fundamentally linked to complex and profound alterations in metabolic networks within the brain, which exhibit marked spatial heterogeneity. While conventional bulk metabolomics is powerful for detecting global metabolic shifts, it inherently lacks spatial resolution. This methodological limitation hampers the ability to interrogate critical metabolic dysregulation within discrete anatomical brain regions and specific cellular microenvironments, thereby constraining a deeper understanding of the core pathological mechanisms that initiate and drive NDDs. To address this critical gap, spatial metabolomics, with mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) at its core, has emerged as a transformative approach. It uniquely overcomes the limitations of bulk methods by enabling high-resolution, simultaneous detection and precise localization of hundreds to thousands of endogenous molecules—including primary metabolites, complex lipids, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and essential metal ions—directly in situ from tissue sections. This powerful capability offers an unprecedented spatial perspective for investigating the intricate and heterogeneous chemical landscape of NDD pathology, opening new avenues for discovery. Accordingly, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the field, beginning with a discussion of the technical features, optimal application scenarios, and current limitations of major MSI platforms. These include the widely adopted matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-MSI, the ultra-high-resolution technique of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS)-MSI, and the ambient ionization method of desorption electrospray ionization (DESI)-MSI, along with other emerging technologies. We then highlight the pivotal applications of spatial metabolomics in NDD research, particularly its role in elucidating the profound chemical heterogeneity within distinct pathological microenvironments. These applications include mapping unique molecular signatures around amyloid β‑protein (Aβ) plaques, uncovering the metabolic consequences of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and characterizing the lipid and metabolite composition of Lewy bodies. Moreover, we examine how spatial metabolomics contributes to constructing detailed metabolic vulnerability maps across the brain, shedding light on the biochemical factors that render certain neuronal populations and anatomical regions selectively susceptible to degeneration while others remain resilient. Looking beyond current applications, we explore the immense potential of integrating spatial metabolomics with other advanced research methodologies. This includes its combination with three-dimensional brain organoid models to recapitulate disease-relevant metabolic processes, its linkage with multi-organ axis studies to investigate how systemic metabolic health influences neurodegeneration, and its convergence with single-cell and subcellular analyses to achieve unprecedented molecular resolution. In conclusion, this review not only summarizes the current state and critical role of spatial metabolomics in NDD research but also offers a forward-looking perspective on its transformative potential. We envision its continued impact in advancing our fundamental understanding of NDDs and accelerating translation into clinical practice—from the discovery of novel biomarkers for early diagnosis to the development of high-throughput drug screening platforms and the realization of precision medicine for individuals affected by these devastating disorders.
5.Epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering analysis of varicella in Lu'an City in 2005 - 2023
Huan ZHANG ; Bingxin MA ; Yafei CHEN ; Yao WANG ; Fan PAN ; Lei ZHANG ; Kai CHENG ; Ling SHAO ; Wei QIN
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(6):58-61
Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing varicella prevention and control strategies. Methods Data on varicella cases were collected through the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System. Descriptive epidemiology, temporal trend analysis, seasonal analysis, spatiotemporal clustering analysis, and spatial autocorrelation analysis were conducted using QGIS, JoinPoint, SaTScan and GeoDa software. Results The average annual reported incidence rate of varicella in Lu'an City from 2005 to 2023 was 34.55/100,000, showing a trend of initial increase followed by a decrease. The peak incidence occurred from October to January of the following year (RR=1.97, LLR=1743.95, P=0.001). Students aged 0 to 19 was the primary affected group. Spatiotemporal scan analysis revealed four types of spatiotemporal clusters, with the cluster in Jin'an District from October 2017 to December 2023 being particularly prominent (RR=2.87,LLR=1734.15,P<0.001). Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated significant clustering of varicella cases in the main urban area (Moran's I=0.216,Z=4.786,P=0.003). Conclusion The incidence of varicella in Lu'an City exhibits distinct seasonal and spatial clustering, and schools and kindergartens in the main urban area are the key to varicella prevention and control. It is necessary to enhance the monitoring of disease outbreaks during peak periods and in key areas, and to increase the two-dose vaccination rate for varicella in areas with case aggregation and among key populations.
6.Dynamic changes of neuronal cells at different time points following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats
Xu-Huan ZOU ; Rui LAN ; Xue-Qin FU ; Wei-Wei WANG ; Man-Man WANG ; Chen TANG ; Shuang LIU ; Hong-Yu LI ; Xiao-Ming SHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(6):1056-1066
Aim To investigate the dynamic changes of neuronal cells at different time points following acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by establishing a model of brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were ran-domly divided into six groups:sham group and cere-bral ischemia-reperfusion injury(IR)groups at differ-ent time points.Focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established using the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)technique.The Longa sco-ring method was used to assess neurobehavioral scores in rats.After successful model preparation,routine paraffin sections were made,and TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry staining with NeuN antibody were performed to observe cell apoptosis and neuronal cell survival,respectively.Immunohistochemistry stai-ning was also performed to investigate the changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)as a marker for astrocytes,ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA-1)as a marker for microglia,and CD31 as a marker for endothelial cells at different time points.Results No significant changes were observed in neu-ronal cells of the sham group at different time points.In the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury groups,cell apoptosis was activated at IR3h and increased in quan-tity with morphological damage as time progressed.Ne-uN+neurons showed signs of ischemic injury after IR3h,with abnormal cell morphology.From 12 h,Ne-uN+neurons decreased in a time-dependent manner and reached their peak severity at 24 h.GFAP+astro-cytes decreased significantly after IR3h,while poorly labeled GFAP+astrocytes increased at IR 6 h and al-most disappeared in the infarcted area at 24 h and 48 h.The number of IBA-1+microglia-positive cells de-creased at IR3h,and their volume increased at IR6h.Microglial cell death was observed in the infarcted area at IR12h.CD31+endothelial cells around the infarc-ted cortex and striatum increased significantly after IR3h and persisted until 48 h.Conclusions After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,the number of ap-optotic cells increases with the prolongation of time,and NeuN+neurons exhibit the most severe damage at 24 h.GFAP+astrocytes and microglial cells gradually die over time.The number of CD31+endothelial cells increases significantly around the infarcted cortex and striatum after 3 h of reperfusion and persists until 48 h.
7.Protective Effects of Ferrostatin-1 on Liver and Kidney Tissues in Mice with Middle and Late Stages of Diabetes
Huan WANG ; Ming-Xing ZHU ; Zhi-Jing WU ; Wei-Wen CHEN ; Yan-Fang ZHENG ; Ming-Qing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(6):848-856
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease with high incidence and many complications,among which type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)accounts for a large proportion.Current studies have shown that T2DM is accompanied by damage of liver,kidney,and other organs and its complications seriously en-danger human health.Ferroptosis generates many Reactive Oxygen Species(ROS)through the Fenton reaction,and the accumulation of ROS activates Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1(HIF-1α).As a result,the level of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)is increased.Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),a ferroptosis in-hibitor,has strong antioxidant capacity.Therefore,based on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor(HIF-1α/VEGF)signaling pathway,we explored the therapeutic effect of Fer-1 on the liver and kidney tissues of diabetic mice.db/db mice(21~22 weeks old)were used as the model of diabetes mellitus.Ferroptosis inhibitor Fer-1 was used as the intervention drug.db/m mice served as the blank control group,and body weight and blood glucose were measured for 4 weeks.Food intake and water intake were recorded in each group.The levels of Alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and Aspartate aminotransferase(AST)in the serum were measured.ROS and Glutathione(GSH)activity in liver and kidney tissues and urinary protein content were measured.Liver and kidney tissue sections were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE),and the pathological morphology was observed under a light microscope.The protein levels of HIF-1α,VEGF,and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)in liver and kidney tissues were detected by Western blot.In db/db mice,Fer-1(1 mg·kg-1,ig)could significantly reduce the a-mount of food and water intake,the levels of ALT and AST in serum,the ROS production in liver and kidney tissues,and the level of urine protein,but significantly increase the activity of GSH,thus improve the pathological conditions of liver and kidney.Fer-1 also significantly inhibited HIF-1α and VEGF pro-tein indexes and increased GPX4 protein levels in liver and kidney tissues.Although Fer-1 can not change the body weight and reduce blood glucose in diabetic mice,it can play a therapeutic role in the liver and kidney tissues of diabetic mice in the middle and late stages,and its mechanism may be related to HIF-1α/VEGF and GPX4.
8.Chlorogenic Acid Modulates Macrophages to Ameliorate Inflammatory Diseases
Huan-Huan MA ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(7):914-920
Macrophages,which display remarkable specificity and plasticity,are the first-line immune cells for inflammation.After activation,they polarise into pro-inflammatory type M1 and anti-inflammato-ry type M2,with M1 producing pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 and M2 producing anti-inflammatory factors.In the inflammatory state,the ratio of pro-inflammatory factors to anti-inflammatory factors is imbalanced,and its long-term existence will lead to tissue damage and the development of in-flammatory diseases,which seriously endanger human health.Currently,non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants are mostly used for the treatment of this type of disease,but patients are prone to drug resistance and other side effects.Therefore,there is an urgent need to find a new direction for treatment.Chlorogenic acid,as a typical natural phenolic compound with high content in many plants such as Eucommia,Flos Lonicerae,Coffea species,etc.,has significant anti-inflammatory activities.This article comprehensively examines the distribution and metabolism of chlorogenic acid,elucidates its role in regulating the M1/M2 macrophage imbalance,and highlights its potential therapeutic value in in-flammatory diseases such as enteritis,hepatitis,pneumonia,arthritis,and neuroinflammation.These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of its clinical significance and provide novel insights for the multi-targeted treatment of inflammatory disorders.
9.Advance in pyroptosis in animals infectious diseases
Ruxin ZHANG ; Huimei LIANG ; Huan ZENG ; Chen GUO ; Jingyi QI ; Jiarui PAN ; Beining WU ; Qiyi CHEN ; Houhui SONG ; Wei WANG ; Jinghua ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(9):2072-2080
Pyroptosis is a programmed death of inflammatory cells triggered by pathogen invasion,dependent on caspase activation,through both classical and non-classical pyroptosis pathways.Cell pyroptosis is related to the occurrence and development of a variety of animal infectious diseases caused by microbial infection.After microorganisms invading,cells are stimulated by pathology-re-lated molecular patterns,causing strong immune response,stimulating inflammatory signaling pathways,and then activating inflammasome,leading to pyroptosis.The immune system has e-volved multiple mechanisms to fight microbial infections and regulate inflammatory responses.The innate immune system,by recognizing microbial molecules in pathogens and responding quickly by producing inflammasome and activating pyroptosis,helps clear pathogens to prevent infection and maintain the normal functioning of the body.A thorough study of the pathogenesis and immune es-cape mechanism of cell pyroptosis in animal infectious diseases will provide a new direction for the treatment of animal infectious diseases.
10.Changes in Neutrophil Percentage-to-Albumin Ratio and Its Relationship with Short-Term Prognosis in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with VRD
Xiao-Long LI ; Bi-Wei WANG ; Hui SUN ; Hong-Tao LIU ; Xi CHEN ; Huan WANG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(6):1759-1763
Objective:To analyze the dynamic changes of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) during treatment with bortezomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (VRD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM),and explore the relationship between NPAR value and short-term prognosis of MM patients. Method:The data of 80 MM patients who underwent VRD chemotherapy at Tangshan Workers Hospital from January 2019 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. NPAR levels were measured before VRD chemotherapy (T0),and on the first day of the third (T1),sixth (T2),and eighth (T3) chemotherapy cycles. All patients were followed up for 1 year,with the recurrence,progression,or death occurring within 1 year after the completion of VRD treatment as the endpoint event. The patients were divided into a good prognosis group and a poor prognosis group based on the follow-up results. The changes in NPAR at T0,T1,T2,and T3 in the two groups were statistically analyzed. The restricted cubic spline method was used to analyzed the relationship between NPAR and adverse short-term prognosis in MM patients undergoing VRD chemotherapy. Results:Among the 80 MM patients,25 cases (31.25%) had poor short-term prognosis,including 19 cases (23.75%) of progression or recurrence,and 6 cases (7.50%) of all-cause mortality. The levels of neutrophils and NPAR in the poor prognosis group at T0,T1,T2 and T3 were higher than those in the good prognosis group at the same period,while the albumin levels in the poor prognosis group at T0,T1,and T2 were lower than those in the good prognosis group at the same period (P<0.05);There was no significant difference in albumin levels between the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group at T3 (P>0.05). Within the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group,the levels of neutrophils and NPAR decreased sequentially at T0,T1,T2,and T3,while the levels of albumin increased sequentially,and the differences between each stage were statistically significant (P<0.05). The restricted cubic spline model showed an approximate J-shaped curve between the risk of poor short-term prognosis and the pre-treatment NPAR level in MM patients (P<0.05). If the pre-treatment NPAR>0.52,the risk of poor short-term prognosis in MM patients increased with the increase of NPAR value. Conclusion:After VRD treatment,the NPAR value of MM patients gradually decreases,and there is a correlation between the NPAR value before VRD treatment and the risk of poor prognosis after treatment. If NPAR>0.52 before treatment,the higher the NPAR value,the higher the risk of poor short-term prognosis in MM patients.


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