1.Effect of Modified Duhuo Jisheng Mixture Regulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway on Synoviocyte Pyroptosis in Rabbit Models of Knee Osteoarthritis
Zifeng YE ; Yiwei YUAN ; Liguo QIU ; Xuyi TAN ; Liang OU ; Gaoyan KUANG ; Min LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):170-179
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms of action of the modified Duhuo Jisheng Mixture (JDJM) in treating synovial lesions in knee osteoarthritis (KOA). MethodsA total of 43 male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into a blank group (n=8) and a model group (n=35). The KOA model was induced by immobilizing the right hind limb with a high-molecular resin plaster bandage, with a modeling period of 6 weeks, resulting in successful modeling in 32 rabbits. These rabbits were then randomly allocated to the model group, celecoxib group, JDJM group and JDJM+740Y-P group, each consisting of 8 rabbits. The celecoxib group received celecoxib via gavage at a single dose of 0.009 3 g·kg-1, while the JDJM was administered a single dose of 6.8 mL·kg-1 (4.515 2 g·kg-1) of the herbal preparation via gavage. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway activator + JDJM group received 4.515 2 g·kg-1 of the herbal preparation via gavage along with an auricular vein injection of 0.15 μmol·kg-1 740Y-P. For a period of 6 weeks, the remaining groups received an equal volume of physiological saline via gavage daily. After the medication period, the knee joint pain threshold and circumference were measured, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to assess the pathological changes in the synovial tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the joint fluid. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to assess the mRNA expression of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteine-requiring aspartate protease-1 (Caspase-1) and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the synovial tissues. Immunohistochemical (IHC) assay was performed to assess the protein expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD. Western blot was carried out to analyze the protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD. ResultsCompared to the blank group, the model group showed a significant increase in knee joint circumference and decrease in pain threshold, the synovial tissue pathology score was higher (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in the joint fluid significantly increased (P<0.01). PI3K, Akt, mTOR phosphorylation as well as mRNA and protein expression increased (P<0.01), while the mRNA and protein expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD also significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared to the model group, the celecoxib and JDJM groups exhibited a significant reduction in knee joint circumference and increase in pain threshold, the synovial tissue pathology score was lower (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in the joint fluid decreased (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were reduced (P<0.01). Compared to the JDJM group, the JDJM+740Y-P group showed a decrease in the improvement of synovial lesions, an increase in knee joint circumference, and a decrease in pain threshold. The synovial tissue pathology score was lower (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and TNF-α in the joint fluid were higher (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K, p-Akt/Akt, p-mTOR/mTOR, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and GSDMD increased (P<0.01). ConclusionJDJM is effective in treating KOA. Its mechanism may involve modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in synovial tissues, inhibiting pyroptosis, reducing inflammatory factor release, and protecting bony structures.
2.Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with intestinal probiotics promote wound healing in diabetic mice
Qianqian JIN ; Chenyang ZHANG ; Min YE ; Huachao SHEN ; Liang JIN
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2026;57(2):266-274
The therapeutic effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) combined with intestinal probiotics on the wound healing of diabetic mice and its potential mechanism were explored. A diabetic wound mouse model was established, and 25 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: blank control group, model group, hUCMSCs treatment group, probiotics treatment group, and hUCMSCs combined with probiotics treatment group. The wound healing conditions were photographed and recorded on days 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after modeling, and the differences in wound healing rates among the groups were analyzed. HE and Masson staining were used to observe the histopathological changes and collagen deposition. CD31 immunofluorescence was used to detect angiogenesis. Collagen I immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the formation of type I collagen. ELISA was used to detect the expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors (Arg1) and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) in wounded skin tissue and serum. The results showed that on day 12 after modeling, compared with the other groups, the combined treatment group had the most significant wound contraction and the fastest healing rate. HE and Masson staining showed that the combined treatment group had the fastest epithelialization and the most collagen deposition. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry showed that the combined treatment group had the highest expression levels of CD31 and Collagen I. ELISA results indicated that the combined treatment group had higher expression levels of Arg1 in wound skin tissue and serum than the other groups, while the expression levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were significantly lower. These results suggest that the combined treatment of hUCMSCs and intestinal probiotics can accelerate wound healing in diabetic mice through mechanisms such as promoting angiogenesis, enhancing collagen deposition, and regulating the inflammatory microenvironment. The therapeutic effect was significantly better than that of single treatment, providing a new potential strategy for the clinical treatment of diabetic foot.
3.Identification of immune cell-related biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma using weighted gene co-expression network analysis
Dongyuan HE ; Bo CHEN ; Jingyao LIANG ; Haibo YE ; Xiaoxing YI ; Guangni LIANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(05):751-758
Objective To identify immune cell-related biomarkers in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Methods Based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, a gene co-expression network was constructed for the TCGA-LUAD dataset using the "WGCNA" R package, and genes were clustered into different modules. Concurrently, the Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm was applied to the tumor samples in the TCGA-LUAD dataset. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to evaluate the biological functions of genes within the most significantly correlated module. Candidate hub genes from the key module were intersected with a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network to identify the final hub genes. The prognostic performance of these hub genes and their correlation with immune cell infiltration were validated using Kaplan-Meier curves and the Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER) algorithm. Finally, a multivariate Cox regression analysis was conducted on the identified hub genes to construct a prognostic risk model. Results In the co-expression network, the brown module was found to be highly correlated with the ImmuneScore, StromalScore, and ESTIMATE Score. Five immune-related hub genes were identified: CD53, PLEK, SPI1, IL10RA, and C3AR1. Enrichment analysis of the brown module revealed that its genes were primarily enriched in GO terms such as "regulation of innate immune response" and KEGG pathways like the "NF-kappa B signaling pathway". Furthermore, the expression levels of these five hub genes were significantly and positively correlated with the infiltration abundance of various immune cells. The immune relevance of the model was validated by the Immunophenoscore (IPS) and the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) score. Moreover, the established RiskScore demonstrated significant potential in predicting the response to immunotherapy. Conclusion These five immune-related key genes may serve as novel and effective potential therapeutic targets for LUAD immunotherapy, facilitating the development of personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with LUAD.
4.Impact of portal vein tumor thrombus classification on rebleeding in hepatocellular carcinoma patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding
Jiali MA ; Xiaohui YE ; Hongshan WEI ; Ping LI ; Xiuxia LIANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(5):1101-1108
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) classification on rebleeding in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with different PVTT subtypes and esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), and to provide a reference for formulating rational treatment regimens for such patients. MethodsA retrospective study was performed for 130 patients with HCC and PVTT who were treated due to EGVB in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from July 2020 to January 2025, and according to whether endoscopic treatment was performed, the patients were divided into endoscopic treatment group with 97 patients and conservative treatment group with 33 patients. Demographic and clinical data were collected from all patients, and the two groups were compared in terms of hemostasis success rate and rebleeding rate. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence rate of rebleeding in patients with different subtypes of PVTT. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for the endoscopic treatment group and the conservative treatment group to balance the baseline data of the two groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses and identify independent risk factors for rebleeding. ResultsThe endoscopic treatment group had a significantly lower cumulative rebleeding rate within 6 months than the conservative treatment group (35.1% vs 57.6%, hazard ratio [HR]=0.480, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.272—0.851, P=0.019). The PVTT Ⅲ—Ⅳ group had a significantly higher cumulative rebleeding rate within 6 months than the PVTT Ⅱ group (52.2% vs 37.5%, HR=1.744, 95%CI: 1.008 — 3.018, P=0.022). After PSM, there was no significant difference in rebleeding rate between the endoscopic treatment group and the conservative treatment group (38.1% vs 14.3%,HR=1.500,95%CI:0.125 — 2.002, P=0.588), while the PVTT Ⅲ—Ⅳ group had a significantly higher cumulative rebleeding rate than the PVTT Ⅱ group (58.8% vs 12.5%,HR=1.561,95%CI:1.195 — 12.499,P=0.033). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that PVTT subtype (HR=1.412, 95%CI: 0.998 — 1.997, P=0.049), platelet count (HR=1.006, 95%CI: 1.001 — 1.010, P=0.021), C-reactive protein (HR=1.011, 95%CI: 1.001 — 1.021, P=0.026), and ascites (HR=1.803, 95%CI: 1.059 — 3.068, P=0.030) were independent risk factors for rebleeding. ConclusionFor HCC patients with PVTT and EGVB, endoscopic treatment can successfully achieve hemostasis, while it fails to significantly reduce rebleeding rates. PVTT classification can affect the risk of rebleeding, and patients with PVTT types Ⅲ—Ⅳ have a relatively high rebleeding rate.
5.Correlation between parental behaviors and autistic traits in children with autism spectrum disorder
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(6):818-821
Objective:
To understand the correlation between autistic traits in children with autism spectrum disorder(ASD) and their parental behaviors, so as to provide evidence for improving social behavior in children with ASD.
Methods:
A total of 62 children aged 4-7 years diagnosed with ASD at Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation Hospital and Guangzhou Yuexiu District Children s Hospital from October 2021 to May 2025 were selected as the ASD group. A random number table method was used to select 62 healthy children of the same age from 3 ordinary kindergartens in Guangzhou as the control (typically developing,TD) group. The Parental Behavior Inventory and Social Responsiveness Scale were used to evaluate parental behaviors and autistic traits in both groups. The t-test and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the relationship between autistic traits in children with ASD and parental behaviors.
Results:
Compared with the TD group, the ASD group had significantly higher scores in social awareness, social cognition, social communication, social motivation, autistic behavior patterns, and the total score of social responsiveness, with statistically significant differences ( t =35.83, 46.17, 64.36, 41.45, 49.46,101.15, all P <0.01). The score of parental support/participation in the ASD group (24.61±4.30) was lower than that in the TD group (31.27±4.58), while the score of parental hostility/coercion in the ASD group (25.51±2.72) was higher than that in the TD group (12.75±2.72), with statistically significant differences ( t = -8.34, 26.14, both P <0.01). The total score of the Social Responsiveness Scale was negatively correlated with the dimension score of parental support/participation behaviors, and positively correlated with the dimension score of parental hostility/coercion behaviors ( r =-0.60, 0.91,both P <0.05). After adjusting for covariates such as children s age, gender, and primary caregiver, ASD children with exclusive breastfeeding ( β =-8.79) and parental support/participation behaviors ( β = -0.79 ) had a lower risk of autistic traits, while children with parental hostility/coercion behaviors ( β =4.62) had a higher risk of autistic traits (all P <0.05).
Conclusion
Autistic traits in children with ASD may be related to their parental behaviors and early feeding mode.
6.Suture tape and headless compression screws in treatment of Lisfranc injury with comminuted fractures of the first and second proximal metatarsal bones
Haobo HUANG ; Xinyuan LIANG ; Guozhong YE ; Qingxiang XIE ; Boyuan SU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(9):1803-1809
BACKGROUND:Lisfranc ligament is an important structure to maintain the transverse and longitudinal arch of the foot.This injury is a serious middle-foot injury.Lisfranc ligamentous injuries are complex,and their treatment,along with the preferred method of fixation,is controversial. OBJECTIVE:To compare the short-term efficacy of plate combined with Suture tape versus plate combined with headless compression screw in the treatment of Lisfranc injury with comminuted fractures of the 1st and 2nd proximal metatarsal bones. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed on 48 patients with Lisfranc injury due to comminuted fractures of the 1st and 2nd proximal metatarsal bones in Seventh Department of Orthopedics,Dongguan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to June 2022.Among them,25 were fixed with plate combined with Suture tape(observation group)and 23 were fixed with plate combined with headless compression screw(control group).Preoperative classification was performed according to Myerson classification system based on preoperative imaging data.Postoperative follow-up was performed according to fracture healing time,visual analog scale,and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS)criteria to assess the recovery of foot functions.Postoperative complications were compared and analyzed between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)All cases completed the operation successfully and obtained follow-up in the two groups.The postoperative follow-up time of the two groups was 12-36 months,with a mean of(18.0±5.42)months.(2)There were no significant differences in operation time and intraoperative blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05).(3)The fracture healing time of observation group was slightly longer than that of control group(P<0.05).(4)After 3,6,and 12 months of follow-up,the visual analog scale score of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.05).(5)At 6 and 12 months after operation,AOFAS score of foot function in the observation group was significantly improved compared with the screw group at various time points after operation(P<0.05),and was significantly higher than that before operation(P<0.05).(6)The postoperative complications were 1 case of traumatic arthritis in the observation group and 1 case of incision infection,1 case of screw fracture,and 2 cases of traumatic arthritis in the control group.There was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05),considering the correlation with a small sample size.(7)It is indicated that as for the surgical method of Lisfranc injury with comminuted fractures of the 1st and 2nd proximal metatarsal bones,the application of plate combined with Suture tape internal fixation has a reliable effect in the treatment of Lisfranc joint injury,which can improve the function of the foot joint of patients,and has the advantages of less surgical trauma,fewer postoperative complications,and lower risk of long-term iatrogenic traumatic arthritis.Compared with headless compression screw,it is more beneficial to the recovery of foot function.
7.Hand Dexterity Recovery Capacity for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy With Varying Levels of Impairment: A Prospective 1-Year Follow-up Study
Guoyan LIANG ; Tianying LIAO ; Yongyu YE ; Yi CAI ; Junying CHEN ; Yunbing CHANG
Neurospine 2025;22(1):202-210
Objective:
This study aimed to elucidate the hand function recovery capacity of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) patients with different severities of hand dexterity impairment.
Methods:
Hand functional outcome measures such as the 10-second grip and release (10s-G&R) test, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) upper extremity score and Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) upper extremity function were collected before surgery and at the 1-year follow-up. A total of 102 DCM patients were categorized into mild, moderate and severe group based on the preoperative 10s-G&R test result. Hand functional parameters were compared across the 3 groups. Multivariate linear regression was conducted to explore predictive factors. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive efficacy of the preoperative 10s-G&R test and establish the cutoff value for incomplete recovery of hand dexterity.
Results:
At the 1-year follow-up, significant improvements were observed in all hand functional parameters across all 3 groups. However, the incomplete recovery rates of the mild, moderate, severe groups were 26.67%, 46.88%, and 57.50%, respectively (p < 0.05). Multivariate regression revealed that preoperative 10s-G&R test result, age, Hoffmann sign, duration of symptom, and mJOA Upper score serve as significant predictors for postoperative 10s-G&R test outcomes. Patients with a preoperative 10s-G&R test < 15 cycles have a 1.9 times higher risk of incomplete recovery of hand function (p = 0.005).
Conclusion
Most patients, regardless of their preoperative hand function, exhibit potential for improvement in hand dexterity. However, worse initial hand dexterity correlates with poorer outcomes. Surgical treatment is recommended before the 10s-G&R test drops below 15 cycles.
8.Monotropein resists atherosclerosis by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells
Hongliang LI ; Bingqian YE ; Jiping TIAN ; Bofan WANG ; Yiwen ZHA ; Shuying ZHENG ; Tan MA ; Wenwen ZHUANG ; Won Sun PARK ; Jingyan LIANG
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(2):245-255
Monotropein is a compound classified into iridoid which is found in herbaceous plants Morindae officinalis. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-osteoarthritic activities. Previous study indicates that monotropein may have the potential to combat cardiovascular disease, although the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we constructed the model of atherosclerosis by oxidized low density lipoprotein-induced vascular smooth muscle cells and LDLR –/–mice given high-fat diet to investigate the effects of monotropein on atherosclerosis.Our results showed that monotropein treatment significantly reduced the area of atherosclerotic plaques and necrotic cores in mice, inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells, and reduced inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, which in turn alleviated atherosclerosis. In addition, we found that monotropein reduced the expression levels of P-NF-κB and P-AP-1. In conclusion, our data suggest that monotropein inhibited the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by mediating the activity of NF-κB, AP-1, reducing the level of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus resisting the development of atherosclerosis. These findings demonstrate the efficacious therapeutic impact of monotropein on atherosclerosis and elucidate its specific target.
9.Formulation and interpretation of the Guidelines for the Pharmacist-managed Clinics Service and Document Writing and Usage(Reference)
Lijuan YANG ; Quanzhi LI ; Kejing WANG ; Xiaofen YE ; Zining WANG ; Xuelian YAN ; Liang HUANG ; Juan LI ; Jiancun ZHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1301-1305
The writing of pharmacist-managed clinics documents (hereinafter referred to as “outpatient medication record”) is a necessary part of pharmacist-managed clinics service. Outpatient medication record is an important carrier to reflect the quality of pharmacist-managed clinics service. The Chinese Hospital Association Pharmaceutical Specialized Committee was entrusted by the Pharmaceutical Administration Department of the National Health Commission to lead the formulation of the Guidelines for the Pharmacist-managed Clinics Service and Document Writing and Usage (Reference) (hereinafter referred to as Guidelines) according to the compilation method of group standards and the technical route of “documentation combing→framework establishment→draft writing→opinion collection→Guidelines formation”. The Guidelines standardizes the basic requirements of pharmacist-managed clinics record management and the basic content of record, and provides a general template and two specialized templates including pregnant and lactating pharmacist-managed clinics record template and cough and asthma pharmacist-managed clinics record template, which provides a reference for medical institutions to write pharmacist-managed clinics record. This paper introduces the formulation process of Guidelines and analyzes the key contents of Guidelines, which is helpful for the application practice of Guidelines and further improves the quality of pharmacist-managed clinics work.
10.Research on the Application of TaqMan-MGB Probe Method in Detecting MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms
Hong-xuan LIANG ; Liang-hui CHEN ; Xuan-yi ZHENG ; Qiong-lu HUANG ; Kang ZHANG ; Qiu-ping YE ; Ya-qun LIU
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(16):2598-2607
Objective:To establish a TaqMan-MGB probe-based method for detecting the polymorphic loci C677T and A1298C of the MTHFR gene.Methods:Specific primers and TaqMan-MGB probes targeting the C677T and A1298C polymorphic loci of the MTHFR gene were designed and optimized based on the gene sequence information.A real-time quantitative PCR detection system was established.Gradient dilution experiments were conducted to determine the limit of detection,and reproducibility experiments were performed to evaluate detection consistency.Specificity was validated using wild-type and mutant plasmid templates.The method was applied to detect 56 clinical samples,and its accuracy and practicality were assessed through comparison with traditional Sanger sequencing.Results:The TaqMan-MGB probe method demonstrated high specificity for detecting the C677T and A1298C loci,with no cross-reactivity between wild-type and mutant probes,enabling accurate genotype differentiation.Sensitivity experiments revealed detection limits of 1.13 × 103 copies/μL for C677T and 8.39 × 101 copies/μL for A1298C.Reproducibility experiments showed coefficients of variation below 1%,indicating stable and reliable results.Among the 56 clinical samples,the overall detection rate for the C677T locus was 86.99%,and for the A1298C locus,it was 97.92%.The TaqMan-MGB method exhibited good concordance with Sanger sequencing results.Conclusion:The TaqMan-MGB method exhibits high specificity,sensitivity,and excellent reproducibility in detecting the polymorphic loci C677T and A1298C of the MTHFR gene,making it suitable for rapid detection in large-scale clinical samples.This method provides an effective molecular diagnostic tool for the early diagnosis and prevention of folate-related diseases.


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