1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevents and Treats Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Regulating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway: A Review
Siqing WU ; Jun WANG ; Mingsan MIAO ; Jinxin MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):286-295
Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), a common cerebrovascular disease damage, has garnered increasing attention in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Restoration of blood flow and reperfusion to ischemic brain tissue is the key to treatment, while this process often triggers a variety of complex pathophysiological responses, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, angiogenic abnormalities, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. These responses not only impede the recovery of neurological functions but also may lead to damage or even death of nerve cells, seriously affecting the neurological function and quality of survival of patients. As an important transcription factor, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has the pharmacological effect of alleviating CIRI by regulating antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation, mitochondrial function, angiogenesis, and blood-brain barrier pathways. This reveals the potential mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in intervening in CIRI and shows the potential of Nrf2 as a new pathway for dealing with ischemia stroke. This paper comprehensively analyzes the effects and mechanisms of active components and compound prescription of TCM in treating CIRI by modulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, while pointing out the shortcomings of available studies and proposing a multidimensional exploration. This review aims to provide patients with more comprehensive, safe, and effective therapeutic regimens and improve the quality of survival and prognosis of patients. In addition, in-depth research on TCM should be promoted to reveal the potential mechanism for treating CIRI, providing new ideas and directions for the development of novel therapeutic drugs and methods.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevents and Treats Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Regulating Nrf2 Signaling Pathway: A Review
Siqing WU ; Jun WANG ; Mingsan MIAO ; Jinxin MIAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):286-295
Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), a common cerebrovascular disease damage, has garnered increasing attention in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Restoration of blood flow and reperfusion to ischemic brain tissue is the key to treatment, while this process often triggers a variety of complex pathophysiological responses, such as oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, angiogenic abnormalities, and disruption of the blood-brain barrier. These responses not only impede the recovery of neurological functions but also may lead to damage or even death of nerve cells, seriously affecting the neurological function and quality of survival of patients. As an important transcription factor, nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has the pharmacological effect of alleviating CIRI by regulating antioxidant, anti-apoptosis, anti-inflammation, mitochondrial function, angiogenesis, and blood-brain barrier pathways. This reveals the potential mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in intervening in CIRI and shows the potential of Nrf2 as a new pathway for dealing with ischemia stroke. This paper comprehensively analyzes the effects and mechanisms of active components and compound prescription of TCM in treating CIRI by modulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway, while pointing out the shortcomings of available studies and proposing a multidimensional exploration. This review aims to provide patients with more comprehensive, safe, and effective therapeutic regimens and improve the quality of survival and prognosis of patients. In addition, in-depth research on TCM should be promoted to reveal the potential mechanism for treating CIRI, providing new ideas and directions for the development of novel therapeutic drugs and methods.
3.Study on surface microcirculation sensitization of acupuncture points related to cold coagulation and stasis syndrome in primary dysmenorrhea
Xuxin LI ; Xuesong WANG ; Miao LIN ; Mingjian ZHANG ; Yuanbo GAO ; Xifen ZHANG ; Hao CHEN ; Haiping LI ; Xiaojun ZHENG ; Xisheng FAN ; Jun LIU ; Juncha ZHANG ; Yanfen SHE
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):253-269
Objective:
To assess the dynamic changes of microcirculation at acupoints in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold congelation and blood stasis syndrome using laser speckle blood flow imaging.
Methods:
Patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold coagulation and blood stasis syndrome (primary dysmenorrhea group, n=53) and healthy female college students(control group, n=57) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from October 2020 to July 2022 were enrolled at Hebei University of Chinese Medicine. On the premenstrual and first day of menstruation, a laser speckle blood flow imaging system was used to measure the microcirculation blood flow perfusion on the surface of acupoints related to the conception, thoroughfare, and governor vessels, and stomach, spleen, and bladder meridians in the abdomen and lumbosacral regions. The dynamic changes in microcirculation were calculated based on the difference in average blood flow perfusion at each acupoint before and after menstruation. Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of dynamic changes in microcirculation on the surface of each acupoint. The microcirculation sensitization rate of acupoints was calculated.
Results:
Compared with the control group, the dynamic changes in microcirculation at the following acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group were increased (P<0.05): conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]); left thoroughfare vessel (left Huangshu[KI16], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], left Qixue[KI13], left Dahe[KI12], left Henggu[KI11]); left stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], left Wailing[ST26], left Qichong[ST30]); left spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14]); right thoroughfare vessel (right Huangshu[KI16], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Siman[KI14], right Qixue[KI13], right Dahe[KI12], right Henggu[KI11]); right stomach meridian (right Wailing[ST26], right Daju[ST27], right Shuidao[ST28], right Guilai[ST29], right Qichong[ST30]); and right spleen meridian (right Fujie[SP14]). The area under the ROC curve of conception vessel (Yinjiao[CV7], Qihai[CV6], Shimen[CV5], Guanyuan[CV4]), thoroughfare vessel (right Siman[KI14], left Huangshu[KI16], right Qixue[KI13], right Zhongzhu[KI15], right Dahe[KI12], left Zhongzhu[KI15], left Siman[KI14], right Huangshu[KI16], left Qixue[KI13], right Henggu[KI11], left Henggu[KI11], left Dahe[KI12]); stomach meridian (left Tianshu[ST25], right Guilai[ST29], left Wailing[ST26], right Shuidao[ST28], right Daju[ST27], right Wailing[ST26], right Qichong[ST30], left Qichong[ST30]), and spleen meridian (left Daheng[SP15], left Fujie[SP14], right Fujie[SP14]) was 0.610-0.682 (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the sensitization rate of some acupoints in the primary dysmenorrhea group increased (P<0.05).
Conclusion
With the onset of menstruation, the blood flow perfusion of some acupoints in the abdomen (thoroughfare, and conception vessels, and stomach and spleen meridians) of patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome increased, and the status of acupoints changed from a resting state to an active state. These acupoints are sensitive in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome and have a certain diagnostic efficacy, providing a basis for further analyzing the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion to treat primary dysmenorrhea with cold blood coagulation and blood stasis syndrome.
4.Clinical efficacy of camrelizumab combined with apatinib versus camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy regimens as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer
Ran JU ; Qi MIAO ; Jun YANG ; Yonggui WANG ; Xiangning DONG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2307-2311
OBJECTIVE To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of camrelizumab combined with apatinib versus camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. METHODS A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 99 patients with advanced gastric cancer admitted to the Chuzhou First People’s Hospital from March 2022 to December 2024. Patients were randomly assigned using a random number table: 48 received camrelizumab plus chemotherapy (control group), and 51 received camrelizumab plus apatinib (observation group). Clinical efficacy, serum tumor marker[carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)724,CA199,CA242]levels, immune function indicators(CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+) levels before and after treatment, and adverse drug reaction (ADR) during treatment were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS A total of 2 patients in the observation group and 3 in the control group were lost to follow-up. The disease control rate and objective response rate in the observation group were 95.92% and 85.71%, respectively, both significantly higher than 80.00% and 55.56% in the control group (P<0.05). The median progression-free survival was 9.61 months in the observation group, significantly longer than 6.72 months in the control group (P=0.011). Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in the levels of serum tumor markers and immune function indicators between the 2 groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the levels of CEA, CA724, CA199 and CA242 in 2 groups were significantly lower than before treatment, while the levels of CD3⁺, CD4⁺ and CD4 ⁺/CD8 ⁺ were significantly higher than before treatment, with greater improvements in the observation group (all P<0.05). The overall incidences of ADR and severe ADR showed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Camrelizumab combined with apatinib as first-line therapy for advanced gastric cancer may offer advantages over camrelizumab plus chemotherapy in terms of clinical efficacy and immune function improvement of patients, with an acceptable safety profile.
5.Exploring mechanism of action of Xihuang pills against hyperplasia of mammary glands based on quantitative proteomics
Rui TAO ; Jing-Rui WANG ; Jun-Liang WANG ; Xue-Li MA ; Juan-Xia SUN ; Guang-Miao GAO ; Qi-Rui FAN ; Tao HAN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(9):1641-1648
Aim To clarify the differential proteins of mammary tissues in Xihuang pills(XHP)against hy-perplasia of mammary glands(HMG)based on quanti-tative proteomics technology and validate them,and to explore the mechanism of action.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group and XHP group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,estrogen and progesterone were injec-ted intramuscularly to establish a rat model of mamma-ry hyperplasia for 30 d.After XHP was administered for 14 d,the rats in each group were observed to have morphological changes in the apparent morphology of the mammary tissues,and pathological changes in the mammary tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining(HE),and the differentially expressed pro-teins(DEPs)in the groups were screened by quantita-tive proteomics technology and subjected to bioinforma-tics analysis,and Western blot to verify the key DEPs.Results Compared with the model group,the appar-ent pathological morphology of the XHP group was sig-nificantly improved,the diameter of the nipple height of the rats was significantly reduced(P<0.01),and the degree of histopathology was significantly allevia-ted.Quantitative proteomics identified 4,299 DEPs in mammary tissue,and bioinformatics analysis of 14 DEPs with consistent changes between the XHP group and the blank group relative to the model group re-vealed that they were related to the regulation of mus-cular systemic processes,regulation of muscle contrac-tion,DNA replication,and pre-initiation of DNA repli-cation.Western blot results showed that,compared with the model group,rat mammary tissue of the XHP group showed significantly lower levels of ACLY and ALDOC protein expression levels were significantly re-duced and BIN1 protein expression levels were signifi-cantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusions XHP may exert its anti-mammary hyperplasia effect through the regulation of BIN1,ACLY and ALDOC protein lev-els,the regulation of DNA replication,the regulation of pre-initiation of DNA replication and muscular sys-temic processes,and the regulation of muscle contrac-tion.
6.Mechanism of lncRNA HAGLR promoting ovarian cancer cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Jun LI ; Xiao-Li WANG ; Yan YU ; Qiao-Miao ZHOU
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(6):491-496
Objective To investigate the effect of long noncoding RNA Homeobox D gene cluster antisense growth-associated long noncoding RNA(lncRNA HAGLR)on ovarian cancer cell growth and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)by regulating nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome.Methods The normal ovarian cell IOSE-80(IOSE-80 group)and the ovarian cancer cell A2780(A2780 group)were cultured.Then A2780 cells were randomly divided into the lncRNA HAGLR silencing group(siHAGLR group),silencing negative control group(siNC group),and siHAGLR combined with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 treatment group(siHAGLR+MCC950 group).The expression of lncRNA HAGLR was detected by qRT-PCR.The expressions of NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins NLRP3,caspase-1,ASC and EMT-related proteins Vimentin,Snail1,α-SMA,Twist1 were detected by Western blot.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation activity of A2780 cells;Transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion ability of A2780 cells.Cell clone formation assay was used to detect the growth ability of A2780 cells.TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis of A2780 cells.Results Compared with the IOSE-80 group,the expressions of lncRNA HAGLR,Vimentin,Snail1,α-SMA,Twist1 in the A2780 group were all up-regulated(P<0.05),while the expressions of NLRP3,caspase-1,and ASC were all down-regulated(P<0.05).Compared with the siNC group,the expressions of lncRNA HAGLR,Vimentin,Snail1,α-SMA,Twist1 in the siHAGLR group were all down-regulated(P<0.05),while the expressions of NLRP3,caspase-1,and ASC were all up-regulated(P<0.05),the cell proliferation rate,number of cell clones,migration and invasion were significantly reduced(P<0.05),while the cell apoptosis number was increased(P<0.05).Compared with the siHAGLR group,there was no significant change in the expression of lncRNA HAGLR in the siHAGLR+MCC950 group(P>0.05),while the expressions of Vimentin,Snail1,α-SMA,Twist1 were all up-regulated(P<0.05),while the expressions of NLRP3,caspase-1,and ASC were all down-regulated(P<0.05),the the cell proliferation rate,number of cell clones,migration and invasion were all significantly increased(P<0.05),while the cell apoptosis number was decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion lncRNA HAGLR promotes the growth and EMT of ovarian cancer cells by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome.
7.Relationship between bone cement leakage after balloon kyphoplasty and balloon expansion pressure in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture
Jun CHEN ; Yi-Ming MIAO ; Xiao-Wei JIANG ; Wei LU ; Qiang WANG
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(7):587-591
Objective To analyze the relationship between bone cement leakage after balloon kyphoplasty(BKP)and balloon expansion pressure(BEP)in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture(OVCF).Methods The clinical data of 116 elderly patients with OVCF who received BKP in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent X-ray examination and CT enhanced scan before surgery and 72 hours after surgery to evaluate the efficacy and the occurrence of bone cement leakage.According to whether the bone cement leaked or not,he patients were divided into the bone cement leakage group and the non-bone cement leakage group.The pain was assessed by visual analogue scale(VAS)score,and the disturbance of daily living was assessed by Barthel index score.The area under the curve(AUC)and optimal cut-off value of BEP and bone cement volume to predict bone cement leakage were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The risk factors of bone cement leakage was analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results There were 82 cases of mono-segment operation,27 cases of double-segment operation,and 7 cases of three-segment operation,involving 157 vertebrae.The anterior vertebral height and posterior vertebral height,the local kyphosis Cobb angle at the sagittal plane,and thoracolumbar kyphosis angle after surgery were significantly corrected,and the VAS score and Barthel index score were better than those before surgery(P<0.05).The bone cement leakage after surgery occurred in 24 patients,including 1 case with pulmonary cement embolism.The intraoperative BEP and volume of bone cement in the bone cement leakage group were significantly higher than those in the non-bone cement leakage group(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis showed that both the intraoperative BEP(AUC=0.756)and bone cement volume(AUC=0.661)could predict cement leakage,with the optimal cut-off value of 135 psi and 6.08 mL,respectively.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that BEP≥135 psi was a risk factor for bone cement leakage(OR=1.038,95%CI:1.018 to 1.058,P<0.001).Conclusion BKP is a safe and effective treatment for OVCF in elderly patients,higher BEP is a risk factor for cement leakage,and patients with BEP≥135 psi are at higher risk of bone cement leakage.
8.Clinical and genetic analysis of patients of PCDH19 gene related epilepsy
Jun ZHANG ; Zhigang YANG ; Miao LIU ; Ying WANG ; Yuan WANG ; Guohong CHEN ; Yanli MA ; Wenqian ZHANG ; Wenjing BI ; Jie DENG ; Fang WANG
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(10):1120-1126
Objective:To investigate the clinical and gene variant characteristics of PCDH19 gene related epilepsy, and improve the ability of clinicians in early disease identification. Methods:The clinical data of 3 PCDH19 gene related epilepsy patients admitted to Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from October 2018 to August 2023 diagnosed by gene detection were reviewed and analyzed. Results:All the patients are female, and the onset age of seizure ranged in their infancy. Seizures in clusters and fever sensitivity were observed in all patients, and were very hard to control by single-drug treatment. Proband 1 was seizure-free after 2 kinds of anti-epileptic drug treatment, but with mild degree of intellectual disability. Proband 2 had refractory epilepsy with severe degree of intellectual disability. Proband 3 was seizure-free after 2 kinds of anti-epileptic drug treatment and without intellectual disability. In the first family, the proband carried heterozygous c.369C>G variant in the PCDH19 gene which was identified as de novo after parental validation. In the second family, the proband carried c.1652T>A variant inherited from her mother. In the third family, the proband carried c.278G>A variant inherited from her father. The 3 mutations had not been reported in the Human Gene Mutation Database. Conclusions:PCDH19 gene related epilepsy is one special kind of X-linked inherited epilepsy syndrome characterized by seizures in clusters and sensitivity to fever. And gene detection can help with early diagnosis and make rational clinical strategies in time. The variants c.369C>G, c.1652T>A and c.278G>A have enriched the gene variant spectrum of PCDH19.
9.Altered brain dynamic functional network connectivity in Parkinson's disease patients with postural instability/gait difficulty
Zihan LI ; Xinxin MIAO ; Shaoyun GE ; Jun LIU ; Yongfeng JIA ; Jianwei WANG ; Kezhong ZHANG ; Min WANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(4):348-356
Objective:To investigate the alterations in brain dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) and their significance in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD).Methods:Ninety PD patients admitted to Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May 2016 to August 2019 were recruited, and 54 healthy controls matched with gender and age were chosen; their clinical data and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected. PD patients were divided into PD with PIGD (PD-PIGD) group ( n=49) and PD without PIGD (PD-non-PIGD) group ( n=41) according to Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores. Independent component analysis (ICA), sliding window method and k-means clustering were used to analyze the dFNC and compare among groups. Correlations of dFNC alterations with clinical scales were verified by partial correlation analysis. Results:Four repeated recurring functional connectivity states were identified, and PD-PIGD patients had high frequency in state 3 (44%) and state 2 (23%) of the low dFNC. In terms of dFNC time attributes, PD-PIGD patients had longer mean dwell time in state 3 than PD-non-PIGD patients and had lower number of transitions in state 3 than PD-non-PIGD patients and healthy controls, with significant differences ( P<0.05); PD-PIGD patients had significantly higher fractional windows and statistically longer mean dwell time in state 2 than healthy controls ( P<0.05). In terms of dFNC strengths, compared with healthy controls, PD-PIGD patients showed significantly decreased functional connectivity within default mode network (DMN, between medial superior frontal gyrus and precuneus) and auditory network (AN, between superior temporal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus), but significantly increased functional connectivity between sensorimotor network (SMN, supplementary motor area) and DMN (precuneus) in state 2 ( P<0.05, false discovery rate [FDR]-corrected). Partial correlation analysis indicated positive correlation between mean dwell time in state 3 and PIGD scores in PD-PIGD patients ( r=0.450, P=0.039). Conclusion:PD-PIGD patients exhibit specific dFNC, mainly characterized by low connectivity of the brain functional network and prolonged dwell time; local functional network domains often separate between DMN, AN and SMN networks and within the networks.
10.Relationship between macular microcirculation,cytokines and anti-VEGF efficacy in DME patients
Yu JIN ; Miao LIU ; Fangxiu YUAN ; Ling WANG ; Qiongjuan ZENG ; Yuzhen ZHU ; Jiaojiao TU ; Jun WANG
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(31):18-22
Objective To investigate the changes of macular microcirculation and aqueous humor cytokine expression in patients with diabetic macular edema(DME)after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)treatment,and analyze the relationship with efficacy.Methods A total of 62 patients(91 eyes)with DME who were treated in the First Hospital of Nanchang from October 2021 to August 2023 were selected and treated with intravitreal injection of conbercept.According to the reduction of central macular thickness(CMT),they were divided into efficacy significant group(CMT reduction≥100μm,59 eyes)and non-efficacy significant group(CMT reduction<100μm or increase,32 eyes).The changes of CMT,vessel density(VD)of superficial capillary plexus(SCP),fovea avascular area(FAZ),VEGF,interleuki(IL)-6,IL-8,and IL-10 after anti-VEGF treatment were analyzed.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of each index.Results Before treatment,the levels of VEGF and IL-10 in aqueous humor in efficacy significant group were significantly higher than those in non-efficacy significant group,and the level of IL-8 was significantly lower than that in non-efficacy significant group(P<0.05).After treatment,levels of VEGF,IL-6,IL-8 and IL-10 in aqueous humor in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment(P<0.05).The levels of VEGF,IL-6 and IL-8 in aqueous humor in efficacy significant group were significantly lower than those in non-efficacy significant group,and the level of IL-10 was significantly higher than that in non-efficacy significant group(P<0.05).Before and after anti-VEGF treatment,there were no significant changes in FAZ area and SCP-VD in both groups(P>0.05).Correlation analysis showed that VEGF(r=0.571,P<0.001)and IL-10(r=0.382,P=0.008)in aqueous humor at baseline were positively correlated with CMT reduction,IL-8 was negatively correlated with CMT reduction(r=-0.689,P<0.001).IL-6,FAZ area and SCP-VD were not correlated with CMT reduction(P>0.05).Cytokine levels were not correlated with FAZ area and SCP-VD(P>0.05).ROC curve results showed that area under the curve of IL-8,VEGF and IL-10 at baseline predicting anti-VEGF efficacy were 0.825,0.813 and 0.676,respectively.Conclusion The levels of VEGF,IL-8,and IL-10 in aqueous humor at baseline in DME patients were correlated with anti-VEGF efficacy and could predict the efficacy of anti-VEGF.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail