1.Mechanism of Yishen Qubi Tongluo Formula (益肾祛痹通络方) in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis:Based on Network Pharmacology,Molecular Docking and Experimental Verification
Liuping XU ; Canyu YANG ; Ying LU ; Lisha MO ; Qiang CHI ; Yuan XIA ; Shuijuan LIU ; Mingliang QIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):557-566
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Yishen Qubi Tongluo Formula (益肾祛痹通络方, YQTF) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). MethodsNetwork pharmacology was employed to retrieve and screen the active components and potential targets of YQTF as well as RA-related targets using databases including TCMSP, BATMAN, ETCM and GEO. The intersection of targets related to active components and RA-related targets was identified, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed, and a drug-active component-common target network of YQTF in the treatment of RA was established. The core components of YQTF were molecularly docked with key targets. Human rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast cell line MH7A was divided into blank group, model group, methotrexate group and YQTF group. The blank group was cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum, while the other three groups were stimulated with 10 μg/L of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) for 24 h to establish the RA cell model. On this basis, the methotrexate group was treated with methotrexate suspension at a concentration of 20 μmol/L, and the YQTF group was treated with 10% YQTF-medicated serum. After 48 h of intervention, the levels of TNF-α and interleukin-17A(IL-17A)contents in cell supernatants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and mRNA expressions of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). ResultsNetwork pharmacological analysis identified 209 active components and 583 potential target genes of YQTF, as well as 818 RA-related targets. A total of 29 common targets were obtained from the intersection of drug-related targets and RA-related targets. Quercetin,β-sitosterol, kaempferol, stigmasterol and luteolin were the core active components of YQTF for the treatment of RA, while matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor protein p53 (TP53) and transcription factor AP-1 subunit JUN were the key targets. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the involved biological processes and pathways were mainly associated with antioxidant responses, PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that MMP9 and PTGS2 exhibited high binding affinities with quercetin, β-sitosterol, kaempferol, stigmasterol and luteolin; TLR4 exhibited high binding activities with β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and luteolin; and TP53 showed high binding affinity with luteolin. The results of cell experiments showed that compared with the control group, the contents of TNF-α and IL-17A as well as the mRNA expressions of AKT and mTOR in the model group significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the model group, all the above indicators significantly decreased in the YQTF group, while the contents of TNF-α and the mRNA expression of AKT significantly decreased in the methotrexate group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionThe mechanism of YQTF in the treatment of RA may be associated with reducing inflammatory cytokine secretion and inhibiting the activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway.
2.Expert Consensus on Clinical Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Atopic Dermatitis
Junfeng LIU ; Xiumei MO ; Mei MO ; Hongyi LI ; Ying LIN ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Dacan CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):244-252
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common pruritic and chronic inflammatory dermatosis in clinical practice and is one of the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). With the launch of biological agents and small molecule drugs and the development and implementation of guidelines of diagnosis and treatment, clinical pathways of treatment of moderate to severe AD, and consensus on the whole-process management of AD, the clinical efficacy of moderate to severe AD has been significantly improved. However, there are still many unmet clinical needs that require more effective methods to meet. In response to the Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Facilitating the Inheritance, Innovation, and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the spirit of the National Conference on TCM, the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized more than 20 experts in TCM dermatology, Western medicine dermatology, interdisciplinary fields, and industries to discuss the difficulties and advantages of TCM in the treatment of AD. TCM treatment for AD can not only improve rash and relieve itching but also solve many concomitant syndromes. The abundant external treatment methods of TCM have advantages for different special populations and rash characteristics. The concept of treating disease before its onset in TCM is in line with the chronic disease management mode of prevention and treatment of atopic march and prevention of recurrence. In addition, TCM therapy can reduce the use of topical glucocorticoids and has good safety. Regarding the comorbidity of AD, equal emphasis on TCM and Western medicine and multidisciplinary joint treatment should be advocated to achieve maximum benefit for patients. The exchange of TCM and Western medicine has clarified the positioning and advantages of TCM intervention in AD, providing guidance for clinical and scientific research.
3.Expression and role of ArginaseⅡ in the kidney tissues of rats with type 2 diabetic nephropathy
Xiu LI ; Hai-ying ZHANG ; Yu-bo JIANG ; Shao-qing WANG ; Zi-yi MO ; Shi-yuan XUE ; Chang LIU
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(3):205-211
Objective To investigate the expression of arginase Ⅱ(ArgⅡ)in kidney tissue of rats with diabetic nephropathy(DN)and its significance in the development of DN.Methods A total of 10 male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group and the model group,with 5 rats in each group.An rat model of DN was developed by feeding with high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intra-peritoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin(45 mg/kg),and they were sacrificed after 11 weeks of continued feeding.The body weight,and biochemical indexes of blood and urine of rats were determined.The right kidney was weighed and histopathological examination was performed.The pathological changes of kidney tissues and protein expression of ArgⅡ and CD68+were observed,and the immunofluores-cence double staining was used to observe the distribution and expression of ArgⅡand a marker of renal macrophage activation CD68+;the protein expression of ArgⅡ,NF-κB,TNF-α and IL-6 in kidney tissues was determined by Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the ratio of kidney weight to body weight,24-hour urine volume,24-hour urine protein,fasting blood glucose,urea nitrogen and insulin level in the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The renal histopathology showed that the mesangial cells of the renal glomerular were necrotic with vascular dilatation,and the renal tubular epithelial cells were steatosis and congestion.Compared with the control group,the protein expression of ArgⅡ,CD68+,NF-κB,TNF-α and IL-6 in the kidney tissues of the model group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence double staining demonstrated the co-expression of ArgⅡ and CD68+in renal tissue,and the fluorescence intensities of both ArgⅡ and CD68+in the model group were significantly stronger than those in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion The expression of ArgⅡ is increased in DN,which may be participated in the occurrence of inflammatory lesions in DN.
4.Anti-radiation effects of gene CCND1 activated by low-dose radiation
Dan CAI ; Ying FAN ; Yunqi MO ; Ruixue LIU ; Lei WU ; Jianan MA ; Qi WANG ; Zhenhua QI ; Zhidong WANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(9):840-850
Objective:To select low-dose radiation-activated genes with intrinsic radiation protection by developing a model for adaptive responses to low-dose ionizing radiation, in order to explore the mechanisms behind the radiation resistance of the candidate genes.Methods:The cells were divided into adaptive response induction group and whole transcriptome sequencing group. The level of DNA damage was assessed using the γ-H2AX immunofluorescence assay. The low-dose radiation-activated candidate genes with radiation protection were selected through whole transcriptome sequencing and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR)-based validation. The anti-radiation effect of candidate gene CCND1 was assessed based on CCK-8 cell proliferation and γ-H2AX immunofluorescence assay. After up- and down-regulation of CCND1 expression, the anti-radiation mechanism of CCND1 was preliminarily explored through transcriptome sequencing analysis.Results:A model for low-dose ionizing radiation-induced adaptive responses of lymphocytes was constructed. Using this model, six candidate genes with radiation protection, including CCND1, ZMAT3, MGAT3, DFFB, CYP4F2, ITGA6, were selected. Compared to the control group, overexpressed CCND1 led to significantly enhanced proliferation ability of AHH-1 cells ( t = 7.92-14.76, P < 0.05) and distinctly lowered level of DNA damage ( t = 2.79-9.68, P < 0.05) after 2 Gy of X-ray irradiation. Furthermore, compared to the control group, the CCND1 knockdown caused significantly decreased cell proliferation ability ( t = 13.58-26.25, P < 0.05) and notably elevated level of DNA damage of cells ( t = 2.87-7.61, P < 0.05). Transcriptome sequencing revealed that up- and down-regulation of CCND1 expression resulted in the activation of pathways related to cell growth, death, and damage repair. Conclusions:By selecting six low-dose-activated candidate genes with radiation protection and revealing the function of CCND1 in radiation protection, this study provides a new perspective for the development of radiation protection agents from the perspective of adaptive responses to low-dose radiation.
5.Phenylpropanoids from roots of Berberis polyantha.
Dong-Mei SHA ; Shuai-Cong NI ; Li-Niu SHA-MA ; Hai-Xiao-Lin-Mo MA ; Xiao-Yong HE ; Bin HE ; Shao-Shan ZHANG ; Ying LI ; Jing WEN ; Yuan LIU ; Xin-Jia YAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1564-1568
The chemical constituents were systematically separated from the roots of Berberis polyantha by various chromatographic methods, including silica gel column chromatography, HP20 column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography, reversed-phase C_(18) column chromatography, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic techniques(1D NMR, 2D NMR, UV, MS, and CD). Four phenylpropanoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of B. polyantha, and they were identified as(2R)-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(1), methyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoate(2),(+)-syringaresinol(3), and syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(4). Compound 1 was a new compound, and other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated based on the release of nitric oxide(NO) in the culture of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. At a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), all the four compounds inhibited the LPS-induced release of NO in RAW264.7 cells, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Plant Roots/chemistry*
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Animals
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Mice
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Berberis/chemistry*
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RAW 264.7 Cells
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Macrophages/immunology*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
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Nitric Oxide/metabolism*
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Molecular Structure
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification*
6.Expert consensus on prevention and control of Chikungunya in healthcare institutions(2025 Edition)
Ling HE ; Yan LIU ; Fang YU ; Ying LIU ; Dayue LIU ; Hongyan LIU ; Ruiting WANG ; Shuxian CHEN ; Chen ZHU ; Xiaodong HAN ; Ting HUANG ; Fengxia GUO ; Zhen-feng ZHONG ; Yuanchun MO ; Xiujuan QU ; Yinan LI ; Yi XU ; Chengxiang KONG ; Ning LI ; Shaoyan LU ; Ming WU ; Zide DENG ; Shumei SUN
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(22):3361-3369
OBJECTIVE To standardize the strategies for prevention and control of Chikungunya(CHIK)in healthcare in-stitutions so as to reduce the risk of transmission in the institutions.METHODS A working group comprising the ex-perts in hospital infection control,infectious diseases,and microbiology systematically reviewed domestic and international evidence and current guidelines,integrated China's vector ecology and healthcare realities,conducted two rounds of Delphi to achieve expert consensus,and graded the evidence and recommendation strength using the Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine system.RESULTS The consensus issues 18 actionable recommendations on triage,patient mosquito-proof isolation,integrated vector control,protection of susceptible populations,environmental cleaning and disinfection,specimen management,medical textile handling,and outbreak emergency response,with each statement assigned an evi-dence level and recommendation strength.CONCLUSION This consensus is for the first time in China to provide evidence-graded strategies for control of CHIK in healthcare institutions,offering work flow-oriented,implementable guidance for clinicians,laboratorians,and infection-control personnel under different risk scenarios and enhancing the comprehensive coping capacity of the healthcare institutions.
7.Development Process and Analysis of Characteristics of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Atopic Dermatitis
Xiumei MO ; Junfeng LIU ; Yangyang WANG ; Ying LIN ; Jinjing JIA ; Hongyi LI ; Dacan CHEN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(5):1260-1265
In order to further promote the standardization of the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment of atopic dermatitis(AD),the team of Professor Chen Dacan,who is honored as the Qihuang Scholar,developed the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Atopic Dermatitis(hereinafter referred to as Guidelines for AD).This paper detailed the process of development of Guidelines for AD,and analyzed the characteristics of Guidelines for AD,as well as the difficulties and countermeasures encountered during such a time.The development of Guidelines for AD follows the methodology of international guidelines for clinical trial.Experts specializing in various disciplines,such as traditional Chinese medicine,western medicine,integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine,and methodology,composed an expert group and a working group.On the basis of systematic literature research,the clinic experiences of frontline experts were well-summarized,and the draft of Guidelines for AD was formed after several meetings and discussions.In the process of developing Guidelines for AD,quite a number of problems were encountered,and the project team found the corresponding countermeasures after analyzing these problems.The countermeasures became the characteristics of Guidelines for AD:the integration of traditional Chinese medicine therapies and western medicine therapies,and the evaluation of the evidence of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine solved the problem of traditional Chinese and western medicine diagnosis and treatment of AD lacking standardization;the adequately combination of the evidence with the experience of clinical practice solved the problems of the low overall level and the insufficiency of traditional Chinese medicine evidence for AD;the establishment of management goals and strategies for AD after taking the advantages of both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine into account was in line with the international treatment and management concepts;the formulation of individualized traditional Chinese and western medicine therapy based on the integration of traditional Chinese medicine therapy and western medicine therapy met the clinical needs of patients with different characteristics of AD.The development process of Guidelines for AD and the analysis of problems and countermeasures during such a time will provide reference and reflection for the subsequent establishment of clinical guidelines for the integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in other diseases.
8.Similarity of human forward and backward crawling patterns based on multiscale motion coordination analysis
Ying CHEN ; Qiliang XIONG ; Yuan LIU ; Jieyi MO ; Xiaolong SHU ; Bo LIU ; Changyuan DENG
Chinese Journal of Medical Physics 2025;42(5):640-647
Objective To test the hypothesis that backward crawling and forward crawling share similar inter-joint coordination patterns,thus providing potential evidence for the application of backward crawling in rehabilitation training.Methods The acceleration signals in the X,Y,and Z directions for 9 joints(including bilateral wrists,elbows,shoulders,knees,and hips)in 9 volunteers during forward and backward crawling were collected using a custom signal acquisition system,and the pressure signals were also recorded when the palms contacted the ground.The collected acceleration signals were preprocessed,segmented into cycles,and vectorized.Based on the pressure signals,a single crawling cycle was divided into support phase and swing phase.In addition,principal component analysis was applied to extract inter-joint coordination in limbs at various scales(sagittal,coronal,and transverse planes).Pearson correlation coefficients of inter-joint coordination patterns were compared between forward and backward crawling in support period,swing period,and full cycle.Results The correlation coefficients for coordination patterns in the full cycle at the transverse plane scale were 0.813 5(PC1)and 0.837 5(PC2),and the correlation coefficient of the support period PC2 was 0.901 8.At the sagittal plane scale,the correlation coefficient of the support period PC1 was 0.948 5.Conclusion The study provides preliminary evidence that limb motion coordination patterns during backward crawling are similar to those observed during forward crawling.Future research will further explore the effects of backward crawling on functional rehabilitation in individuals with motor impairments.
9.Survival and cause-of-death analysis of 55 thousand thyroid cancer cases in China from a large single institution hospital-based cancer registry database
Jie SHEN ; Wanlin LIU ; Zezhou WANG ; Sibo MU ; Miao MO ; Changming ZHOU ; Jing YUAN ; Yu WANG ; Ying ZHENG ; Qinghai JI
China Oncology 2025;35(1):68-76
Background and purpose:Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant endocrine tumor,particularly prevalent among the Asian population.The overall survival for thyroid cancer patients is relatively high,but there are significant survival differences among patients.Based on long-term hospital-based cancer registry database,this study analyzed the 10-year observed overall survival(OS)rate of thyroid cancer cases and the distribution of causes of death,providing real-world evidences to further survival management of thyroid cancer in China.Methods:A total of 55343 thyroid cancer patients who underwent treatment at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer center from 2005 to 2021 were included in this study.Clinical information and the follow-up endpoint data were collected through medical records review,telephone visits and death registry data linkage.The last follow-up date was October 31,2024.Kaplan-Meier method was applied in evaluating the OS rate,and survival data were described by different subgroups as age group,gender,treatment period,tumor staging and pathological characteristics.The standardized mortality ratio(SMR)and absolute excess risk(AER)were calculated using general Shanghai population as the reference,and the mortality risk was described by gender,age at diagnosis and histological subtype.Results:With a median follow-up time of 63.01 months,the overall 1-,3-,5-and 10-year OS rates of thyroid cancer patients were 99.67%(95%CI:99.62%-99.72%),99.11%(95%CI:99.03%-99.19%),98.48%(95%CI:98.36%-98.60%)and 95.81%(95%CI:95.50%-96.11%),respectively.The 10-year OS rates of stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ were 97.99%(95%CI:97.70%-98.28%),89.80%(95%CI:87.24%-92.37%),77.84%(95%CI:70.76%-84.92%)and 62.95%(95%CI:55.37%-70.54%),respectively.The differences in OS among patients with different age,gender and histological classification were significant.1256(2.27%)deaths occurred,of which 18.63%,50.88%and 7.32%were attributable to thyroid cancer,other cancers and cardiovascular disease(CVD),respectively.Compared with the general population,patients with different subtypes of thyroid cancer had higher all-cause mortality rates,progressively increasing with papillary,follicular,medullary and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma/poorly differentiated carcinoma.Compared with general population,the death risk was 2.24 times higher in papillary thyroid cancer patients(95%CI:2.06-2.44),9.94 times higher in follicular thyroid cancer patients(95%CI:6.79-14.09),12.16 times higher in medullary thyroid cancer patients(95%CI:8.05-17.69),and the highest risk was observed in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma/poorly differentiated carcinoma[SMR=79.67(95%CI:58.38-106.31),AER=766.01/1 000 person-years].Conclusion:The 10-year long survival data and cause of death for thyroid cancer patients with different histological types were reported in China based on a large single institution hospital-based cancer registry database.Staging and histological characteristics were the most important factors directly affected the survival.Early diagnosis and individualized treatment are crucial for improving prognosis.
10.Liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss
Wensheng ZHANG ; Haiwei GUO ; Rui WENG ; Ling MO ; Zhenjie SONG ; Han TIAN ; Yelin ZHONG ; Yuancheng WANG ; Hanwu TANG ; Caijun LIU ; Chao YUAN ; Ying LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(12):2429-2437
BACKGROUND:Relatively or absolutely active bone resorption function of osteoclasts is one of the causative factors of osteoporosis. Therefore,how to inhibit the formation of osteoclasts and reduce the bone resorption activity is a key element in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Liquiritin,which is derived from licorice,plays a role in the clinical treatment of bone diseases,but there are fewer studies addressing the application of liquiritin in osteoporosis and the mechanism is unknown.OBJECTIVE:To confirm,through both in vivo and in vitro experiments,that liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss.METHODS:Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect whether Liquiritin exerts toxic or proliferative effects on mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was performed to observe the effect of liquiritin in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. The affinity of liquiritin binding to proteins related to osteoclast differentiation was verified by network pharmacology. RT-PCR and western blot assays were performed to detect the inhibitory effects of liquiritin on osteoclast-specific protein and gene expression as well as relevant signaling pathways. Finally,the mitigating effect of liquiritin on bone loss was verified in the C57BL/6J mouse osteoporosis model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Liquiritin,at concentrations of 20 μmol/L and below,could inhibit the formation and differentiation of osteoclasts. Concurrently,it exhibited a high affinity with osteoclast-specific proteins such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1,Cathepsin K,c-Fos,and matrix metalloproteinase 9,and reduced the relative expression levels of these genes and proteins. Liquiritin could also effectively lower the phosphorylation expression level of JNK in the MAPK signaling pathway at the 15th,30th,45th,and 60th minutes,and it could salvage the degradation of nuclear factor-κB inhibitor α in the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway at the 60th minute. In vivo experiments demonstrated that liquiritin could mitigate bone loss caused by osteoclasts and improve parameters related to trabecular bone. To conclude,liquiritin possesses the capacity to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and alleviate bone loss,thereby exerting a protective role against osteoporosis.

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