1.Mechanism of Shenfu Xiongze Prescription in Regulating Autophagy Level to Intervene in Myocardial Remodeling in Rats via AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Xueqing WANG ; Wei ZHONG ; Liangliang PAN ; Caihong LI ; Man HAN ; Xiaowei YANG ; Yuanwang YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):136-144
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which the Shenfu Xiongze prescription regulates autophagy in rats with myocardial remodeling through the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. MethodsA rat model of myocardial remodeling induced by isoprenaline (ISO) was established. Rats were divided into the blank group,the model group,the low-,medium-, and high-dose groups of Shenfu Xiongze prescription,and the captopril group, 6 rats in each group. Except for the blank group,the rat model of myocardial remodeling was established in the other groups by intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg·kg-1 ISO for 3 consecutive weeks. At the same time of modeling, the low-,medium-, and high-dose groups of Shenfu Xiongze prescription were administered the corresponding doses of Shenfu Xiongze prescription solution (8.4,16.8,and 33.6 g·kg-1),and the captopril group was administered captopril solution (25 mg·kg-1). As for the blank group and the model group, the same volume of normal saline was given. The treatment was continued for 3 weeks. Echocardiography was used to observe the cardiac structure and function,and the heart weight index was detected. Masson staining and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining were used to observe the pathological morphology changes of myocardial tissue. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of type Ⅰ collagen (Collagen Ⅰ),type Ⅲ collagen (Collagen Ⅲ),and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) proteins in myocardial tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Autophagy was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA expression of Collagen Ⅰ,Collagen Ⅲ,α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),LC3,yeast Atg6 homolog protein (Beclin-1),AMPK,and mTOR in myocardial tissue was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). The protein expression of Collagen Ⅰ,α-SMA,transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1),LC3,Beclin-1,p62, phosphorylation(p)-AMPK,p-mTOR,AMPK,and mTOR was detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group,rats in the model group exhibited significantly decreased values of ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) (P<0.01), significantly increased values of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVIDd) and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVIDs) (P<0.01). Additionally, the model group also showed increased degrees of inflammatory infiltration and fibrosis of myocardial tissue, significantly elevated levels of serum IL-6 and BNP (P<0.01), significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of Collagen Ⅰ,Collagen Ⅲ,α-SMA,and mTOR (P<0.01),and markedly decreased mRNA and protein levels of LC3,Beclin-1,and AMPK (P<0.05,P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the low-,medium-, and high-dose groups of Shenfu Xiongze prescription presented significantly elevated EF and FS values (P<0.01) and lowered LVIDd and LVIDs (P<0.05). In these groups, the inflammation and fibrosis were alleviated significantly. They also exhibited decreased serum levels of IL-6 and BNP (P<0.01), significantly reduced protein expression of Collagen Ⅰ, α-SMA, TGF-β1, p62, and p-mTOR (P<0.01), significantly decreased mRNA expression of Collagen Ⅰ, Collagen Ⅲ, α-SMA, and mTOR (P<0.01), and significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of LC3, Beclin-1, and AMPK (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionThe Shenfu Xiongze prescription can improve the myocardial remodeling induced by ISO in rats by regulating the autophagy level,enhance cardiac function,and reduce inflammatory and fibrotic levels. This effect may be achieved through the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.
2.Expert consensus on neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitors for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (2026)
LI Jinsong ; LIAO Guiqing ; LI Longjiang ; ZHANG Chenping ; SHANG Chenping ; ZHANG Jie ; ZHONG Laiping ; LIU Bing ; CHEN Gang ; WEI Jianhua ; JI Tong ; LI Chunjie ; LIN Lisong ; REN Guoxin ; LI Yi ; SHANG Wei ; HAN Bing ; JIANG Canhua ; ZHANG Sheng ; SONG Ming ; LIU Xuekui ; WANG Anxun ; LIU Shuguang ; CHEN Zhanhong ; WANG Youyuan ; LIN Zhaoyu ; LI Haigang ; DUAN Xiaohui ; YE Ling ; ZHENG Jun ; WANG Jun ; LV Xiaozhi ; ZHU Lijun ; CAO Haotian
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(2):105-118
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.
3.Comparison of anti-VEGF treatment at different preoperative time points on retinal neovascularization in PDR
Ruolan LING ; Xi WANG ; Yue HAN ; Yawen QIN ; Jie ZHONG ; Jie LI
International Eye Science 2026;26(5):856-861
AIM:To evaluate the optimal timing of preoperative intravitreal anti vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)therapy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)using intraoperative fluorescein angiography(IOFA).METHODS:A retrospective case series study was conducted on patients who underwent vitrectomy for PDR with vitreous hemorrhage(VH)at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2023 to February 2025. Patients were divided into three groups according to the interval between intravitreal conbercept injection and surgery: Group A(3 d before surgery), Group B(7 d before surgery), and Group C(14 d before surgery). IOFA was used to assess the number and size of retinal neovascularization(NV). Additional data were collected including preoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), vitreous hemorrhage grading, operative time, frequency of intraoperative endodiathermy, duration of high perfusion pressure, vitreoretinal adhesion grade, postoperative BCVA, and central macular thickness(CMT). Multidimensional analyses were performed.RESULTS:This study enrolled a total of 91 patients(94 eyes)with PDR accompanied by vitreous hemorrhage. Among them, Group A consisted of 31 patients(31 eyes; 18 males, 13 females; mean age 53.26±12.38 y), Group B consisted of 34 patients(37 eyes; 21 males, 13 females; mean age 51.61±14.16 y), and Group C consisted of 26 patients(26 eyes; 18 males, 8 females; mean age 51.00±12.02 y), with baseline characteristics comparable among the three groups(all P>0.05). Comparative analysis of NV visualized via IOFA revealed that both the number and size of NVs were significantly lower in Groups B and C than in Group A(all P<0.0167), while no statistically significant differences were observed between Groups B and C(both P>0.05). No significant differences were found among the three groups regarding other intraoperative parameters, including operation time, frequency of electrocoagulation application, duration of high perfusion pressure, or grading of vitreoretinal adhesion(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION:IOFA confirms that preoperative anti-VEGF therapy administered 7 or 14 d before surgery is more effective than a 3 d interval in suppressing retinal NV activity in PDR patients.
4.Guidelines for the perioperative diagnosis and treatment of oncogene-driven non-small cell lung cancer (2026)
Weidong WANG ; Yongbin LIN ; Hui TIAN ; Gaofeng LI ; Shun XU ; Yongde LIAO ; Haitao MA ; Junfeng LIU ; Chundong GU ; Xiaolong YAN ; Shumin WANG ; Daqiang SUN ; Jianyang LIU ; Tao XUE ; Shaohua MA ; Zhigang LI ; Shuanghu YUAN ; Gen LIN ; Ling CAI ; Jianping ZHOU ; Wenzhao ZHONG ; Naixin LIANG ; Yi HAN ; Junfeng WANG ; Weidong ZHANG ; Xin WANG ; Lianjuan CHEN ; Lunxu LIU ; Xiuyi ZHI ; Lanjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(09):1337-1353
Lung cancer constitutes the most prevalent and lethal malignant tumor in China. Approximately 85% of lung cancer diagnoses correspond to the non-small cell histological subtype [non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)]. Despite surgery being the mainstay for early-stage disease, postoperative recurrence remains high and adjuvant chemotherapy offers limited benefit. In recent years, targeted therapy has demonstrated substantial advantages in driver mutation-positive NSCLC. To this end, the Lung Cancer Medical Education Committee of the Chinese Medical Education Association developed guidelines based on a systematic review of evidence through November 2025, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach and a modified Delphi method. Focusing on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and addressing ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1), B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) V600E mutation, and mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping, the guideline covers molecular testing, neoadjuvant/adjuvant therapy, perioperative strategies, minimal residual disease monitoring, and postoperative surveillance. It defines testing requirements, specifies stage-directed and subtype-specific treatments, and standardizes minimal residual disease monitoring. These recommendations emphasize precision and feasibility to improve survival and quality of life.
5.Targeting Excessively Accumulated Pathological Tau: PROTAC Molecular Design Strategies and Challenges
Han LI ; Yi-Qiao LEI ; Tian FANG ; Yi DING ; Zhong-Hui WU ; Jia XU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(9):2334-2351
The abnormal accumulation, structural change, and spread of tau protein in the brain are now considered important factors in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and many other tau-related neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical and pathological studies have shown that the amount and distribution of abnormal tau protein are closely related to synaptic damage, neuronal loss, and cognitive decline. Therefore, tau protein has become an important target for disease-modifying therapy. However, tau is difficult to target because it has no fixed structure, lacks a clear active site, undergoes many post-translational modifications, and forms different abnormal structures in different diseases and disease stages. Therefore, the effective and selective removal of harmful tau species is both a major opportunity and a major challenge in drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases. Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) offer a new strategy to deal with this problem. Unlike traditional inhibitors, PROTACs do not simply block protein function. Instead, they bring the target protein close to an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which leads to ubiquitination and degradation of the target protein by the proteasome. This event-driven mechanism may be especially useful for disease-related proteins such as tau protein, which are hard to inhibit with traditional small molecules. In recent years, tau protein-targeting PROTACs and related degradation strategies have shown promising effects in cell and animal models. These effects include reducing abnormal tau protein levels, lowering synaptic toxicity, regulating disease-related signaling pathways, and improving behavioral or cognitive outcomes. These studies support targeted tau protein degradation as a promising therapeutic approach, although many problems still need to be solved before clinical use. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the development of tau protein-targeting PROTACs and discuss the main factors that affect their design and activity. We focus on the choice of tau protein-binding ligands, their binding sites, and their ability to recognize abnormal tau protein rather than normal tau protein. We also discuss the selection of E3 ligase recruiters, linker length and structure, ternary complex formation, and structure-activity relationships that influence degradation potency and selectivity. In addition, we introduce new strategies beyond traditional proteasomal degradation, including the regulation of tau protein phosphorylation and autophagy-based clearance. These approaches may be more suitable for different tau species or different stages of disease. A major challenge for tau protein-targeting PROTACs is delivery to the central nervous system. Many PROTACs have high molecular mass, large polar surface area, flexible structures, and may be removed by efflux transporters. As a result, they often have poor ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and may not reach enough free drug levels in the brain. Therefore, the therapeutic potential of tau protein-targeting PROTACs depends not only on their ability to degrade tau protein in vitro, but also on whether they can achieve long-lasting, selective, and safe target engagement in important brain regions after practical administration. Future studies should focus on improving selectivity for abnormal tau protein, understanding E3 ligase function in neural cells, designing brain-penetrant molecules, developing better delivery methods, and testing these drugs in models that better reflect human disease. Overall, tau protein-targeting PROTACs are a promising and fast-developing strategy for treating tau-related diseases. However, their successful clinical translation will require progress in chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, neuroscience, drug delivery, and translational medicine.
6.Pathological Characteristics of Vascular Microenvironment Injury and Nanotargeted Diagnostic and Therapeutic Pathways in Ischemic Stroke
Yun-Zhe CI ; Li-Jing NIU ; Ying-Ying HAN ; Yan-Zhong CHANG ; Si-Yu TIAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2629-2646
Ischemic stroke accounts for approximately 80% of all stroke cases worldwide and remains a leading cause of long‑term neurological disability and mortality. Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy constitute the mainstay of acute reperfusion therapies, yet their clinical utility is severely constrained by narrow therapeutic time windows. Even when large‑vessel recanalization is successfully achieved, a considerable proportion of patients still suffer poor functional outcomes due to futile reperfusion and ischemia‑reperfusion injury. Historically, preclinical studies have largely focused on direct neuronal protection against calcium overload, oxidative stress and ferroptosis. Unfortunately, most promising neuroprotective agents that exhibited robust benefits in rodent models have failed to demonstrate satisfactory efficacy in phase‑Ⅱ and phase‑Ⅲ clinical trials. One critical contributor to such translational failure is the disregard for the pathological disturbance within the cerebral vascular microenvironment. Instead of merely regarding neuronal death as an autonomous cellular event, accumulating evidence indicates that sequential biochemical disruption of perivascular microenvironment acts as an initiating amplifier that propagates damage toward brain parenchyma after ischemic insult. The cerebral vascular microenvironment centers on brain microvessels and comprises endothelial cells, endothelial glycocalyx, basement membrane, pericytes, astrocytic end‑feet, perivascular microglia, as well as interstitial ions, inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species and extracellular matrix components. Distinct from the concept of neurovascular unit which emphasizes functional coupling between neurons, glia and vessels, the vascular microenvironment highlights dynamic biochemical homeostasis in perivascular interstitial space. Following cerebral ischemia, injured brain tissue can be spatially divided into the irreversibly damaged infarct core, metabolically‑stressed ischemic penumbra and mildly‑affected peripheral regions. These three zones lack rigid anatomical boundaries and evolve dynamically depending on reperfusion timing, presenting divergent features in blood perfusion, blood‑brain barrier integrity, cellular viability and immune‑inflammatory profiles. Four interrelated pathological cascades jointly disrupt microenvironmental homeostasis: calcium‑overload‑triggered cytotoxic cascades; blood‑brain barrier breakdown resulting from glycocalyx shedding, tight‑junction dissociation and matrix metalloproteinase‑driven basement‑membrane degradation; inflammatory‑immune dysregulation dominated by microglial phenotypic reprogramming; and mutual crosstalk between coagulation disturbance and neuroinflammation that exacerbates secondary brain injury. Multiple molecular layers orchestrate these pathological alterations. Excessive activation of HIF‑1α, NF‑κB and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways promotes barrier leakage, pro‑inflammatory factor secretion and extracellular‑matrix remodeling. Epigenetic modulation mediated by non‑coding RNAs including miRNAs and lncRNAs reshapes vascular microenvironment via three major patterns: modulating endothelial‑pericyte barrier integrity, switching microglia‑astrocyte inflammatory phenotypes, and driving metabolic reprogramming among multiple cell populations within microdomains. In addition, metabolic shift toward glycolysis among endothelial cells, microglia, astrocytes and compromised neurons establishes self‑amplifying vicious cycles of energy depletion and oxidative stress in perivascular niches. Targeted theranostic approaches oriented toward vascular microenvironment bring new opportunities for precision medicine of ischemic stroke. Magnetic nanoprobes and near‑infrared fluorescent probes respond to elevated reactive oxygen species, pH shift and inflammatory signals, enabling in situ visualization of pathological signatures of microenvironment and risk evaluation of hemorrhagic transformation. Function‑tailored nanodelivery systems exert multi‑modal protective effects: reactive oxygen species‑responsive polymeric micelles deliver calcium chelators to block calcium‑overload‑initiated injury cascades; nanozymes scavenge reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and revert microglial pro‑inflammatory polarization; biomimetic membrane‑coated nanoparticles accumulate at micro‑thrombosis sites to break thrombo‑inflammatory loops and mitigate no‑reflow phenomenon; ferroptosis‑inhibitor‑loaded nanocarriers eliminate excessive labile iron within perivascular toxic microdomains. During subacute and recovery phases, spatiotemporally controlled release of angiogenic factors by nanocarriers facilitates maturation of newly‑formed microvessels rather than blind vascular sprouting, which helps reconstruct intact blood‑brain barrier and restore microenvironmental homeostasis. Nevertheless, substantial translational bottlenecks still impede clinical transformation of these nanomedicines, including potential biosafety risks caused by in vivo material accumulation, protein‑corona‑induced impairment of targeting capacity, intrinsic blood brain barrier transport obstacles, lack of unified quality‑control criteria for large‑scale manufacture, reliance on high‑end clinical imaging instruments, and prominent interspecies discrepancies between experimental animals and human patients. On the basis of summarizing spatiotemporal pathological characteristics, multi‑level regulatory mechanisms and cutting‑edge microenvironment‑oriented diagnostic and interventional strategies, the present review advocates a conceptual shift from isolated neuronal protection to comprehensive reconstruction of perivascular vascular microenvironment homeostasis. Such perspective provides theoretical foundations for expanding therapeutic time windows and inspires future development of novel therapeutic modalities for ischemic stroke.
7.Relationship Between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease-Related Symptoms and Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Long-Term Survival of Patients with Esophageal Adenocarcinoma in China
Kan ZHONG ; Xin SONG ; Ran WANG ; Mengxia WEI ; Xueke ZHAO ; Lei MA ; Quanxiao XU ; Jianwei KU ; Lingling LEI ; Wenli HAN ; Ruihua XU ; Jin HUANG ; Zongmin FAN ; Xuena HAN ; Wei GUO ; Xianzeng WANG ; Fuqiang QIN ; Aili LI ; Hong LUO ; Bei LI ; Lidong WANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(8):661-665
Objective To investigatethe relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms and clinicopathological characteristics, p53 expression, and survival of Chinese patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Methods A total of
8.Trends of diabetes in Beijing, China.
Aijuan MA ; Jun LYU ; Zhong DONG ; Li NIE ; Chen XIE ; Bo JIANG ; Xueyu HAN ; Jing DONG ; Yue ZHAO ; Liming LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(6):713-720
BACKGROUND:
The global rise in diabetes prevalence is a pressing concern. Despite initiatives like "The Healthy Beijing Action 2020-2030" advocating for increased awareness, treatment, and control, the specific situation in Beijing remains unexplored. This study aimed to analyze the trends in diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control among Beijing adults.
METHODS:
Through a stratified multistage probability cluster sampling method, a series of representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Beijing from 2005 to 2022, targeting adults aged 18-79 years. A face-to-face questionnaire, along with body measurements and laboratory tests, were administered to 111,943 participants. Data from all survey were age- and/or gender-standardized based on the 2020 Beijing census population. Annual percentage rate change (APC) or average annual percentage rate change (AAPC) was calculated to determine prevalence trends over time. Complex sampling logistic regression models were employed to explore the relationship between various characteristics and diabetes.
RESULTS:
From 2005 to 2022, the total prevalence of diabetes among Beijing adults aged 18-79 years increased from 9.6% (95% CI: 8.8-10.4%) to 13.9% (95% CI: 13.1-14.7%), with an APC/AAPC of 2.1% (95% CI: 1.1-3.2%, P <0.05). Significant increases were observed among adults aged 18-39 years and rural residents. Undiagnosed diabetes rose from 3.5% (95% CI: 3.2-4.0%) to 7.2% (95% CI: 6.6-7.9%) with an APC/AAPC of 4.1% (95% CI: 0.5-7.3%, P <0.05). However, diabetes awareness and treatment rates showed annual declines of 1.4% (95% CI: -3.0% to -0.2%, P <0.05) and 1.3% (95% CI: -2.6% to -0.2%, P <0.05), respectively. The diabetes control rate decreased from 21.5% to 19.1%, although not statistically significant (APC/AAPC = -1.5%, 95% CI: -5.6% to 1.9%). Overweight and obesity were identified as risk factors for diabetes, with ORs of 1.65 (95% CI: 1.38-1.98) and 2.48 (95% CI: 2.07-2.99), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of diabetes in Beijing has significantly increased between 2005 and 2022, particularly among young adults and rural residents. Meanwhile, there has been a concerning decrease in diabetes awareness and treatment rates, while control rates have remained stagnant. Regular blood glucose testing, especially among adults aged 18-59 years, should be warranted. Furthermore, being male, elderly, overweight, or obese was associated with higher diabetes risk, suggesting the needs for targeted management strategies.
Humans
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Adult
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Middle Aged
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Male
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Female
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Aged
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Adolescent
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Young Adult
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Cross-Sectional Studies
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Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology*
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Beijing/epidemiology*
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Prevalence
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China/epidemiology*
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Surveys and Questionnaires
9.Mechanism of icariin in promoting osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and improving bone metabolism disorders through caveolin-1/Hippo signaling pathway.
Yi-Dan HAN ; Hai-Feng ZHANG ; Yun-Teng XU ; Yu-Huan ZHONG ; Xiao-Ning WANG ; Yun YU ; Yuan-Li YAN ; Shan-Shan WANG ; Xi-Hai LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):600-608
Guided by the theory of "the kidney storing essence, governing the bones, and producing marrow", this study explored the mechanism of icariin(ICA) in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs) through caveolin-1(Cav1) via in vitro and in vivo experiments, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). Primary cells were obtained from 4-week-old female SD rats using the whole bone marrow adherent method. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of surface markers CD29, CD90, CD11b, and CD45. The potential for osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation was assessed. The effect of ICA on cell viability was determined using the CCK-8 assay, and the impact of ICA on the formation of mineralized nodules was verified by alizarin red staining. A stable Cav1-silenced cell line was constructed using lentivirus. The effect of Cav1 silencing on osteogenic differentiation was observed via alizarin red staining. Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression of Cav1, Hippo/TAZ, and osteogenic markers such as Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2) and alkaline phosphatase(ALP). The results showed that primary cells were successfully obtained using the whole bone marrow adherent method, positively expressing surface markers of rat BMSCs and possessing the potential for both osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. The CCK-8 assay and alizarin red staining results indicated that 1×10~(-7) mol·L~(-1) was the optimal concentration of ICA for intervention in this experiment(P<0.05). During osteogenic induction, ICA inhibited Cav1 expression(P<0.05) while promoting TAZ expression(P<0.05). Alizarin red staining demonstrated that Cav1 silencing significantly promoted the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. After ICA intervention, TAZ expression was activated, and the expression of osteogenic markers ALP and RUNX2 was increased. In conclusion, Cav1 silencing significantly promotes the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, and ICA promotes this differentiation by inhibiting Cav1 and regulating the Hippo/TAZ signaling pathway.
Animals
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism*
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Caveolin 1/genetics*
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Osteogenesis/drug effects*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Rats
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Cell Differentiation/drug effects*
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Female
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Flavonoids/administration & dosage*
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Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Humans
10.Randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, multicenter, equivalence clinical trial of Jiuwei Xifeng Granules(Os Draconis replaced by Ostreae Concha) for treating tic disorder in children.
Qiu-Han CAI ; Cheng-Liang ZHONG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Xin-Min LI ; Zhi-Chun XU ; Hui CHEN ; Ying HUA ; Jun-Hong WANG ; Ji-Hong TANG ; Bing-Xiang MA ; Xiu-Xia WANG ; Ai-Zhen WANG ; Meng-Qing WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Chun WANG ; Yi-Qun TENG ; Yi-Hui SHAN ; Sheng-Xuan GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1699-1705
Jiuwei Xifeng Granules have become a Chinese patent medicine in the market. Because the formula contains Os Draconis, a top-level protected fossil of ancient organisms, the formula was to be improved by replacing Os Draconis with Ostreae Concha. To evaluate whether the improved formula has the same effectiveness and safety as the original formula, a randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, equivalence clinical trial was conducted. This study enrolled 288 tic disorder(TD) of children and assigned them into two groups in 1∶1. The treatment group and control group took the modified formula and original formula, respectively. The treatment lasted for 6 weeks, and follow-up visits were conducted at weeks 2, 4, and 6. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference in Yale global tic severity scale(YGTSS)-total tic severity(TTS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of treatment. The results showed that after 6 weeks of treatment, the declines in YGTSS-TSS score showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The difference in YGTSS-TSS score(treatment group-control group) and the 95%CI of the full analysis set(FAS) were-0.17[-1.42, 1.08] and those of per-protocol set(PPS) were 0.29[-0.97, 1.56], which were within the equivalence boundary [-3, 3]. The equivalence test was therefore concluded. The two groups showed no significant differences in the secondary efficacy endpoints of effective rate for TD, total score and factor scores of YGTSS, clinical global impressions-severity(CGI-S) score, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) response rate, or symptom disappearance rate, and thus a complete evidence chain with the primary outcome was formed. A total of 6 adverse reactions were reported, including 4(2.82%) cases in the treatment group and 2(1.41%) cases in the control group, which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No serious suspected unexpected adverse reactions were reported, and no laboratory test results indicated serious clinically significant abnormalities. The results support the replacement of Os Draconis by Ostreae Concha in the original formula, and the efficacy and safety of the modified formula are consistent with those of the original formula.
Adolescent
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Double-Blind Method
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Tic Disorders/drug therapy*
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Treatment Outcome


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