1.Research Advances on Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidation Effect of Medicinal and Edible Herbs Liver-protecting Chinese Medicine
Jinghan ZHAO ; Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):293-301
The liver is closely associated with inflammation and the redox response, and inflammation is the body's innate defense system for clearing away harmful stimuli and participating in the liver's wound-healing response.Oxidative stress is associated with the activation of inflammatory pathways, and sustained inflammation and the corresponding regenerative wound healing response can induce fibrosis, cirrhosis, progression to end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma, and ultimately death.Some "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine has been used in clinical effect, showing the ability to protect the liver.This paper reviewed the relationship between liver and oxidative stress response and inflammation response, and sorted out 110 "medicine and food same origin" traditional Chinese medicines based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) and the Chinese materia medica.The results showed that common floweringqince fruit, licorice root, cassia seed, emblic,seabuckthorn fruit,Chinese date, honeysuckle, ginger, cape jasmine fruit, platycodon root, lotus leaf, dandelion, reed root, honey, mountain honeysuckle, milkvetch root, glossy ganoderma, Gastrodia gastrodia and eucommia leaf were recorded to have liver protection effects.The liver protection mechanism is mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Some Chinese herbs can also play a liver protection role by inhibiting the growth of hepatitis virus and liver cancer cells and regulating bile acid metabolism.In addition, the biological mechanism of its liver protection effect through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in animal experiments was analyzed, and it was found that it plays a role through multiple pathways and multiple targets, providing new ideas for the role of "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment strategy of liver diseases.
2.Research Advances on Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidation Effect of Medicinal and Edible Herbs Liver-protecting Chinese Medicine
Jinghan ZHAO ; Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):293-301
The liver is closely associated with inflammation and the redox response, and inflammation is the body's innate defense system for clearing away harmful stimuli and participating in the liver's wound-healing response.Oxidative stress is associated with the activation of inflammatory pathways, and sustained inflammation and the corresponding regenerative wound healing response can induce fibrosis, cirrhosis, progression to end-stage liver disease or hepatocellular carcinoma, and ultimately death.Some "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine has been used in clinical effect, showing the ability to protect the liver.This paper reviewed the relationship between liver and oxidative stress response and inflammation response, and sorted out 110 "medicine and food same origin" traditional Chinese medicines based on the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition) and the Chinese materia medica.The results showed that common floweringqince fruit, licorice root, cassia seed, emblic,seabuckthorn fruit,Chinese date, honeysuckle, ginger, cape jasmine fruit, platycodon root, lotus leaf, dandelion, reed root, honey, mountain honeysuckle, milkvetch root, glossy ganoderma, Gastrodia gastrodia and eucommia leaf were recorded to have liver protection effects.The liver protection mechanism is mainly anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Some Chinese herbs can also play a liver protection role by inhibiting the growth of hepatitis virus and liver cancer cells and regulating bile acid metabolism.In addition, the biological mechanism of its liver protection effect through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in animal experiments was analyzed, and it was found that it plays a role through multiple pathways and multiple targets, providing new ideas for the role of "medicine and food homology" traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment strategy of liver diseases.
3.A humanistic perspective on drama elements in British and American medical education
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(3):385-391
As a long-standing art form, drama can purify the soul and deepen people’s perception of the world. The use of drama in medical humanities education has demonstrated its unique and significant teaching effects. This paper explored and analyzed the drama module settings and interdisciplinary module constructions in the curriculum of renowned medical schools in Britain and America, revealing the effectiveness of their explorations in four aspects, including improving self-efficacy, enhancing teamwork awareness, improving doctor-patient communication skills, and promoting mental health. Based on the actual needs of current scenario-simulation teaching in China, suggestions were proposed to integrate drama elements into medical humanities in China from four aspects, encompassing emphasizing the cultivation of comprehensive humanistic literacy, carrying out interdisciplinary projects centered on drama, improving the drama curriculum evaluation system, and promoting the Sinicization of drama elements. The aim is to promote the integration of drama art and medical education, with a view to cultivating medical talents with comprehensive humanistic literacy.
4.Analysis of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid detection in blood products in China
Yue WANG ; Xiaobei ZHENG ; Qin GONG ; Ying ZHAO ; Yuanxiu LUO ; Dandan YANG ; Linlin ZHANG ; Zheng JIANG ; Gan PENG ; Jin ZHANG ; Bingbing KE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(7):950-957
Objective: To analyze the nucleic acid load of human parvovirus B19 in major commercially available blood products in China, including human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, human rabies immunoglobulin and various coagulation factor products, aiming to provide evidence for improving blood product manufacturing processes and quality control of source plasma. Methods: A total of 98 batches of coagulation factor products were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, including 42 batches of human prothrombin complex, 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ, and 21 batches of human fibrinogen. Additionally, 6 batches of human albumin, 6 batches of human intravenous immunoglobulin, and 38 batches of human rabies immunoglobulin were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid. Results: Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid were undetectable in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin and human rabies immunoglobulin. Among the 98 batches of coagulation factor products tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid, B19 nucleic acid reactivity rate was 69.0% (29/42) for human prothrombin complex batches, but nucleic acid concentration were all significantly lower than 10
IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ was 48.6% (17/35), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10
IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 21 batches of human fibrinogen was 61.9% (13/21), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10
IU/mL. Conclusion: No human parvovirus B19 has been detected in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, or human rabies immunoglobulin. Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid may exist in commercially available coagulation factor products, highlighting the need for enhanced screening of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in these products. It is also recommended that B19 viral nucleic acid testing be conducted on source plasma, particularly for coagulation factor products.
5.Analysis of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid detection in blood products in China
Yue WANG ; Xiaobei ZHENG ; Qin GONG ; Ying ZHAO ; Yuanxiu LUO ; Dandan YANG ; Linlin ZHANG ; Zheng JIANG ; Gan PENG ; Jin ZHANG ; Bingbing KE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(7):950-957
Objective: To analyze the nucleic acid load of human parvovirus B19 in major commercially available blood products in China, including human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, human rabies immunoglobulin and various coagulation factor products, aiming to provide evidence for improving blood product manufacturing processes and quality control of source plasma. Methods: A total of 98 batches of coagulation factor products were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, including 42 batches of human prothrombin complex, 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ, and 21 batches of human fibrinogen. Additionally, 6 batches of human albumin, 6 batches of human intravenous immunoglobulin, and 38 batches of human rabies immunoglobulin were tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid. Results: Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid were undetectable in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin and human rabies immunoglobulin. Among the 98 batches of coagulation factor products tested for human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid, B19 nucleic acid reactivity rate was 69.0% (29/42) for human prothrombin complex batches, but nucleic acid concentration were all significantly lower than 10
IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 35 batches of human coagulation factor Ⅷ was 48.6% (17/35), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10
IU/mL. The reactivity rate of B19 nucleic acid in 21 batches of human fibrinogen was 61.9% (13/21), with nucleic acid concentration all below 10
IU/mL. Conclusion: No human parvovirus B19 has been detected in human albumin, human intravenous immunoglobulin, or human rabies immunoglobulin. Human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid may exist in commercially available coagulation factor products, highlighting the need for enhanced screening of human parvovirus B19 nucleic acid in these products. It is also recommended that B19 viral nucleic acid testing be conducted on source plasma, particularly for coagulation factor products.
6.Research on the application rules of aromatic Chinese herbs in the prevention and treatment of warm diseases
Chun WANG ; Linyuan WANG ; Jianjun ZHANG ; Linlin XIU ; Yuyu HE ; Yuxin JIA ; Weican LIANG ; Yi LI ; Yinming ZHAO
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(4):451-458
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has historically played a pivotal role in the prevention and treatment of warm diseases, establishing a comprehensive theoretical framework that underpins its practices. The distinctive and indispensable contributions of aromatic Chinese herbs in dispelling harmful influences and mitigating the spread of these diseases are well recognized; however, further investigation is warranted to elucidate their systematic properties and regularities, and the theory of aromatic Chinese herbs in preventing and treating warm diseases still needs to be comprehensively summarized. This study employs the principles rooted in TCM, with particular emphasis on the framework for warm diseases. An analysis of the disease mechanisms, transmission dynamics, and preventive strategies is conducted during the early stage of infection, throughout the course of the disease, and in the post-illness phase. Furthermore, the characteristics and applications of aromatic Chinese herbs are integrated with insights drawn from modern pharmacological research to explore their specific roles in the prevention and management of warm diseases. The utilization of aromatic Chinese herbs manifests in a variety of therapeutic effects: aromatic medicinals purging filth and dispelling pathogens for preventing epidemic disease, aromatic medicinals regulation for relieving superficies syndrome and dispersing evils, aromatic medicinals ventilation the lung to relieve cough and asthma, aromatic medicinals resolving the dampness to awaken the spleen and stomach, aromatic medicinals opening the orifices to restore consciousness, aromatic and pungent medicinals to regulate qi, aromatic medicinals dredging the vessels to activate blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis, and aromatic medicinals clearing latent heat from the yin level. These properties facilitate tailored approaches to address the diverse manifestations of warm diseases and their associated symptoms, providing clear guidance for clinical application to achieve pre-disease prevention, active disease treatment, complication prevention, and post-recovery relapse avoidance. The use of aromatic Chinese herbs in preventing and treating warm diseases demonstrates theoretical, practical, systematic, and regular characteristics. The theory of the properties of aromatic Chinese herbs has been expanded and sublimated in clinical practice, and its scientific connotation has been expounded in modern research. Under the guidance of the theory of treatment based on syndrome differentiation, and by taking into account the distinct stages and pathologies of warm diseases, the rational selection of aromatic Chinese herbs can improve the clinical efficacy.
7.Tumor-intrinsic PRMT5 upregulates FGL1 via methylating TCF12 to inhibit CD8+ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity in liver cancer.
Jiao SUN ; Hongfeng YUAN ; Linlin SUN ; Lina ZHAO ; Yufei WANG ; Chunyu HOU ; Huihui ZHANG ; Pan LV ; Guang YANG ; Ningning ZHANG ; Wei LU ; Xiaodong ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):188-204
Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) acts as an oncogene in liver cancer, yet its roles and in-depth molecular mechanisms within the liver cancer immune microenvironment remain mostly undefined. Here, we demonstrated that disruption of tumor-intrinsic PRMT5 enhances CD8+ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity both in vivo and in vitro. Further experiments verified that this effect is achieved through downregulation of the inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1). Mechanistically, PRMT5 catalyzed symmetric dimethylation of transcription factor 12 (TCF12) at arginine 554 (R554), prompting the binding of TCF12 to FGL1 promoter region, which transcriptionally activated FGL1 in tumor cells. Methylation deficiency at TCF12-R554 residue downregulated FGL1 expression, which promoted CD8+ T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity. Notably, combining the PRMT5 methyltransferase inhibitor GSK591 with PD-L1 blockade efficiently inhibited liver cancer growth and improved overall survival in mice. Collectively, our findings reveal the immunosuppressive role and mechanism of PRMT5 in liver cancer and highlight that targeting PRMT5 could boost checkpoint immunotherapy efficacy.
8.A cisplatin prodrug-based self-assembling ozone delivery nanosystem sensitizes radiotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer.
Tianyue XU ; Dan ZHENG ; Meixu CHEN ; Linlin SONG ; Zhihui LIU ; Yan CHENG ; Yujie ZHAO ; Liwen HUANG ; Yixuan LI ; Zhankun YANG ; Cong LI ; Biao DONG ; Jing JING ; Hubing SHI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2703-2722
Lacking therapeutic targets highlights the crucial roles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the clinical management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). To relieve the side effects of the chemoradiotherapy combination regimen, we design and develop a self-assembled micelle nanosystem consisting of perfluorocarbon chain-modified cisplatin prodrug. By incorporating perfluorodecalin, this nanosystem can effectively carry ozone and promote irradiation-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. By leveraging the perfluorocarbon sidechain, the nanosystem exhibits efficient internalization by TNBC cells and effectively escapes from lysosomal entrapment. Under X-ray irradiation, ozone-generated ROS disrupts the intracellular redox balance, thereby facilitating the release of cisplatin in a reduction-responsive manner mediated by reduced glutathione. Moreover, oxygen derived from ozone decomposition enhances the efficacy of radiotherapy by alleviating tumor hypoxia. Notably, the combination of irradiation with ozone-loaded cisplatin prodrug nano system synergistically prompts antitumor efficacy and reduces cellular/systemic toxicity in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the combo regimen remodels the tumor microenvironment into an immune-favored state by triggering immunogenic cell death and relieving hypoxia, which provides a promising foundation for a combination regimen of immunotherapy. In conclusion, our nanosystem presents a novel strategy for integrating chemotherapy and radiotherapy to optimize the efficacy and safety of TNBC clinical treatment.
9.Ag2Se nanoparticles suppress growth of murine esophageal cancer allograft in mice by eliminating Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Yali ZHAO ; Jiayi LI ; Bianli GU ; Pan CHEN ; Li ZHANG ; Xiaoman ZHANG ; Pingjuan YANG ; Linlin SHI ; Shegan GAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(2):245-253
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the efficacy of Ag2Se nanoparticles for eliminating intracellular Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) in esophageal cancer and examine the effect of P. gingivalis clearance on progression of esophageal cancer.
METHODS:
Ag2Se nanoparticles were synthesized via a chemical synthesis method. The effects of Ag2Se nanoparticles on P. gingivalis viability and colony-forming ability were assessed using fluorescence staining and colony formation assays. In a mouse model bearing subcutaneous murine esophageal cancer cell allograft with P. gingivalis infection, the effect of treatment with Ag2Se nanoparticles on the abundance of P. gingivalis in the tumor tissues was quantified using RNAscope in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and the changes in tumor volume were monitored. The biosafety of Ag2Se nanoparticles was assessed by examining liver and kidney functions and pathological changes in the major organs of the mice.
RESULTS:
Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the synthesized Ag2Se nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed spherical particles with a diameter around 50 nm. In vitro experiments demonstrated that exposure to Ag2Se nanoparticles significantly reduced the viability and clonal proliferation capacity of P. gingivalis in a dose-dependent manner. In the tumor-bearing mice, treatment with Ag2Se nanoparticles significantly reduced the abundance of P. gingivalis in tumor tissues and suppressed tumor cell proliferation. No significant damages to the liver and kidney functions or the major organs were observed in Ag2Se nanoparticle-treated mice, demonstrating good biocompatibility of Ag2Se nanoparticles.
CONCLUSIONS
Ag2Se nanoparticles exhibit significant bactericidal and inhibitory effects against P. gingivalis, and can effectively eliminate intracellular P. gingivalis to suppress the growth of esophageal cancer allograft in mice, suggesting the potential of Ag2Se nanoparticles in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
Animals
;
Porphyromonas gingivalis/drug effects*
;
Mice
;
Esophageal Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Nanoparticles
;
Metal Nanoparticles
;
Bacteroidaceae Infections
;
Cell Line, Tumor
10.Tuihuang Mixture improves α‑naphthylisothiocyanate-induced cholestasis in rats by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes via regulating farnesoid X receptor.
Zhengwang ZHU ; Linlin WANG ; Jinghan ZHAO ; Ruixue MA ; Yuchun YU ; Qingchun CAI ; Bing WANG ; Pingsheng ZHU ; Mingsan MIAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(4):718-724
OBJECTIVES:
To study the therapeutic mechanism of Tuihuang Mixture against cholestasis.
METHODS:
Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomized equally into blank group, model group, ursodeoxycholic acid group and Tuihuang Mixture group. Except for those in the blank group, all the rats were given α‑naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to establish rat models of cholestasis, followed by treatments with indicated drugs or distilled water. Serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL of the rats were determined, and hepatic expressions IL-1β, IL-18, FXR, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD were detected using q-PCR, ELISA or Western blotting. Histopathological changes of the liver tissues were observed using HE staining.
RESULTS:
The rat models of cholestasis had significantly increased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL with increased mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β and IL-18, decreased protein and mRNA expressions of FXR, and increased protein expressions of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 and mRNA expressions of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD in the liver tissue, showing also irregular arrangement of liver cells, proliferation of bile duct epithelial cells and inflammatory cells infiltration. Treatment of the rat models with Tuihuang Mixture significantly decreased serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, γ-GT, TBA and TBIL, lowered IL-1β and IL-18 and increased FXR protein and mRNA expressions, and reduced NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1 and GSDMD proteins and NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 mRNA expressions in the liver tissue. Tuihuang Mixture also significantly alleviated hepatocyte injury, bile duct epithelial cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver of the rat models.
CONCLUSIONS
Tuihuang Mixture can effectively improve cholestasis in rats possibly by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatosome-mediated pyroptosis via regulating FXR.
Animals
;
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
;
Rats
;
Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism*
;
Cholestasis/drug therapy*
;
Rats, Wistar
;
Inflammasomes/metabolism*
;
1-Naphthylisothiocyanate
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Male
;
Interleukin-18/metabolism*
;
Caspase 1/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Liver/metabolism*


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