1.Advances in perioperative nutritional management for patients with esophageal cancer
Zuyu ZHANG ; Bo YANG ; Rong NIU ; Jijun XUE ; Jian CHEN ; Dong LI ; Wentao ZHAO ; Wenfeng HAN ; Yue BAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):157-162
Esophageal cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract in China, and radical surgery remains the cornerstone of its comprehensive treatment. However, multifactorial challenges such as postoperative gastrointestinal tract reconstruction, traumatic stress, and tumor-related metabolic disturbances render esophageal cancer patients highly susceptible to malnutrition. Perioperative nutritional support therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing surgical safety, improving clinical outcomes, and elevating patients' quality of life by regulating metabolic homeostasis, preserving organ function, and optimizing the immune microenvironment. This article reviews the mechanisms underlying malnutrition in esophageal cancer, methods for nutritional status assessment, and precision intervention pathways based on multi-omics evaluations. The aim is to strengthen clinicians' awareness of standardized perioperative nutritional management for esophageal cancer patients and promote its clinical implementation, thereby facilitating postoperative recovery and improving long-term quality of life.
2.Exploration on effects of Bushen Antai Mixture on placental oxidative damage in mice with RSA investigation based on Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB signaling pathways
Haijing CHU ; Chengcheng LIANG ; Zhe LI ; Heng HU ; Jing YU ; Jijun CHU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(4):494-500
Objective:To observe the effects of Bushen Antai Mixture on nuclear transcription factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) in placental tissue of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) mice.Methods:The CBA/J mice (female) and DBA/2 (male), CBA/J mice (female) and BALB/c (male) were caged at a ratio of 2 : 1 to establish RSA and normal pregnant mice, respectively. The next morning, the vaginal plug was found or the sperm was seen under the microscope as the successful modeling, which was counted as the first day of pregnancy. CBA/J×BALB/c mice were set as normal group, and the RSA model pregnant mice were divided into model group, progesterone group, and Bushen Antai Mixture low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups using a random number table method, with 6 mice in each group. The normal group and the model group were given distilled water by gavage. Bushen Antai Mixture low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups were given 3.9 g/kg, 11.7 g/kg and 23.4 g/kg Bushen Antai Mixture by gavage. The progesterone group was given progesterone capsule aqueous solution 26 mg/kg by gavage for 14 consecutive days. The embryo loss rate of mice was calculated. The pathological changes of placental tissues were observed by HE staining. The expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and NF-κB protein and mRNA in placental tissues were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR.Results:Compared with the model group, the embryo loss rate of mice in the Bushen Antai Mixture low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups and the progesterone group significantly decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01); the pathological morphology of placental tissue improved; the expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 protein and mRNA in placental tissue significantly increased ( P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of NF-κB protein and mRNA significantly decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion:Bushen Antai Mixture may may treat RSA by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, inhibiting NF - κB expression, and improving oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the placental tissue of RSA pregnant mice.
3.Exploring the impact of positive TPO-Ab on the serum metabolic profiles of pregnant women in early pregnancy based on metabolomics
Yun Li ; Chengcheng Liang ; Xiaoyu Wang ; Jiaxin Tong ; Jijun Chu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(6):1105-1112
Objective:
This study employs metabolomics to analyze the characteristic biomarkers and metabolic pathways in the serum of pregnant women with positive thyroid peroxidase antibodies(TPOAb) during early pregnancy. The objective is to explore the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and maternal-fetal health.
Methods :
Early-pregnancy women undergoing antenatal check-ups for thyroid function and antibody testing at our hospital were selected. According to the TPOAb results, participants were categorized into a TPOAb-positive group and a TPOAb-negative group. The serum metabolic profiles were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS) technology to identify differences between the two groups. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) database was utilized for metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites.
Results :
A total of 79 significantly different metabolites were identified in the serum of TPOAb-positive pregnant women compared to the control group, including 20 upregulated and 59 downregulated metabolites. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that these differential metabolites were mainly involved in 21 key metabolic pathways. Among the metabolites associated with TPOAb, 31 were identified, with 6 showing positive correlation and 25 showing negative correlation. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these differential metabolites were closely related to Glycerophospholipid metabolism, Valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, Glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, and Glycerolipid metabolism pathways.
Conclusion
Significant differences in metabolites and their associated metabolic pathways are identified in the serum of TPOAb-positive pregnant women during early gestation, indicating that these metabolite alterations are closely linked to thyroid dysfunction and maternal-fetal health.
4.Interoceptive Dysfunction in Psychiatric Disorders and Non-invasive Neuromodulation for Improving Interoception.
Huiru CUI ; Jijun WANG ; Chunbo LI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(8):1487-1499
Dysfunction of the interoceptive system is recognized as an important component of clinical symptoms, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, and other mental disorders. Non-invasive neuromodulation is an emerging clinical intervention approach, and over the past decade, research on non-invasive neuromodulation aimed at regulating interoception has rapidly developed. This review first outlines the pathways of interoceptive signals and assessment methods, then summarizes the interoceptive abnormalities in psychiatric disorders and current studies for non-invasive neuromodulation targeting interoception, including intervention modes, target sites, interoceptive measures, and potential neurobiological mechanisms. Finally, we discuss significant research challenges and future directions.
Humans
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Interoception/physiology*
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Mental Disorders/therapy*
5.Yijingtang Reduces Ovarian Inflammatory Responses in Rat Model of Diminished Ovarian Reserve via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Heng HU ; Jijun CHU ; Zhe LI ; Haijing CHU ; Jing YU ; Chengcheng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):20-30
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yijingtang (YJT) in treating diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in rats by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty female SD rats with normal estrous cycles were randomly allocated into blank, model, low- and high-dose (12.579 and 25.158 g·kg-1, respectively) YJT, and dehydroepiandrosterone (7.487 5 mg·kg-1) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in other groups except the blank group were administrated with the tripterygium glycosides tablet suspension (5 mg·kg-1) by gavage for 14 days for the modeling of DOR. The rats in the drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage from day 15 for 30 consecutive days, and those in the blank and model groups received equal volumes of distilled water. The vaginal exfoliated cell smears were observed to assess the changes in the estrous cycle. The wet weight of bilateral ovaries was weighed for calculation of the ovarian index. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes in the ovaries and the proportions of follicles at various levels were calculated. The serum levels of sex hormones [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB profilin α (IκBα), NF-κB and inflammatory factors in the ovarian tissue. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of factors related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the ovarian tissue. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed disturbed estrous cycles, increased inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, decreases in ovarian index and proportion of presinusoidal follicles, and an increase in the proportion of atretic follicles (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the model group showed elevated serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, up-regulated mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.01), lowered serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, down-regulated mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.01), and massive nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. Compared with the model group, dehydroepiandrosterone and low and high doses of YJT restored the disturbed estrous cycle, reduced inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, increased the ovarian index (P<0.01), and changed the follicular composition ratio (P<0.01). Furthermore, the drugs lowered the serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, down-regulated the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01), raised the serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ConclusionYJT may inhibit the release and expression of inflammatory factors by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate the inflammatory responses in the ovarian tissue, thereby improving the ovarian function in DOR rats.
6.Yijingtang Reduces Ovarian Inflammatory Responses in Rat Model of Diminished Ovarian Reserve via TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Heng HU ; Jijun CHU ; Zhe LI ; Haijing CHU ; Jing YU ; Chengcheng LIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(11):20-30
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Yijingtang (YJT) in treating diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) in rats by regulating the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty female SD rats with normal estrous cycles were randomly allocated into blank, model, low- and high-dose (12.579 and 25.158 g·kg-1, respectively) YJT, and dehydroepiandrosterone (7.487 5 mg·kg-1) groups, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in other groups except the blank group were administrated with the tripterygium glycosides tablet suspension (5 mg·kg-1) by gavage for 14 days for the modeling of DOR. The rats in the drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage from day 15 for 30 consecutive days, and those in the blank and model groups received equal volumes of distilled water. The vaginal exfoliated cell smears were observed to assess the changes in the estrous cycle. The wet weight of bilateral ovaries was weighed for calculation of the ovarian index. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the histopathological changes in the ovaries and the proportions of follicles at various levels were calculated. The serum levels of sex hormones [follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)] and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-10 (IL-10)] were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) was conducted to determine the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB profilin α (IκBα), NF-κB and inflammatory factors in the ovarian tissue. Western blot was employed to measure the protein levels of factors related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the ovarian tissue. Immunofluorescence (IF) was used to detect the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed disturbed estrous cycles, increased inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, decreases in ovarian index and proportion of presinusoidal follicles, and an increase in the proportion of atretic follicles (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, the model group showed elevated serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, up-regulated mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.01), lowered serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, down-regulated mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.01), and massive nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. Compared with the model group, dehydroepiandrosterone and low and high doses of YJT restored the disturbed estrous cycle, reduced inflammatory infiltration in the ovarian tissue, increased the ovarian index (P<0.01), and changed the follicular composition ratio (P<0.01). Furthermore, the drugs lowered the serum levels of FSH, LH, TNF-α, and IL-1β, down-regulated the mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, IκBα, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-1β and the protein levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.05, P<0.01), raised the serum levels of AMH, E2, and IL-10, up-regulated the mRNA level of IL-10 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and reduced the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in the ovarian tissue. ConclusionYJT may inhibit the release and expression of inflammatory factors by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway to attenuate the inflammatory responses in the ovarian tissue, thereby improving the ovarian function in DOR rats.
7.Regulation of histidine metabolism by Lactobacillus Reuteri mediates the pathogenesis and treatment of ischemic stroke.
Kangrui HU ; Zhihao ZHOU ; Haofeng LI ; Jijun XIAO ; Yun SHEN ; Ke DING ; Tingting ZHANG ; Guangji WANG ; Haiping HAO ; Yan LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):239-255
Increasing evidence has underscored the significance of post-stroke alterations along gut-brain axis, while its role in pathogenesis and treatment of ischemic stroke (IS) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to elucidate the therapeutic effects and action targets of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on IS and explore a novel pathogenesis and treatment strategy of IS via profiling the microbial community and metabolic characteristics along gut-brain axis. Our findings revealed for the first time that the therapeutic effect of PNS on IS was microbiota-dependent. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) modeling significantly down-regulated Lactobacilli in rats, and PNS markedly recovered Lactobacilli, particularly Lactobacillus reuteri (L.Reu). Metabolomics showed a significant reduction in serum histidine (HIS) in clinical obsolete IS patients and rehabilitation period I/R rats. Meanwhile, the L.Reu colonization in I/R rats exhibited significant neuroprotective activity and greatly increased HIS in serum, gut microbiota, and brain. Moreover, exogenous HIS demonstrated indirect neuroprotective effects through metabolizing to histamine. Notably, vagus nerve severance in I/R rats was performed to investigate HIS's neuroprotective mechanism. The results innovatively revealed that PNS could promote HIS synthesis in gut by enhancing L.Reu proportion, thereby increasing intracerebral HIS through peripheral pathway. Consequently, our data provided novel insights into HIS metabolism mediated by L.Reu in the pathogenesis and treatment of IS.
8.Discovery of papyifuran A as an unusual cembrane diterpenoid from Boswellia papyrifera resin reveals EEF2 as a potent new drug target for fibrosis of multiple organs.
Madhu Babu SURA ; Yeting ZHOU ; Jijun LI ; Yongxian CHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3181-3195
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 8%-15% of the population globally and can cause renal failure, partly due to lack of effective treatments and drug targets. Three novel cembrane diterpenoids papyifurans A‒C (1-3), in particular of 1 with an unprecedented trioxatetracyclo[10.2.1.12,5.16,9]heptadecane polyether scaffold, derived from Boswellia papyrifera resin, were found to effectively protect against renal fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. Their structures were fully characterized using a combination of spectroscopic, computational, modified Mosher's, and X-ray crystallographic analysis. In particular, we performed chemical proteomic analyses and found that Elongation factor 2 (EEF2) is the key target of compound 1 for anti-renal fibrosis in vitro. Moreover, previous studies have linked EEF2 with lung fibrosis, while compound 1 was found to inhibit the hallmarks of organ fibrosis in vitro. Such effects were observed to decrease with the knock down of EEF2 in vitro, suggesting that EEF2 might be a universal drug target of organ fibrosis. Collectively, the present study demonstrated an example of identifying drug targets by using structurally novel natural products, which will be beneficial for developing therapeutic agents against organ fibrosis.
9.Effects of Yijing Decoction Containing Serum on Iron Overload-induced Oxidative Stress in Human Ovarian Granulosa Cells
Chengcheng LIANG ; Jing YU ; Heng HU ; Xiaoyu WANG ; Jiaxin TONG ; Xiaoli WANG ; Yang LI ; Jijun CHU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(9):105-112
Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of Yijing Decoction containing serum on iron overload-induced oxidative stress of human ovarian granulosa cells.Methods SD rats were used to prepare medicated serum and blank serum.Iron dextran was used to induce oxidative damage of SVOG cells.The cells were divided into control group,model group,containing serum group,blank serum group,antioxidant group and iron chelating agent group.After corresponding intervention,cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method,estrogen(E2)and progesterone(P)content in supernatant were detected by ELISA,the contents of intracellular ferrous ion(Fe2+),malondialdehyde(MDA),adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),catalase(CAT)were detected by the kit,ROS content was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescence probe,the mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe,Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),transferrin(Tf),transferrin receptor 1(TfR1),ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and ferritin light chain(FTL).Results Compared with the control group,the viability of SVOG cells decreased in the model group,the contents of E2 and P in cell supernatant decreased,the contents of Fe2+,MDA and ROS increased,the content of ATP and activities of SOD,GSH-Px and CAT decreased,the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased,the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and FTH1 decreased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Tf,TfR1 and FTL increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the viability of SVOG cells in containing serum group,antioxidant group and iron chelating agent group increased,the contents of E2 and P in cell supernatant increased,the contents of Fe2+,MDA and ROS decreased,the content of ATP and activities of SOD,GSH-Px and CAT increased,the mitochondrial membrane potential increased,the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and FTH1 increased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Tf,TfR1 and FTL decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yijing Decoction containing serum may relieve oxidative stress damage induced by iron overload,improve mitochondrial function,and restore granulosa cell function,thereby enhancing ovarian function,potentially through up-regulating Nrf2,FTH1 expression and down-regulating Tf,TfR1 and FTL expressions.
10.Clinical efficacy and safety of CLAE regimen for refractory/relapsed T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma: a prospective, multicenter, single-arm study
Yan LI ; Xian ZHANG ; Xiuhua SUN ; Jia SONG ; Rong ZHANG ; Ping YANG ; Wei WAN ; Fei DONG ; Jijun WANG ; Hongmei JING
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(11):1005-1013
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the CLAE (cladribine + cytarabine + etoposide) regimen in refractory/relapsed T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (R/R T-ALL/LBL) .Methods:Patients with R/R T-ALL/LBL received the CLAE regimen in a prospective, multicenter, single-arm clinical study or compassionate use. From March 2019 to August 2024, data from 25 patients (18 in the study across five centers and 7 receiving compassionate treatment in Peking University Third Hospital) were collected. Outcomes included objective response rate, complete response (CR) rate, partial response (PR) rate after 1–2 cycles, bridging to allo-HSCT, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse effects.Results:Median age was 29 years (range, 13–63) ; 17 were male. Among the 24 evaluable patients, CR rate was 33.3% overall and 41.2% among enrolled patients. Median OS and PFS time were 199 (46–1 310) and 49 (28–1 310) days, respectively. Cumulative OS rate at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was (52.1±10.2) %, (29.7±9.3) %, and (27.1±9.1) %, respectively; cumulative PFS rate was (32.6±9.6) %, (24.9±8.9) %, and (23.8±8.7) %, respectively. Among patients achieving CR or PR (8 cases), median OS and PFS were not reached. Cumulative OS rate at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years was (86.8±12.0) %, (78.3±14.6) %, and (72.9±15.7) %, respectively, and the cumulative PFS rate was (86.4±12.1) %, (74.8±15.3) %, and (72.9±15.7) %, respectively. Adverse events were mainly hematologic; no treatment-related mortality occurred. Seven patients achieving CR were bridged to allo-HSCT, with 5 remaining in continuous remission.Conclusion:The CLAE regimen is safe and effective for R/R T-ALL/LBL, facilitating CR as a bridge to allo-HSCT and potentially improving patient prognosis.


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