1.Effect of Epimedium brevicornu Ethanol Extract on Aging of Castrated Rats by Intervening in Mesenchymal Adipose-derived Stem Cells
Zuyu MENG ; Haiquan LIU ; Shaozi LIN ; Mei WANG ; Yiyao ZHANG ; Fang LIU ; Menghan LI ; Hongling CHEN ; Jiajia QIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):174-181
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which the ethanol extract of Epimedium brevicornu (EEBM) intervenes in mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to delay aging in castrated rats. MethodsForty-five 3-month-old SPF female SD rats were ovariectomized and randomly divided into model group, ADSCs treatment group, and ADSCs groups treated with low, medium, and high concentrations of EEBM (1, 50, 100 μg·L-1), referred to as the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups, with 9 rats in each group. After tail vein injection of 200 μL of the corresponding stem cell suspension, aging-related indicators including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p21), tumor suppressor gene (p53), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (Caspase-3), and lipofuscin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, the IL-6 content in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Lipofuscin, MDA, and IL-8 levels in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.01), while SOD content was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the ADSCs treatment group, lipofuscin and IL-8 levels in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). The MDA content was significantly decreased in the AE medium concentration group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, protein levels of p21, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3 in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the ADSCs treatment group, protein levels of p21, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3 in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the Bcl-2 protein level in the AE low concentration group was significantly increased (P<0.01). ConclusionThe results of this experiment show that EEBM-treated ADSCs or ADSCs may delay aging in castrated rats by inhibiting cell apoptosis, reducing cell cycle inhibitors and pro-inflammatory factors, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing oxidative reactions. Moreover, EEBM-treated ADSCs demonstrate stronger anti-aging effects than ADSCs alone. This study provides experimental evidence supporting the clinical use of EEBM to intervene in ADSCs and delay aging.
2.Textual Research on Key Information and Modern Clinical Application of Classical Famous Formula Liumotang
Xinyu ZHANG ; Chong LI ; Yixuan HU ; Luming LIANG ; Ye ZHAO ; Xiaoting LU ; Yu WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(3):201-212
Liumotang comes from the Yuan dynasty's Effective Prescription Handed Down for Generations of Physicians. It is composed of six medicinal materials: Arecae Semen, Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, Aucklandiae Radix, Linderae Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, and Aurantii Fructus. It is a classical formula for treating abdominal pain due to Qi stagnation and constipation accompanied by heat. This study systematically collated the records of Liumotang in ancient medical books and modern clinical literature and conducted in-depth analysis and textual research on its formula source, main diseases, composition, dosage, medical books, container capacity, processing, preparation method, usage, drug basis, formula meaning, and other key information, so as to provide a powerful reference for the development and clinical application of compound preparations of the classical formula Liumotang. The results show that Liumotang was first seen in Effective Prescription Handed Down for Generations of Physicians, and many medical books of the past dynasties have imitated this. In terms of drug basis, the dried and mature seeds of the palm plant Areca catechu, resin-containing wood of the Daphneaceae plant Aquilaria sinensis, the dried roots of the Asteraceae plant woody Aucklandia lappa, the dried tuber root of the Lauraceae plant Lindera aggregata, the dried roots and rhizomes of the knotweed plant, R. palmatum, R.tangutikum, and R. officinale, and the dried and unripe fruits of the citrus genus C. aurantium and its cultivated varieties from the family Rutaceae were selected. In terms of dosage, through the textual research on bowls in the Ming and Qing dynasties, combined with the conversion of medicines and bowl capacity in the Qing dynasty, it was estimated that the dosage of each drug in the Yuan dynasty was 10.86 g. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the dosage of drugs was mostly equal, but the dosage of drugs was somewhat different. In terms of processing, preparation method, and usage, in the medical books of the past dynasties, the processing of drugs has slightly changed, but raw drugs are used in all preparations. The preparation method and usage did not change much during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, except for certain differences in dosage. In terms of syndrome, Liumotang was first used to treat abdominal pain due to Qi stagnation and constipation accompanied by heat. Medical books of the past dynasties often omit the symptoms of heat. In modern clinical practice, Liumotang is mainly used in the digestive system and urinary system diseases and is mostly used to treat constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, biliary reflux gastritis, functional constipation, slow transit constipation, and other diseases, with no adverse reactions found yet. The above results provide a reliable scientific basis for the development and clinical treatment of Liumotang compound preparations.
3.Clinical Advantages and Key Research Points of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Cong SUN ; Yujiang DONG ; Hongmei GAO ; Qing WEI ; Menghe ZHANG ; Xiaojing SHI ; Liya FENG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(2):133-138
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy has unique clinical advantages in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, mainly reflected in five aspects, improving quality of life, enabling early diagnosis and treatment, promoting cardiac rehabilitation, making up for the limitations of Western medicine, and improving the success rate of catheter ablation. However, there is insufficient evidence in current clinical research. Based on the current status of TCM research in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, it is suggested that future studies should focus on standardized research on syndrome differentiation and classification. This can be achieved through clinical epidemiological surveys, expert consensus, and other methods to establish a unified syndrome differentiation and classification standard for atrial fibrillation. Clinical efficacy evaluation indicators should be standardized, and core outcome measures for clinical research on TCM treatment of atrial fibrillation should be developed through systematic reviews, patient interviews, and other methods. Additionally, clinical research design, implementation, and data management should be improved. By leveraging modern information technologies such as artificial intelligence, the scientific and standardized nature of TCM intervention research on atrial fibrillation can be enhanced, ultimately improving the quality of research.
4.Research advances in the association of adipokines with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and its associated liver cancer
Yixiao ZHANG ; Jianguang SUN ; Bowen JIANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):151-158
With the emergence of unhealthy dietary structures in people’s life, metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has gradually become the most important chronic liver disease in China, and there is also a gradual increase in the cases of MAFLD-associated liver cancer. Adipose tissue not only has the function of energy storage, but also secretes adipokines that play an important role in the development and progression of MAFLD and its associated liver cancer. Studies on the mechanism of adipokines have provided important help for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD, and a large number of studies have shown that the abnormal secretion of adipokines is associated with MAFLD and plays an important regulatory role in the development and progression of liver cancer. Adipokines are not only regulated at the gene level, but they can also interact with genes through specific pathways to co-regulate pathophysiological processes such as inflammation, metabolism, immunity, and cell proliferation in MAFLD and its associated liver cancer. This article reviews the latest studies on the association of adipokines with MAFLD and its associated liver cancer, in order to provide new directions for further research on the pathogenesis of liver cancer.
5.Research advances in liver venous deprivation
Bensong HE ; Ming XIAO ; Qijia ZHANG ; Canhong XIANG ; Yanxiong WANG ; Yingbo LI ; Zhishuo WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(1):183-188
Portal vein embolization (PVE) can induce atrophy of the embolized lobe and compensatory regeneration of the non-embolized lobe. However, due to inadequate regeneration of future liver remnant (FLR) after PVE, some patients remain unsuitable for hepatectomy after PVE. In recent years, liver venous deprivation (LVD), which combines PVE with hepatic vein embolization (HVE), has induced enhanced FLR regeneration. Compared with associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS), LVD triggers faster and more robust FLR regeneration, with lower incidence rate of postoperative complications and mortality rate. By reviewing related articles on LVD, this article introduces the effectiveness of LVD and analyzes the differences and safety of various technical paths, and it is believed that LVD is a safe and effective preoperative pretreatment method.
6.Research progress of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of retinal detachment
Bingxing LU ; Qianyin CHEN ; Jinglin ZHANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):434-439
The application of artificial intelligence(AI)in the medical field, particularly for predicting, diagnosing and treating retinal detachment(RD), has made remarkable achievements. This paper reviews the advancements in AI applications for RD across multiple dimensions, including predicting RD incidence, assessing surgical success rates, forecasting postoperative visual outcomes, and evaluating recurrence rates. In diagnostic support, AI technology has demonstrated significant value, especially in ophthalmic imaging, with applications in the intelligent analysis of ultra-wide-angle fundus photography, optical coherence tomography(OCT), ophthalmologic ultrasound images, and AI chatbots models. Furthermore, AI has proven uniquely beneficial in surgical decision-making, robotic-assisted surgical systems, and the assessment of surgical complications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of AI applications in RD, underscoring its potential to address numerous challenges in clinical practice. It also explores existing limitations and offers insights into future directions for development in this field.
7.Analysis of miR-744-5p and PELI3 levels in conjunctival epithelial cells correlated with sex hormones and inflammatory factors in perimenopausal dry eye patients
Li YAN ; Jian LIU ; Xiuping ZHANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):465-468
AIM:To detect the expression levels of miR-744-5p and E3 ubiquitin protein ligase(PELI3)in conjunctival epithelial cells of perimenopausal patients with dry eye, and analyze their correlation with sex hormone level, inflammatory factor level and tear secretion function.METHODS: A total of 60 perimenopausal patients with dry eye admitted to our hospital from February 2020 to February 2022 were selected as the observation group, in addition, 60 perimenopausal subjects with no abnormal eye examination were included as a control group. The tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(SⅠt)and corneal fluorescein staining(FL)scores of perimenopausal patients with dry eye were collected. The conjunctival epithelial cells of the two groups were obtained by impression cytology, the expression level of miR-744-5p was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), the PELI3 levels of conjunctival epithelial cells and serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), estradiol(E2), luteinizing hormone(LH), interleukin-1(IL-1), interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; correlation analysis was conducted by Pearson and Spearman methods.RESULTS: The expression level of miR-744-5p in conjunctival epithelial cells of patients in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the expression level of PELI3 was lower than that in the control group(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of FSH, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum of patients increased in the observation group, and the expression levels of E2 and LH in serum decreased(all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that miR-744-5p was negatively correlated with PELI3 in conjunctival epithelial cells of perimenopausal dry eye patients(r=-0.476, P<0.01); miR-744-5p was negatively correlated with LH, E2, BUT and SⅠt(all P<0.05), while it was positively correlated with FSH, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and FL scores(all P<0.05); PELI3 was negatively correlated with FSH, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and FL scores, while it was positively correlated with E2, BUT and SⅠt(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The level of miR-744-5p increased and PELI3 decreased in conjunctival epithelial cells of perimenopausal patients with dry eye. PELI3 and miR-744-5p were closely related to the sex hormones level, inflammatory factor level and the function of tear secretion in perimenopausal patients with dry eye.
8.Research progress of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of retinal detachment
Bingxing LU ; Qianyin CHEN ; Jinglin ZHANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):434-439
The application of artificial intelligence(AI)in the medical field, particularly for predicting, diagnosing and treating retinal detachment(RD), has made remarkable achievements. This paper reviews the advancements in AI applications for RD across multiple dimensions, including predicting RD incidence, assessing surgical success rates, forecasting postoperative visual outcomes, and evaluating recurrence rates. In diagnostic support, AI technology has demonstrated significant value, especially in ophthalmic imaging, with applications in the intelligent analysis of ultra-wide-angle fundus photography, optical coherence tomography(OCT), ophthalmologic ultrasound images, and AI chatbots models. Furthermore, AI has proven uniquely beneficial in surgical decision-making, robotic-assisted surgical systems, and the assessment of surgical complications. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of AI applications in RD, underscoring its potential to address numerous challenges in clinical practice. It also explores existing limitations and offers insights into future directions for development in this field.
9.Analysis of miR-744-5p and PELI3 levels in conjunctival epithelial cells correlated with sex hormones and inflammatory factors in perimenopausal dry eye patients
Li YAN ; Jian LIU ; Xiuping ZHANG
International Eye Science 2025;25(3):465-468
AIM:To detect the expression levels of miR-744-5p and E3 ubiquitin protein ligase(PELI3)in conjunctival epithelial cells of perimenopausal patients with dry eye, and analyze their correlation with sex hormone level, inflammatory factor level and tear secretion function.METHODS: A total of 60 perimenopausal patients with dry eye admitted to our hospital from February 2020 to February 2022 were selected as the observation group, in addition, 60 perimenopausal subjects with no abnormal eye examination were included as a control group. The tear film break-up time(BUT), Schirmer I test(SⅠt)and corneal fluorescein staining(FL)scores of perimenopausal patients with dry eye were collected. The conjunctival epithelial cells of the two groups were obtained by impression cytology, the expression level of miR-744-5p was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), the PELI3 levels of conjunctival epithelial cells and serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), estradiol(E2), luteinizing hormone(LH), interleukin-1(IL-1), interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; correlation analysis was conducted by Pearson and Spearman methods.RESULTS: The expression level of miR-744-5p in conjunctival epithelial cells of patients in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the expression level of PELI3 was lower than that in the control group(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of FSH, IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum of patients increased in the observation group, and the expression levels of E2 and LH in serum decreased(all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that miR-744-5p was negatively correlated with PELI3 in conjunctival epithelial cells of perimenopausal dry eye patients(r=-0.476, P<0.01); miR-744-5p was negatively correlated with LH, E2, BUT and SⅠt(all P<0.05), while it was positively correlated with FSH, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and FL scores(all P<0.05); PELI3 was negatively correlated with FSH, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and FL scores, while it was positively correlated with E2, BUT and SⅠt(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The level of miR-744-5p increased and PELI3 decreased in conjunctival epithelial cells of perimenopausal patients with dry eye. PELI3 and miR-744-5p were closely related to the sex hormones level, inflammatory factor level and the function of tear secretion in perimenopausal patients with dry eye.
10.Enzyme-directed Immobilization Strategies for Biosensor Applications
Xing-Bao WANG ; Yao-Hong MA ; Yun-Long XUE ; Xiao-Zhen HUANG ; Yue SHAO ; Yi YU ; Bing-Lian WANG ; Qing-Ai LIU ; Li-He ZHANG ; Wei-Li GONG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):374-394
Immobilized enzyme-based enzyme electrode biosensors, characterized by high sensitivity and efficiency, strong specificity, and compact size, demonstrate broad application prospects in life science research, disease diagnosis and monitoring, etc. Immobilization of enzyme is a critical step in determining the performance (stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility) of the biosensors. Random immobilization (physical adsorption, covalent cross-linking, etc.) can easily bring about problems, such as decreased enzyme activity and relatively unstable immobilization. Whereas, directional immobilization utilizing amino acid residue mutation, affinity peptide fusion, or nucleotide-specific binding to restrict the orientation of the enzymes provides new possibilities to solve the problems caused by random immobilization. In this paper, the principles, advantages and disadvantages and the application progress of enzyme electrode biosensors of different directional immobilization strategies for enzyme molecular sensing elements by specific amino acids (lysine, histidine, cysteine, unnatural amino acid) with functional groups introduced based on site-specific mutation, affinity peptides (gold binding peptides, carbon binding peptides, carbohydrate binding domains) fused through genetic engineering, and specific binding between nucleotides and target enzymes (proteins) were reviewed, and the application fields, advantages and limitations of various immobilized enzyme interface characterization techniques were discussed, hoping to provide theoretical and technical guidance for the creation of high-performance enzyme sensing elements and the manufacture of enzyme electrode sensors.

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