1.Effects of baicalin on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus and its mechanism
Kewei SHI ; Xi CHEN ; Xiaoyan ZHAO ; Bo YANG ; Yunchun LIU ; Yueyue GAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(4):450-455
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of baicalin (BC) on insulin resistance in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its underlying mechanism based on the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 1 (SUV39H1)/histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) axis. METHODS A GDM rat model was established by a combination of a high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection. The successfully modeled rats were divided into the GDM group, BC low-dose group, BC high-dose group, and high-dose of BC+AMPK inhibitor (Compound C) group, with 10 rats in each group. Another 10 pregnant rats fed a normal diet served as the control group. Rats in each group were given corresponding drugs/normal saline intragastrically and/or intraperitoneally, once daily for 2 consecutive weeks. After the last administration, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), pancreatic function indexes [fasting insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity index (ISI)], blood lipid indexes (total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), liver function indexes (alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, alkaline phosphatase), inflammatory indicators (C-reactive protein, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6), metabolic regulatory protein [complement-C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (CTRP3)], insulin sensitivity related factors [glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4), adiponectin], and oxidative stress indicators [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA)] were measured. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed, and the expressions of proteins related to the AMPK/SUV39H1/H3K9me3 axis in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the GDM group, rats in the BC low- and high-dose groups showed varying degrees of improvement in pathological changes such as disordered cell arrangement, vacuolar degeneration, lipid deposition, and inflammatory cell infiltration in liver tissue. Their FBG and FINS levels, HOMA-IR, the levels of blood lipid indexes, liver function indexes, inflammatory indicators and MDA, and the expressions of SUV39H1 and H3K9me3 were significantly decreased or down-regulated, while metabolic regulatory protein, insulin sensitivity-related factors and AMPK protein phosphorylation levels were significantly increased ( P <0.05). The improvement was more significant in the BC high-dose group ( P <0.05). Compound C could significantly reverse the ameliorative effects of high-dose BC on the above quantitative indicators ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS BC can significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, increase serum levels of CTRP3, GLUT4 and adiponectin, thereby improving insulin resistance in GDM rats. These effects may be related to the activation of AMPK and inhibition of SUV39H1-mediated H3K9me3 modification.
2.Emerging trends and frontier research in the field of plant-derived vesicles for medicinal use:bibliometric analysis
Yingqi CAO ; Yuanyuan XIA ; Qi YOU ; Zhengting WU ; Qing ZHAO ; Dongxiao LI ; Zimei CHEN ; Kewei ZHAO
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(21):2561-2570
Based on the core collection retrieval of the Web of Science database,researches related to the medicinal field of plant-derived vesicles(PDVs)were retrieved.The research hotspots and their changes in the pharmaceutical field of PDVs are visually analyzed by using bibliometric software VOSviewer and CiteSpace.A detailed discussion is held around the author,institution,country,key research hotspots and annual develop-ment hotspots,revealing the current research status of PDVs in the pharmaceutical field and predicting future trends,which provides valuable perspectives for researchers to understand the current research status of PDVs in the pharmaceutical field and discover possible unexplored areas in this field.
3.Influence of intravenous esketamine infusion on anesthetic effect and awakening quality in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery
Kewei WU ; Sheng LI ; Shuyu DENG ; Dongdong CHEN ; Xinxia YANG ; Lihong HU
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(1):108-113
Objective To investigate the influence of intravenous esketamine infusion on anesthetic effect and awakening quality in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for prostate cancer.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were selected and divided into the esketamine group(group E)and control group(group C)by the random number table method,60 ca-ses in each group.The group E used esketamine for anesthesia induction and maintenance,while the group C received the same amount of physiological saline at the same time during operation process as control.The es-ketamine pumping infusion or normal saline in the two groups was stopped at 30 min before operation end.In addition,the types and doses of other drugs used during the induction and maintenance phase of anesthesia were identical between the two groups.The use total amounts of anesthetic drugs during perioperative period were recorded.The heart rate(HR)and mean arterial pressure(MAP)were recorded before operation(T1),instantly before tracheal intubation(T2),at 1 min after tracheal intubation(T3),1 h during surgery(T4),end of skin suture(T5),and 5 min after extubation(T6)in the two groups respectively;the anesthetic recovery time after extubation was recorded.The Riker sedation and restlessness score was used to conduct the agita-tion evaluation,the incidence rates of agitation and bucking and the resuscitation room stay time were recor-ded.The pain VAS score was used to conduct the pain evaluation in the patients.The incidence rates of ad-verse events such as respiratory depression,shiverring,nausea,vomiting,drowsiness after extubation were re-corded.Results The perioperative doses of resutanil and propofol in the group E were significantly lower than those in the group C,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).HR and MAP at T2 in the group E were higher than those in the group C,while HR and MAP at T3 in the group E were lower than those in the group C.The recovery time after extubation in the group E was longer than that in the group C,the agitation incidence rate,acute bucking incidence rate and VAS score were lower,the stay time in the recov-ery room was shorter.The incidence rate of drowsiness in the group E was significantly higher than that in the group C(P<0.05).The incidence rates of other adverse events had no statistical differnece(P>0.05).Con-clusion Esketamine is safe and effective in the elderly patients with laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery,which is conducive to stabilize the hemodynamic parameters and reduce the incidence rate of agitation and buc-king.
4.Bisdemethoxycurcumin suppresses liver fibrosis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma via inhibiting CXCL12-induced macrophage polarization.
Wei YUAN ; Xinxin ZENG ; Bin CHEN ; Sihan YIN ; Jing PENG ; Xiong WANG ; Xingxing YUAN ; Kewei SUN
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(10):1232-1247
Chronic, unresolved inflammation correlates with persistent hepatic injury and fibrosis, ultimately progressing to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) demonstrates therapeutic potential against HCC, yet its mechanism in preventing hepatic "inflammation-carcinoma transformation" remains incompletely understood. In the current research, clinical HCC specimens underwent analysis using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to evaluate the expression of fibrosis markers, M2 macrophage markers, and CXCL12. In vitro, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced LX-2 cells and a co-culture system of LX-2, THP-1, and HCC cells were established. Cell functions underwent assessment through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometry, and Transwell assays. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting and immunofluorescence evaluated the differential expression of molecules. The interaction between β-catenin/TCF4 and CXCL12 was examined using co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), dual luciferase, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. A DEN-induced rat model was developed to investigate BDMC's role in liver fibrosis-associated HCC (LFAHCC) development in vivo. Our results showed that clinical HCC tissues exhibited elevated fibrosis and enriched M2 macrophages. BDMC delayed liver fibrosis progression to HCC in vivo. BDMC inhibited the inflammatory microenvironment induced by activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Furthermore, BDMC suppressed M2 macrophage-induced fibrosis and HCC cell proliferation and metastasis. Mechanistically, BDMC repressed TCF4/β-catenin complex formation, thereby reducing CXCL12 transcription in LX-2 cells. Moreover, CXCL12 overexpression reversed BDMC's inhibitory effect on macrophage M2 polarization and its mediation of fibrosis, as well as HCC proliferation and metastasis. BDMC significantly suppressed LFAHCC development through CXCL12 in rats. In conclusion, BDMC inhibited LFAHCC progression by reducing M2 macrophage polarization through suppressing β-catenin/TCF4-mediated CXCL12 transcription.
Animals
;
Liver Neoplasms/etiology*
;
Humans
;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology*
;
Liver Cirrhosis/complications*
;
Macrophages/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Rats
;
Chemokine CXCL12/genetics*
;
Diarylheptanoids/pharmacology*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
beta Catenin/genetics*
5.Active Surveillance in the 2025 American Thyroid Association Guidelines for the Management of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in Adults: Updates and Interpretations
Chen LI ; Jian CAO ; Kewei JIANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(6):1460-1464
The
6.Differential expressions of exosomal miRNAs in patients with chronic heart failure and hyperuricemia: diagnostic values of miR-27a-5p and miR-139-3p.
Zhiliang CHEN ; Yonggang YANG ; Xia HUANG ; Yan CHENG ; Yuan QU ; Qiqi HENG ; Yujia FU ; Kewei LI ; Ning GU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(1):43-51
OBJECTIVES:
To analyze the differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) complicated by hyperuricemia (HUA) and explore their potential as novel diagnostic molecular markers and their target genes.
METHODS:
This study was conducted among 30 CHF patients with HUA (observation group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group) enrolled between September, 2020 and September, 2023. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 6 CHF patients with HUA for analyzing exosomal miRNAs by high-throughput sequencing, and the results were validated in the remaining 24 patients using qRT-PCR. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed to predict the the target genes of the identified differential miRNAs. We also validated the differentially expressed miRNAs by animal experiment.
RESULTS:
A total of 42 differentially expressed exosomal miRNAs were detected in observation group by high-throughput sequencing; among them, miR-27a-5p was significantly upregulated (P=0.000179), and miR-139-3p was significantly downregulated (P=0.000058). In the 24 patients with both CHF and PUA, qRT-PCR validated significant upregulation of miR-27a-5p (P=0.004) and downregulation of miR-139-3p (P=0.005) in serum exosomes. When combined, miR-27a-5p and miR-139-3p had a maximum area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899 (95% CI: 0812-0.987) for predicting CHF complicated by HUA. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that the differential expressions of miR-27a-5p and miR-139-3p was associated with the activation of the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway to activate the autophagic response. We obtained the same conclusion from animal experiment.
CONCLUSIONS
Upregulated exosomal miR-27a-5p combined with downregulated exosomal miR-139-3p expression can serve as a novel molecular marker for diagnosis of CHF complicated by HUA, and their differential expression may promote autophagy in cardiomyocytes by activating the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway.
Humans
;
Hyperuricemia/diagnosis*
;
Heart Failure/genetics*
;
MicroRNAs/metabolism*
;
Exosomes/metabolism*
;
Chronic Disease
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Animals
7.Research progress on delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children with tumors
Wenxing JIANG ; Qiuyue XU ; Zhen YANG ; Wenyuan MA ; Jie PENG ; Chuangrong CHEN ; Kewei ZHAO ; Qiang LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(35):4895-4900
The incidence of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting is relatively high among pediatric cancer patients. Nausea and vomiting symptoms can exacerbate physical and psychological burdens, potentially leading to aversion and reduced treatment adherence. This paper analyzes and summarizes delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients, covering overview, influencing factors, assessment tools, and non-pharmacological interventions, aiming to provide insights for clinical prevention and intervention strategies targeting delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric patients.
8.Research progress on financial toxicity in patients with diabetes
Qiuyue XU ; Li LI ; Wenxing JIANG ; Lihui HU ; Jie PENG ; Kewei ZHAO ; Chuangrong CHEN ; Qiang LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(35):4888-4894
Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires lifelong medication and long-term management. The longer the duration of the disease, the more likely it is to lead to progressive chronic complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nervous system, and cardiovascular system. These complications may result in gradual functional decline or even organ failure, and may also trigger severe acute metabolic disorders. The cumulative financial burden on patients and their families can be substantial, giving rise to what is known as financial toxicity, which in turn may negatively affect patients' health outcomes. This review comprehensively explores the concept of financial toxicity in diabetic patients, including its assessment tools, influencing factors, and coping strategies. It also offers targeted suggestions aimed at informing the development of more scientific and effective systemic interventions, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with diabetes.
9.Clinical Study on Zhenshi Burn Ointment Promoting the Wound Healing of Postoperative Simple Anal Fistula with Damp-Heat Pouring Downward Syndrome
Yuxi PAN ; Ming ZHANG ; Chenxi YANG ; Yiwei WANG ; Jun CHEN ; Kewei WANG ; Yang ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(2):263-271
OBJECTIVE To observe the clinical efficacy of Zhenshi Burn Ointment on postoperative wound healing of simple anal fistula and explore its potential mechanism of action.METHODS A total of 60 patients with low-position simple anal fistula of damp-heat pouring downward type admitted to the Department of Anorectum,Nanjing Hospital of Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nan-jing University of Chinese Medicine from May to December 2023 were selected as the research subjects and randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,with 30 cases in each group.After surgery,the control group was given sterilized vaseline gauze for external application,and the experimental group was given Zhenshi Burn Ointment for external application.The course of treatment for both groups was 30 d.After treatment,the postoperative wound healing time,wound healing rate,pain score,wound granulation growth and secretion,and changes in TCM syndrome score were compared between the two groups.The pathological sec-tions of wound granulation tissue were compared 14 d after surgery.The transcription levels of COL1A1,type Ⅲ collagen(COL3A1),epidermal growth factor(EGF),and fibroblast growth factor(FGF2)in granulation tissue were detected by qPCR.The expression lev-els of proteins related to MEK/ERK signaling pathway were detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the wound healing rates of the experimental group were significantly increased at 7,14,21,and 30 d after surgery(P<0.01),and the wound healing time was significantly shortened(P<0.01).At 7 d after surgery,the pain score of the experimental group was signifi-cantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).At 7 and 14 d after surgery,the granulation growth score of the wound in the ex-perimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.01).At 14 d after surgery,the secretion score of the ex-perimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.01).At 14 and 30 d after surgery,the total score of TCM syndrome in the experimental group was significantly better than that in the control group(P<0.05).At 14 d after surgery,the patho-logical improvement of granulation tissue in the wound in the experimental group was better than that in the control group,and the con-tent of collagen fiber and type I collagen(Collagen I)was significantly higher than that in the control group(P<0.01).The mRNA contents of COL1A1,COL3A1,EGF,and FGF2 were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01);the levels of p-MEK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 proteins were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Zhenshi Burn Ointment has a good effect on promoting postoperative anal fistula wound healing,which may be related to upregulating growth factor expression,promoting collagen regeneration,and activating MEK/ERK pathway.
10.Research progress of tertiary lymphoid structures in evaluation and treatment of gastric cancer and other tumors
Zizhen WU ; Chen LI ; Yingjiang YE ; Shan WANG ; Kewei JIANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2025;24(3):401-406
Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), as a crucial component of the tumor micro-environment, have attracted significant attention in the field of tumor research in recent years. TLSs are composed of multiple immune cells and formed under the stimulation of chronic inflammation, with their maturation process divided into different stages. They exert anti-tumor effects by mimic-king the functions of secondary lymphoid organs and generating adaptive immune responses. In terms of the prognosis of gastric cancer, the cell composition, spatial distribution of TLSs, and their combination with other indicators are all helpful in predicting the prognosis of patients. Meanwhile, the TLSs scoring system is expected to become an index for evaluating the efficacy of immuno-therapy. Treatment strategies for inducing TLSs formation have achieved certain results in animal models, but potential treatment risks require attention. The authors elaborate on formation and maturation process of TLSs, anti-tumor mechanism, value in prognostic assessment of gastric cancer and multiple tumors, prediction of immunotherapy, as well as treatment strategies for inducing the formation of TLSs.

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