1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
2.Study on the Prevalence Difference between Northwest Dryness Syndrome and Blood Stasis Syndrome of Coronary Heart Disease and the Correlation with Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events
Xintong LI ; Peng LI ; Changgeng FU ; Linzi LONG ; Jingya ZHOU ; Jiawei HU ; Yutai ZHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(12):1255-1261
ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence difference between northwest dryness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome of coronary heart disease (CAD) and their correlations with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). MethodsThe medical records including general information and risk factors for vascular diseases (gender, age, smoking history, diabetes history, hypertension history, chronic kidney disease history and body mass index), laboratory indicators (fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, etc.) of 499 CAD patients in the Department of Cardiology of the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University from November 1st, 2015 to September 30th,2020 were collected, and whether they suffered from northwest dryness syndrome or blood stasis syndrome was judged. The incidence of MACE was followed up for one year. The differences of cardiovascular risk factors between the northwest dryness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome of CAD were compared, and the correlation with MACE was analyzed. ResultsAmong the 499 CAD patients, there were 128 cases (25.65%) of simple blood stasis syndrome, 33 cases (6.61%) of simple northwest dryness syndrome, 209 cases (41.88%) of northwest dryness syndrome plus blood stasis syndrome, and 129 (25.85%) cases of not blood statis syndrom either northwest dryness syndrome. Univariate regression analysis showed that smoking history, diabetes history, fasting blood glucose abnormality, triglyceride abnormality, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol abnormality were positively correlated with northwest dryness syndrome in CAD patients (OR>1, P<0.05), while smoking history, abnormal triglyceride and abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated with blood stasis syndrome in CAD patients (OR>1, P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the history of diabetes, abnormal triglyceride and abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated with northwest dryness syndrome of CAD (P<0.05). Smoking history, abnormal triglycerides and abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated with blood stasis syndrome (P<0.05). Association rule analysis showed that the confidence of CAD patients with northwest dryness syndrome complicated with blood stasis syndrome was 86.36%, and that of patients with blood stasis syndrome complicated with northwest dryness syndrome was 62.02%. Among the 499 patients, 96 had MACE in one year, accounting for 19.24% of the total. Logistics regression analysis showed that the correlation with incidence of MACE in CAD patients within one year from strong to weak was northwest dryness syndrome plus blood stasis syndrome [OR = 5.113, 95%CI (3.118, 8.387), P<0.001)], blood stasis syndrome[OR = 4.630, 95%CI (2.394, 8.955), P<0.001], northwest dryness syndrome [OR = 4.395, 95%CI (2.642, 7.309), P<0.001]. ConclusionBlood stasis syndrome is the main syndrome type of CAD in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. CAD patients with northwest dryness syndrome are more likely to have blood stasis syndrome, and most suffer from both northwest dryness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome simultaneously. There is the strongest correlation between northwest dryness syndrome plus blood stasis syndrome and 1-year occurrence of MACE in CAD.
3.Research progress on the prevention and treatment of sepsis by intervening in JAK/STAT signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Yijun FANG ; Jinchan PENG ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2024;35(21):2697-2702
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by infection. Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway plays a key role in the regulation of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Some traditional Chinese medicine monomers, such as flavonoids (such as taxifolin), alkaloids (such as sinomenine), and stilbenes (such as piceatannol) can exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, and inhibition of apoptosis by regulating the JAK/ STAT signaling pathway, which is helpful to improve sepsis. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds (such as Zuojinfang) and traditional Chinese medicine injections (such as Astragalus injection, Xuebijing injection) can also inhibit inflammation, protect organ function, and reduce sepsis-related damage by regulating JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Although traditional Chinese medicine has shown great potential in the prevention and treatment of sepsis, the current research mainly focuses on in vitro and animal models, and more relative clinical researches need to be conducted.
4.Enhanced tumoricidal activity of PD-1 antibody-secreting c-Met CAR-T cells against pancreatic cancer cells
Jingting MIN ; Shang PENG ; Nana DU ; Ran AN ; Xiangcheng ZHEN ; Jiawei CAO ; Chenhang ZHOU ; Zhenghong LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(10):1976-1984
Objective To construct c-Met CAR-T cells secreting PD-1 antibodies to reduce immune inhibitory effect of tumor cells and enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy against pancreatic cancer.Methods Kaplan-Meier Plotter,GEPIA,and Timer 2.0 bioinformatics databases were used to analyze c-Met expression in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with survival and immune infiltration status.In clinical samples of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer Aspc-1 cells,c-Met and PD-L1 expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry.Using gene editing technology,PD-1 secretory antibodies and HIS tags were linked to second-generation c-Met CAR molecules to construct PD-1/c-Met CAR plasmids,which were then packaged into lentiviruses for infection of activated T cells.The positive rate and cell subset distribution of CAR-T cells were analyzed with flow cytometry,and secretory PD-1 antibodies in cell supernatants were detected using Western blotting.The target cell killing efficiency and proliferative activity of the modified CAR-T cells were evaluated after activation,and cytokine secretion was analyzed using ELISA.Results The expression of c-Met was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer than in normal tissues,and its expression level was negatively correlated with the patients'survival and positively correlated with immune cell infiltration.The clinical samples of pancreatic cancer tissues expressed significantly higher levels of c-Met and PD-L1 than the adjacent tissues,and 90.7%and 57.7%of Aspc-1 cells were positive for c-Met and PD-L1,respectively.The constructed PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells were capable of secreting PD-1 antibodies and showed a significantly higher killing efficiency against tumor cells than c-Met CAR-T cells at an effector-to-target ratio of 20:1,with also a higher proliferative activity after target cell stimulation and higher levels of IL-2 and TNF-α secretin.Conclusion PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells have higher killing efficiency against pancreatic cancer cells with also higher proliferative activity than c-Met CAR-T cells.
5.Enhanced tumoricidal activity of PD-1 antibody-secreting c-Met CAR-T cells against pancreatic cancer cells
Jingting MIN ; Shang PENG ; Nana DU ; Ran AN ; Xiangcheng ZHEN ; Jiawei CAO ; Chenhang ZHOU ; Zhenghong LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(10):1976-1984
Objective To construct c-Met CAR-T cells secreting PD-1 antibodies to reduce immune inhibitory effect of tumor cells and enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy against pancreatic cancer.Methods Kaplan-Meier Plotter,GEPIA,and Timer 2.0 bioinformatics databases were used to analyze c-Met expression in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with survival and immune infiltration status.In clinical samples of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer Aspc-1 cells,c-Met and PD-L1 expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry.Using gene editing technology,PD-1 secretory antibodies and HIS tags were linked to second-generation c-Met CAR molecules to construct PD-1/c-Met CAR plasmids,which were then packaged into lentiviruses for infection of activated T cells.The positive rate and cell subset distribution of CAR-T cells were analyzed with flow cytometry,and secretory PD-1 antibodies in cell supernatants were detected using Western blotting.The target cell killing efficiency and proliferative activity of the modified CAR-T cells were evaluated after activation,and cytokine secretion was analyzed using ELISA.Results The expression of c-Met was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer than in normal tissues,and its expression level was negatively correlated with the patients'survival and positively correlated with immune cell infiltration.The clinical samples of pancreatic cancer tissues expressed significantly higher levels of c-Met and PD-L1 than the adjacent tissues,and 90.7%and 57.7%of Aspc-1 cells were positive for c-Met and PD-L1,respectively.The constructed PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells were capable of secreting PD-1 antibodies and showed a significantly higher killing efficiency against tumor cells than c-Met CAR-T cells at an effector-to-target ratio of 20:1,with also a higher proliferative activity after target cell stimulation and higher levels of IL-2 and TNF-α secretin.Conclusion PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells have higher killing efficiency against pancreatic cancer cells with also higher proliferative activity than c-Met CAR-T cells.
6.Comparative Study of Two Common In Vitro Models for the Pancreatic Islet with MIN6
Xinxin CHAO ; Furong ZHAO ; Jiawei HU ; Yanrong YU ; Renjian XIE ; Jianing ZHONG ; Miao HUANG ; Tai ZENG ; Hui YANG ; Dan LUO ; Weijie PENG
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 2023;20(1):127-141
BACKGROUND:
Islet transplantation is currently considered the most promising method for treating insulin-dependent diabetes. The two most-studied artificial islets are alginate-encapsulated b cells or b cell spheroids. As three-dimensional (3D) models, both artificial islets have better insulin secretory functions and transplantation efficiencies than cells in twodimensional (2D) monolayer culture. However, the effects of these two methods have not been compared yet. Therefore, in this study, cells from the mouse islet b cell line Min6 were constructed as scaffold-free spheroids or alginate-encapsulated dispersed cells.
METHODS:
MIN6 cell spheroids were prepared by using Agarose-base microwell arrays. The insulin secretion level was determined by mouse insulin ELISA kit, and the gene and protein expression status of the MIN6 were performed by Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot, respectively.
RESULTS:
Both 3D cultures effectively promoted the proliferation and glucose-stimulated insulin release (GSIS) of MIN6 cells compared to 2D adherent cells. Furthermore, 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells demonstrated more significant effects than the spheroids. In general, three pancreatic genes were expressed at higher levels in response to the 3D culture than to the 2D culture, and pancreatic/duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX1) expression was higher in the cells encapsulated in 1% alginate than that in the spheroids. A western blot analysis showed that 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine protein kinase (AKT)/forkhead transcription factor FKHR (FoxO1) pathway more than the spheroids, 0.5% alginate-, or 2% alginate-encapsulated cells did. The 3D MIN6 culture, therefore, showed improved effects compared to the 2D culture, and the 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells exhibited better effects than the spheroids. The upregulation of PDX1 expression through the activation of the PI3K/AKT/FoxO1 pathway may mediate the improved cell proliferation and GSIS in 1% alginate-encapsulated MIN6 cells.
CONCLUSION
This study may contribute to the construction of in vitro culture systems for pancreatic islets to meet clinical requirements.
7.Practice of two methods in occupational health risk grading and classification management in petroleum refining enterprises
Qifan HUANG ; Jiawei ZHU ; Xi ZHONG ; Rongzong LI ; Zhiheng PENG ; Shibiao SU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2023;40(6):648-654
Background Most of the studies on grading and classification of occupational health compre-hensive risks for specific employers still remain in the establishment and description of methodology, and practical application studies are rarely reported. Objective To explore the application of an occupational disease hazards comprehensive risk assessment method issued by the National Disease Control and Prevention Bureau in conjunction with the National Health Commission and a self-developed occupational health grading and classification method in petroleum refining enterprises, and to provide practical experience for the implementation of differentiated law enforcement by relevant regulatory authorities. Methods Two occupational health grading and classification methods were practiced in three petroleum refining enterprises in Guangdong Province. The occupational hazards comprehensive risk assessment method was provided by the Notice on Carrying out Pilot Work of Occupational Health Classification Supervision and Law Enforcement of the National Disease Control and Prevention Bureau and the National Health Commission. The principle was to derive the occupational health risk level according to nature of occupational hazards, exposure level, and number of workers exposed to them in an employer, and then to classify them into Class A, Class B, and Class C by combining with local occupational health management status level. The occupational health grading and classification method was self-developed according to available domestic and foreign occupational health risk assessment methods. Its principle was to calculate the risk level of each workstation in an employer based on published carcinogenicity classification or LD50/LC50 of chemical toxicants, level of noise, exposure parameters such as exposure level and exposure frequency, estimate the comprehensive risk Ro of the target employer by the Romanian comprehensive risk calculation method, and then calculate a comprehensive risk Ro' weighted by the occupational health management index of the target employer and classify it into class A, class B, and class C. Finally, assessment results, scope of application, inquired indicators, advantages,disadvantages and professional competence requirements of the two grading and classification methods were compared. Results The occupational hazards that were evaluated in three enterprises in this study were benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, hydrogen sulfide, and noise. The exposure levels of benzene, toluene, xylene, and gasoline were all below 10% OEL (occupational exposure limit), and hydrogen sulfide and noise were disqualified. Occupational hazards such as benzene and hydrogen sulfide were serious occupational hazards in the three enterprises, and the number of workers exposed was 461, 912, and 224, respectively; the HRs (hazard ratings) of benzene, toluene, xylene, gasoline, hydrogen sulfide, and noise were level 5, 3, 2, 3, 5, and 3 respectively. The occupational health management status of the three enterprises was graded as B, A, and B, respectively by the occupational disease hazards comprehensive risk assessment method. The occupational health management index of the three enterprises was graded as B, A, and A, respectively by the occupational health grading and classification method. The comprehensive risk assessment results showed that two enterprises classified into as the highest class C and one into class B by the occupational disease hazards comprehensive risk assessment method, while all three enterprises were classified into class B by the occupational health grading and classification method. Conclusion The two grading and classification methods are not consistent in the evaluation results of petroleum refining enterprises, and there are differences in the evaluation scope, indicators to be collected, and professionalism. It is recommended that occupational health regulators should fully consider the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods and choose the appropriate assessment method according to the actual regulatory purpose.
8.Clinical effect of adult donor dual kidney transplantation
Jianfei HOU ; Longkai PENG ; Xubiao XIE ; Zhouqi TANG ; Jiawei PENG ; Hedong ZHANG ; Tengfang LI ; Kankan SHUI ; Chen GAO ; Gongbin LAN ; Fenghua PENG ; Shaojie YU ; Yu WANG ; Xiaotian TANG ; Helong DAI
Chinese Journal of Urology 2023;44(4):282-286
Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of adult donor dual kidney transplantation.Methods:Retrospective analysis of case data of 13 adult donor kidney dual kidney transplantation (DKT) performed in the The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from September 2016 to December 2020. For 13 donors, the average age and BMI were (53.5±12.4)years and (24.3±2.8) kg/m 2, respectively. Their mean Serum creatinine (SCr) at admission and before procurement was (132.9±54.1)and (228.7±112.4)μmol/L, respectively. 3 of them had diabetes mellitus history, and 8 had hypertension history. 11 met the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) DKT criteria and 6 met Remuzzi score DKT criteria. For 13 recipients, the average age and BMI were (39.3±8.9)years and (20.2±2.4)kg/m 2, respectively. All of them received ABO blood type-matched kidney transplants. 2 of them had their grafts transplanted in the bilateral iliac. In 12 cases, the grafts filled rapidly and urinated immediately when opening blood flow. In 1 case, the grafts were dark in color and vascular showed weak pulsation after opening blood flow. The time to recovery of perioperative graft function (from the day of surgery to the natural reduction of SCr to the normal range 44-133μmol/L), the occurrence of delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection (AR), ureteral and surgical incision complications, as well as the recipients’ final follow-up SCr, eGFR, urinary protein, and grafts outcome were observed. Risk factors affecting outcomes were assessed by univariate logistic regression analysis. Results:The SCr dropped to the normal range at discharge in 10 recipients, and the average recovery time was (13.8±13.0) days. In other 3 cases SCr at discharge were 300.0, 149.0, 152.5μmol/L. 4 cases had DGF, 4 had AR, 1 experienced urinary fistula, and 1 experienced incisional dehiscence, which were treated with anti-rejection, J-tube implantation, continuous catheterization to maintain bladder void, secondary suturing, respectively. The follow-up time ranged from 4 to 54 months, with a median of 28(15.5, 31.0) months. At the final follow-up time, 10 cases had good graft function, 2 suffered impaired kidney function, and 1 experienced graft failure. The average SCr and eGFR except for graft failure patient were (144.2±101.3)μmol/L and (52.9±21.2)ml/min, respectively. 4 had positive urine protein. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that donor age, BMI, history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension, and SCr were not significantly correlated with recipients’ DGF and graft impairment ( P>0.05), and due to the small sample size, multifactorial logistic regression analysis was not performed. Conclusion:The short to medium-term effects of adult donor DKT coule be safe and feasible.
9.Effect of ursolic acid extracted from Hippophae Rhamnoides L.on repair of sciatic nerve injury in rats
Yue SUN ; Na GE ; Xue ZHAO ; Tengfei GUO ; Jiawei LIU ; Wenlong ZHANG ; Peng ZHOU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2023;39(24):3158-3162
Objective To investigate the repairing effect of ursolic acid extracted from Hippophae rhamnoi-des L.on sciatic nerve injury in rats.Methods After preparing a sciatic nerve damage model,thirty 2-month old Wistar rats were randomly divided into ursolic acid and control groups,with 15 rats in each group.Ursolic acid group was given Ursolic acid 150 mg/(kg·d)by gavage,while the control group was given the same dose of normal saline for 6 weeks.After 6 weeks,H&E staining was used to observe the pathological changes of rat sciatic nerves,and SFI and MNCV were calculated;The expression of NGF in sciatic nerve was detected by immunohistochemistry,and the expression of GAP-43 in L4-L6 spinal cord was detected by Western blotting.Results After 6 weeks,compared to the control group,the number of regenerated nerve fibers in the ursolic acid group increased,the arrangement was slightly regular,the capillary structure was abundant,and the proliferation of fibroblasts decreased;SFI and MNCV%were significantly increased(P<0.05),NGF protein positive expression was significantly increased(P<0.05),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).GAP-43 protein expression in sciatic nerve tissue was significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusions The intervention of ursolic acid extracted from Hippophae rhamnoides L.can improve the function of rats after sciatic nerve injury,promote the increase of regenerated nerve fibers and the repair of myelin sheath in rats with sciatic nerve injury,which may be related to increased NGF and GAP-43 protein expression in rats.
10.Determination of suspended erythrocyte volume range and establishment of its internal control standard
Jing LAN ; Hua XU ; Xin CAO ; Jiawei LI ; Jin DING ; Peng PENG ; Na LIU ; Na FENG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2023;36(3):263-265
【Objective】 To determine the volume range of suspended erythrocyte and establish its internal control standard. 【Methods】 The theoretical value of suspended erythrocyte volume was calculated according to the screening criteria of healthy blood donors and Quality Requirements for Whole Blood and Blood Components. A total of 2 410 bags of 1 U and 2 U suspended erythrocyte were randomly selected and weighed, and the volume range were formulated by

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