1.Ameliorating Effect of Yifei Tongluo Prescription on Bleomycin-induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats via Regulating NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Signaling Pathway and Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition
Bowen ZHOU ; Zefeng LI ; Xian MA ; Xuannian LI ; Jingwen WANG ; Fei XU ; Huaman LIU ; Xinhua JIA
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):150-159
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Yifei Tongluo prescription on the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rats with pulmonary fibrosis. MethodsTracheal instillation of bleomycin was conducted to establish a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a prednisone acetate group (1.17 mg·kg-1), and low- and high-dose Yifei Tongluo prescription groups (10.62 and 21.24 g·kg-1, respectively). Administration started on the 7th day after modeling, once a day for 28 consecutive days. The lung coefficient of each group was calculated. The pathological changes of lung tissues in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin in rat lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, E-cadherin (E-cad), and typeⅠ collagen (ColⅠ) in lung tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. The content of hydroxyproline (HYP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-18, and IL-1β in rat serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), IL-1β, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in rat lung tissues were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The protein expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, and Caspase-1 in rat lung tissues were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a significantly increased lung coefficient (P<0.01) and significantly increased range of pulmonary interstitial inflammation and collagen deposition. In addition, the levels of α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cad, and ColⅠ in lung tissues were significantly increased (P<0.01). The levels of fibrosis- and inflammation-related factors HYP, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β in serum were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). The levels of factors related to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung tissues, including NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and TGF-β1, were significantly upregulated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Yifei Tongluo prescription groups showed improved lung coefficients. Additionally, the extent of lung inflammation and collagen deposition was significantly reduced. The expression of α-SMA, Vimentin, E-cad, and ColⅠ in lung tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The levels of HYP, TNF-α, IL-18, and IL-1β in serum were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The expression levels of NLRP3, GSDMD, ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 in lung tissue were also significantly decreased (P<0.01). ConclusionYifei Tongluo prescription can regulate the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, down-regulate release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines, alleviate NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and EMT, and thereby improve pulmonary fibrosis in rats.
2.Effects of subanesthetic dose of esketamine on postoperative anxiety and recovery in patients undergoing laparo-scopic cholecystectomy
Zhangzhen ZHONG ; Xian ZHENG ; Ting XU ; Jie WANG ; Hui CAO ; Xinggen ZHOU ; Hui LI ; Jiacheng ZHAO ; Hui LIU ; Chao ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(2):204-209
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of subanesthetic dose of esketamine on postoperative anxiety and recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS A total of 200 patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Suzhou Ninth Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from January 2023 to December 2024 were randomly assigned to control group (n=100) and observation group (n=100). One minute before the initiation of anesthesia, patients in the control group received intravenous injections of Propofol emulsion injection, Sufentanil citrate injection, and Succinylcholine chloride injection. On this basis, patients in the observation group received an intravenous injection of Esketamine hydrochloride injection. The anxiety status of patients in both groups was compared, along with their general intraoperative conditions (including sufentanil dosage, duration of pneumoperitoneum, operative time, anesthesia time, and extubation time), postoperative recovery, incidence of adverse reactions, and the need for dezocine rescue analgesia. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure, entropy index (state entropy and response entropy), inflammatory marker levels [interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)], numerical rating scale (NRS) for pain intensity were compared between the two groups at different time points. RESULTS No significant differences were found between the two groups in pneumoperitoneum duration, operative time, anesthesia time,extubation time, incidence of postoperative dry mouth, entropy index or length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significantly lower postoperative STAI-S scores, reduced intraoperative sufentanil consumption, decreased incidence of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and shivering, the need for dezocine rescue analgesia, as well as lower plasma IL-6 and CRP levels at 24 h after surgery, and NRS (P<0.05). The heart rate and mean arterial pressure of patients in the observation group at the start of surgery, end of surgery, and during extubation were all significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Subanesthetic dose of esketamine can effectively alleviate postoperative anxiety, reduce intraoperative opioid consumption, suppress postoperative inflammatory response, relieve postoperative pain, and promote recovery in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
3.Bibliometric and visual analysis of the research status and trends of senescence in osteoporosis
Haiwen ZHANG ; Xian ZHANG ; Taichuan XU ; Chao LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(6):1580-1591
BACKGROUND:Cellular senescence,which triggers the aging process of physiological decline in the body,is closely related to osteoporosis.With the development of aging research,significant progress has been made in the study of targeted clearance of senescent cells.Accordingly,senolytic cell therapy for osteoporosis based on this has attracted increasing attention.Current research on the association between aging and osteoporosis shows the characteristic of multidisciplinary intersection.However,existing reviews are mostly based on a single database(such as PubMed)and lack a systematic comparative analysis of Chinese and English literature.Therefore,it is of great academic value to integrate resources from multiple databases and systematically reveal the research status and hot trends of aging in the field of osteoporosis research.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the development,current status,hotspots,and future trends of research on aging in the field of osteoporosis over the past 20 years,so as to provide references for future related research.METHODS:We searched for research literature on the correlation between aging and osteoporosis in CNKI,WanFang,VIP and Web of Science Core Database.The search time span was from August 1,2004 to September 24,2024.Then,we used NoteExpress 4.0 for data cleaning and CiteSpace 6.3R1(Advanced)and Excel(2024)for literature analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Since 2004,research on the correlation between aging and osteoporosis has shown a significant growth trend.Bibliometric analysis shows that(as of September 2024),and 1 275 English documents and 151 Chinese documents have been published,with the highest number of publications in China and the United States.In terms of publishing institutions,the Mayo Clinic ranked first,followed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of California system.As for core authors,Sundeep Khosla and Joshua Nicholas Farr were the authors with the most publications and citations,while Pei Lingpeng and Hui Bodi were the most worthy of attention in Chinese literature.After the keywords"aging"and"osteoporosis"and their synonyms were excluded,it was found that cellular senescence,senescence-associated secretory phenotype,signaling pathways,and targeted senolytic cell clearance therapy haven been the current research hotspots and theoretical frontiers.
4.Bibliometric and visual analysis of the research status and trends of senescence in osteoporosis
Haiwen ZHANG ; Xian ZHANG ; Taichuan XU ; Chao LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(6):1580-1591
BACKGROUND:Cellular senescence,which triggers the aging process of physiological decline in the body,is closely related to osteoporosis.With the development of aging research,significant progress has been made in the study of targeted clearance of senescent cells.Accordingly,senolytic cell therapy for osteoporosis based on this has attracted increasing attention.Current research on the association between aging and osteoporosis shows the characteristic of multidisciplinary intersection.However,existing reviews are mostly based on a single database(such as PubMed)and lack a systematic comparative analysis of Chinese and English literature.Therefore,it is of great academic value to integrate resources from multiple databases and systematically reveal the research status and hot trends of aging in the field of osteoporosis research.OBJECTIVE:To summarize the development,current status,hotspots,and future trends of research on aging in the field of osteoporosis over the past 20 years,so as to provide references for future related research.METHODS:We searched for research literature on the correlation between aging and osteoporosis in CNKI,WanFang,VIP and Web of Science Core Database.The search time span was from August 1,2004 to September 24,2024.Then,we used NoteExpress 4.0 for data cleaning and CiteSpace 6.3R1(Advanced)and Excel(2024)for literature analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Since 2004,research on the correlation between aging and osteoporosis has shown a significant growth trend.Bibliometric analysis shows that(as of September 2024),and 1 275 English documents and 151 Chinese documents have been published,with the highest number of publications in China and the United States.In terms of publishing institutions,the Mayo Clinic ranked first,followed by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the University of California system.As for core authors,Sundeep Khosla and Joshua Nicholas Farr were the authors with the most publications and citations,while Pei Lingpeng and Hui Bodi were the most worthy of attention in Chinese literature.After the keywords"aging"and"osteoporosis"and their synonyms were excluded,it was found that cellular senescence,senescence-associated secretory phenotype,signaling pathways,and targeted senolytic cell clearance therapy haven been the current research hotspots and theoretical frontiers.
5.Color-component correlation and mechanism of component transformation of processed Citri Reticulatae Semen.
Kui-Lin ZHU ; Jin-Lian ZOU ; Xu-Li DENG ; Mao-Xin DENG ; Hai-Ming WANG ; Rui YIN ; Zhang-Xian CHEN ; Yun-Tao ZHANG ; Hong-Ping HE ; Fa-Wu DONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2382-2390
High-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the content of three major components in Citri Reticulatae Semen(CRS), including limonin, nomilin, and obacunone. The chromaticity of the CRS sample during salt processing and stir-frying was measured using a color difference meter. Next, the relationship between the color and content of the salt-processed CRS sample was investigated through correlation analysis. By integrating the oil bath technique for processing simulation with HPLC, the changes in the relative content of nomilin and its transformation products were analyzed, with its structural transformation pattern during processing identified. Additionally, RAW264.7 cells were induced with lipopolysaccharides(LPSs) to establish an inflammatory model, and the anti-inflammatory activity of nomilin and its transformation product, namely obacunone was evaluated. The results indicated that as processing progressed, E~*ab and L~* values showed a downward trend; a~* values exhibited a slow increase over a certain period, followed by no significant changes, and b~* values remained stable with no significant changes over a certain period and then started to decrease. The limonin content remained barely unchanged; the nomilin content decreased, and the obacunone increased significantly. The changing trends in content and color parameters during salt-processing and stir-frying were basically consistent. The content of nomilin and obacunone was significantly correlated with the colorimetric values(L~*, a~*, b~*, and E~*ab), while limonin content showed no significant correlation with these values. By analyzing HPLC patterns of nomylin at different heating temperatures and time, it was found that under conditions of 200-250 ℃ for heating of 5-60 min, the content of nomilin significantly decreased, while the obacunone content increased pronouncedly. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity results indicated that compared to the model group, the group with a high concentration of nomilin and the groups with varying concentrations of obacunone showed significantly reduced release of nitric oxide(NO)(P<0.01). When both were at the same concentration, obacunone showed better performance in inhibiting NO release. In this study, the obvious correlation between the color and content of major components during the processing of CRS samples was identified, and the dynamic patterns of quality change in CRS samples during processing were revealed. Additionally, the study revealed and confirmed the transformation of nomilin into obacunone during processing, with the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of obacunone significantly greater than that of nomilin. These findings provided a scientific basis for CRS processing optimization, tablet quality control, and its clinical application.
Mice
;
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
RAW 264.7 Cells
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Limonins/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
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Citrus/chemistry*
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Color
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Benzoxepins/chemistry*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/chemistry*
6.Three new chalcone C-glycosides from Carthami Flos.
Jia-Xu BAO ; Yong-Xiang WANG ; Xian ZHANG ; Ya-Zhu YANG ; Yue LIN ; Jiao-Jiao YIN ; Yun-Fang ZHAO ; Hui-Xia HUO ; Peng-Fei TU ; Jun LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3715-3745
The chemical components of Carthami Flos were investigated by using macroporous resin, silica gel column chromatography, reversed-phase octadecylsilane(ODS) column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The planar structures of the compounds were established based on their physicochemical properties and ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis), infrared(IR), high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(HR-ESI-MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopic technology. The absolute configurations were determined by comparing the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism(ECD). Six flavonoid C-glycosides were isolated from the 30% ethanol elution fraction of macroporous resin obtained from the 95% ethanol extract of Carthami Flos, and identified as saffloquinoside F(1), 5-hydroxysaffloneoside(2), iso-5-hydroxysaffloneoside(3), isosafflomin C(4), safflomin C(5), and vicenin 2(6). Among these, the compounds 1 to 3 were new chalcone C-glycosides. The compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 could significantly increase the viability of H9c2 cardiomyocytes damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R) at a concentration of 50 μmol·L~(-1), showing their good cardioprotective activity.
Glycosides/pharmacology*
;
Flowers/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Carthamus tinctorius/chemistry*
;
Chalcones/pharmacology*
;
Animals
7.The addition of 5-aminolevulinic acid to HBSS protects testis grafts during hypothermic transportation: a novel preservation strategy.
Meng-Hui MA ; Pei-Gen CHEN ; Jun-Xian HE ; Hai-Cheng CHEN ; Zhen-Han XU ; Lin-Yan LV ; Yan-Qing LI ; Xiao-Yan LIANG ; Gui-Hua LIU
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(4):454-463
The aim of this investigation was to determine the optimal storage medium for testicular hypothermic transportation and identify the ideal concentration for the application of the protective agent 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of the protective effects of 5-ALA. First, we collected and stored mouse testicular fragments in different media, including Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS; n = 5), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM/F12; n = 5), and alpha-minimum essential medium (αMEM; n = 5). Storage of testicular tissue in HBSS preserved the integrity of testicular morphology better than that in the DMEM/F12 group ( P < 0.05) and the αMEM group ( P < 0.01). Testicular fragments were subsequently placed in HBSS with various concentrations of 5-ALA (0 [control], 1 mmol l -1 , 2 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 ) to determine the most effective concentration of 5-ALA. The 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group ( n = 3) presented the highest positive rate of spermatogonial stem cells compared with those in the control, 1 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 5-ALA groups. Finally, the tissue fragments were preserved in HBSS with control ( n = 3) and 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA ( n = 3) under low-temperature conditions. A comparative analysis was performed against fresh testes ( n = 3) to elucidate the underlying mechanism of 5-ALA. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for WikiPathways revealed that the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was downregulated in the 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group compared with that in the control group (normalized enrichment score [NES] = -1.57, false discovery rate [FDR] = 0.229, and P = 0.019). In conclusion, these data suggest that using 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA in HBSS effectively protected the viability of spermatogonial stem cells upon hypothermic transportation.
Male
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Animals
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Testis/cytology*
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Aminolevulinic Acid/pharmacology*
;
Mice
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Organ Preservation/methods*
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Organ Preservation Solutions/pharmacology*
;
Cryopreservation/methods*
8.Mechanism and Application of Chinese Herb Medicine in Treatment of Peripheral Nerve Injury.
Yu-Qing CHEN ; Yan-Xian ZHANG ; Xu ZHANG ; Yong-Mei LYU ; Zeng-Li MIAO ; Xiao-Yu LIU ; Xu-Chu DUAN
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):270-280
Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) encompasses damage to nerves located outside the central nervous system, adversely affecting both motor and sensory functions. Although peripheral nerves possess an intrinsic capacity for self-repair, severe injuries frequently result in significant tissue loss and erroneous axonal junctions, thereby impeding complete recovery and potentially causing neuropathic pain. Various therapeutic strategies, including surgical interventions, biomaterials, and pharmacological agents, have been developed to enhance nerve repair processes. While preclinical studies in animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of certain pharmacological agents in promoting nerve regeneration and mitigating inflammation, only a limited number of these agents have been translated into clinical practice to expedite nerve regeneration. Chinese herb medicine (CHM) possesses a longstanding history in the treatment of various ailments and demonstrates potential efficacy in addressing PNI through its distinctive, cost-effective, and multifaceted methodologies. This review critically examines the advancements in the application of CHM for PNI treatment and nerve regeneration. In particular, we have summarized the most commonly employed and rigorously investigated CHM prescriptions, individual herbs, and natural products, elucidating their respective functions and underlying mechanisms in the context of PNI treatment. Furthermore, we have deliberated on the prospective development of CHM in both clinical practice and fundamental research.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Humans
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Peripheral Nerve Injuries/drug therapy*
;
Animals
;
Nerve Regeneration/drug effects*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
9.Unmet needs of patients with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma: three case reports and a literature review.
Xian LI ; Ru LUO ; Jiaming XU ; Xueli JIN ; Weiqin WANG ; Xibin XIAO ; Wenbin QIAN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(5):493-502
Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL), a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is classified as an independent subtype of extranodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the 2008 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification (Turner et al., 2010). The 5th edition of the World Health Organization (WHO 2022) classification of hematolymphoid tumors retains this subtype (Alaggio et al., 2022). IVLBCL, which is characterized by neoplastic lymphocyte proliferation within the lumen of small blood vessels, tends to invade organs, such as the nervous system, skin, bone marrow (BM), and lung (D'Angelo et al., 2019; Satoh et al., 2019; Vásquez et al., 2019; Fukami et al., 2020).
Humans
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
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Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/drug therapy*
;
Vascular Neoplasms/therapy*
10.IMM-H007 promotes hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism by activating AMPKα to attenuate hypercholesterolemia.
Jiaqi LI ; Mingchao WANG ; Kai QU ; Yuyao SUN ; Zequn YIN ; Na DONG ; Xin SUN ; Yitong XU ; Liang CHEN ; Shuang ZHANG ; Xunde XIAN ; Suowen XU ; Likun MA ; Yajun DUAN ; Haibo ZHU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4047-4063
Hypercholesterolemia is a significant risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. 2',3',5'-Tri-O-acetyl-N 6-(3-hydroxyphenyl) adenosine (IMM-H007), a novel AMPK agonist, has shown protective effects in metabolic diseases. However, its impact on cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism in hypercholesterolemia remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effects and specific mechanisms by which IMM-H007 regulates cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism. To achieve this goal, we used Apoe -/- and Ldlr -/- mice to establish a hypercholesterolemia/atherosclerosis model. Additionally, hepatocyte-specific Ampka1/2 knockout mice were subjected to a 5-week high-cholesterol diet to establish hypercholesterolemia, while atherosclerosis was induced via AAV-PCSK9 injection combined with a 16-week high-cholesterol diet. Our results demonstrated that IMM-H007 improved cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism in mice with hypercholesterolemia. Mechanistically, IMM-H007 modulated the AMPKα1/2-LDLR signaling pathway, increasing cholesterol uptake in the liver. Furthermore, IMM-H007 activated the AMPKα1-FXR pathway, promoting the conversion of hepatic cholesterol to bile acids. Additionally, IMM-H007 prevented hepatic steatosis by activating the AMPKα1/2-ATGL pathway. In conclusion, our study suggests that IMM-H007 is a promising therapeutic agent for improving hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis through the activation of AMPKα.

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