1.Comparison of Wild and Cultivated Gardeniae Fructus Based on Traditional Quality Evaluation
Yuanjun SHANG ; Bo GENG ; Xin CHEN ; Qi WANG ; Guohua ZHENG ; Chun LI ; Zhilai ZHAN ; Junjie HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):225-234
ObjectiveBased on traditional quality evaluation of Gardeniae Fructus(GF) recorded in historical materia medica, this study systematically compared the quality differences between wild and cultivated GF from morphological characteristics, microscopic features, and contents of primary and secondary metabolites. MethodsVernier calipers and analytical balances were used to measure the length, diameter and individual fruit weight of wild and cultivated GF, and the aspect ratio was calculated. A colorimeter was used to determine the chromaticity value of wild and cultivated GF, and the paraffin sections of them were prepared by safranin-fast green staining and examined under an optical microscope to observe their microstructure. Subsequently, the contents of water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extracts of wild and cultivated GF were detected by hot immersion method under the general rule 2201 in volume Ⅳ of the 2020 edition of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, the starch content was measured by anthrone colorimetric method, the content of total polysaccharides was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid colorimetric method, the sucrose content was determined by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection(HPLC-ELSD), and the contents of representative components in them were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC). Finally, correlation analysis was conducted between quality traits and phenotypic traits, combined with multivariate statistical analysis methods such as principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), key differential components between wild and cultivated GF were screened. ResultsIn terms of traits, the wild GF fruits were smaller, exhibiting reddish yellow or brownish red hues with significant variation between batches. While the cultivated GF fruits are larger, displaying deeper orange-red or brownish red. The diameter and individual fruit weight of cultivated GF were significantly greater than those of wild GF, while the blue-yellow value(b*) of wild GF was significantly higher than that of cultivated GF. In the microstructure, the mesocarp of wild GF contained numerous scattered calcium oxalate cluster crystals, while the endocarp contained stone cell class round, polygonal or tangential prolongation, undeveloped seeds were visible within the fruit. In contrast, the mesocarp of cultivated GF contained few calcium oxalate cluster crystals, or some batches exhibited extremely numerous cluster crystals. The stone cells in the endocarp were predominantly round-like, with the innermost layer arranged in a grid pattern. Seeds were basically mature, and only a few immature seeds existed in some batches. Regarding primary metabolite content, wild GF exhibited significantly higher total polysaccharide level than cultivated GF(P<0.01). In category-specific component content, wild GF exhibited significantly higher levels of total flavonoids and total polyphenols compared to cultivated GF(P<0.01). Analysis of 12 secondary metabolites revealed that wild GF exhibited significantly higher levels of Shanzhiside, deacetyl asperulosidic acid methyl ester, gardenoside and chlorogenic acid compared to cultivated GF(P<0.01). Conversely, the contents of genipin 1-gentiobioside, geniposide and genipin were significantly lower in wild GF(P<0.01). ConclusionThere are significant differences between wild and cultivated GF in terms of traits, microstructure, and contents of primary and secondary metabolites. At present, the quality evaluation system of cultivated GF remains incomplete, and this study provides a reference for guiding the production of high-quality GF medicinal materials.
2.New trends and new strategies of drug repurposing: 2020–2024
Fangsu CHEN ; Junjie YANG ; Jiayu DU ; Shimiao HUANG ; Yuxuan ZHANG ; Qidong YOU ; Lei WANG ; Qiuyue ZHANG
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2026;57(1):11-18
The research and development of innovative drug have progressed remarkably, but the long development circle and high failure rate have become the bottleneck. Drug repurposing, discovering new indications of approved drugs, is a strategy to overcome these obstacles. By exploring new indications for approved drugs, rapid progress has been made in basic research and clinical translation in recent years. Rich resources of drugs, proven security, efficient development workflow and reduced cost are core advantages of this strategy, making the strategy a crucial direction of optimizing the pipeline of drug research and development. This review systematically summarizes drug repurposing cases that have received clinical approval over the past five years, and proposes core strategies for drug repurposing, including approaches based on targets, pathways, drug similarity, post-treatment phenotypes, and clinical side effects, aiming to provide some strategic guidance for drug repurposing efforts.
3.Five-year survival analysis and influencing factors of elderly lung cancer patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Mianyang City
Haishi XUE ; Ling HUANG ; Junjie XIA ; Yu QIU ; Ke GE ; Jincheng WANG ; Yuting CHEN ; Runjiao CHEN ; Lingna LI ; An LAN ; Yan HOU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):138-141
Objective To study the five-year survival status and influencing factors of elderly patients with lung cancer complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A cohort study was conducted to follow up 450 patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2023. The endpoint of the follow-up was the end of a five-year period or death. The Life Tables method was used to calculate survival rates and plot survival curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the influencing factors of five-year survival. Results The results indicated that the overall five-year survival rate of patients was 4.89%, and it decreased year by year. Cox regression analysis showed that age, gender, family functioning, and psychological status significantly influenced patient survival rate (all P<0.05). Stratified analysis found that the smoking status, family functioning, and psychological status of male patients all had an impact on survival rate (all P<0.05), while the psychological status of female patients had a more significant impact on survival (P=0.008). Conclusion This study provides a scientific basis for comprehensive intervention of elderly lung cancer patients with COPD. It is recommended that clinical attention should be paid to psychological and family factors to improve patient prognosis.
4.Preliminary application of histological evaluation of donor pancreas biopsy tissue in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation
Jiao WAN ; Hui GUO ; Jiali FANG ; Guanghui LI ; Luhao LIU ; Yunyi XIONG ; Wei YIN ; Tong YANG ; Junjie MA ; Zheng CHEN
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(2):250-256
Objective To preliminarily investigate the safety and efficacy of donor pancreas needle biopsy in simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 7 cases undergoing donor pancreas biopsy were collected retrospectively. All cases underwent donor pancreas biopsy before or during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Frozen section or paraffin sectioning techniques were used for tissue preparation, and hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining were performed to histologically evaluate the donor pancreas. The quality of donor pancreas was comprehensively assessed by combining histological findings with the donor's clinical data. Postoperative follow-up data of 5 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipients were collected to summarize the safety of donor pancreas biopsy and the prognosis of transplant recipients. Results The 7 pancreas donors were aged 28 to 62 years, with a body mass index ranging from 20.76 to 27.68 kg/m2. Liver ultrasound indicated fatty liver in 3 cases, while pancreatic ultrasound did not reveal any significant abnormalities. Among them, biopsy was performed on 2 donors after completion of pancreatic procurement and processing, and the frozen section histology showed moderate acute pancreatitis changes (edema of acinar cells, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration). Combined with a serum amylase level elevated more than 3 times the upper limit of normal value, these two donor pancreases were finally discarded. The remaining 5 cases underwent biopsy immediately after pancreatic vascular anastomosis during simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation, and histological evaluation was performed on paraffin-embedded sections. No biopsy-related complications (such as bleeding, pancreatic fistula, etc.) occurred after transplantation. One recipient died of severe infection 2 months after transplantation, while the other 4 recipients were followed up for more than 5 years, with well-functioning transplant kidneys and pancreases. Conclusions Donor pancreas biopsy is relatively safe, and the risk of biopsy-related complications after transplantation is controllable. Comprehensive assessment of donor pancreas quality by combining histological evaluation with the donor's clinical indicators is conducive to improving the accuracy of donor pancreas selection and organ utilization.
5.Research progress on oxidative stress in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(2):313-320
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), the most common extrathyroidal manifestation of Graves’ disease, is an autoimmune disorder affecting the orbital and periorbital tissues. Although the exact etiology of TAO remains to be fully elucidated, accumulating evidence has confirmed that oxidative stress plays a central role in driving its pathological progression. Oxidative stress not only directly damages orbital tissues but also promotes the initiation and development of the disease by modulating immune responses and tissue remodeling. In recent years, multiple studies demonstrate that antioxidants can ameliorate TAO symptoms by scavenging reactive oxygen species and alleviating orbital tissue oxidative damage. This review systematically summarizes the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of TAO, associated risk factors, and therapeutic strategies targeting oxidative stress, with the aim of providing new insights for the precise diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
6.Effects of Different Degrees of "Dryness Pathogen" on the PGD2/EOS Axis in the Lung Tissue of Bronchial Asthma Model Rats
Junjie JIA ; De JIANG ; Yifei CHEN ; Qianran XIONG ; Zhiyuan XIN ; Ruonan YU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(20):2219-2226
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of "dryness pathogen" on a bronchial asthma rat model from the perspective of the prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)/eosinophil (EOS) axis. MethodsForty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, blank group, asthma group, mild dryness asthma group, moderate dryness asthma group, and severe dryness asthma group, with 8 rats in each group. The asthma model was induced in the asthma group using ovalbumin (OVA), while the asthma-dryness syndrome groups were modeled using a climate chamber combined with OVA to establish animal models of bronchial asthma with Northwest dryness syndrome. During modeling, general behavioral performance of the rats in each group was observed and recorded, and body weight, water intake, and asthma symptom scores were compared. On day 21 of the modeling, small animal respiratory system testing was used to measure respiratory rate and intermittent respiratory contraction index. Pathological changes in rat lung tissues were observed using HE staining. Giemsa staining was used to observe eosinophil (EOS) infiltration in lung tissues and calculate EOS counts. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Western Blot was used to detect eosinophil peroxidase (EPX) and prostaglandin D2 receptor (CRTH2) protein levels in rat lung tissues. ResultsCompared to the blank group, the average water intake of rats in all asthma-dryness groups increased (P<0.01). The body weight of rats decreased in the moderate and severe asthma-dryness groups on day 14, and in all modelling groups on day 21 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Across all model groups, the asthma symptom score, respiratory rate, intermittent respiratory contraction index, EOS count in lung tissue, serum levels of PGD2, IL-5, and IL-4, as well as the relative protein expression levels of EPX and CRTH2 in lung tissue all significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared to the asthma group, the water intake of rats in the mild, moderate, and severe asthma-dryness groups increased (P<0.01). On day 21 of the experiment, the body weight of rats in the moderate and severe asthma-dryness groups decreased (P<0.05), and the respiratory rate of rats in all asthma-dryness groups increased, as well as the serum levels of PGD2, IL-5, and IL-4, and the relative protein expression levels of EPX and CRTH2 in lung tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Furthermore, in the moderate and severe asthma-dryness groups, the asthma symptom scores and intermittent respiratory contraction indices were elevated, and the EOS counts in lung tissue increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared to the mild asthma-dryness group, serum levels of PGD2, IL-5, and IL-4 in the severe asthma-dryness group increased, as well as the relative protein expression levels of EPX and CRTH2 in lung tissue (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Pathological observation showed that rats in all asthma-dryness syndrome groups exhibited increased inflammatory infiltration in the lung tissue, alveolar wall thickening, luminal narrowing, pulmonary interstitial congestion, and aggravated viscous secretions. These pathological manifestations worsened as the degree of dryness increased. ConclusionThe "dryness pathogenic factor" can exacerbate bronchial asthma symptoms and lung tissue pathological damage through the PGD2/EOS axis, and the damage progressively worsens with the increasing severity of the dryness pathogen.
7.Progress on the relationship between small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and functional gastrointestinal disorders
Xiaoli FU ; Xuxia WEI ; Junjie XU ; Hongling CHEN ; Le ZHANG ; Ning XUE
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(1):27-32
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth(SIBO)is a clinically common but poorly recognized disease with clinical symptoms that overlap with those of functional gastrointestinal disorders(FGID). FGID is a common risk factor for the occurrence of SIBO,and its SIBO incidence rate is significantly higher than that of healthy people,and has a certain correlation. Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis(including SIBO)plays an important role in the pathophysiology of FGID. At present,the diagnosis and treatment of SIBO still face challenges,and the treatment plan of FGID is gradually introduced into the treatment of SIBO. SIBO and FGID are closely related in clinical manifestations,incidence rate,pathophysiology,treatment and other aspects,but there is little research on the relationship between them. Prospective and large-scale clinical research is still needed to improve understanding and diagnostic accuracy.This article reviews the research progress on the relationship between SIBO and FGID.
8.Robotic surgery for complex bile duct stones:a retrospective single-center comparative study
Long HUANG ; Jianlin LAI ; Kangyu ZHENG ; Junjie CHEN ; Jianfei HU ; Yifeng TIAN ; Shi CHEN
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(8):1662-1670
Background and Aims:Complex biliary stones are often accompanied by hilar adhesions,distorted anatomy,biliary variations,or biliary-enteric fistulas.Conventional laparoscopic surgery is limited in such settings,with high conversion and complication rates.Robotic surgical systems provide high-definition 3D vision and enhanced dexterity,potentially improving surgical outcomes.This study compared the clinical efficacy of robotic vs.laparoscopic surgery for complex biliary stones.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 145 patients with complex biliary stones who underwent minimally invasive surgery at Fujian Provincial Hospital,Fuzhou University,from January 2023 to January 2025.Patients were divided into a robotic group(n=62)and a laparoscopic group(n=83).Intraoperative outcomes,postoperative complications,and recovery parameters were compared.Stone recurrence was assessed during follow-up.Results:Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups(all P>0.05).The conversion rate was 0 in the robotic group vs.7.2%in the laparoscopic group(P=0.038).The postoperative complication rate was significantly lower in the robotic group(1.6%vs.10.7%,P=0.044).Time to first oral intake,first flatus,and postoperative hospital stay were all shorter in the robotic group(all P<0.05).No stone recurrence was observed in either group during follow-up until June 2025.Conclusion:Robotic surgery is a safe and feasible approach for complex biliary stones,offering reduced conversion and complication rates and faster recovery compared with laparoscopy.It holds promise for wider clinical application in complex biliary disease.
9.Astaxanthin reduces oxaliplatin-induced neuropathic pain through antioxidant mechanisms
Chong CHEN ; Junjie TIAN ; Zan ZHOU ; Ruijuan GAO ; Xuechun TANG ; Yixuan GAO ; Ketao MA ; Li LI ; Junqiang SI
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(4):606-615
Objective To investigate the mechanisms by which astaxanthin(AST)alleviates oxaliplatin(OXA)-induced neuropathic pain through antioxidant pathways so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical intervention.Methods Animal experiments:SD rats were divided into five groups(n=6):control group,OXA(4 mg/kg)group,OXA+Oil group,OXA+AST(5 mg/kg)group,and OXA+AST(10 mg/kg)group.Mechanical and cold pain thresholds were measured at day 0,7,14,and 21.Malondialdehyde(MDA)content and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG)were detected using the thiobarbituric acid(TBA)method and WST-1 assay,respectively.Western blotting was performed to analyze the expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1.Cell experiments:neuro-2a cells were divided into control group,OXA(50 μmol/L)group,AST(10 μmol/L)group,and OXA(50 μmol/L)+AST(10 μmol/L)group.Cells were treated with nerve growth factor(NGF,50 ng/mL)to induce growth,and morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)level and mitochondrial superoxide were measured using DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and MitoSOXTM red,respectively.Mitochondrial function was assessed by JC-1 assay.Western blotting was used to detect Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions.Results Animal experiments:① Mechanical and cold pain thresholds were reduced in OXA and OXA+Oil groups(P<0.05),while AST significantly increased these thresholds in OXA-treated rats(P<0.05).② SOD activity decreased while MDA content increased in the DRG of OXA-treated rats(P<0.05).AST restored SOD activity and reduced MDA level(P<0.05,P<0.01).③ Western blotting showed elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions in OXA group(P>0.05),which were further upregulated by AST(P<0.05,P<0.01).Cell experiments:① OXA reduced the number of neurite-bearing cells and shortened the average neurite length(P<0.05).Inverted microscopic observation revealed that AST intervention increased both parameters(P<0.01,P<0.001).② OXA increased intracellular and mitochondrial ROS fluorescence intensity(P<0.05),which was attenuated by AST(P<0.01).③ JC-1 assay revealed decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in OXA group(P<0.01),which was partially reversed by AST(P<0.05).④ Western blotting results showed that OXA upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions(P<0.05,P<0.01),and AST further enhanced their levels(P<0.01).Conclusion AST alleviates OXA-induced neuropathic pain by promoting Nrf2/HO-1 expression,enhancing SOD activity,reducing lipid peroxidation and ROS production,and improving mitochondrial function.
10.Identification of endothelial cell key genes associated with pathogenesis and invasion of human venous malformations using single-nucleus RNA sequencing-based co-expression network analysis
Wenbo LIU ; Junjie LIN ; Meijuan ZHANG ; Chunjie YUAN ; Xiaojuan FENG ; Wenting JIAO ; Junbo QIAO ; Wenqiu WANG ; Bin FANG ; Changkuan CHEN
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;59(4):458-467
Objective:This study aimed to identify key genes in endothelial cell (EC) associated with the pathogenesis and progression of human venous malformations (VMs) through bioinformatics analysis, providing potential biomarkers for early screening and targeted therapy of VMs.Methods:A case-control study was conducted using surgically resected tissue specimens from VMs patients at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (from September 2021 to September 2023), with malformed venous tissues as the experimental group and distal normal venous tissues as controls. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) was performed on paired experimental and control samples from four VM patients. High-dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis (hdWGCNA), combined with gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, identified critical genes. Validation experiments included 15 additional VM cases and controls using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot.Results:A total of 55 430 nuclei were captured using snRNA-seq, with 30 391 nuclei from the experimental group and 25 039 nuclei from the control group. Cluster analysis identified 22 distinct cell populations, which were annotated into 8 cell types. hdWGCNA revealed four modules associated with invasion, which were enriched in angiogenesis, integrin signaling, and cell adhesion according to GO analysis. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and focal adhesion are key regulatory mechanisms. PPI network analysis combined with cytoscape identified EGFL7, TEK, and FLT1 as key genes. RT-qPCR results demonstrated that the relative mRNA expression levels of these three genes in the experimental group (6.66±2.31, 1.86±0.62, 3.49±0.58) were significantly higher than those in the control group (1.05±0.14, 1.00±0.14, 1.06±0.25), with statistically significant differences ( t=9.37, 4.27, 11.20, P<0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the relative protein expression levels of these three genes in the cytoplasm of the experimental group (0.84±0.15, 0.68±0.14, 0.85±0.12) were also significantly higher than those in the control group (0.19±0.05, 0.23±0.06, 0.30±0.05), with statistically significant differences ( t=16.62, 5.93, 11.68, P<0.05). Western blot analysis confirmed that the relative protein expression levels of these three genes in the experimental group (0.35±0.04, 0.36±0.09, 0.31±0.04) were significantly higher than those in the control group (0.19±0.01, 0.13±0.02, 0.14±0.04), with statistically significant differences ( t=7.05, 4.61, 5.93, P<0.05). Conclusion:EGFL7, FLT1, and TEK in EC may play crucial roles in the occurrence and invasion of VMs.


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