1.Scaffold and SAR studies on c-MET inhibitors using machine learning approaches.
Jing ZHANG ; Mingming ZHANG ; Weiran HUANG ; Changjie LIANG ; Wei XU ; Jinghua ZHANG ; Jun TU ; Innocent Okohi AGIDA ; Jinke CHENG ; Dong-Qing WEI ; Buyong MA ; Yanjing WANG ; Hongsheng TAN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):101303-101303
Numerous c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition (c-MET) inhibitors have been reported as potential anticancer agents. However, most fail to enter clinical trials owing to poor efficacy or drug resistance. To date, the scaffold-based chemical space of small-molecule c-MET inhibitors has not been analyzed. In this study, we constructed the largest c-MET dataset, which included 2,278 molecules with different structures, by inhibiting the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of kinase activity. No significant differences in drug-like properties were observed between active molecules (1,228) and inactive molecules (1,050), including chemical space coverage, physicochemical properties, and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiles. The higher chemical diversity of the active molecules was downscaled using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) high-dimensional data. Further clustering and chemical space networks (CSNs) analyses revealed commonly used scaffolds for c-MET inhibitors, such as M5, M7, and M8. Activity cliffs and structural alerts were used to reveal "dead ends" and "safe bets" for c-MET, as well as dominant structural fragments consisting of pyridazinones, triazoles, and pyrazines. Finally, the decision tree model precisely indicated the key structural features required to constitute active c-MET inhibitor molecules, including at least three aromatic heterocycles, five aromatic nitrogen atoms, and eight nitrogen-oxygen atoms. Overall, our analyses revealed potential structure-activity relationship (SAR) patterns for c-MET inhibitors, which can inform the screening of new compounds and guide future optimization efforts.
2.Effect of Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (加味葛根芩连汤) on the Intestinal Mucus Barrier and Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation in Ulcerative Colitis Model Mice
Jinke HUANG ; Jiaqi ZHANG ; Fengyun WANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(9):941-947
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (加味葛根芩连汤, MGQD) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) based on intestinal mucus barrier. MethodsThirty C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and a MGQD group with 10 mice in each. Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (DSS) was used to construct the UC model in all groups except for the control group. Meanwhile, mice in the MGQD group were given 20 g/kg of MGQD decoction by gavage according to their body weight, while those in the control group and model group were given 0.2 ml/20 g of pure water by gavage, once a day for 7 consecutive days. On the day following the last gavage, the body weight, disease activity index (DAI) score, spleen weight, and colon length were compared. The pathological changes of the intestinal mucosal tissues were observed by HE staining; the protein expression levels of mucin 2 (MUC2) and leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) in the intestinal mucosal tissues were detected by immunofluorescence; the cuprocytes in the intestinal mucosal tissues were detected by AB/PAS staining; and the expression level of Ki67 in the intestinal mucosal tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. ResultsHE staining showed that the colon mucosal tissue of the mice in the control group was intact. In the model group, the colon mucosal epithelial structure was severely damaged, with a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration in the mucosal propria. In the MGQD group, the mucosal tissue structure was partially lost, with a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration.The body weight and colon length of mice in the model group decreased significantly compared to those in the control group, while DAI scores and spleen weight increased, and the levels of MUC2, Ki67, Lgr5 proteins, and the number of goblet cells were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the MGQD group had increased body weight of mice, colon length, and decreased DAI scores and spleen weight; the levels of MUC2, Ki67, Lgr5 proteins, and the number of goblet cells were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionMGQD has a favorable ameliorative effect on UC-related symptoms and pathological tissue damage, and its mechanism of action may be related to the restoration of the prolife-ration and differentiation of intestinal stem cells into goblet cells, thereby promoting the repair of the intestinal mucus barrier.
3.Multimorbidity patterns in elderly and the association with frailty
Chenting BI ; Kaikai YANG ; Rong XU ; Liming HOU ; Shanru YANG ; Jinke LI ; Guihua CAO ; Xu LI ; Xiaoming WANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(4):484-489
Objective:To construct multimorbidity patterns among elderly individuals with chronic diseases and to explore the relationship between these patterns and frailty.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4, 706 elderly participants aged 60 years and older from selected prefecture-level cities in Shaanxi Province.Data were collected on general information, chronic diseases, and frailty status.The average age of the participants was 69.9±6.7 years, with males comprising 47.3%(2, 255 cases)and females comprising 52.7%(2, 481 cases)of the sample.Latent class analysis(LCA)was employed to identify multimorbidity patterns, while multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the associations between these patterns and frailty.Results:The prevalence of multimorbidity within the study population was found to be 43.6%(2, 052 cases out of 4, 706 cases).The highest rates of multimorbidity were observed in anxiety and depression(100%, 23 cases out of 23 cases), dementia(100%, 6 cases out of 6 cases), and Parkinson's disease(100%, 11 cases out of 11 cases).Stroke followed closely with a rate of 96.8%(597 cases out of 617 cases), while rheumatoid arthritis exhibited the lowest rate of multimorbidity with other chronic diseases at 50%(4 cases out of 8 cases).Five distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified through LCA: the complex multimorbidity class(123 cases), the stroke-respiratory class(546 cases), the sleep disorders-osteoarticular class(488 cases), the cardiovascular-metabolic class(987 cases), and the relatively healthy class(2, 562 cases).When compared to the relatively healthy class, the complex multimorbidity class( OR=2.317, 95% CI: 1.573-3.412), stroke-respiratory class( OR=2.279, 95% CI: 1.862-2.788), sleep disorders-osteoarticular class( OR=1.370, 95% CI: 1.111-1.691), and cardiovascular-metabolic class( OR=1.185, 95% CI: 1.003-1.400)were all found to be significantly associated with frailty. Conclusions:The cardiovascular-metabolic class is the most prevalent among elderly individuals.Various patterns exhibit distinct associations with frailty, with the complex multimorbidity class and the stroke-respiratory class being the most significant, as they markedly elevate the risk of frailty.
4.Analysis of the association between serum γ-aminobutyric acid levels and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Yingtan Nie ; Yanfang Li ; Jinke Han ; Feifei Wu ; Xiaodan Wang ; Li Lin ; Zhen Yan
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(1):136-141
Objective :
To explore the association between serum γ-aminobutyric acid ( GABA) levels and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes( T2DM) .
Methods :
187 cases of T2DM patients attending the hospital were selected as the T2DM group,and 187 cases of non-T2DM population attending the same period of time were selected as the control group according to age ( ± 3 years) and gender 1 ∶ 1.On-site questionnaires and physical examination were conducted for the study subjects,and serum levels of GABA,Malondialdehyde ( MDA) and activities of superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and Glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px) were detected by using ELISA kits.The differences in the levels of GABA and oxidative stress indicators ( SOD,GSH-Px,MDA) between the two groups were compared, and the correlation between GABA and oxidative stress indicators was analyzed by Spearman's method; GABA and oxidative stress indicators were divided into three groups according to their control quartiles,respectively [low level group ( Q1: <P25) ,medium level group ( Q2: P25 -P75) ,high level group ( Q3: >P75) ],and conditional logistic regression was applied to analyze the relationship between GABA,oxidative stress indicators and the risk of develo- ping T2DM; the dose-response relationship between GABA,oxidative stress indicators and the risk of developing T2DM was analyzed by using restricted cubic spline ( RCS) .
Results :
T2DM group ( P<0. 05) .Spearman's correlation analysis showed that GABA level was positively correlated with SOD and GSH-Px activities and negatively correlated with MDA level ( P<0. 001) .Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that medium levels of SOD and GSH-Px as well as medium and high levels of GABA were protective factors for T2DM compared with low levels in each group ( P<0. 05) .RCS results showed that a negative dose-response relationship between GABA,GSH-Px and the risk of developing T2DM,and SOD showed a trend of decreasing and then increasing the risk of developing T2DM ( P<0. 05) .
Conclusion
Serum GABA levels have been associated with the risk of developing T2DM.As serum GABA levels increase,the risk of developing T2DM may decrease.
5.Scaffold and SAR studies on c-MET inhibitors using machine learning approaches
Jing ZHANG ; Mingming ZHANG ; Weiran HUANG ; Changjie LIANG ; Wei XU ; Jing ZHANGHUA ; Jun TU ; Okohi-Agida INNOCENT ; Jinke CHENG ; Dong-Qing WEI ; Buyong MA ; Yanjing WANG ; Hongsheng TAN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(6):1321-1333
Numerous c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition(c-MET)inhibitors have been reported as potential anticancer agents.However,most fail to enter clinical trials owing to poor efficacy or drug resistance.To date,the scaffold-based chemical space of small-molecule c-MET inhibitors has not been analyzed.In this study,we constructed the largest c-MET dataset,which included 2,278 molecules with different struc-tures,by inhibiting the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)of kinase activity.No significant differences in drug-like properties were observed between active molecules(1,228)and inactive mol-ecules(1,050),including chemical space coverage,physicochemical properties,and absorption,distri-bution,metabolism,excretion,and toxicity(ADMET)profiles.The higher chemical diversity of the active molecules was downscaled using t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding(t-SNE)high-dimensional data.Further clustering and chemical space networks(CSNs)analyses revealed commonly used scaffolds for c-MET inhibitors,such as M5,M7,and M8.Activity cliffs and structural alerts were used to reveal"dead ends"and"safe bets"for c-MET,as well as dominant structural fragments consisting of pyr-idazinones,triazoles,and pyrazines.Finally,the decision tree model precisely indicated the key structural features required to constitute active c-MET inhibitor molecules,including at least three aromatic het-erocycles,five aromatic nitrogen atoms,and eight nitrogen-oxygen atoms.Overall,our analyses revealed potential structure-activity relationship(SAR)patterns for c-MET inhibitors,which can inform the screening of new compounds and guide future optimization efforts.
6.Multimorbidity patterns in elderly and the association with frailty
Chenting BI ; Kaikai YANG ; Rong XU ; Liming HOU ; Shanru YANG ; Jinke LI ; Guihua CAO ; Xu LI ; Xiaoming WANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2025;44(4):484-489
Objective:To construct multimorbidity patterns among elderly individuals with chronic diseases and to explore the relationship between these patterns and frailty.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 4, 706 elderly participants aged 60 years and older from selected prefecture-level cities in Shaanxi Province.Data were collected on general information, chronic diseases, and frailty status.The average age of the participants was 69.9±6.7 years, with males comprising 47.3%(2, 255 cases)and females comprising 52.7%(2, 481 cases)of the sample.Latent class analysis(LCA)was employed to identify multimorbidity patterns, while multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the associations between these patterns and frailty.Results:The prevalence of multimorbidity within the study population was found to be 43.6%(2, 052 cases out of 4, 706 cases).The highest rates of multimorbidity were observed in anxiety and depression(100%, 23 cases out of 23 cases), dementia(100%, 6 cases out of 6 cases), and Parkinson's disease(100%, 11 cases out of 11 cases).Stroke followed closely with a rate of 96.8%(597 cases out of 617 cases), while rheumatoid arthritis exhibited the lowest rate of multimorbidity with other chronic diseases at 50%(4 cases out of 8 cases).Five distinct multimorbidity patterns were identified through LCA: the complex multimorbidity class(123 cases), the stroke-respiratory class(546 cases), the sleep disorders-osteoarticular class(488 cases), the cardiovascular-metabolic class(987 cases), and the relatively healthy class(2, 562 cases).When compared to the relatively healthy class, the complex multimorbidity class( OR=2.317, 95% CI: 1.573-3.412), stroke-respiratory class( OR=2.279, 95% CI: 1.862-2.788), sleep disorders-osteoarticular class( OR=1.370, 95% CI: 1.111-1.691), and cardiovascular-metabolic class( OR=1.185, 95% CI: 1.003-1.400)were all found to be significantly associated with frailty. Conclusions:The cardiovascular-metabolic class is the most prevalent among elderly individuals.Various patterns exhibit distinct associations with frailty, with the complex multimorbidity class and the stroke-respiratory class being the most significant, as they markedly elevate the risk of frailty.
7.Effects of Modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (葛根芩连汤) on Intestinal Mucosal Barrier and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Ulcerative Colitis Model Mice
Lihui FANG ; Jiaqi ZHANG ; Lanshuo HU ; Xintong WANG ; Shan LIU ; Yuedan WANG ; Jinke HUANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(24):2580-2588
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism of modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction (葛根芩连汤) in treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) from the view of intestinal mucosal epithelial barrier damage and epithelial mesenchymal transition. MethodsSixty male C57BL/6J mice were divided into blank group, model group, western medicine control group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction groups, with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank group, 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was used to induce colitis model by free drinking for 7 days, and on the first day of modelling, 6, 12, and 24 g/(kg·d) of modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction were given to the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups respectively, 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) 100 mg/(kg·d) given by gavage to western medicine control group, and 10 ml/kg distilled water were given to blank and model group by gavage, once a day for 7 days. Body mass of mice was recorded and disease activity index (DAI) scores were performed daily. The mice were anesthetized after 24h of the last administration and the colon was taken to observe the length of colon, HE staining was applied to observe the damage of colonic mucosa and score pathological states, Masson staining to detect the deposition of colonic collagen fibers, immunofluorescence to observe the distribution of F-actin in colonic mucosal epithelium, and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1, Occludin, E-cadherin and Vimentin. ResultsCompared with the blank group at the same time, the percentage of body mass of mice in the model group on day 7 of modelling significantly reduced and the DAI score was significantly increased (P<0.01); compared with the model group at the same time, the body mass of mice in the western medicine control group and all of modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction groups decreased, and the DAI scores of mice in the western medicine control group and the high-dose modified Gegen Qinlian Decoction group decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); compared with the same time of mice in the low-dos Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, the body mass of mice in the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group and the western medicine control group significantly elevated (P<0.05). Compared with the blank group, the length of the colon of mice in the model group was significantly shortened, the pathological score and the percentage of collagen area were significantly increased, the average fluorescence intensity of F-actin was reduced, the protein levels of ZO-1, Occludin and E-cadherin in the colon tissue decreased, and the protein level of Vimentin elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the length of colon significantly increased, patholo-gical score, collagen area percentage decreased, ZO-1, Occludin, E-cadherin protein levels increased and Vimentin levels decreased in all medicated groups; the average fluorescence intensity of F-actin increased in the western medicine control group and the middle- and high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the low-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, the proportion of collagen fibre area in the middle-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group and the western medicine control group reduced; the mean fluorescence intensity of F-actin increased in the middle-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group; the protein levels of ZO-1 and E-cadherin increased in the western medicine control group, and the protein levels of ZO-1 increased in the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group (P<0.05). Compared with the medium-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, the protein levels of ZO-1 elevated in the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group (P<0.05). Comapred with the high-dose Gegen Qinlian Decoction group, level of E-cadherin and Vimentin protein of the western medicine control group increased (P<0.05). ConclusionModified Gegen Qinlian Decoction was able to reduce colonic inflammation and mucosal barrier damage and inhibit the process of epithelial mesenchymal transition in mice models of ulcerative colitis, which may be one of its action mechanisms .
8.Analysis of the complete genome characterization of 11 human astrovirus strains in Shandong Province
Meng CHEN ; Mingyi XU ; Yao LIU ; Xiaojuan LIN ; Jinke XU ; Suting WANG ; Aiqiang XU ; Zexin TAO
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;58(1):40-47
Objective:To study the complete genome characterization of Human Astrovirus (HAstV) in Shandong Province.Methods:Stool samples from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance in Shandong Province from 2020 to 2022 were collected, and HAstV nucleic acid was examined by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was conducted for the positive samples to obtain complete genome sequences and identify the genotype. Homology comparison and phylogenetic analysis were performed by using BioEdit and Mega software.Results:A total of 667 samples were examined by qPCR, of which 14 were HAstV-positive (2.1%), including HAstV-1 ( n=6), MLB1 ( n=6), MLB2 ( n=1), and VA2 ( n=1). The complete genome sequences were obtained from 11 samples. The six HAstV-1 sequences of this study had 98.2% to 99.9% nt similarities with each other and 87.6% to 98.6% with those from other regions. The four MLB1 sequences of this study had 99.1% to 99.9% nt similarities with each other and 92.2% to 99.4% with those from other regions. The VA2 sequence of this study had 96.0% to 96.3% nt similarities with those from other regions. Phylogenetic analysis based on ORF2 region showed that the local HAstV-1 sequences were most closely related to Japanese strains, and had distinct topology with phylogenies based on ORF1a and ORF1b regions. Conclusion:The complete genome sequences of 11 HAstV strains are obtained, and the VA2 complete genome is found.
9.Meta-Analysis of the Placebo Effect of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Clinical Trials of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Functional Dyspepsia
Kaiyue HUANG ; Jinke HUANG ; Fengyun WANG ; Xiangxue MA ; Xudong TANG ; Lin LYU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(5):479-488
ObjectiveTo analyse the current implementation status of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) placebo and systematically evaluate the placebo effect in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD). MethodsA combination of medical subject terms and free words was used to search six databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang, for RCTs with CHM placebo group for FD published from January 31st, 1994 to September 30th, 2023. The dosage forms, composition, and methodological quality were collected and evaluated. The quality of the included articles was evaluated by Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool, and meta-analysis was performed on the CHM placebo response rate of patients with FD, and subgroup analysis and meta-regression was performed according to diagnostic criteria, efficacy criteria, duration of treatment, type of placebo, whether it contained active ingredient, and whether it evaluated placebo effects. ResultsA total of 34 publications were included involving 5046 participants, of which 2221 FD patients received CHM placebo treatment. Granules were the predominant placebo preparation, accounting for 71% (24/34); 32.35% (11/34) of the studies added real CHM to the placebo, and only 12 (35%) of the studies described appearance, odour, and taste. The placebo response rate in FD patients in the placebo group was 41% (95% CI: 0.35 to 0.47; P<0.01, I2 = 87%); there was significant difference between groups with different diagnostic criteria and different treatment durations (P<0.05 or P<0.01), but there was no significant difference between the different efficacy evaluation criteria, the different placebo preparation, the presence of a low-dose active ingredient, and the presence or absence of placebo assessment (P>0.05). ConclusionThere was a significant CHM placebo effect in patients with FD, with granules as the main preparation of placebop. Different diagnostic criteria and different treatment times may affect the response rate of patients, and the addition of low-dose real medicine to the CHM placebos has not been seen to have an effect on the response rate. Clinical investigators have not paid enough attention to placebos, and there is a lack of uniform standards and norms for the preparation and evaluation of CHM placebos.
10.Rapid Identification and Determination of Polysaccharides Contents in Anoectochilus Roxburghii Based on Near Infrared Spectroscopy with Chemometrics
ZHANG Xun ; HUANG Xiaoxuan ; YIN Jinke ; CHEN Yancheng ; LIN Yu ; WANG Xiaoying ; XU Wen
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2023;40(19):2702-2712
OBJECTIVE To distinguish Anoectochilus roxburghii and relative species by near infrared(NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics, and to establish a prediction model for rapid determine polysaccharides contents in Anoectochilus roxburghii. METHODS The NIR spectroscopy of Anoectochilus roxburghii, Anoectochilus formosanus Hayata and Ludisia discolor were collected. The prepossessing of original spectrum was optimization through accuracy of classification in the NIR model, and six supervised pattern recognition algorithms such as decision tree, K-nearest neighbor algorithm, random forest, partial least squares regression discriminant analysis, linear discriminant analysis and support vector machine(SVM) were applied to identify effect of the classification effect, optimum algorithm and then establish qualitative model. The content of polysaccharides in 76 batches of Anoectochilus roxburghii samples were examined by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometry combined with phenol sulfuric acid method. In order to select optimization algorithm, six quantitative stoichiometry algorithms consisted of SVM, extreme learning machines, decision trees, random forests, principal component regression and partial least squares regression(PLS) were used to connect polysaccharide content and the NIR spectroscopy in Anoectochilus roxburghii respectively. The best method for determining the content of Anoectochilus roxburghii polysaccharides was further optimized by spectra pretreatment, band selection and number of band variables based on successive projection algorithm(SPA). RESULTS The NIR discriminant analysis model was established by SVM with SNV+SG+2ndD, and the classification accuracy was best. The prediction performance was evaluated based on the radial basis kernel function algorithm combined with confusion matrix and ROC curve, and the model performance was good. In addition, the quantitative analysis model was constructed by continuous projection-partial least squares by the prepossessing of SNV+SG+2ndD and the optimal band of 7 000-4 000 cm-1 with 97 of variables number. The accuracy was 0.992, which was the highest. The root mean square error calibration set, correlation coefficient of calibration set, and the root mean square error in validation set, correlation coefficient of validation set were 0.625, 0.993, 0.767, 0.992, separately. The prediction deviation was 8.467, and relative deviation of prediction set was less than 10%. CONCLUSION The established NIR-SVM qualitative model and SPA-PLS quantitative model are accurate and reliable, which are enable to identify Anoectochilus roxburghii and determine polysaccharide content nondestructively. It is a new and promising method for rapid evaluation of Anoectochilus roxburghii quality.


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