1.Mechanism of Sangpi Zhike Prescription in Treating Cough After Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Based on "Lung-intestine Co-treatment" Theory
Chuang SUO ; Xiaohong BAI ; Zhitong YU ; Xue GONG ; Chan XIU ; Qihui LYU ; Zhihui LIU ; Kelin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):126-137
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Sangpi Zhike prescription in treating cough after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection through the "lung-intestine co-treatment" approach using network pharmacology and animal experimental validation. MethodsActive ingredients and targets of Sangpi Zhike prescription were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. Disease targets were obtained from GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM) databases. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and drug-component-target networks were constructed using overlapping targets between drugs and diseases to identify core targets. Gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the overlapping targets. Sixty mouse models were established: 10 as the normal group, and the remaining mice were infected with RSV via slow nasal drip of RSV suspension, with cough induced using capsaicin solution. After modeling, mice were divided into a model group, a Montelukast Sodium group (1 mg·kg-1·d-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of Sangpi Zhike prescription (4.875,9.75,and 19.5 g·kg-1·d-1), with 10 mice per group. From day 14 after RSV infection, the normal and model groups received saline via gavage, while other groups received corresponding drug treatments once daily for 5 d. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung and intestinal tissue. The protein content of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated (p)-ERK1/2 in the lung and colon tissue of mice was detected by Western blot. Real-time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) detected ERK1/2 mRNA expression in lung and intestinal tissue. Immunohistochemistry assessed p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-c-Fos protein levels, and inflammatory cytokines interleukin(IL)-4 and (TNF)-α in lung and colon tissue. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 184 active ingredients and 684 targets in Sangpi Zhike prescription, with 1 344 RSV-related disease targets and 209 overlapping targets. Core targets included TNF, Fos, and Jun. KEGG enrichment revealed 179 pathways, primarily mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), cancer, TNF, and IL-17 signaling pathways. Animal experiments showed that, compared to those of the normal group, the lung tissue sections of the model group showed typical inflammatory damage, infiltration of inflammatory cells, rupture of alveolar septa, extensive alveolar fusion, and disruption of tight junctions between single-layer columnar epithelial cells in the intestinal tissue. The values of p-ERK1/2 and ERK1/2 in lung and intestinal tissue were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the expression level of ERK1/2 mRNA was significantly elevated (P<0.01). The levels of ERK1/2, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-c-Fos, IL-4, and TNF-α along the ERK pathway were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared to the model group, Sangpi Zhike prescription groups showed reduced lung and intestinal inflammation, decreased p-ERK1/2/ERK1/2 ratios (P<0.05,P<0.01), lower ERK1/2 mRNA levels, and downregulated ERK pathway proteins (P<0.05,P<0.01). ConclusionSangpi Zhike prescription alleviates cough and intestinal symptoms after RSV infection via the "lung-intestine co-treatment" mechanism by suppressing expression levels of ERK1/2, p-MEK1/2, p-ERK1/2, p-c-Fos, IL-4, and TNF-α on ERK pathway components, thereby mitigating lung and intestinal pathological damage.
2.Research progress on protein lactylation in ophthalmic diseases
Hongliang CHEN ; Long SUO ; Qiankun WANG ; Shuang LIU
International Eye Science 2025;25(5):797-801
Lactylation, a recently identified post-translational modification of proteins, is induced by lactic acid and can occur at multiple lysine residues in both histone and non-histone proteins. This modification plays a role in disease pathogenesis by affecting transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial metabolism, and immune inflammation. Significant advancements have been made in understanding the mechanisms of lactylation in various ophthalmic diseases, including retinal neovascularization, uveitis, melanoma, and myopia. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between lactic acid and lactylation, the regulatory mechanisms of lactylation, and the role of lactylation in different ocular diseases. Additionally, it addresses current research limitations and future directions, which is of great significance to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of lactylation in eye diseases and improving the diagnosis and targeted treatment of these conditions.
3.Research of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cardioprotective mechanism
Siqi SUO ; Yu GAO ; Xiaoyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(3):264-268,276
Diabetes mellitus type 2(T2DM)is a common chronic metabolic disease,compared to non-diabetics,T2DM patients have a higher risk of heart disease,and their risk of vascular diseases is twice that of non-diabetic individu-als.Multiple clinical trials have confirmed that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists(GLP-1RA),in addition to their function of lowering blood glucose,can also decrease the risk of cardiovascular events in T2DM patients.This article re-views the mechanisms of GLP-1RA-mediated cardioprotection.It provides a comprehensive review of the recent progress in GLP-1RA-mediated cardiac protective mechanisms,elaborating on the protective effects of GLP-1RA on specific heart cell and further discussing its impact on heart failure(HF),provide assistance for clinical treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
4.Construction and verification of pertussis infection characteristic analysis and symptom combination prediction model in patients with cough
Jingjing ZHAO ; Yamin LIU ; Rui SUO ; Ruxianguli WUMAIER ; Shuangjun LIU ; Ying LI ; Xiaoyun ZHAO
Tianjin Medical Journal 2025;53(4):434-439
Objective To investigate the prevalence and symptoms of pertussis in patients with cough,and to predict individual risk based on the combination of symptoms.Methods A total of 1 025 patients with cough or contact with pertussis patients were included.Pertussis was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab PCR.Patients were divided into the juvenile group(278 cases)and the adult group(747 cases)according to age.The duration of cough from onset to study participation,the visual analogue(VAS)score of cough degree and the number of basic symptoms(paroxysmal cough,vomiting after cough,crowing cough,pauses in breathing after cough and fever)were compared between the two groups.The confirmed patients were further grouped by age,and the different symptoms were compared.70%of the sample was used as the training set.Based on the combination of symptoms(paroxysmal cough,post-cough vomiting,chick-crooning cough and pauses in inspirations after coughing),multivariate Logistic regression was used to establish the prediction model and draw the nomogram.30%of the sample was used as the validation set,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn.The differentiation of the area under the curve(AUC)evaluation model was calculated.The calibration degree of the model was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow test,and calibration curve was drawn to evaluate the model.Results By PCR,163 cases(15.9%)were confirmed as pertussis.The juvenile group had a longer duration of cough from onset to study participation than the adult group(P<0.05).The VAS score of cough severity was higher,and the number of basic symptoms of pertussis was more(P<0.01).In confirmed cases,the proportion of paroxysmal cough,vomiting after cough,crowing cough and inspiratory pause after cough was higher in the juvenile group than that in the adult group(P<0.01).In the diagnosed cases,the incidence of paroxysmal cough and post-cough vomiting were higher in the<1-year-old group compared to the 1-9-year-old group and the≥10-year-old group(P<0.05).The combination of paroxysmal cough,vomiting after cough,crowing cough and inspiratory pause after cough was selected by Logistic regression analysis to establish a nomogram model.The AUC of this model in the training set was 0.852,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2=0.208,P=0.901,and in the verification set,the AUC was 0.899,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2=4.202,P=0.122.The predicted value in the calibration curve was very close to the theoretical value in the training set and the verification set,and the fitting degree was high.Conclusion The infection rate of pertussis is high in patients with cough.The nomogram model based on combined symptoms has a better prediction effect on pertussis differentiation,which can provide reference for the monitoring of pertussis.
5.Research of Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cardioprotective mechanism
Siqi SUO ; Yu GAO ; Xiaoyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(3):264-268,276
Diabetes mellitus type 2(T2DM)is a common chronic metabolic disease,compared to non-diabetics,T2DM patients have a higher risk of heart disease,and their risk of vascular diseases is twice that of non-diabetic individu-als.Multiple clinical trials have confirmed that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists(GLP-1RA),in addition to their function of lowering blood glucose,can also decrease the risk of cardiovascular events in T2DM patients.This article re-views the mechanisms of GLP-1RA-mediated cardioprotection.It provides a comprehensive review of the recent progress in GLP-1RA-mediated cardiac protective mechanisms,elaborating on the protective effects of GLP-1RA on specific heart cell and further discussing its impact on heart failure(HF),provide assistance for clinical treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
6.Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level and 10-year ASCVD risk index in male patients with type 2 diabetes
Hui WANG ; Hui SUO ; Dengrong MA ; Xiaohui ZAN ; Mei HAN ; Xinyuan GUO ; Jingfang LIU
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(4):297-304
Objective:To investigate the association between serum thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) level and the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in men over 50 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:This study included male T2DM patients aged≥50 years, diagnosed at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between July 2021 and March 2022. Patients were categorized into three groups based on serum TSH level: elevated TSH group(T3, TSH>5.91 mIU/L) and normal TSH group, which was further divided into T1(0.56 mIU/L≤TSH<3.24 mIU/L) and T2(3.24 mIU/L≤TSH≤5.91 mIU/L) group. The 10-year ASCVD risk index was compared across groups. Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the independent association between TSH level and 10-year ASCVD risk index. Results:A total of 490 male T2DM patients aged≥50 years were included(T1: 310, T2: 131, T3: 49). The 10-year ASCVD risk index was significantly higher in T3 group than that in T1 group(18.40% vs 13.90%, χ2=9.47, P<0.05). Serum TSH level showed a positive correlation with the 10-year ASCVD risk( r=0.144, P<0.05). After adjusting for confounders such as age, hypertension, lipid profile, diabetes duration, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, estimated glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, and phosphorus, multiple linear regression confirmed that TSH level was independently associated with the 10-year ASCVD risk index( β=0.23, 95% CI 0.02-0.45). Conclusions:Higher serum TSH level is independently associated with an increased 10-year ASCVD risk in men over 50 years old with T2DM. Regular TSH monitoring may aid in cardiovascular risk stratification in this population.
7.Construction and verification of pertussis infection characteristic analysis and symptom combination prediction model in patients with cough
Jingjing ZHAO ; Yamin LIU ; Rui SUO ; Ruxianguli WUMAIER ; Shuangjun LIU ; Ying LI ; Xiaoyun ZHAO
Tianjin Medical Journal 2025;53(4):434-439
Objective To investigate the prevalence and symptoms of pertussis in patients with cough,and to predict individual risk based on the combination of symptoms.Methods A total of 1 025 patients with cough or contact with pertussis patients were included.Pertussis was confirmed by nasopharyngeal swab PCR.Patients were divided into the juvenile group(278 cases)and the adult group(747 cases)according to age.The duration of cough from onset to study participation,the visual analogue(VAS)score of cough degree and the number of basic symptoms(paroxysmal cough,vomiting after cough,crowing cough,pauses in breathing after cough and fever)were compared between the two groups.The confirmed patients were further grouped by age,and the different symptoms were compared.70%of the sample was used as the training set.Based on the combination of symptoms(paroxysmal cough,post-cough vomiting,chick-crooning cough and pauses in inspirations after coughing),multivariate Logistic regression was used to establish the prediction model and draw the nomogram.30%of the sample was used as the validation set,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn.The differentiation of the area under the curve(AUC)evaluation model was calculated.The calibration degree of the model was evaluated by Hosmer-Lemeshow test,and calibration curve was drawn to evaluate the model.Results By PCR,163 cases(15.9%)were confirmed as pertussis.The juvenile group had a longer duration of cough from onset to study participation than the adult group(P<0.05).The VAS score of cough severity was higher,and the number of basic symptoms of pertussis was more(P<0.01).In confirmed cases,the proportion of paroxysmal cough,vomiting after cough,crowing cough and inspiratory pause after cough was higher in the juvenile group than that in the adult group(P<0.01).In the diagnosed cases,the incidence of paroxysmal cough and post-cough vomiting were higher in the<1-year-old group compared to the 1-9-year-old group and the≥10-year-old group(P<0.05).The combination of paroxysmal cough,vomiting after cough,crowing cough and inspiratory pause after cough was selected by Logistic regression analysis to establish a nomogram model.The AUC of this model in the training set was 0.852,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2=0.208,P=0.901,and in the verification set,the AUC was 0.899,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test χ2=4.202,P=0.122.The predicted value in the calibration curve was very close to the theoretical value in the training set and the verification set,and the fitting degree was high.Conclusion The infection rate of pertussis is high in patients with cough.The nomogram model based on combined symptoms has a better prediction effect on pertussis differentiation,which can provide reference for the monitoring of pertussis.
8.Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level and 10-year ASCVD risk index in male patients with type 2 diabetes
Hui WANG ; Hui SUO ; Dengrong MA ; Xiaohui ZAN ; Mei HAN ; Xinyuan GUO ; Jingfang LIU
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(4):297-304
Objective:To investigate the association between serum thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) level and the 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) in men over 50 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:This study included male T2DM patients aged≥50 years, diagnosed at the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between July 2021 and March 2022. Patients were categorized into three groups based on serum TSH level: elevated TSH group(T3, TSH>5.91 mIU/L) and normal TSH group, which was further divided into T1(0.56 mIU/L≤TSH<3.24 mIU/L) and T2(3.24 mIU/L≤TSH≤5.91 mIU/L) group. The 10-year ASCVD risk index was compared across groups. Spearman correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess the independent association between TSH level and 10-year ASCVD risk index. Results:A total of 490 male T2DM patients aged≥50 years were included(T1: 310, T2: 131, T3: 49). The 10-year ASCVD risk index was significantly higher in T3 group than that in T1 group(18.40% vs 13.90%, χ2=9.47, P<0.05). Serum TSH level showed a positive correlation with the 10-year ASCVD risk( r=0.144, P<0.05). After adjusting for confounders such as age, hypertension, lipid profile, diabetes duration, aspartate aminotransferase, albumin, lactate dehydrogenase, estimated glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, and phosphorus, multiple linear regression confirmed that TSH level was independently associated with the 10-year ASCVD risk index( β=0.23, 95% CI 0.02-0.45). Conclusions:Higher serum TSH level is independently associated with an increased 10-year ASCVD risk in men over 50 years old with T2DM. Regular TSH monitoring may aid in cardiovascular risk stratification in this population.
9.Neuro-ophthalmic features of SARS-CoV-2 associated acute macular neuroretinopathy
Pei LIU ; Zhaojie CHU ; Bo LI ; Xuemei LIN ; Yan LIU ; Chensheng SONG ; Yan SUO ; Jun ZHAO ; Songdi WU
International Eye Science 2024;24(7):1173-1178
AIM: To explore the neuro-ophthalmological characteristics of acute macular neuroretinopathy(AMN)after SARS-CoV-2 infection.METHODS: A total of 8 patients(14 eyes), including 6 females and 2 males, who were diagnosed with AMN in the neuro-ophthalmology department of Xi'an No.1 Hospital(The First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University)from December 27, 2022 to February 1, 2023 were included in the study. All patients had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection before the disease, and the results of best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), non-contact indirect intraocular pressure measurement, fundus color photography, near infrared(IR), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography(SD-OCT), OCT angiography(OCTA), fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA), indocyanine green angiography(ICGA), visual field, visual evoked potential(VEP), and electroretinogram(ERG)were collected. Furthermore, the neuro-opthalmology characteristics of the included patients were analyzed and summarized.RESULTS: The included 8 patients aged from 20 to 43, with an average age of(30±6.63)years old. The patients had a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection 3 to 11(mean 5±3.51)d before the disease, and 6 out of 8 patients developed visual symptoms within 5 d of infection with SARS-CoV-2, with manifestated with decreased vision or visual scotoma. The visual acuity varied from 0.08 to 1.0, with visual field defect characterized by central, paracentral or peripheral scotoma. VEP showed prolongation latency of P100 or P2, and ERG revealed impaired function of retinal photoreceptor cell. In the early stage of the disease, the size and shape of early visual acuity, visual field, and extraretinal lesions in patients with AMN associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection may not match, and the lower the visual acuity, the later the VEP peaks.CONCLUSION: The neuro-ophthalmic features of SARS-CoV-2 infection-associated AMN require the attention of clinicians. In addition to multi-mode fundus imaging, clinicians should use a variety of methods to comprehensively evaluate visual function and prognosis of patients.
10.Roles of Müller glial-mesenchymal transition in retinal fibrosis diseases
Qiankun WANG ; Long SUO ; Shuang LIU
International Eye Science 2024;24(11):1747-1752
Glial-mesenchymal transition(GMT)is a biological process of transdifferentiation where endothelial cells gradually adopt the phenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal cells under the influence of various factors. GMT is closely associated with retinal fibrosis diseases. Müller cells, the predominant retinal macroglia, undergo activation and transdifferentiation in response to diverse stimuli and pathological conditions. Researches indicate that GMT plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy(DR), idiopathic epiretinal membrane(iERM), age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR). Although the exact mechanism of GMT is not well understood, it has showed great promise as potential target. Clarifying the research progress of GMT provides new ideas in the early diagnosis and treatments of retinal diseases, which is clinically and scientifically important for revealing interactive effects of cell transdifferentiation families in retinal diseases.

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