1.Effect of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤) on the VAPB-PTPIP51 Complex and Autophagy of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Colon of Slow Transit Constipation Model Rats
Chuyue WANG ; Jiacheng LI ; Yingqi YANG ; Sicheng SHEN ; Zhiyang CHEN ; Zhizhong XU ; Bensheng WU ; Meiyao CHEN ; Ziwei XIONG ; Jinhui GU ; Xiaopeng WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):985-993
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤, TD) in treating slow transit constipation (STC). MethodsTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, TD group, and mosapride group, with 6 rats per group. Except for the normal group, STC models were established by intragastric administration of loperamide hydrochloride combined with normal saline. On the day following successful model establishment, rats in the TD group received 18.63 g·kg⁻¹ of TD by gavage, while those in the mosapride group received 1.605 mg·d⁻¹ of mosapride, and those in the normal group and the model group received 10 ml·kg⁻¹ of normal saline by gavage. All treatments were administered once daily for 7 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, fecal pellet number and fecal water content were measured. After intragastric administration of a 10% activated charcoal suspension, the small intestinal transit rate was calculated 30 minutes later. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were measured by ELISA. Colonic histopathology was observed by HE staining, and mucus secretion by Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining. Ultrastructure of colon tissue was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Protein expression levels of C-kit, stem cell factor (SCF), autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), Beclin1, vesicle-associated membrane protein B (VAPB), and protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (VAPB-PTPIP51) were measured by Western Blot, and the mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect SCF, C-kit, Beclin1, and ATG5 expression. The calcium content in colon tissue was determined by ELISA. ResultsCompared to the normal group, rats in the model group showed significantly reduced fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, and serum GAS and MTL levels (P<0.01); the number of goblet cells decreased, and the mucosal and muscular layers of the colon became thinner; mRNA and protein expression levels of ATG5 and Beclin1 in colon tissue significantly increased, while calcium content decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and electron microscopy revealed vacuolar degeneration and increased autophagosomes in colonic cells. Compared to the model group, both TD group and mosapride group showed increased fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, serum GAS and MTL levels, and colonic calcium content, along with decreased Beclin1 and ATG5 protein levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the mucosal thickness and goblet cell number increased significantly, and autophagosomes decreased; in the TD group, ATG5 and Beclin1 mRNA levels decreased; in the mosapride group, SCF, VAPB, and PTPIP51 mRNA levels increased, while Beclin1 mRNA decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the mosapride group, the TD group showed higher fecal pellet number, fecal water content, serum GAS levels, colonic calcium content, and C-kit expression, along with lower ATG5 and Beclin1 levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionTD may improve constipation symptoms by upregulating the VAPB-PTPIP51 complex during mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions, reducing autophagy of interstitial cells of Cajal, and promoting intestinal motility.
2.Effect of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤) on the VAPB-PTPIP51 Complex and Autophagy of Interstitial Cells of Cajal in the Colon of Slow Transit Constipation Model Rats
Chuyue WANG ; Jiacheng LI ; Yingqi YANG ; Sicheng SHEN ; Zhiyang CHEN ; Zhizhong XU ; Bensheng WU ; Meiyao CHEN ; Ziwei XIONG ; Jinhui GU ; Xiaopeng WANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(9):985-993
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Tongbian Decoction (通便汤, TD) in treating slow transit constipation (STC). MethodsTwenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, TD group, and mosapride group, with 6 rats per group. Except for the normal group, STC models were established by intragastric administration of loperamide hydrochloride combined with normal saline. On the day following successful model establishment, rats in the TD group received 18.63 g·kg⁻¹ of TD by gavage, while those in the mosapride group received 1.605 mg·d⁻¹ of mosapride, and those in the normal group and the model group received 10 ml·kg⁻¹ of normal saline by gavage. All treatments were administered once daily for 7 consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, fecal pellet number and fecal water content were measured. After intragastric administration of a 10% activated charcoal suspension, the small intestinal transit rate was calculated 30 minutes later. Serum levels of gastrin (GAS) and motilin (MTL) were measured by ELISA. Colonic histopathology was observed by HE staining, and mucus secretion by Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff (AB-PAS) staining. Ultrastructure of colon tissue was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Protein expression levels of C-kit, stem cell factor (SCF), autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), Beclin1, vesicle-associated membrane protein B (VAPB), and protein tyrosine phosphatase interacting protein 51 (VAPB-PTPIP51) were measured by Western Blot, and the mRNA levels were detected by real-time PCR. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect SCF, C-kit, Beclin1, and ATG5 expression. The calcium content in colon tissue was determined by ELISA. ResultsCompared to the normal group, rats in the model group showed significantly reduced fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, and serum GAS and MTL levels (P<0.01); the number of goblet cells decreased, and the mucosal and muscular layers of the colon became thinner; mRNA and protein expression levels of ATG5 and Beclin1 in colon tissue significantly increased, while calcium content decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and electron microscopy revealed vacuolar degeneration and increased autophagosomes in colonic cells. Compared to the model group, both TD group and mosapride group showed increased fecal pellet number, fecal water content, small intestinal transit rate, serum GAS and MTL levels, and colonic calcium content, along with decreased Beclin1 and ATG5 protein levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the mucosal thickness and goblet cell number increased significantly, and autophagosomes decreased; in the TD group, ATG5 and Beclin1 mRNA levels decreased; in the mosapride group, SCF, VAPB, and PTPIP51 mRNA levels increased, while Beclin1 mRNA decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the mosapride group, the TD group showed higher fecal pellet number, fecal water content, serum GAS levels, colonic calcium content, and C-kit expression, along with lower ATG5 and Beclin1 levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionTD may improve constipation symptoms by upregulating the VAPB-PTPIP51 complex during mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum interactions, reducing autophagy of interstitial cells of Cajal, and promoting intestinal motility.
3.Standardization Challenges in Outcome Evaluation Systems of Animal Experiments and Considerations for Core Outcome Set Construction Strategies
Qingyong ZHENG ; Yongjia ZHOU ; Tengfei LI ; Jianguo XU ; Chen TIAN ; Hui LIU ; Min TIAN ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Caihua XU ; Yating CUI ; Junfei WANG ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2026;46(1):138-148
Animal experimentation constitutes a critical link between basic research and clinical application, making its research quality and translational efficiency paramount. Although considerable progress has been made in standardizing operational procedures and ethical guidelines, the standardization of outcome evaluation systems has significantly lagged, creating a key bottleneck that constrains the quality of biomedical research and evidence synthesis. This deficiency is manifested by pronounced heterogeneity in outcome selection across similar studies, incomplete methodological reporting, and disparate criteria for result interpretation, which severely impairs the comparability of findings and the evidence integration. To cope with this challenge, this paper systematically introduces a mature methodological tool from clinical research–the core outcome set (COS)–and explores its construction strategies and application potential in the field of animal experimentation. Given the extensive diversity of animal experiments, a pragmatic strategy of "focusing on key areas, implementing phased pilots, and promoting gradual expansion" should be adopted. This approach prioritizes the development of domain-specific COS for disease areas characterized by high research volume, urgent translational needs, and well-established animal models. A multi-source integration pathway for COS development is detailed, comprising systematic literature searches, methodological appraisals, and expert consensus, with the feasibility of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency also being examined. The development and promotion of such COS are not intended to restrict scientific exploration; rather, they aim to establish a new, tiered evaluation paradigm consisting of "core outcomes" (mandatory), "recommended outcomes" (encouraged), and "exploratory outcomes" (optional). This framework is expected not only to enhance research quality through standardization and to adhere to the "3R" principles but also to accelerate the accumulation of high-quality evidence. This, in turn, provides a solid foundation for higher-level evidence synthesis, ultimately facilitating the effective translation of basic research findings into clinical practice and providing an essential methodological framework for scientific advancement in relevant disciplines.
4.Study on the effect and mechanism of Qiwei dongqingye powder against bronchial asthma based on transcriptomics
Jiacheng JIN ; Wenyan CHEN ; Xin LI ; Qing XU ; Hangyu WANG ; Ke ZHANG ; Pinghua SUN ; Jinhui WANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(5):595-601
OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qiwei dongqingye powder (QDP) on bronchial asthma in mice. METHODS The mice were divided into blank group (normal saline), model group (normal saline), dexamethasone group (2 mg/kg), and QDP low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (200, 400, 800 mg/kg), with 14 mice in each group. Except for the blank group, mice in all other groups were given ovalbumin via intraperitoneal injection followed by aerosol inhalation to induce a bronchial asthma model. During the modeling process, mice in each group were administered corresponding drug solutions or normal saline intragastrically/intraperitoneally. After the last medication, the number of cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the mice was observed and counted; the pathological changes of the bronchus and lung tissue were observed; the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the lung tissue of the mice were determined, and the level of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in the BALF and serum was determined. Transcriptomics was employed to predict and validate the mechanism of action of QDP against bronchial asthma. RESULTS Compared with the model group, the total cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and macrophage counts in the BALF of the QDP high-dose group were all significantly reduced ( P <0.05); the levels of MDA and NO in the lung tissue, and the levels of IL-17 in the BALF and serum were all decreased significantly ( P <0.05); the levels of T-SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased ( P <0.05); the arrangement of lung tissue cells tended to normalize, with reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreased exfoliation of bronchial simple columnar epithelial cells. The transcriptomic results revealed that the differentially expressed genes were B-cell receptor signaling pathway, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, ferroptosis signaling pathway, and others. Further validation revealed that, compared with the model group, the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and chemokine ligand 20, as well as the phosphorylation level of NF-κB inhibitor protein α, were significantly decreased in the lung tissues of the mice in all QDP groups ( P <0.05). Conversely, the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) were significantly increased ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS QDP can effectively alleviate bronchial asthma by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, regulating oxidative stress, and reducing inflammatory responses.
5.Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy:a network meta-analysis
Xinyan CAO ; Zifu YU ; Xiaoxuan LENG ; Shiai GAO ; Jinhui CHEN ; Xihua LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(6):1539-1548
OBJECTIVE:Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation have shown positive effects in improving gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.A network meta-analysis was performed to analyze the clinical efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on the improvement of lower limb motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy.METHODS:Randomized controlled trials(RCT)about repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on lower limb motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy were collected from CNKI,WanFang,VIP,SinoMed,PubMed,Web of Science,Medline.The search time limit was from the inception to October 5,2024.After screening literature,extracting data and evaluating the risk of bias of included studies,Stata 15.0 software was used for network meta-analysis,AND GRADE profiler was used for quality evaluation.RESULTS:A total of 19 studies were included,involving 4 treatment measures:conventional therapy,high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and anodic transcranial direct current stimulation.The results of network meta-analysis showed that in terms of improving gross motor function,low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation[mean difference(MD)=9.48,95%confidence interval(CI)(6.61,12.34),P<0.05]was the most effective.In terms of alleviating spasticity,high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation[MD=-0.63,95%CI(-1.72,0.45),P<0.05]had the best efficacy.In terms of improving ankle joint range of motion and step speed,transcranial direct current stimulation[MD=2.27,95%CI(1.37,3.17),P<0.05;MD=0.11,95%CI(0.05,0.17),P<0.05]was the most effective.CONCLUSION:Existing clinical evidence suggests that low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has the best therapeutic effect compared with other intervention measures in terms of improving lower limb gross motor function.In terms of reducing spasticity,high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has a more significant effect.In terms of improving gait,transcranial direct current stimulation has more advantages.
6.Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy:a network meta-analysis
Xinyan CAO ; Zifu YU ; Xiaoxuan LENG ; Shiai GAO ; Jinhui CHEN ; Xihua LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(6):1539-1548
OBJECTIVE:Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation have shown positive effects in improving gross motor function in children with cerebral palsy.A network meta-analysis was performed to analyze the clinical efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on the improvement of lower limb motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy.METHODS:Randomized controlled trials(RCT)about repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on lower limb motor function and gait in children with cerebral palsy were collected from CNKI,WanFang,VIP,SinoMed,PubMed,Web of Science,Medline.The search time limit was from the inception to October 5,2024.After screening literature,extracting data and evaluating the risk of bias of included studies,Stata 15.0 software was used for network meta-analysis,AND GRADE profiler was used for quality evaluation.RESULTS:A total of 19 studies were included,involving 4 treatment measures:conventional therapy,high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation,low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and anodic transcranial direct current stimulation.The results of network meta-analysis showed that in terms of improving gross motor function,low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation[mean difference(MD)=9.48,95%confidence interval(CI)(6.61,12.34),P<0.05]was the most effective.In terms of alleviating spasticity,high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation[MD=-0.63,95%CI(-1.72,0.45),P<0.05]had the best efficacy.In terms of improving ankle joint range of motion and step speed,transcranial direct current stimulation[MD=2.27,95%CI(1.37,3.17),P<0.05;MD=0.11,95%CI(0.05,0.17),P<0.05]was the most effective.CONCLUSION:Existing clinical evidence suggests that low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has the best therapeutic effect compared with other intervention measures in terms of improving lower limb gross motor function.In terms of reducing spasticity,high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has a more significant effect.In terms of improving gait,transcranial direct current stimulation has more advantages.
7.A Survey on the Perceived Experience and Acceptance of Intrapartum Ultrasound as a Novel Method for Labor Progress Assessment
Xinjuan CHEN ; Jinhui CUI ; Liping OUYANG ; Ling LI ; Jianhui FAN ; Ping LI
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):535-540
ObjectiveTo investigate the perceived experience and acceptance of intrapartum ultrasound (IPUS) as a novel method for labor progress assessment among pregnant women. MethodsFrom February 2023 to December 2024, a total of 180 pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Lingnan Hospital, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, who were planned for vaginal trial of labor , were accessed for labor progress using IPUS and vaginal examination (VE) after the onset of labor and prior to the initiation n of labor analgesia. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the women's perceived experiences with both examination methods and their acceptance of IPUS. The pain intensity associated with the examinations was evaluated using the visual analogue pain scale (VAS). Differences in the women's experiences and pain intensity between the two labor progress assessment methods were compared. ResultsThe acceptance rate of IPUS was 96.67% (174/180), with the remaining 6 cases undecided. Over 60% of the pregnant women reported IPUS assessment as comfortable and none of them felt discomfort, whereas 32.8% felt uncomfortable with VE (χ2=196.02, P<0.001). Nearly two-thirds of the pregnant women believed that VE would cause psychological distress, while none reported such effect with IPUS (χ2=261.52, P<0.001). Approximately 77.78% (140/180) of the pregnant women believed that IPUS could reduce their fear of vaginal delivery and enhance their confidence if it replaced VE. The VAS score for IPUS [0 (0, 2)] was significantly lower than that for VE [4 (4, 6)] (Z=-14.62, P<0.001). Further stratified analysis showed that over 90% (164/180) of the pregnant women found IPUS painless, with no moderate or severe pain reported, compared to 43.33% (78/180) experienced moderate or severe pain with VE (P<0.001). ConclusionAs a novel approach for labor progress assessment, IPUS not only alleviates the pain and discomfort associated with traditional VE and reduces the fear of childbirth but also enhances women's confidence in delivery, thereby achieving a high level of acceptance among parturient women in China.
8.Establishment and validation of the determination method for the related substances in carbetocin injection
Yimiao CHEN ; Xiang ZHANG ; Jinhui WU ; Yuye Huang
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(1):65-72
An HPLC analytical method was developed to determine the related substances in carbetocin injection. The method was performed on a Waters Xbridge C18 column (150 mm×3 mm, 3.5 μm) with 0.30 mg/mL ammonium acetate-19% acetonitrile aqueous solution as mobile phase A and mobile phase A-acetonitrile (1∶1) as mobile phase B. The detection wavelength was 220 nm. Gradient elution was performed at the flow rate of 0.8 mL/min and the column temperature of 60℃. The method was validated for system applicability, specificity, linearity and range, accuracy, with the results that the 9 impurities of carbetocin injection showed good linearity (R²>0.999) with peak area in their respective concentration range, and that the method had good precision (RSD<5%). This method is suitable for the simultaneous determination of carbetocin and its 9 impurities in carbetocin injection and can provide a theoretical basis for the quality control of the carbetocin injection.
9.Enhancing Disciplinary Development Through Journal Columns: Taking the "Clinical Practice Guidelines"Column in Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital as an Example
Meihua WU ; Hui LIU ; Qi ZHOU ; Qianling SHI ; Na LI ; Yule LI ; Xiaoqing LIU ; Kehu YANG ; Jinhui TIAN ; Long GE ; Bin MA ; Xiuxia LI ; Xuping SONG ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1315-1324
To explore the role of the "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others in the We collected papers published by the Lanzhou University Evidence-Based Medicine Center team in the "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others from 2018 to 2025. These publications were analyzed across multiple dimensions, including authorship and institutional affiliations, citation metrics, and research themes and content. A total of 59 papers were included in the analysis, with authors representing 70 domestie and international research institutions. The cumulative citation count was 639, with the highest single-paper citation frequency reaching 101. The average citation per paper was 10.8, and total downloads exceeded 30 000. The content focused on key themes such as guideline terminology, development methodology, guideline evaluation, and dissemination and implementation. The evolution of research topics progressed from critiques of common misconceptions and hot topies in the field to multidimensional evaluations of thecurrent state of Chinese guidelines, culminating in the fommulation of industry standards for guidelines. These contributions have provided critical references for translating guideline theory into practice in China and have garnered widespread attention and discussion among scholars in the field. The "Clinical Practice Guidelines" column and others in the
10.Discovery of a novel AhR-CYP1A1 axis activator for mitigating inflammatory diseases using an in situ functional imaging assay.
Feng ZHANG ; Bei ZHAO ; Yufan FAN ; Lanhui QIN ; Jinhui SHI ; Lin CHEN ; Leizhi XU ; Xudong JIN ; Mengru SUN ; Hongping DENG ; Hairong ZENG ; Zhangping XIAO ; Xin YANG ; Guangbo GE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):508-525
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a crucial role in regulating many physiological processes. Activating the AhR-CYP1A1 axis has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy against various inflammatory diseases. Here, a practical in situ cell-based fluorometric assay was constructed to screen AhR-CYP1A1 axis modulators, via functional sensing of CYP1A1 activities in live cells. Firstly, a cell-permeable, isoform-specific enzyme-activable fluorogenic substrate for CYP1A1 was rationally constructed for in-situ visualizing the dynamic changes of CYP1A1 function in living systems, which was subsequently used for discovering the efficacious modulators of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis. Following screening of a compound library, LAC-7 was identified as an efficacious activator of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis, which dose-dependently up-regulated the expression levels of both CYP1A1 and AhR in multiple cell lines. LAC-7 also suppressed macrophage M1 polarization and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced bone marrow-derived macrophages. Animal tests showed that LAC-7 could significantly mitigate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice, and markedly reduced the levels of multiple inflammatory factors. Collectively, an optimized fluorometric cell-based assay was devised for in situ functional imaging of CYP1A1 activities in living systems, which strongly facilitated the discovery of efficacious modulators of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis as novel anti-inflammatory agents.

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