1.UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with network pharmacology reveals effect and mechanism of Gentianella turkestanorum total extract in ameliorating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Wu DAI ; Dong-Xuan ZHENG ; Ruo-Yu GENG ; Li-Mei WEN ; Bo-Wei JU ; Qiang HOU ; Ya-Li GUO ; Xiang GAO ; Jun-Ping HU ; Jian-Hua YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1938-1948
This study aims to reveal the effect and mechanism of Gentianella turkestanorum total extract(GTI) in ameliorating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed to identify the chemical components in GTI. SwissTarget-Prediction, GeneCards, OMIM, and TTD were utilized to screen the targets of GTI components and NASH. The common targets shared by GTI components and NASH were filtered through the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.9.0 to identify core targets, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. AutoDock was used for molecular docking of key components with core targets. A mouse model of NASH was established with a methionine-choline-deficient high-fat diet. A 4-week drug intervention was conducted, during which mouse weight was monitored, and the liver-to-brain ratio was measured at the end. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Sirius red staining, and oil red O staining were employed to observe the pathological changes in the liver tissue. The levels of various biomarkers, including aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), hydroxyproline(HYP), total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and glutathione(GSH), in the serum and liver tissue were determined. RT-qPCR was conducted to measure the mRNA levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β), interleukin 6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), collagen type I α1 chain(COL1A1), and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Western blotting was conducted to determine the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and potential drug targets identified through network pharmacology. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identified 581 chemical components of GTI, and 534 targets of GTI and 1 157 targets of NASH were screened out. The topological analysis of the common targets shared by GTI and NASH identified core targets such as IL-1β, IL-6, protein kinase B(AKT), TNF, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARG). GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the ameliorating effect of GTI on NASH was related to inflammatory responses and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT pathway. The staining results demonstrated that GTI ameliorated hepatocyte vacuolation, swelling, ballooning, and lipid accumulation in NASH mice. Compared with the model group, high doses of GTI reduced the AST, ALT, HYP, TC, and TG levels(P<0.01) while increasing the HDL-C, SOD, and GSH levels(P<0.01). RT-qPCR results showed that GTI down-regulated the mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COL1A1, and α-SMA(P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that GTI down-regulated the protein levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K), phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT), phosphorylated inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B alpha(p-IκBα), and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB)(P<0.01). In summary, GTI ameliorates inflammation, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress associated with NASH by regulating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals
;
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics*
;
Mice
;
Network Pharmacology
;
Male
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Liver/metabolism*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Humans
;
Mass Spectrometry
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Molecular Docking Simulation
2.Characterization of hippocampal components of Danzhi Xiaoyao Formula based on HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS and network pharmacology and assessment of its therapeutic potential for nervous system diseases.
Wen-Qing HU ; Hui-Yuan GAO ; Li YANG ; Yu-Xin WANG ; Hao-Jie CHENG ; Si-Yu YANG ; Mei-Yu ZHANG ; Jian SUN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):4053-4062
In this study, the pharmacodynamic components and potential pharmacological functions of Danzhi Xiaoyao Formula in treating nervous system diseases were investigated by hippocampal component characterization and network pharmacology. After rats were administrated with Danzhi Xiaoyao Formula by gavage, high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was employed to explore the components in the hippocampus of rats. Fifty-seven components were identified in the hippocampus of rats by comparing the extract of Danzhi Xiaoyao Formula, herbal components in the hippocampus after administration, and blank samples. KEGG and GO analyses predicted 74 core targets including GSK3B, MAPK1, AKT, IL6. These targets were involved in PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, MAPK, JAK/STAT, Wnt, and other signaling pathways. The results indicated that Danzhi Xiaoyao Formula may ameliorate other nervous system diseases enriched in DO, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and mental and emotional disorders by mediating target pathways, inhibiting inflammation, reducing neuronal damage, and alleviating hippocampal atrophy. The relevant activities exhibited by this formula in nervous system diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and diabetic neuropathy have extremely high development value and are worthy of further in-depth research. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical guidance for expanding the application of Danzhi Xiaoyao Formula in the treatment of nervous system diseases.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Animals
;
Rats
;
Hippocampus/metabolism*
;
Network Pharmacology
;
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Male
;
Nervous System Diseases/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
3.Occurrence characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) root rot and prevention and control strategies against it under new situations.
Wei-Wei GAO ; Wei-Wei ZHANG ; Xi-Mei ZHANG ; Xiao-Lin JIAO ; Xiu WANG ; Jian-He WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3561-3568
Medicinal plant underground diseases, typified by root rot, directly result in a significant reduction in both the yield and quality of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) because of its hidden occurrence and difficulty in prevention and control. Prevention and control measures depending on chemical pesticides bring potential risks to the safety of TCM and easily cause environmental pollution. The introduction of the new version of Good Agricultural Practice for Chinese Crude Drugs(GAP) and the enhancement of pesticide residue limit standards for TCM and decoction pieces in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2025 edition) have elevated the requirements for green and efficient disease prevention and control technologies of TCM. This paper provided a comprehensive overview of the advancements over the past two decades in the diversity of pathogens, characteristics and hazards associated with disease occurrence, the main prevention and control agents currently registered, and the prevention and control techniques for TCM root rot. In light of the environmental backdrop of global climate change and the increasing frequency of disastrous climates, coupled with the challenges encountered in root rot prevention and control amidst the new paradigm of large-scale and standardized cultivation of TCM, the paper proposed the key direction of basic research and the application strategy for new technologies that integrate "early prevention and control-soil health-digital monitoring", including precise pathogen identification and early disease diagnosis, exploration of host disease resistance mechanisms and disease-resistant breeding, field soil health and ecological regulation, monitoring of fungicide resistance and rational pesticide use, as well as the integration of digital technology and intelligent plant protection. The ultimate goal is to advance the application of green plant protection technology in TCM, thereby providing robust scientific and technological support to ensure the healthy and sustainable development of the TCM agriculture sector.
Plant Diseases/microbiology*
;
Plant Roots/microbiology*
;
Plants, Medicinal/growth & development*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
4.Clinical efficacy of autologous apheresis platelet-rich plasma combined with adjustable titanium plate fixation in the treatment of Rockwood type Ⅲ acromioclavicular joint dislocation.
Wei CAI ; An-Ping WU ; Hai-Tao TAN ; Gao-Bing XU ; Zhuo-Yi FU ; Yong PENG ; Di-Shi GUI ; Qiao-Mei PU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(6):587-593
OBJECTIVE:
To explore clinical efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma(PRP) in treating Rockwood type Ⅲ acromioclavicular dislocation.
METHODS:
From January 2019 to July 2021, 32 patients with Rockwood type Ⅲ acromioclavicular dislocation were treated with minimally invasive adjustable titanium plate internal fixation, and were divided into PRP group and control group according to whether PRP treatment was performed, with 16 patients in each group. In PRP group, there were 10 males and 6 females, aged from 28 to 47 years old with an average of (36.75±7.14) years old;the time from injury to surgery ranged from 1 to 31 h with an average of (26.13±3.98) h;5 patients on the left side and 11 patients on the right side;PRP was injected once during operation and the 4th and 8th weeks after operation respectively. In control group, there were 8 males and 8 females, aged from 30 to 52 years old with an average of (38.50±5.48) years old; the time from injury to surgery ranged from 1 to 29 h with an average of (25.48±3.11) h;7 patients on the left side and 9 patients on the right side; minimally invasive surgical treatment was performed. Visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate pain and Constant-Murley score for shoulder joint function was used to evaluate the recovery of shoulder joint movement function before operation and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation respectively.
RESULTS:
All patients were followed up for 12 to 28 months with an average of (18.3±5.2) months. All incisions patients healed well without adverse events such as infection. Postoperative VAS of PRP group at 1, 3, and 6 months were (5.5±1.2), (3.7±1.6), and (2.4±1.2), respectively, while were lower than those of control group (6.6±1.4), (4.9±1.1), and (3.7±1.3), respectively;and had statistical differences between two groups (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in VAS between two groups before operation and 12 months after operation (P>0.05). Postoperative Constant-Murley scores of PRP group at 1, 3, and 6 months were (64.09±11.61), (73.19±12.89), and (82.61±14.81) points, respectively, which were higher than those of control group were (52.32±17.42), (61.65±14.43), and (72.52±11.04) respectively;and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in Constant-Murley scores at 12 months after operation between two groups (P>0.05). In PRP group, there was no statistically significant difference at 6 months and 12 months after operation (P>0.05), while there were statistically significant differences at the other time points (1 month after operation compared with before operation, 3 months after operation compared with 6 months after operation, and 3 months after operation compared with 1 month after operation) (P<0.05). In control group, there was no statistically significant difference when comparing 1 month and 3 months after operation (P>0.05), while at the other time points (1 month after operation with before operation, 3 months after operation with 6 months after operation, and 6 months after operation with 12 months after operation), the differences were all statistically significant (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Adjustable titanium plate fixation combined with postoperative injection of PRP for the treatment of Rockwood type III acromioclavicular joint dislocation has effect of promoting the recovery of shoulder joint function and reducing pain.
Humans
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Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Platelet-Rich Plasma
;
Acromioclavicular Joint/surgery*
;
Bone Plates
;
Titanium
;
Joint Dislocations/therapy*
;
Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods*
5.Risk factors and development of a prediction model of enteral feeding intolerance in critically ill children.
Xia ZHOU ; Hong-Mei GAO ; Lin HUANG ; Hui-Wu HAN ; Hong-Ling HU ; You LI ; Ren-He YU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(3):321-327
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the risk factors of feeding intolerance (FI) in critically ill children receiving enteral nutrition (EN) and to construct a prediction nomogram model for FI.
METHODS:
A retrospective study was conducted to collect data from critically ill children admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, between January 2015 and October 2020. The children were randomly divided into a training set (346 cases) and a validation set (147 cases). The training set was further divided into a tolerance group (216 cases) and an intolerance group (130 cases). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to screen for risk factors for FI in critically ill children receiving EN. A nomogram was constructed using R language, which was then validated on the validation set. The model's discrimination, calibration, and clinical net benefit were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, calibration curves, and decision curves.
RESULTS:
Duration of bed rest, shock, gastrointestinal decompression, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and combined parenteral nutrition were identified as independent risk factors for FI in critically ill children receiving EN (P<0.05). Based on these factors, a nomogram prediction model for FI in critically ill children receiving EN was developed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the training set and validation set was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.906-0.963) and 0.852 (95%CI: 0.787-0.917), respectively, indicating good discrimination of the model. The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed that the model had a good fit (χ 2=12.559, P=0.128). Calibration curve and decision curve analyses suggested that the model has high predictive efficacy and clinical application value.
CONCLUSIONS
Duration of bed rest, shock, gastrointestinal decompression, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and combined parenteral nutrition are independent risk factors for FI in critically ill children receiving EN. The nomogram model developed based on these factors exhibits high predictive efficacy and clinical application value.
Humans
;
Critical Illness
;
Enteral Nutrition/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Risk Factors
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
;
Nomograms
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child
;
Logistic Models
6.Cohen syndrome in a child caused by compound heterozygous variants in VPS13B gene.
Xin MEI ; Xiao-Liang HE ; Wei-Na GAO ; Meng-Yao WANG ; Jing-Wen SHEN ; Jing WEI ; Yun XUE
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):740-745
A 7-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital with rapidly progressive vision loss. Since 1 year of age, she had exhibited developmental delay accompanied by visual impairment and neutropenia. Combined with genetic testing and molecular pathogenicity analysis, she was diagnosed with Cohen syndrome (CS) caused by compound heterozygous variants in VPS13B (c.6940+1G>T and c.2911C>T). The c.6940+1G>T variant resulted in exon 38 skipping, leading to a frameshift and premature termination. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed significantly reduced VPS13B gene expression (P<0.05). Bioinformatic analysis suggested that both variants likely produce truncated proteins. This case highlights that integrating clinical features with molecular pathogenicity assessment (DNA, RNA, and protein analysis) can improve early diagnostic accuracy for CS.
Humans
;
Female
;
Child
;
Vesicular Transport Proteins/genetics*
;
Developmental Disabilities/etiology*
;
Muscle Hypotonia/etiology*
;
Myopia/etiology*
;
Heterozygote
;
Intellectual Disability/etiology*
;
Microcephaly/etiology*
;
Obesity/genetics*
;
Growth Disorders/etiology*
;
Retinal Degeneration/genetics*
;
Psychomotor Disorders/genetics*
;
Fingers/abnormalities*
7.Cinobufacini Inhibits Survival and Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via c-Met Signaling Pathway.
Ya-Nan MA ; Xue-Mei JIANG ; Xi-Qi HU ; Ling WANG ; Jian-Jun GAO ; Hui LIU ; Fang-Hua QI ; Pei-Pei SONG ; Wei TANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(4):311-325
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the anti-tumor effects of cinobufacini (CINO) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by des-gamma-carboxy-prothrombin (DCP) and to uncover the underlying mechanisms.
METHODS:
The inhibitory effect of CINO on HCC cell proliferation was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 method, and the apoptosis rate was quantified using flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were used to investigate the differential expression of proteins associated with cell growth, apoptosis, migration, and invasion pathways after CINO treatment. The therapeutic potential of CINO for HCC was confirmed, and the possibility of combining cinobufacini with c-Met inhibitor for the treatment of primary HCC was further validated by in vivo experiments.
RESULTS:
Under the induction of DCP, CINO inhibited the activity of HCC cells, induced apoptosis, and inhibited migration and invasion. Upon the induction of DCP, CINO regulated c-Met activation and the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways. In a mouse model of HCC, CINO exhibited significant antitumor effects by inhibiting the phosphorylation of c-Met and the downstream PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways in tumor tissues.
CONCLUSIONS
CINO inhibited HCC cell growth, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed HCC cell invasion and migration by targeting c-Met and PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways under DCP induction.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism*
;
Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Animals
;
Humans
;
Cell Movement/drug effects*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Amphibian Venoms/therapeutic use*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Neoplasm Metastasis
;
Cell Survival/drug effects*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
;
Neoplasm Invasiveness
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Mice, Nude
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Bufanolides/therapeutic use*
;
Protein Precursors
;
Prothrombin
;
Biomarkers
8.Efficacy and Safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills Combined with Amlodipine in Treatment of Hypertensive Patients with Blood Deficiency and Gan-Yang Hyperactivity: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial.
Fan WANG ; Hai-Qing GAO ; Zhe LYU ; Xiao-Ming WANG ; Hui HAN ; Yong-Xia WANG ; Feng LU ; Bo DONG ; Jun PU ; Feng LIU ; Xiu-Guang ZU ; Hong-Bin LIU ; Li YANG ; Shao-Ying ZHANG ; Yong-Mei YAN ; Xiao-Li WANG ; Jin-Han CHEN ; Min LIU ; Yun-Mei YANG ; Xiao-Ying LI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):195-205
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Yangxue Qingnao Pills (YXQNP) combined with amlodipine in treating patients with grade 1 hypertension.
METHODS:
This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Adult patients with grade 1 hypertension of blood deficiency and Gan (Liver)-yang hyperactivity syndrome were randomly divided into the treatment or the control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The treatment group received YXQNP and amlodipine besylate, while the control group received YXQNP's placebo and amlodipine besylate. The treatment duration lasted for 180 days. Outcomes assessed included changes in blood pressure, Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome scores, symptoms and target organ functions before and after treatment in both groups. Additionally, adverse events, such as nausea, vomiting, rash, itching, and diarrhea, were recorded in both groups.
RESULTS:
A total of 662 subjects were enrolled, of whom 608 (91.8%) completed the trial (306 in the treatment and 302 in the control groups). After 180 days of treatment, the standard deviations and coefficients of variation of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were lower in the treatment group compared with the control group. The improvement rates of dizziness, headache, insomnia, and waist soreness were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 30 days of treatment, the overall therapeutic effects on CM clinical syndromes were significantly increased in the treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After 180 days of treatment, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, ankle brachial index and albumin-to-creatinine ratio were improved in both groups, with no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). No serious treatment-related adverse events occurred during the study period.
CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy of YXQNP with amlodipine significantly improved symptoms such as dizziness and headache, reduced blood pressure variability, and showed a trend toward lowering urinary microalbumin in hypertensive patients. These findings suggest that this regimen has good clinical efficacy and safety. (Registration No. ChiCTR1900022470).
Humans
;
Amlodipine/adverse effects*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Hypertension/complications*
;
Middle Aged
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Drug Therapy, Combination
;
Adult
;
Blood Pressure/drug effects*
;
Double-Blind Method
;
Aged
;
Antihypertensive Agents/adverse effects*
10.Expert consensus on prognostic evaluation of cochlear implantation in hereditary hearing loss.
Xinyu SHI ; Xianbao CAO ; Renjie CHAI ; Suijun CHEN ; Juan FENG ; Ningyu FENG ; Xia GAO ; Lulu GUO ; Yuhe LIU ; Ling LU ; Lingyun MEI ; Xiaoyun QIAN ; Dongdong REN ; Haibo SHI ; Duoduo TAO ; Qin WANG ; Zhaoyan WANG ; Shuo WANG ; Wei WANG ; Ming XIA ; Hao XIONG ; Baicheng XU ; Kai XU ; Lei XU ; Hua YANG ; Jun YANG ; Pingli YANG ; Wei YUAN ; Dingjun ZHA ; Chunming ZHANG ; Hongzheng ZHANG ; Juan ZHANG ; Tianhong ZHANG ; Wenqi ZUO ; Wenyan LI ; Yongyi YUAN ; Jie ZHANG ; Yu ZHAO ; Fang ZHENG ; Yu SUN
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(9):798-808
Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation(CI) serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system(Favorable, Marginal, Poor). The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss(such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1) and syndromic hereditary hearing loss(such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome), which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans
;
Cochlear Implantation
;
Prognosis
;
Hearing Loss/surgery*
;
Consensus
;
Connexin 26
;
Mutation
;
Sulfate Transporters
;
Connexins/genetics*

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