1.Research advances in the effects of orexin and its receptor-related drugs on depression
Zhaoshu JIANG ; Ming CHENG ; Jie YANG ; Feng CAO ; Zhen ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(4):496-500
Depression is a psychiatric disorder whose main symptoms include low mood, loss of interest, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and changes in appetite. Orexin, a neuropeptide located in hypothalamic neurons, has a wide range of projections throughout the central nervous system and is involved in various behavioral modulations related to depression. This study systematically reviewed the effects of orexin and its receptor-related drugs on depression and found that orexin could exert complex regulatory effects on multiple brain regions by binding to related receptors, affecting emotions, sleep, anxiety, etc. The abnormal state of expression of plasma orexin in patients with depression was found. Exogenous orexin-A, selective orexin receptor 1 antagonists (SORA1s), selective orexin receptor 2 antagonists (SORA2s), and dual orexin receptor antagonists (DORAs) have demonstrated antidepressant-like effects in various animal models of depression. Among them, clinical trials involving exogenous orexin-A are relatively scarce. Drugs related to SORA1s and SORA2s, such as JNJ-61393215 and Setorexant, have made significant progress in the treatment of depression. DORAs, such as Suvorexant, Lemborexant, and Daridorexant, are primarily used to treat insomnia. Notably, Suvorexant has also shown potential in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression.
2.Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Epidemiological Characterization of the First Imported Case of Lassa Fever in China.
Yu Liang FENG ; Wei LI ; Ming Feng JIANG ; Hong Rong ZHONG ; Wei WU ; Lyu Bo TIAN ; Guo CHEN ; Zhen Hua CHEN ; Can LUO ; Rong Mei YUAN ; Xing Yu ZHOU ; Jian Dong LI ; Xiao Rong YANG ; Ming PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):279-289
OBJECTIVE:
This study reports the first imported case of Lassa fever (LF) in China. Laboratory detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of the Lassa virus (LASV) from this case offer valuable insights for the prevention and control of LF.
METHODS:
Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, urine, saliva, and environmental materials were collected from the patient and their close contacts for LASV nucleotide detection. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on positive samples to analyze the genetic characteristics of the virus.
RESULTS:
LASV was detected in the patient's CSF, blood, and urine, while all samples from close contacts and the environment tested negative. The virus belongs to the lineage IV strain and shares the highest homology with strains from Sierra Leone. The variability in the glycoprotein complex (GPC) among different strains ranged from 3.9% to 15.1%, higher than previously reported for the seven known lineages. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed multiple mutations within the GPC immunogenic epitopes, increasing strain diversity and potentially impacting immune response.
CONCLUSION
The case was confirmed through nucleotide detection, with no evidence of secondary transmission or viral spread. The LASV strain identified belongs to lineage IV, with broader GPC variability than previously reported. Mutations in the immune-related sites of GPC may affect immune responses, necessitating heightened vigilance regarding the virus.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
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Genome, Viral
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Lassa Fever/virology*
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Lassa virus/classification*
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Molecular Epidemiology
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Phylogeny
3.Association between the non-treatment threshold or upper limit of normal of alanine aminotransferase and liver pathological injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and a persistently low level of alanine aminotransferase
Ming SHU ; Suwen JIANG ; Airong HU ; Qin CHEN ; Jialan WANG ; Menghan JIN ; Haojin ZHANG ; Shiqi YANG ; Shiyang FAN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(10):2044-2053
ObjectiveTo investigate the significance of different non-treatment thresholds or upper limits of normal (ULN) of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in evaluating significant liver pathological injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment. MethodsThis study was conducted among 733 patients with chronic HBV infection who were hospitalized in Ningbo No. 2 Hospital from January 2015 to December 2023 and underwent liver biopsy and histopathological examination, and all patients had a persistent ALT level of ≤40 U/L and positive HBV DNA (>30 IU/mL). According to the treatment threshold or ULN of ALT, the patients were divided into group 1 with 575 patients (≤35 U/L for male patients, ≤25 U/L for female patients), group 2 with 430 patients (≤30 U/L for male patients, ≤19 U/L for female patients), group 3 with 443 patients (≤27 U/L for male patients, ≤24 U/L for female patients), group 4 with 446 patients (≤25 U/L), group 5 with 158 patients (>35 U/L for male patients, >25 U/L for female patients), and group 6 with 145 patients (>30 — ≤35 U/L for male patients, >19 — ≤25 U/L for female patients). Groups 2, 5, and 6 were compared to analyze the severity of liver pathological injury in patients with different ALT levels and the constituent ratio of patients with significant liver pathological injury, and groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were compared to investigate the value of different ULN or non-treatment thresholds of ALT in determining liver inflammation grade (G), liver fibrosis stage (S), and the treatment indication based on liver pathology. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups; a one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between multiple groups, and the least significant difference t-test or the Tambane’s test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison between multiple groups and further comparison between two groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups; a Ridit analysis was used for comparison of ranked data. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis (forward stepwise) was performed with whether liver pathology met the treatment indication (≥G2 and/or ≥S2) as the dependent variable and related factors with a significant impact on the dependent variable (P <0.05) as the independent variable. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC), as well as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio, was used to assess the diagnostic value of different non-treatment thresholds of ALT. ResultsAmong the 733 patients, 259 (35.33%) had ≥G2 liver inflammation, 211 (28.79%) had ≥S2 liver fibrosis, and 306 (41.75%) had treatment indication (≥G2 and/or ≥S2). There was a significant difference in liver inflammation grade (G0 — G4) between groups 2, 5, and 6 (χ2=22.869, P <0.001), and there were also significant differences in the constituent ratios of patients with ≥G2 or ≥G3 liver inflammation between the three groups (χ2=21.742 and 14.921, P<0.001 and P=0.001). There was a significant difference in liver fibrosis stage (S0 — S4) between groups 2, 5, and 6 (χ2=16.565, P<0.001), and there were also significant differences in the constituent ratios of patients with ≥S2, ≥S3 or S4 liver fibrosis between the three groups (χ2=13.264, 13.050, and 6.260, P=0.001, 0.001, and 0.044). There were significant differences between groups 2, 5, and 6 in the constituent ratios of patients with or without treatment indication based on liver pathology (χ2=20.728, P<0.001). There were significant differences between groups 2, 5, and 6 in the constituent ratio of male patients (χ2=24.836, P<0.05), age (F=5.710, P<0.05), ALT (F=473.193, P<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (F=107.774, P<0.05), ALT/AST ratio (F=40.167, P<0.05), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) (H=15.463, P<0.05), aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) (H=63.024, P<0.05), and LIF-5 (5 indicators for liver inflammation and fibrosis) (H=46.397, P<0.05). In groups 1 — 4, compared with the patients without treatment indication, the patients with treatment indication had a significantly lower constituent ratio of patients with positive HBeAg, significantly lower levels of platelet count (PLT) and HBV DNA, and significantly higher age, ALT, AST, GGT, APRI, FIB-4, and LIF-5 (all P<0.05). The Logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.044, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.025 — 1.063, P<0.001), GGT (OR=1.022, 95%CI: 1.007 — 1.038, P=0.003), and HBV DNA (OR=0.839, 95%CI: 0.765 — 0.919, P<0.001) were influencing factors for treatment indication based on liver pathology in group 1; HBeAg (OR=1.978, 95%CI: 1.269 — 3.082, P=0.003), age (OR=1.048, 95%CI: 1.025 — 1.071, P<0.001), GGT (OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.001 — 1.031, P=0.041), and PLT (OR=0.995, 95%CI: 0.991 — 1.000, P=0.049) were influencing factors in group 2; age (OR=1.040, 95%CI: 1.014 — 1.066, P=0.002), ALT (OR=1.047, 95%CI: 1.005 — 1.092, P=0.029), HBV DNA (OR=0.817, 95%CI: 0.736 — 0.907, P<0.001), and LIF-5 (OR=7.382, 95%CI: 1.151 — 47.330, P=0.035) were influencing factors in group 3; age (OR=1.054, 95%CI: 1.031 — 1.077, P<0.001), ALT (OR=1.061, 95%CI: 1.016 — 1.107, P=0.008), and HBV DNA (OR=0.825, 95%CI: 0.743 — 0.917, P<0.001) were influencing factors in group 4. The diagnostic performance for identifying ≥G2 liver inflammation, ≥S2 liver fibrosis, and treatment indication in groups 1 — 4 had an AUC of >0.7; group 1 showed the lowest sensitivity (28.76%) and the highest specificity, positive predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio in judging treatment indication; group 2 had the highest sensitivity and negative predictive value and the lowest negative likelihood ratio; groups 3 and 4 had similar diagnostic indicators. ConclusionIn patients with chronic HBV infection and a persistently low ALT level, the severity of liver histopathological injury and the constituent ratio of significant liver histopathological injury decrease with the reduction in ALT level. A higher non-treatment threshold or ULN of ALT can help to identify the patients requiring treatment (with a higher specificity), while a lower non-treatment threshold or ULN of ALT can help to identify the patients who do not require treatment (with a higher sensitivity).
4.Clinical analysis of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Akebaer SAIBIYA ; Gang CHEN ; Jianli XU ; Kaile ZHANG ; Ruixue YANG ; Chunxia HAN ; Jia HOU ; Ming JIANG ; Hailong YUAN
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2025;34(6):342-348
Objective:To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) for treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the factors affecting the prognosis.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. The clinical data of 51 patients with DLBCL who underwent auto-HSCT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from March 2019 to January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into high-risk group (19 cases) and non-high-risk group (low-risk, low-moderate-risk and moderate-high-risk groups, 32 cases) based on different risk stratifications; patients were divided into the germinal center B-cell (GCB) group (29 cases) and non-GCB group (22 cases) based on different cellular origins; patients were divided into BEAM group (39 cases) and BeEAM group (12 cases) based on different conditioning regimens before auto-HSCT; patients were divided into auto-HSCT consolidation therapy group (41 cases) and auto-HSCT after relapsed/refractory group (10 cases) based on different transplantation timings. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis and log-rank was used for subgroup comparison.Results:All 51 patients achieved the hematopoietic reconstitution with no transplantation-related death within 100 d. Before auto-HSCT, 39 cases achieved complete remission and 12 cases (23.5%) achieved partial remission. After auto-HSCT, all cases achieved complete remission. Follow-up was until May 31, 2024, and the median follow-up time [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of 51 DLBCL patients was 33 (8, 43) months. After 51 DLBCL patients receiving auto-HSCT, 7 patients relapsed and 6 cases died including 3 cases with relapse-related death and 3 cases with non relapse-related death. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 78.5% (95% CI: 64.4%-92.6%) and 85.5% (95% CI: 73.2%-97.8%), respectively. The 3-year PFS rate was 94.7% (95% CI: 84.7%-104.7%) in the high-risk group, 82.2% (95% CI: 67.9%-96.5%) in the non-high-risk group, and the difference in the PFS was not statistically significant between the high-risk group and the non-high-risk group ( P = 0.158). The 3-year PFS rate was 80.1% (95% CI: 64.4%-95.8%) in the GCB group, 88.1% (95% CI: 72.3%-104.2%) in the non-GCB group, and the difference in PFS was not statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P = 0.803). The 3-year PFS rate was 84.9% (95% CI: 72.6%-97.2%) in BEAM group, 61.1% (95% CI: 25.0%-97.2%) in the BeEAM group, and the difference in PFS was not statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P = 0.106). The 3-year PFS rate was 85.4% (95% CI: 73.4%-97.4%) in the auto-HSCT consolidation therapy group, 64.3% (95% CI: 31.4%-96.4%) in the auto-HSCT after relapsed/refractory group, and the difference in PFS was not statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P = 0.171). Conclusions:auto-HSCT is an effective therapy method for DLBCL.
5.Rapid Analysis of Cyanide Based on a Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe Using Gold Nanoclusters-Fluorescein
Tai-Shen HE ; Zhong-Jiang LÜ ; Yi-Ming SUN ; Yu-Yang LI ; Yi YE ; Yao LIN ; Lin-Chuan LIAO
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(4):340-347
Objective To establish a rapid analysis method for cyanide based on a ratiometric fluores-cent probe,providing a quantitative strategy for on-site visual and rapid detection of cyanide.Methods A dual-emission ratiometric fluorescent probe(AuNCs-FL)was constructed by using bovine serum al-bumin(BSA)-stabilized gold nanoclusters(AuNCs,fluorescence emission at 660 nm)as the responsive signal unit and fluorescein(FL,emission at 515 nm)as the internal reference.Results The etching effect of cyanide on AuNCs resulted in fluorescence quenching at 660 nm,while the fluorescence inten-sity of FL at 515 nm remained unchanged,enabling a rapid response analysis of cyanide shift from red to green fluorescence.The developed probe enabled rapid analysis of cyanide within 3 min,with a limit of detection(LOD)of 3.4 mg/L and a visual detection range of 10-100 mg/L.Conclusion The AuNCs-FL fluorescent probe is structurally simple,low-cost,and easy to operate,delivering rapid and accurate results.It also avoids the interference from sulfides encountered in commercial cyanide test kits,making it suitable for the on-site rapid detection of suspected powder samples in cyanide poisoning cases.
6.Structural design optimization and manufacturing technology for composite portable life support backpack
Maochuan JIANG ; Shaosong LI ; Yangkun HAN ; Minchao YANG ; Shuying CHEN ; Ming LUO
Space Medicine & Medical Engineering 2025;36(2):169-173
The Portable Life Support System(PLSS),serving as a core component of the Extravehicular Activity spacesuit,must balance the requirements of life support protection and lightweight design.This study proposes a sandwich structure design based on Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer and validates the structural reliability of the composite backpack under launch/return segment overloads and space collision conditions through multi-scenario mechanical simulations.Simulation results demonstrate that the design achieves maximum deformations of 0.372 mm(mounting plate)under 6 g acceleration and 7.4 mm(skeleton)under 0.97 MPa impact loading,satisfying structural integrity requirements under extreme loads.The composite backpack manufactured by the autoclave molding process has passed the impact protection test under load conditions,verifying the manufacturing feasibility of the composite PLSS.This research provides a technically reliable pathway for lightweight design of EVA spacesuit structures by using composite materials,offering practical engineering value.
7.Efficacy of Transfer Energy Capacitive and Resistive Therapy Combined With β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate Nutritional Supplementation in Older Adults With Sarcopenic Obesity
Renjie WANG ; Yuxiang LIANG ; Liqiong WANG ; Ming YANG ; Jiaojiao JIANG
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(4):964-970
Objective To investigate the comprehensive intervention effects of transfer energy capacitive and resistive(TECAR)therapy combined with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate(HMB)nutritional supplementation in older patients with sarcopenic obesity(SO).Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial,enrolling 140 older patients who met the Asian diagnostic criteria for SO.Participants were randomly assigned to 4 groups,including a double-placebo group(Group A),TECAR+placebo group(Group B),sham TECAR+HMB group(Group C),and TECAR+HMB group(Group D),with 35 patients in each group.The intervention lasted 12 weeks.The primary outcome measure was the total score of the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Secondary outcome indicators included the modified Barthel Index(MBI),scores of the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form(MNA-SF),handgrip strength,body mass,and body mass index(BMI).A two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to assess the interaction effects between TECAR and HMB.Results After the intervention,Group D(TECAR+HMB)demonstrated significant improvements across all metrics.The SPPB total score increased from 6.29±1.34 to 8.06±1.51(P<0.001),with notable enhancements in walking speed(2.71±0.86 vs.1.97±0.82),chair stand(2.60±0.55 vs.2.11±0.47),and balance(2.74±0.74 vs.2.20±0.76).MBI improved from 71.74±14.41 to 79.91±10.52(P<0.001).Handgrip strength increased from(13.65±5.05)kg to(15.72±4.89)kg(P=0.001).Body mass decreased from(81.78±9.02)kg to(76.95±9.89)kg(P<0.001),and BMI reduced from(30.14±1.68)kg/m2 to(28.34±2.33)kg/m2(P<0.001).Interaction analysis revealed significant synergistic effects between TECAR and HMB in improving the SPPB total scores(F=16.374,P<0.001,η2=0.107)and reducing BMI(F=14.328,P<0.001,η2=0.095).Conclusion TECAR therapy combined with HMB supplementation significantly enhances physical function,activities of daily living,and body composition in elderly patients with sarcopenic obesity,demonstrating a synergistic effect.
8.Construction and validation of a risk prediction model for 28-day mortality in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury
Jiang-Ming ZHANG ; Ze-Qian WANG ; Cun-Lian XU ; Pai DENG ; Yang WU ; Min-Jun QI ; Lu-Mei MA ; Wei-Qing YAO ; Dong LIU ; Dong-Mei LIU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):935-942
Objective To explore the risk factors for 28-day mortality of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(SA-AKI)patients and to develop a nomogram risk prediction model.Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted,involving 184 patients with SA-AKI admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)of the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA between January 2017 and December 2022.Patients were categorized into survival(n=135)and non-survival(n=49)groups based on 28-day mortality.Clinical data were collected,and statistically significant risk factors were preliminarily screened.Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for 28-day mortality of SA-AKI patients.A nomogram predictive model was constructed using these factors,and internally validated with the Bootstrap method.The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve)was drawn,and the area under the ROC curve(AUC)was calculated to verify the predictive value and accuracy of the model.Results The 28-day mortality rate among 184 SA-AKI patients was 26.6%(49/184).Multivariate stepwise logistic regression analysis identified multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS)(OR=16.393,95%CI 4.317-62.254,P<0.001),high acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score(OR=1.097,95%CI 1.036-1.161,P=0.002),low oxygenation index(OR=0.992,95%CI 0.986-0.998,P=0.015),low neutrophil count(OR=0.912,95%CI 0.860-0.968,P=0.002)and low fibrinogen concentration(OR=0.733,95%CI 0.549-0.978,P=0.034)as independent risk factors.The prediction model equation was P=1/1+e-logit(P),logit(P)=-1.626+2.797×MODS+0.092×AP ACHE Ⅱ+(-0.311)×fibrinogen+(-0.092)×neutrophil count+(-0.008)×oxygenation index.Internal validation with 1000 Bootstrap resamples showed high consistency between predicted and actual values.ROC analysis showed an AUC of 0.911(95%CI 0.868-0.955,P<0.05)for the model,with 93.9%sensitivity and 78.5%specificity at a cut-off of 0.194.The Hosmer-Lemeshow test confirmed good calibration(P=0.62),and decision-making curve analysis demonstrated clinical utility within the high-risk threshold range(0.1-0.9).Conclusions MODS,high APACHE Ⅱ score,low oxygenation index,low neutrophil count,and low fibrinogen concentration are independent risk factors for 28-day mortality in SA-AKI patients.The developed nomogram risk prediction model may provide important guidance for predicting 28-day mortality in SA-AKI patients.
9.Comparison of functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy and side-to-side esophagojejunostomy with cis-peristalsis in laparoscopic radical resection for esophageal cancer
Feng YANG ; Tao JIANG ; Sanhu YANG ; Peng CHEN ; Lijun HUANG ; Ming LEI ; Liang ZHANG
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(13):7-12
Objective To compare the effects of functional end-to-end esophagojejunostomy(FETE method)and side-to-side esophagojejunostomy with cis-peristalsis(overlap method)on post-operative rehabilitation,anastomotic leakage,and inflammatory-oxidative stress factors in patients un-dergoing laparoscopic radical resection for esophageal cancer.Methods A total of 115 patients with esophageal cancer were selected as study subjects,and were randomly divided into overlap group(n=57)and FETE group(n=58)using random number table method,and both groups underwent lapa-roscopic radical resection for esophageal cancer.The overlap group received the overlap method,and the FETE group received the FETE method.The surgical-related indicators,postoperative recovery indicators,incidence of anastomotic leakage,inflammatory factors[interleukin-10(IL-10),interleu-kin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)],oxidative stress factors[malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)],pulmonary function indicators[forced vital capacity(FVC),forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),FEV1/FVC],and the scores of the esophageal cancer-specific quality of life questionnaire(QLQ-OES18)were compared between the two groups.Results There was no statistically significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05).The FETE group had shorter operative time and intraoperative anastomosis time,and a lar-ger number of lymph node dissection compared with the overlap group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The FETE group had earlier postoperative first flatus time,first oral intake time,and drainage tube removal time compared with the overlap group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The incidence of anastomotic leakage was 1.72%in the FETE group and 7.02%in the overlap group,with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).One week after surgery,the serum levels of IL-10,IL-6,TNF-α and MDA in the FETE group were lower than those in the overlap group,while the serum SOD level was higher,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).One week after surgery,the FVC,FEV,and FEV1/FVC in the FETE group were higher than those in the overlap group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Three months after surgery,the QLQ-OES18 functional domain scores in the FETE group were higher than those in the overlap group,while the symptom domain and single symptom domain scores were low-er,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion Both the FETE method and the overlap method can reduce intraoperative blood loss and the incidence of anastomotic leakage when applied in laparoscopic radical resection for esophageal cancer.However,FETE method has shorter operative time,larger number of intraoperative lymph node dissections,faster postoperative recovery,and patients have less inflammatory-oxidative stress response and pulmonary function im-pairment,as well as higher quality of life after surgery,showing greater advantages compared with the overlap method.
10.Mechanism of Colquhounia Root Tablets against diabetic kidney disease via RAGE-ROS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling axis.
Ming-Zhu XU ; Zhao-Chen MA ; Zi-Qing XIAO ; Shuang-Rong GAO ; Yi-Xin YANG ; Jia-Yun SHEN ; Chu ZHANG ; Feng HUANG ; Jiang-Rui WANG ; Bei-Lei CAI ; Na LIN ; Yan-Qiong ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1830-1840
This study aimed to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of Colquhounia Root Tablets(CRT) in treating diabetic kidney disease(DKD) by integrating biomolecular network mining with animal model verification. By analyzing clinical transcriptomics data, an interaction network was constructed between candidate targets of CRT and DKD-related genes. Based on the topological eigenvalues of network nodes, 101 core network targets of CRT against DKD were identified. These targets were found to be closely related to multiple pathways associated with type 2 diabetes, immune response, and metabolic reprogramming. Given that immune-inflammatory imbalance driven by metabolic reprogramming is one of the key pathogenic mechanisms of DKD, and that many core network targets of CRT are involved in this pathological process, receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE)-reactive oxygen species(ROS)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-protein kinase B(AKT)-nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)-NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3) signaling axis was selected as a candidate target for in-depth research. Further, a rat model of DKD induced by a high-sugar, high-fat diet and streptozotocin was established to evaluate the pharmacological effects of CRT and verify the expression of related targets. The experimental results showed that CRT could effectively correct metabolic disturbances in DKD, restore immune-inflammatory balance, and improve renal function and its pathological changes by inhibiting the activation of the RAGE-ROS-PI3K-AKT-NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling axis. In conclusion, this study reveals that CRT alleviates the progression of DKD through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and immune-inflammatory responses, providing strong experimental evidence for its clinical application in DKD.
Animals
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Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism*
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Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/genetics*
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NF-kappa B/genetics*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Rats
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Male
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
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Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism*
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Humans
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Plant Roots/chemistry*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Tablets/administration & dosage*

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