1.Clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a study by the Jiangsu Cooperative Lymphoma Group (JCLG)
Yi XIA ; Jing HE ; Weiying GU ; Tao JIA ; Tingxun LU ; Yongle LI ; Jiahao ZHOU ; Bingzong LI ; Haiying HUA ; Ping LIU ; Yuqing MIAO ; Yuexin CHENG ; Xiaoyan XIE ; Yunping ZHANG ; Wenzhong WU ; Zhuxia JIA ; Xuzhang LU ; Chunling WANG ; Liang YU ; Min XU ; Jinning SHI ; Weifeng CHEN ; Wanchuan ZHUANG ; Zhen QIAN ; Jun QIAN ; Haiwen NI ; Yifei CHEN ; Qiudan SHEN ; Jianyong LI ; Wenyu SHI
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(6):504-513
Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and analyze the factors associated with prognosis.Methods:A case series study was conducted by retrospectively collecting clinical data from patients aged over 60 years with newly diagnosed stage Ⅰ DLBCL across 20 medical centers in Jiangsu Province, China, between June 2010 and April 2023. The involved site, classification and treatment plan were summarized. The primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Statistical analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox regression model.Results:The study included 255 patients with a median age of 69 years, of whom 130 (51.0%) were male, 66 (25.9%) were aged ≥75 years and 26 (10.1%) had a high Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score of ≥2. Extranodal involvement was observed in 163 (63.9%) patients, with the stomach (37.4%, 61/163), intestine (19.0%, 31/163), testes (11.0%, 18/163), and breast (7.4%, 12/163) being the most frequently affected sites. The non-germinal center B-cell (non-GCB) subtype was prevalent in 63.7% of patients (142/223), with no significant difference between the nodal and extranodal groups ( P=0.681). Furthermore, 73.9% (184/249) and 11.7% (29/249) of patients received the R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) and R-miniCHOP regimen, respectively. The overall 3-year PFS rate was 81.5%, and the 3-year OS rate was 85.6%. Patients aged ≥75 years ( HR=2.910, 95% CI 1.565-5.408, P=0.001) and/or with a CCI score ≥2 ( HR=2.324, 95% CI 1.141-4.732, P=0.020) had a significantly poorer PFS. Incorporating age ≥75 years and CCI score ≥2 into the stage-modified international prognostic index (sm-IPI) can better stratify the prognosis of elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL. The 3-year PFS rate was 48.7% in the high-risk group versus 85.7% in the low-risk group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Our findings show that the elderly patients with stage Ⅰ DLBCL were predominantly characterized by extranodal involvement (particularly in the stomach and intestinal tract) and non-GCB subtype. Age ≥75 years and CCI ≥2 were identified as independent prognostic factors. The newly established sm-IPI-75-CCI incorporating these factors demonstrated superior prognostic discrimination compared to conventional risk assessment systems.
2.Risk factors for postoperative premature epiphyseal closure in pediatric patients with distal tibial epiphyseal fractures and their predictive efficacy
Xiaofei XIE ; Xiaobo JING ; Wei MEI ; Yi SHEN ; Fuli CHENG ; Chenhui YANG ; Yi XIE ; Zilong SHEN ; Tenglong HU ; Bingbing ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(7):669-674
Objective:To investigate the risk factors and their predictive efficacy for postoperative premature epiphyseal closure in pediatric patients with distal tibial epiphyseal fractures.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 216 pediatric patients with distal tibial epiphyseal fractures admitted to Zhengzhou Orthopedics Hospital from January 2018 to December 2023, including 136 males and 80 females, aged 2-16 years [11.8(9.8, 13.3)years]. Among them, 112 patients were affected on the left side and 104 on the right. According to the Salter-Harris fracture classification, the fracture was classified as type I in 14 patients, type II in 97, type III in 38, type IV in 64 and type VI in 3. According to the presence of premature epiphyseal closure after surgery, the patients were divided into premature epiphyseal closure group ( n=38) and normal epiphyseal group ( n=178). Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), injury mechanism, side of injury, Salter-Harris classification of fracture, initial displacement distance of the fracture end, medial malleolar involvement by the fracture line surgical fixation method, operation duration, reduction method, and reduction quality were recorded in the two groups. Univariate analysis and binary Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate and determine the independent risk factors for postoperative premature physeal closure in pediatric patients with distal tibial epiphyseal fracture. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the predictive efficacy of each risk factor for the occurrence of premature physeal closure in pediatric patients with distal tibial epiphyseal fractures. Results:Univariate analysis showed the occurrence of postoperative premature epiphyseal closure of the distal tibia was associated with age, Salter-Harris fracture classification, medial malleolar involvement by the fracture line, surgical fixation method, reduction method, and reduction quality ( P<0.05), while it was not correlated with gender, BMI, injury mechanism, side of injury, initial displacement distance of the fracture end, and operation duration ( P>0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that medial malleolar involvement by the fracture line ( OR=0.18, 95% CI 0.04, 0.76, P<0.05) and reduction quality ( OR=43.18,95% CI 10.71, 174.05, P<0.01) were significantly correlated with the occurrence of postoperative premature epiphyseal closure of the distal tibia. The results of ROC curve analysis showed that medial malleolar involvement by the fracture line had limited predictive efficiency (AUC=0.53, 95% CI 0.43, 0.63), reduction quality had moderate predictive efficacy (AUC=0.81, 95% CI 0.72, 0.91), while their combination demonstrated even higher predictive efficacy (AUC=0.83, 95% CI 0.74, 0.91). Conclusions:Medial malleolar involvement by the fracture line and reduction quality are independent risk factors for postoperative premature epiphyseal closure in pediatric patients with distal tibial epiphyseal fractures. Reduction quality demonstrates good predictive efficacy, while medial malleolar involvement by the fracture line shows limited predictive value. The combination of both factors achieves even better predictive performance.
3.Role of GLUT1-dependent glycolysis in attenuation of oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygenation injury by dexmedetomidine in HK-2 cells
Wei DING ; Wen-hui TAO ; Yu-le WU ; Jian-xiao WU ; Jing-yi GUO ; Li-fang XIE ; Bing-qian FAN ; Xue-song GU ; Yang LI ; Xian-wen HU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(3):444-450
Aim To evaluate the role of the glucose transporter protein 1(GLUT1)-dependent glycolytic in the attenuation of oxygen-glucose deprivation-reoxygen-ation(OGD/R)injury in HK-2 cells by dexmedetomi-dine(Dex).Methods C57/BL6 mice were random-ly divided into three groups(n=6),namely,sham operation group(Sham group),renal ischemia reper-fusion group(I/R group)and Dex group(I/R+Dex group).Serum creatinine(Cr)and urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured,while the levels of key glyco-lytic enzymes HK2,PFKFB3 and GLUT1 were meas-ured.HK-2 cells were cultured and randomised into seven groups(n=6),which was treated with OGD/R,overexpression or interference with GLUT1,Dex and glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG.CCK-8 and LDH activi-ty were used to detect cellular damage.Glycolysis lev-els were detected by lactate and ECAR.The inflamma-tory level was reflected by qRT-PCR for IL-6 and TNF-α.qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to de-tect the levels of GLUT1,HK2,and PFKFB3.Results Dex significantly ameliorated kidney injury and HK-2 cell injury(P<0.05).Dex inhibited the OGD/R-induced rise in lactate and extracellular acidification rate(ECAR),as evidenced by suppression of the ex-pression of GLUT1,HK2 and PFKFB3(P<0.05).In vitro experiments showed that GLUT1 knockdown sig-nificantly improved OGD/R-induced cellular damage.Lactate,ECAR,glycolysis-related mRNAs and pro-teins were inhibited by GLUT1 knockdown(P<0.05).Significantly,there were no significant differ-ences in above indexes after Dex treatment based on GLUT1 knockdown.Overexpression of GLUT1 abroga-ted the protective effects of Dex,while reversing the inhibitory effects of Dex on the expression of GLUT1,HK2,and PFKFB3(P<0.05).Conclusions Dexmedetomidine attenuates OGD/R induced injury in HK-2 cells by inhibiting GLUT1-dependent glycolysis.
4.S1P/S1PR1 attenuates H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage in vascular endothelial cells by inhibiting Pyk2
Chaoquan LI ; Hui YAO ; Wanting LIU ; Yuxin XIE ; Haotian YANG ; Aoni FU ; Jing LI ; Guanghui YI
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(6):481-492
Aim To investigates whether sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P)regulates the expression of mitochon-drial calcium uniporter(MCU)via the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor/proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2(S1PR/Pyk2)sig-naling pathway,thereby reducing oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage and inhibiting mitochondria-related apopto-sis.Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC)were subjected to oxidative damage using hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)as a model.Different concentrations of S1P were applied to the oxidative damaged HUVEC.Addi-tionally,the S1PR1 agonist SEW2871,the S1PR1 inhibitor W146,and the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-562271 were used to explore the specific mechanism of S1P action.Results S1P treatment significantly alleviated oxidative damage in HUVEC and was accompanied by an increase in S1PR1 expression(P<0.05),while S1PR3 expression remained unchanged.Mean-while,the expression levels of Pyk2 and MCU decreased(P<0.05).SEW2871 further reduced mitochondrial damage,whereas W146 exacerbated it(P<0.05).Furthermore,the application of the Pyk2 inhibitor PF-562271 also reduced H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage(P<0.05),further confirming the role of Pyk2 in this process.Conclusion S1P reduces H2O2-induced mitochondrial damage and inhibits mitochondria-related apoptosis in HUVEC by suppressing Pyk2 expression via S1PR1.
5.Robot-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention: a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial.
Yi YU ; Zheng CHEN ; Zhi-Jian WANG ; Yue-Ping LI ; Li-Xia YANG ; Jing QI ; Jing XIE ; Tao HUANG ; Dong-Mei SHI ; Yu-Jie ZHOU
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(8):725-735
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) compared to traditional manual percutaneous coronary intervention (M-PCI).
METHODS:
This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled, non-inferior clinical trial enrolled patients with coronary heart disease who met the inclusion criteria and had indications for elective percutaneous coronary intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to either the R-PCI group or the M-PCI group. Primary endpoints were clinical and technical success rates. Clinical success was defined as visually estimated residual post-percutaneous coronary intervention stenosis < 30% with no 30-day major adverse cardiac events. Technical success in the R-PCI group was defined as successful completion of percutaneous coronary intervention using the ETcath200 robot-assisted system, without conversion to M-PCI in the event of a guidewire or balloon/stent catheter that was unable to cross the vessel or was poorly supported by the catheter. Secondary endpoints included total procedure time, percutaneous coronary intervention procedure time, fluoroscopy time, contrast volume, operator radiation exposure, air kerma, and dose-area product.
RESULTS:
The trial enrolled 152 patients (R-PCI: 73 patients, M-PCI: 79 patients). Lesions were predominantly B2/C type (73.6%). Both groups achieved 100% clinical success rate. No major adverse cardiac events occurred during the 30-day follow-up. The R-PCI group had a technical success rate of 100%. The R-PCI group had longer total procedure and fluoroscopy times, but lower operator radiation exposure. The percutaneous coronary intervention procedure time, contrast volume, air kerma, and dose-area product were similar between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
For certain complex lesions, performing percutaneous coronary intervention using the ETcath200 robot-assisted system is safe and effective and does not result in conversion to M-PCI.
6.SOX11-mediated CBLN2 Upregulation Contributes to Neuropathic Pain through NF-κB-Driven Neuroinflammation in Dorsal Root Ganglia of Mice.
Ling-Jie MA ; Tian WANG ; Ting XIE ; Lin-Peng ZHU ; Zuo-Hao YAO ; Meng-Na LI ; Bao-Tong YUAN ; Xiao-Bo WU ; Yong-Jing GAO ; Yi-Bin QIN
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(12):2201-2217
Neuropathic pain, a debilitating condition caused by dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system, remains difficult to treat due to limited understanding of its molecular mechanisms. Bioinformatics analysis identified cerebellin 2 (CBLN2) as highly enriched in human and murine proprioceptive and nociceptive neurons. We found that CBLN2 expression is persistently upregulated in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) following spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. In addition, transcription factor SOX11 binds to 12 cis-regulatory elements within the Cbln2 promoter to enhance its transcription. SNL also induced SOX11 upregulation, with SOX11 and CBLN2 co-localized in nociceptive neurons. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of Sox11 or Cbln2 attenuated SNL-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. High-throughput sequencing of DRG following intrathecal injection of CBLN2 revealed widespread gene expression changes, including upregulation of numerous NF-κB downstream targets. Consistently, CBLN2 activated NF-κB signaling, and inhibition with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate reduced CBLN2-induced pain hypersensitivity, proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines production, and neuronal hyperexcitability. Together, these findings identified the SOX11/CBLN2/NF-κB axis as a critical mediator of neuropathic pain and a promising target for therapeutic intervention.
Animals
;
Neuralgia/metabolism*
;
Ganglia, Spinal/metabolism*
;
Up-Regulation
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Mice
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NF-kappa B/metabolism*
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SOXC Transcription Factors/genetics*
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Male
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Neuroinflammatory Diseases/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics*
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Hyperalgesia/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Spinal Nerves
7.Expert consensus on management of instrument separation in root canal therapy.
Yi FAN ; Yuan GAO ; Xiangzhu WANG ; Bing FAN ; Zhi CHEN ; Qing YU ; Ming XUE ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Zhengwei HUANG ; Deqin YANG ; Zhengmei LIN ; Yihuai PAN ; Jin ZHAO ; Jinhua YU ; Zhuo CHEN ; Sijing XIE ; He YUAN ; Kehua QUE ; Shuang PAN ; Xiaojing HUANG ; Jun LUO ; Xiuping MENG ; Jin ZHANG ; Yi DU ; Lei ZHANG ; Hong LI ; Wenxia CHEN ; Jiayuan WU ; Xin XU ; Jing ZOU ; Jiyao LI ; Dingming HUANG ; Lei CHENG ; Tiemei WANG ; Benxiang HOU ; Xuedong ZHOU
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):46-46
Instrument separation is a critical complication during root canal therapy, impacting treatment success and long-term tooth preservation. The etiology of instrument separation is multifactorial, involving the intricate anatomy of the root canal system, instrument-related factors, and instrumentation techniques. Instrument separation can hinder thorough cleaning, shaping, and obturation of the root canal, posing challenges to successful treatment outcomes. Although retrieval of separated instrument is often feasible, it carries risks including perforation, excessive removal of tooth structure and root fractures. Effective management of separated instruments requires a comprehensive understanding of the contributing factors, meticulous preoperative assessment, and precise evaluation of the retrieval difficulty. The application of appropriate retrieval techniques is essential to minimize complications and optimize clinical outcomes. The current manuscript provides a framework for understanding the causes, risk factors, and clinical management principles of instrument separation. By integrating effective strategies, endodontists can enhance decision-making, improve endodontic treatment success and ensure the preservation of natural dentition.
Humans
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Root Canal Therapy/adverse effects*
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Consensus
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Root Canal Preparation/adverse effects*
8.Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of cemental tear.
Ye LIANG ; Hongrui LIU ; Chengjia XIE ; Yang YU ; Jinlong SHAO ; Chunxu LV ; Wenyan KANG ; Fuhua YAN ; Yaping PAN ; Faming CHEN ; Yan XU ; Zuomin WANG ; Yao SUN ; Ang LI ; Lili CHEN ; Qingxian LUAN ; Chuanjiang ZHAO ; Zhengguo CAO ; Yi LIU ; Jiang SUN ; Zhongchen SONG ; Lei ZHAO ; Li LIN ; Peihui DING ; Weilian SUN ; Jun WANG ; Jiang LIN ; Guangxun ZHU ; Qi ZHANG ; Lijun LUO ; Jiayin DENG ; Yihuai PAN ; Jin ZHAO ; Aimei SONG ; Hongmei GUO ; Jin ZHANG ; Pingping CUI ; Song GE ; Rui ZHANG ; Xiuyun REN ; Shengbin HUANG ; Xi WEI ; Lihong QIU ; Jing DENG ; Keqing PAN ; Dandan MA ; Hongyu ZHAO ; Dong CHEN ; Liangjun ZHONG ; Gang DING ; Wu CHEN ; Quanchen XU ; Xiaoyu SUN ; Lingqian DU ; Ling LI ; Yijia WANG ; Xiaoyuan LI ; Qiang CHEN ; Hui WANG ; Zheng ZHANG ; Mengmeng LIU ; Chengfei ZHANG ; Xuedong ZHOU ; Shaohua GE
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):61-61
Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans
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Dental Cementum/injuries*
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Consensus
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Cone-Beam Computed Tomography
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Tooth Fractures/therapy*
9.Mechanism of Guben Jiannao Liquid on Alzheimer's disease by regulating autophagy based on LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway.
Jing-Fan ZHANG ; Qing-Hua LONG ; Chu-Hua ZENG ; Yi-Min CHEN ; Zhe-Yao XIE ; Yuan-Qin CAI ; Xi WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):293-300
This study explores the mechanism of Guben Jiannao Liquid on Alzheimer's disease(AD) by regulating autophagy based on the liver kinase B1(LKB1)/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway. Male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, low-dose and high-dose groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid, and rapamycin group, with 10 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, all other groups of rats were injected bilaterally in the hippocampus with β-amyloid(Aβ)_(1-42) to establish the AD model. The low-dose(6.21 g·kg~(-1)) and high-dose(12.42 g·kg~(-1)) groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid and rapamycin group(1 mg·kg~(-1)) were given the corresponding drugs by gavage, and the blank and model groups were given an equal volume of saline by gavage for four weeks. Morris water maze was used to test the learning and memory ability of rats in each group; hematoxylin-eosin(HE) and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological and quantitative changes of neurons and Nissl bodies in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus; immunohistochemistry was utilized to detect Aβ-positive cell expression in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus; transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe ultrastructural changes in rat hippocampal tissue, and Western blot was used to examine the protein expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, p-mTOR/mTOR, Beclin1, p62, and LC3-Ⅱ in the hippocampal tissue of the rats. The results showed that compared with those in the blank group, rats in the model group had elevated evasion latency and decreased number of platform transversal and residence time in the platform quadrant. The number of neurons in the hippocampal area was reduced, and the morphology was impaired. The average integral optical density value of Aβ-positive cells was elevated; the expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased, and the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were increased. Compared with those in the model group, rats in the low-dose and high-dose groups of Guben Jiannao Liquid had shorter evasion latency, higher number of platform transversal, longer residence time in the platform quadrant, increased number of neurons, decreased expression of Aβ-positive cells and average integral optical density values, and increased number of autophagic lysosomes in hippocampal tissue. The expression levels of LKB1, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were elevated in the hippocampus of rats in the low-dose group of Guben Jiannao Liquid. The expression levels of LKB1, p-AMPK/AMPK, Beclin1, and LC3-Ⅱ were elevated in the hippocampal tissue of rats in the high-dose group of Guben Jiannao Liquid, and the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 were decreased. The findings suggest that Guben Jiannao Liquid can improve cognitive impairment in AD rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the activation of the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway and the up-regulation of autophagy level.
Animals
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Alzheimer Disease/physiopathology*
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Male
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TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
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Autophagy/drug effects*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics*
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Rats
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
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Humans
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Hippocampus/metabolism*
10.Anti-hepatic fibrosis effect and mechanism of Albiziae Cortex-Tribuli Fructus based on Nrf2/NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway.
Meng-Yuan ZHENG ; Jing-Wen HUANG ; Si-Chen JIANG ; Ze-Yu XIE ; Yi-Xiao XU ; Li YAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4129-4140
This study aims to explore whether Albiziae Cortex-Tribuli Fructus can exert an anti-hepatic fibrosis effect by regulating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/cysteine protease-1(caspase-1) pathway and analyze its potential mechanism. In the in vivo experiment, a mouse model of hepatic fibrosis was established by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride. The levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), collagen type Ⅳ(ColⅣ), laminin(LN), procollagen type Ⅲ(PCⅢ), and hyaluronic acid(HA) in the serum of mice were measured using a fully automated biochemical analyzer and ELISA. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) and Masson staining were used to observe inflammation and collagen fiber deposition in the liver tissue. Western blot and RT-qPCR were employed to detect the protein and mRNA expression of collagen type Ⅰ(collagen Ⅰ), α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), Nrf2, NLRP3, gasdermin D(GSDMD), and caspase-1 in the hepatic tissue. In the in vitro experiment, human hepatic stellate cells(HSC-LX2) were pretreated with Nrf2 agonist or inhibitor, followed by the addition of blank serum, AngⅡ + blank serum, and AngⅡ + Albiziae Cortex-Tribuli Fructus-containing serum for intervention. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Nrf2, NLRP3, GSDMD, caspase-1, α-SMA, GSDMD-N, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC) in cells. DCFH-DA fluorescence probe was used to detect the cellular ROS levels. The results from the in vivo experiment showed that, compared with the model group, Albiziae Cortex-Tribuli Fructus significantly reduced the serum levels of AST, ALT, ColⅣ, LN, PCⅢ, and HA, reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and collagen fiber deposition in the liver tissue, significantly upregulated the protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2 in the liver tissue, and significantly downregulated the protein and mRNA expression of collagen I, α-SMA, NLRP3, GSDMD, and caspase-1 in the liver tissue. The results from the in vitro experiment showed that Nrf2 activation decreased the protein expression of NLRP3, GSDMD, caspase-1, α-SMA, GSDMD-N, ASC, and ROS levels in HSC-LX2, while Nrf2 inhibition showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, Albiziae Cortex-Tribuli Fructus-containing serum directly decreased the expression of the above proteins and ROS levels. In conclusion, Albiziae Cortex-Tribuli Fructus can effectively improve hepatic fibrosis, and its mechanism of action may involve inhibiting pyroptosis through the regulation of the Nrf2/NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway.
Animals
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics*
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Liver Cirrhosis/genetics*
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Mice
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Caspase 1/genetics*
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Male
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Humans
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Liver/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Plant Extracts
;
Tribulus

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