1.Tongnao Decoction Promotes Angiogenesis and Alleviates Cerebral Ischemic Injury via PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β Signaling Pathway
Yan LIU ; Yang WU ; Wanhui PENG ; Jingyi CHEN ; Jiale GAN ; Li LI ; Yangjingyi XIA ; Yunze LI ; Zhaoyao CHEN ; Wenlei LI ; Minghua WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):100-110
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of Tongnao decoction (TND) in mice with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MethodsFifty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a sham operation group, model group, TND low-dose group (1.86 g·kg-1), TND high-dose group (3.72 g·kg-1), and butylphthalide (NBP) group (10 mg·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group. A mouse model of cerebral ischemic injury was established using photochemical thrombosis (PT). The sham operation group and model group were administered an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. All five groups were treated once daily for 14 consecutive days. Behavioral tests were performed before modeling and at the end of administration. T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) was performed 3 days after modeling to evaluate the extent of injury. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histological changes in the cerebral cortex, and Nissl staining was used to observe neuronal morphology. Cerebral blood flow in mice was detected using a laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) system. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the cell proliferation marker bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and the highly glycosylated type I transmembrane glycoprotein CD34. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and their phosphorylation levels, as well as tight junction-related proteins zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-5 in the peri-infarct tissue. Thirty-five zebrafish were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, TND low and high dose groups (0.16, 0.32 g·L-1) and NBP group (10 μmol·L-1), with 7 in each group. A stereoscopic fluorescence microscope was used to observe vascular growth in zebrafish. ResultsImaging showed that PT caused ischemia in the right cortical region. Behavioral tests indicated that, compared with the model group, the drug-treated groups reduced the error rate of irregular balance ladder climbing on the affected side and shortened the tape removal time (P<0.05). HE staining and Nissl staining showed that, compared with the model group, the drug-treated groups exhibited reduced brain tissue damage, fewer scars, and improved neuronal morphology. LSCI results showed that the drug-treated groups partially restored cerebral blood perfusion and promoted the establishment of collateral circulation compared with the model group. Immunofluorescence staining indicated that the drug-treated groups increased the positive rates of BrdU and CD34 compared with the model group (P<0.01), promoting angiogenesis. Meanwhile, compared with the model group, the drug-treated groups upregulated the expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-GSK-3β, and tight junction proteins ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5 (P<0.05,P<0.01), and increased the number of intersegmental vessels in zebrafish (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionTND can promote angiogenesis around the infarct in PT model mice by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway, thereby improving cerebral ischemic injury.
2.Dendritic cell subpopulations in the tumor microenvironment: biological behaviors and targeted therapeutic strategies
CUI Jiale ; JI Anjie ; ZHU Ha ; LIU Juan
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(3):225-232
[摘 要] 树突状细胞(DC)作为抗肿瘤免疫应答的核心启动者与调控者,已成为肿瘤免疫治疗的重要靶点。DC疫苗等靶向DC的免疫治疗策略在抗肿瘤治疗中展现出独特优势,但仍存在抗原提呈效率不足、免疫抑制微环境抵抗、功能特异性调控困难等瓶颈问题。肿瘤微环境(TME)中的DC存在高度异质性,不同DC亚群在分化发育、免疫调控及效应转归方面呈现复杂的多样性。解析DC亚群的精确表型与功能机制对于开发新型DC靶向性免疫治疗策略具有重要意义。TME中募集的经典DC、浆细胞样DC、单核细胞来源DC能与肿瘤浸润免疫细胞和微环境中的非免疫细胞(包括肿瘤细胞、成纤维细胞、内皮细胞等)相互作用激活抗肿瘤免疫应答,而TME还会通过转录调控、表观遗传调控、代谢重塑等多种方式抑制DC招募和抗原提呈能力,甚至诱导其向耐受性DC转化。值得注意的是,新近发现的富含免疫调节分子的成熟DC具有双向免疫调控作用,其起源路径和免疫调控网络仍有待深入研究。随着单细胞分析与空间组学分析等技术的发展,有望在单细胞分辨率下系统解析DC亚群的功能多样性及其与TME的时空相互作用网络,为开发下一代精准免疫治疗策略提供新靶点和新思路。
3.Impact of DRG payment on length of stay and medical costs in COPD patients from Kashgar region
Jiale YANG ; Ningning WANG ; Aierken AIZEZIJIANG ; Lingkai LIAN ; Xinyi LYU ; Pengcheng LIU ; Wenbing YAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(8):991-997
OBJECTIVE To analyze the impact of the diagnosis-related groups (DRG) payment reform on the length of stay and medical costs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Kashgar region, aiming to provide localized empirical evidence for the optimization of regional medical insurance payment methods. METHODS Based on the inpatient settlement database of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Healthcare Security Administration, settlement data of COPD inpatients from 17 medical institutions in Kashgar region between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, were extracted. The overall changes in patients’ length of stay and costs were compared before and after the reform. Subsequently, interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was employed to explore the impact of the DRG payment reform on these variables. RESULTS Following the reform, both the average length of stay and various cost decreased significantly compared to the pre-reform period ( P <0.001). At the overall sample level, the average length of stay, average total cost, average drug cost, average medical service cost, and average examination cost per admission all demonstrated significant long-term downward trends after the reform ( P <0.05). However, the decrease in average out-of-pocket costs and the increase in average consumable costs per admission were not statistically significant ( P >0.05). In tertiary medical institutions, the average length of stay and all categories of costs (except average consumable costs per admission) exhibited significant long-term upward trends after the reform ( P <0.05); conversely, in secondary and lower-level medical institutions, the average length of stay, average total cost, average drug cost, average medical service cost, and average examination cost per admission showed significant long-term downward trends ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS The DRG payment reform has achieved an overall effect of reducing the length of stay and controlling costs in COPD patients from Kashgar region. However, the effects vary across different levels of medical institutions: secondary and lower-level institutions show a long-term downward trend in length of stay and costs, whereas tertiary institutions exhibit a long-term upward trend. Furthermore, patients’ out-of-pocket financial burden does not show significant improvement.
4.Mechanism of Qingre antai decoction in improving pregnancy outcomes of threatened abortion rats with blood heat syndrome based on JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT dual signaling pathways
Liya MA ; Yanduo SHEN ; Jiale ZHANG ; Liujun WU ; Bingheng XIE ; Xingfei WU ; Chen LIU ; Minghao ZHANG ; Xuelin ZHANG ; Dawei ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1127-1133
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism by which Qingre antai decoction improves pregnancy outcomes of threatened abortion rats with blood heat syndrome. METHODS The pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, dydrogesterone group (0.002 g/kg), and Qingre antai decoction group (44.1 g/kg), with 13 rats in each group. Except for normal group, other groups were given warming-yang Chinese medicine and corresponding drugs intragastrically, once a day, for 12 consecutive days. On the 13th day of pregnancy, a single intragastric administration of mifepristone (5 mg/kg) was performed to establish a model of threatened abortion with blood heat syndrome. On the 14th day of pregnancy, the abortion rate and uterine coefficient were calculated; the pathological morphology of pregnant uterine was observed; the serum levels of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid hormone (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) in the pregnant uterus were all determined; the expressions of mRNA and protein related to Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathways were detected. RESULTS Compared with normal group, the model group exhibited endometrial tissue damage, a reduced number of decidual cells, and a significant presence of blood stasis within the uterus; abortion rate, the serum levels of T3, T4 and TSH, the mRNA expressions of JAK2, STAT3 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) as well as protein expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and SOCS3 in the pregnant uterus were increased significantly ( P <0.05); uterine coefficient, the levels of VEGF and NO in pregnant uterus, mRNA expressions of VEGFR2, PI3K, AKT and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS), protein expressions of VEGFR2, PI3K and eNOS as well as phosphorylation level of AKT in the pregnant uterus were significantly reduced ( P <0.05). Compared with model group, the endometrial tissue damage and congestion in the Qingre antai decoction group were significantly improved, and the levels of the aforementioned quantitative indicators were significantly reversed ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Qingre antai decoction can improve the pregnancy outcomes in rats with threatened abortion of blood heat syndrome, the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway and activating PI3K/AKT pathway.
5.WANG Yaoxian's Experience in Treating Diabetic Kidney Disease from the Perspective of Spleen and Stomach:Based on the Theory of "Internal Heat Leading to Concretions"
Bo ZHANG ; Yuxin HU ; Cong ZHAO ; Jiale ZHANG ; Weimin JIANG ; Chang YU ; Yang LIU ; Liqiao SUN ; Weiwei SUN ;
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):482-486
This paper summarizes Professor WANG Yaoxian's experience in treating diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspective of spleen and stomach based on the "internal heat leading to concretions" theory. It is considered that internal heat leading to concretions constitutes the core pathogenesis of DKD, with the spleen and stomach serving as the source of internal heat; therefore, treatment should be based on regulating the spleen and stomach. In the early stage of DKD, dysfunction of the spleen and stomach leads to the initial generation of internal heat. Common syndrome patterns include gastrointestinal heat accumulation and constrained heat in the liver and stomach, for which modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (葛根芩连汤) can be used to clear heat bind while modified Dachaihu Decoction (大柴胡汤) is used to clear stomach and soothe liver, respectively. In the middle stage of DKD, weakness of the spleen and stomach results in the initial formation of concretions and conglomerations. Common patterns include spleen deficiency with prevalence of dampness and deficiency of both the spleen and kidney. Treatment emphasizes strengthening the spleen and resolving dampness, raising yang and boosting the stomach with modified Shengyang Yiwei Decoction (升阳益胃汤), or supplementing spleen and boosting kidney, dissipating bind and dispe-ring concretions with modified Shenqi Dihuang Decoction (参芪地黄汤), respectively. In the late stage of DKD, it is characterized by spleen and stomach depletion, and rampant accumulation of turbidity and toxin, and the common syndrome patterns are damp-turbidity obstruction in the middle jiao (焦) and spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Treatment aims to remove turbidity and harmonize the stomach, or to warm the kidney and strengthen the spleen while elimina-ting turbidity, using modified Dahuang Gancao Decoction(大黄甘草汤) and Jupi Zhuru Decoction (橘皮竹茹汤) or modified Baoyuan Decoction (保元汤) and Lizhong Decoction (理中汤), respectively. In clinical practice, appropriate formulas and medications are flexibly selected according to specific syndromes.
6.Immune-enhancing effect and mechanism of natural plant-derived immunostimulatory molecule ophiopogonin
Shulin LIU ; Jing WEI ; Baohang ZHU ; Yan YE ; Jiale PAN ; Anni ZHAO ; Zhen SONG ; Liusheng PENG ; Haibo LI ; Hongwu SUN ; Quanming ZOU
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(4):350-359
Objective To explore the effect and preliminary mechanism of the plant-derived immunostimulatory molecule,ophiopogonin,on enhancing the immune response of a subunit vaccine with the receptor-binding domain(RBD)of coronavirus spike protein as the antigen.Methods CCK-8 assay was used to determine the cytotoxicity of ophiopogonin D'(OPD')on bone marrow-derived dendritic cells(BMDCs).Female Balb/c mice were randomly divided into RBD,RBD/OPD',RBD/Alum,and control groups.The immunization dose was 5 μg of antigen per mouse and 100 μg of adjuvant per mouse,and immunization was carried out according to the intramuscular injection immunization procedure on days 0,21,and 42.The titers of specific IgG and its subtype antibodies were detected by ELISA.The cytokine levels in the supernatant of splenocytes were detected using ELISA.The number of splenocytes secreting IFN-γ was detected by ELISpot.Laser confocal microscopy was employed to observe the uptake of antigen by BMDCs.The phagocytic ability of BMDCs for antigen was quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry.The mechanism of its enhanced immune effect was preliminarily explored using transcriptomics technology combined with bioinformatics research.Results When the concentration of OPD'was less than 5 μg/mL,the survival rate of BMDCs was 100%.After a single intramuscular injection in mice,except for a slight decrease in body weight,the other biochemical indicators were within corresponding normal ranges.After intramuscular injection immunization of the vaccine,the titers of serum-specific IgG,IgG1,and IgG2a in the RBD/OPD'group were significantly higher than those in the RBD group(P<0.05).Compared with the RBD group,the RBD/OPD'group induced a high-level Th1 cell immune response of IL-1β,TNF-α,and IFN-γ(P<0.01)and had more lymphocytes secreting IFN-γ(P<0.001).Laser confocal microscopy displayed that BMDCs took up more antigens after OPD'treatment,which was further confirmed with flow cytometry in quantitative analysis on antigen uptake rate(P<0.01).Transcriptomics results indicated that there was more significant enrichment of the PPAR signaling pathway in the RBD/OPD'group than the RBD group,suggesting that OPD'may activate the PPAR signaling pathway to exert its adjuvant effect.Conclusion OPD'effectively enhances the immune response of the RBD subunit vaccine,and its action mechanism may be related to the activation of the PPAR signaling pathway.
7.Pathological response of a mouse model of lethal Vibrio vulnificus infection and its preliminary application in inactivated whole cell vaccine
Baohang ZHU ; Jiale PAN ; Shulin LIU ; Yan YE ; Zhen SONG ; Yuxian LI ; Yun YANG ; Hongwu SUN ; Quanming ZOU ; Liusheng PENG
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(7):656-663
Objective To establish a mouse model of infection with the minimum lethal dose of Vibrio vulnificus(V.vulnificus)and to evaluate the protective efficacy of inactivated whole-cell(IWC)vaccine using this model.Methods A mouse model of lethal-dose infection was established by intraperitoneal injection of different doses of V.vulnificus.Bacterial colonization in the organs was detected with tissue homogenate plating,and pathological changes in the organs were observed after tissue section staining.Flow cytometry was used to detect immune cell responses after liver tissues were digested into single-cell suspension.IWC vaccine of V.vulnificus was prepared,and the mice were immunized through different routes to observe the protective efficacy of the vaccine.Results A mouse model of infection with the minimum lethal dose at 1×106 CFU of V.vulnificus was successfully established.After infection,the bacteria were mainly colonized in the liver of mice and caused severe pathological damages.Compared with the uninfected mice,the proportion of neutrophils in the liver was significantly increased in the infected mice,whereas the proportions of B cells and T cells were correspondingly decreased(P<0.05).A single intramuscular or intraperitoneal injection of the IWC vaccine could protect the mice effectively against lethal infection of V.vulnificus in 7 d later(P<0.01),although the level of serum IgG having no significant increase.Conclusion A mouse model of lethal-dose infection with V.vulnificus is successfully established,with histopathological characteristics.The IWC vaccine of V.vulnificus rapidly mediates immune protection in this model probably independent of IgG.
8.Research progress in the clinical application and mechanisms of Chinese materia medica in treating chronic atrophic gastritis of spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome
Lining SU ; Junhong LIU ; Dan WANG ; Jinxue ZHANG ; Hongmei LI ; Bingrui XU ; Jiale CHEN ; Yudie HE
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(12):1792-1797
Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is currently the most prevalent TCM pattern in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), with internal damp-heat accumulation regarded as a key factor contributing to its prolonged and refractory course. This syndrome represents a critical stage in the progressive pathogenesis of CAG, characterized by a deepening pathological evolution. Modern TCM practitioners generally agree that its core pathogenesis lies in "deficiency in root and excess in superficiality, with internal damp-heat retention", and emphasize a treatment strategy that combines eliminating pathogenic factors and reinforcing the body's healthy qi through dynamic syndrome differentiation. Chinese materia medica used in treating CAG with spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome can effectively relieve clinical symptoms, improve the internal damp-heat environment, mitigate gastric mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, and delay the inflammation-to-cancer transformation. Its mechanisms may involve eradication of Helicobacter pylori, repair of gastric mucosal injury, regulation of immune inflammatory response and other aspects, which has the advantages of multi-channel and multi-target.
9.Treatment of Parkinson's Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine by Regulating BDNF/TrkB Signaling Pathway: A Review
Lulu JIA ; Ying LI ; Jiale YIN ; Nan JIA ; Xiaoxi LIU ; Li LING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):315-322
Parkinson's disease(PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, which seriously affects the lives of patients. With the acceleration of aging process, the number of patients continues to rise. Its main pathological features are aggregation of α-synuclein and degenerative death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. However, the pathogenesis of PD is still unclear. According to reports, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B(TrkB) signaling pathway is highly expressed and activated in dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, which is closely related to neurophysiological processes such as neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. It plays an important role in the occurrence and development of PD. At present, the treatment methods of Western medicine for PD are mainly based on drugs such as levodopa and dopamine agonists to alleviate motor symptoms, but with the increase of dose, the adverse reactions are significantly enhanced. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has attracted people to explore its therapeutic effects on PD due to its characteristics of homology of medicine and food, economy, minor adverse reactions and multi-target action. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the role of BNDF/TrkB pathway in the pathogenesis of PD and the mechanism of TCM formulas, extracts and monomers in the treatment of PD by regulating the BNDF/TrkB pathway according to retrieving the latest research reports at home and abroad, so as to provide a reference for the clinical application of related TCM and the development of new drugs for PD.
10.Ferrostatin-1 prevents transfusion-related acute lung injury in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis
Siwei LIU ; Ling XIAO ; Haixia XU ; Jiale CHENG ; Li TIAN ; Zhong LIU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(8):1008-1015
Objective: To investigate the role of ferroptosis in transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and evaluate the efficacy of the specific inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), thereby to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of TRALI. Methods: This study utilized a ”2-hit” model to induce TRALI in mice. The mouse model of TRALI was validated through survival curve analysis, lung tissue wet/dry weight ratio (W/D), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and total protein concentration in lung tissue. Samples from the TRALI model group, LPS group, and control group (n=6) were collected. The occurrence of ferroptosis in TRALI was confirmed by measuring key ferroptosis indicators, including iron concentration in lung tissue, malondialdehyde (MDA) level, lipid peroxidation products (LPO) level, and expression levels of related proteins (GPX4, ACSL4). Additionally, a Fer-1 intervention group was added to evaluate its preventive and therapeutic effects. The survival rates and clinical symptoms of the four groups (n=6) were dynamically monitored, and the degrees of lung injury were assessed. Ferroptosis-related indicators were also measured to elucidate the protective mechanism of Fer-1. Results: A mouse model of TRALI was successfully established. Compared to the control and LPS groups, the TRALI group showed significantly higher levels of ferrous iron [(18.32±1.11) nmol/well, MDA [(14.68±0.96) μmol/L], and LPO [(1.60±0.02) μmol/L] in lung tissue (all P<0.01), along with a downregulation of GPX4 and an upregulation of ACSL4. Fer-1 pretreatment significantly reversed these abnormalities: the W/D ratio decreased to 4.01±0.43, and MPO activity significantly decreased [Fer-1 group: (21 606±4 235) pg/mL vs TRALI group: (30 724±2 616) pg/mL], the total protein concentration in lung tissue of the Fer-1 group decreased by approximately 40.8% compared to the TRALI group (all P<0.01). These changes indicate that the lung injury in mice was alleviated after treatment. Following Fer-1 intervention, ferrous iron concentration [(7.46±1.83) nmol/well] was restored to a level close to that of the control group [(5.48±0.70) nmol/well]. Lipid peroxidation tests further revealed that Fer-1 intervention reduced MDA and LPO levels by 35.8% and 29.4%, respectively (P<0.001). Additionally, the expression levels of GPX4 and ACSL4 proteins returned to near-normal levels in the treated mice (both P>0.05). Conclusion: The progression of TRALI is closely related to the activation of ferroptosis, characterized by iron overload, lipid peroxidation accumulation, and the imbalance of GPX4/ACSL4. Ferrostatin-1 significantly alleviates pulmonary edema and inflammatory damage by inhibiting the ferroptosis pathway, suggesting that targeting ferroptosis may provide a new therapeutic strategy for TRALI.

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