1.Effect of Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription on macrophage efferocytosis mediated by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 in rats with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis
Lihui ZHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Qing ZHAO ; Shanzheng LI ; Minghao LIU ; Wenxia ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):345-355
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription on rats with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). MethodsA total of 60 specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model A group, model B group, Western medicine group (polyene phosphatidylcholine, 143.64 mg/kg), high-dose Chinese medicine group (Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription, 20.16 g/kg), and middle-dose Chinese medicine group (Huatan Qushi Huoxue prescription, 10.08 g/kg). All rats except those in the blank control group were given high-fat diet. Samples were collected from the model A group at week 8, and since week 12, the other groups were given the corresponding drug once a day for 8 consecutive weeks, with samples collected at week 20. Body weight, liver wet weight, and liver index were measured for all rats; the microplate method was used to measure the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and free fatty acids (FFA); ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (sTREM2); HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to observe liver histopathological changes; immunofluorescence assay was used to measure CD68+TREM2+ cells in liver tissue and calculate the phagocytosis rate of macrophages; quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17), and triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) in liver tissue, and immunohistochemistry was used to measure the protein expression levels of S1P, S1PR1, ADAM17, and TREM2 in liver tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data with homogeneity of variance between groups, and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups; the Welch’s test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data with heterogeneity of variance between groups, and the Tamhane’s test was used for further comparison between two groups. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Dunn’s test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the blank control group, the model A group and the model B group had significant increases in body weight and liver wet weight, and the model B group had a significant increase in liver index (all P<0.05). HE staining showed diffuse macrovesicular steatosis of liver tissue in the model A group and a large number of hepatocytes with ballooning degeneration in liver tissue in the model group B, with the presence of mixed inflammatory cell infiltration and mild perisinusoidal fibrosis in the lobules and the portal area. Compared with the blank control group, the model A group and the model B group had significant increases in NAS score and oil red O-positive area (all P<0.05), and the model B group had significant increases in these two indicators than the model A group (both P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the model A group and the model B group had significant increases in the serum levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, FFA, IL-1β, IL-6, and sTREM2 and a significant reduction in the serum level of HDL-C, and the model B group had significant increases in the serum levels of ALT, AST, and TNF-α (all P<0.05); compared with the model A group, the model B group had significant increases in the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, FFA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and sTREM2 and a significant reduction in the serum level of HDL-C (all P<0.05). Immunofluorescence assay showed that compared with the blank control group, the model A group had a significant increase in the phagocytosis rate of macrophages (P<0.05), while the model B group had a significantly lower phagocytosis rate of macrophages than the model A group (P<0.05). Quantitative real-time PCR showed that compared with the blank control group, the model A group and the model B group had a significant increase in the mRNA expression level of TREM2, and the model B group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of S1P and S1PR1 (both P<0.05); moreover, compared with the model A group, the model B group had significant increases in the mRNA expression levels of S1PR1 and TREM2 (both P<0.05). Immunohistochemistry showed that compared with the blank control group, the model A group and the model B group had significant increases in the protein expression levels of S1P, S1PR1, and ADAM17, and the model A group had a significant increase in the protein expression level of TREM2 (all P<0.05); compared with the model A group, the model B group had significant increases in the protein expression levels of S1P, S1PR1, and ADAM17 and a significant reduction in the protein expression level of TREM2 (all P<0.05). Compared with the model B group, each medication group had significant reductions in body weight, liver wet weight, and liver index (all P<0.05); each medication group had significant improvements in hepatic steatosis and inflammatory damage, with significant reductions in NAS score and oil red O-positive area (all P<0.05); each medication group had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, FFA, IL-1β, and IL-6 (all P<0.05) and a significant increase in the serum level of HDL-C (P<0.05), and the high-dose Chinese medicine group had a significant reduction in the serum level of TNF-α (P<0.05); each medication group had a significant increase in the phagocytosis rate of macrophages (all P<0.05); the high- and middle-dose Chinese medicine groups had a significant reduction in the protein expression level of ADAM17, and the high-dose Chinese medicine group had a significant increase in the protein expression level of TREM2 (all P<0.05). ConclusionHuatan Qushi Huoxue prescription improves lipid metabolism and inflammation in the liver of MASH rats by regulating hepatic macrophage phagocytosis.
2.Study on the mechanism of Huatan qushi huoxue formula in improving metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis by inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis
Yajie GUAN ; Qizhen ZHANG ; Junjiao XU ; Yijia SONG ; Dongfang SHANG ; Wenxia ZHAO ; Minghao LIU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(7):864-869
OBJECTIVE To focus on the classic NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)/Caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD) pyroptosis pathway and explore the mechanism by which Huatan qushi huoxue formula (HQHF) inhibits macrophage pyroptosis to ameliorate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). METHODS RAW264.7 cells were divided into 5 groups: Control group (10% blank serum), Model group [10% blank serum+5 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS)], HQHF-L group (2.5% drug-containing serum+7.5% blank serum+5 μg/mL LPS), HQHF-M group (5% drug-containing serum+5% blank serum+5 μg/mL LPS), and HQHF-H group (10% drug-containing serum+5 μg/mL LPS). After 24 h of routine culture post-administration, cells and supernatants were collected for assays. Cell morphology was observed via scanning electron microscopy and phase-contrast microscopy; localization and expression of gasdermin D-N (GSDMD-N) were observed by immunofluorescence. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 contents in supernatants were detected by ELISA; mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD were measured using real-time PCR and Western blot. RESULTS Compared with the Control group, the Model group showed typical pyroptotic morphology (cell membrane bulging and pore formation), increased aggregation and fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-N on the cell membrane ( P <0.05), significantly increased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatants ( P <0.05), and significantly up-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in cells ( P <0.05). Compared with the Model group, the HQHF-L, HQHF-M and HQHF-H groups showed improved pyroptotic morphology, reduced membrane localization and significantly weakened fluorescence intensity of GSDMD-N ( P <0.05), significantly decreased the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell supernatants ( P <0.05), and significantly down-regulated mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in cells ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS HQHF inhibits LPS-induced macrophage pyroptosis, and its mechanism of improving MASH may be associated with the suppression of the activation of the classical NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.
3.Mechanism of Qingre antai decoction in improving pregnancy outcomes of threatened abortion rats with blood heat syndrome based on JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT dual signaling pathways
Liya MA ; Yanduo SHEN ; Jiale ZHANG ; Liujun WU ; Bingheng XIE ; Xingfei WU ; Chen LIU ; Minghao ZHANG ; Xuelin ZHANG ; Dawei ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1127-1133
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism by which Qingre antai decoction improves pregnancy outcomes of threatened abortion rats with blood heat syndrome. METHODS The pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, dydrogesterone group (0.002 g/kg), and Qingre antai decoction group (44.1 g/kg), with 13 rats in each group. Except for normal group, other groups were given warming-yang Chinese medicine and corresponding drugs intragastrically, once a day, for 12 consecutive days. On the 13th day of pregnancy, a single intragastric administration of mifepristone (5 mg/kg) was performed to establish a model of threatened abortion with blood heat syndrome. On the 14th day of pregnancy, the abortion rate and uterine coefficient were calculated; the pathological morphology of pregnant uterine was observed; the serum levels of 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid hormone (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), as well as the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nitric oxide (NO) in the pregnant uterus were all determined; the expressions of mRNA and protein related to Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathways were detected. RESULTS Compared with normal group, the model group exhibited endometrial tissue damage, a reduced number of decidual cells, and a significant presence of blood stasis within the uterus; abortion rate, the serum levels of T3, T4 and TSH, the mRNA expressions of JAK2, STAT3 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) as well as protein expressions of p-JAK2, p-STAT3 and SOCS3 in the pregnant uterus were increased significantly ( P <0.05); uterine coefficient, the levels of VEGF and NO in pregnant uterus, mRNA expressions of VEGFR2, PI3K, AKT and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS), protein expressions of VEGFR2, PI3K and eNOS as well as phosphorylation level of AKT in the pregnant uterus were significantly reduced ( P <0.05). Compared with model group, the endometrial tissue damage and congestion in the Qingre antai decoction group were significantly improved, and the levels of the aforementioned quantitative indicators were significantly reversed ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS Qingre antai decoction can improve the pregnancy outcomes in rats with threatened abortion of blood heat syndrome, the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway and activating PI3K/AKT pathway.
4.Comparison of clinical efficacy of different doses of rituximab combined with tacrolimus in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy
Ruihua SHANG ; Qian LI ; Minghao GUO ; Xiangdong LIU ; Shu-long WANG ; Huilin XING ; Jin LI
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(17):2740-2747
Objective To investigate the effect of two treatment regimens combining Tacrolimus(TAC)with different Rituximab(RTX)dosages,and to provide clinical reference for treatment strategies.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with idiopathic membranous nephropathy(IMN)and treated with RTX combined with TAC regimen(RTX+TAC group and low-dose RTX+TAC group)in The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University.Propensity score matching(PSM)was performed at a 1:1 ratio,and a total of 60 patients were enrolled,with 30 in each group.In low-dose RTX(375 mg/m2 at the first and fifteenth day respectively)+TAC group,if circulating B cells(CD19?)exceeded 5 cells/μL after 3 months,a 200 mg RTX infusion was administered.In RTX(1g at the first and fifteenth day respectively)+TAC group,if complete remission(CR)was not achieved by 6 months,an additional 1000 mg RTX infusion was administered.The incidence of CR,partial remission,and adverse events were followed up for 12 months after medication in both groups.Results(1)Both groups showed significant reductions in 24-hour proteinuria,with the RTX+TAC group demonstrating a notably higher decrease compared to the low-dose RTX+TAC group.Statistical differences were observed between the two groups at the 1st and 3rd months of treatment(P<0.05).Albumin levels gradually increased,and there were differ-ences between the two groups at both the 1st and 3rd months(P<0.05).The anti-phospholipase A2 antibody levels decreased significantly after one month of treatment[3.45(1.90,22.10)vs.3.28(8.30,23.08)RU/mL],P>0.05.At 3 months of treatment,the overall clinical remission rate was 63.3%for the RTX+TAC group compared to 36.7%for the low-dose RTX+TAC group(P<0.05).At 12 months,the RTX+TAC group achieved an overall remission rate of 86.7%,while the low-dose RTX+TAC group reached 83.3%,showing no statistical significance(P>0.05).After one month of treatment,the RTX+TAC group achieved a complete serological immunological remission rate of 33.3%,significantly higher than the 3.3%in the low-dose RTX+TAC group(P<0.05).(2)The cumulative remission rate of the RTX+TAC group was higher than that of the low-dose RTX+TAC group during the first 6 months of follow-up.The remission rate in the low-dose RTX+TAC group increased significantly after 6 months.Log-rank test showed no statistical difference between the survival curves of the two groups(P=0.37).(3)Based on a multifactorial COX regression analysis of factors related to remission in patients with IMN,for every unit increase in serum immunological remission time,the risk of patients achieving remission decreased by 13.5%(HR=0.87,P=0.016).The risk of remission for patients with high titers of anti-PLA2R antibodies decreased by 60.2%(HR=0.39,P=0.018).Conclusions Different RTX dosages yielded comparable overall clinical remission rates without significantly increasing adverse events.RTX+TAC regimen achieves higher early CR rate.Serological remission time and high titer anti-PLA2R antibodies are associated with clinical outcomes.
5.Intervention Effect and Mechanism of Danggui Shaoyao Power in Rats of Spontaneous Abortion Based on Protenomics
Liya MA ; Bin LIU ; Shen GUO ; Zhaoxuan ZU ; Jingwen DU ; Jiahao GAO ; Xin ZHANG ; Tong ZHANG ; Aoyu QI ; Yu TANG ; Minghao ZHANG ; Dawei ZHANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):268-280
Objective To investigate the intervention effects and mechanism of Danggui Shaoyao power on spontaneous abortion rats.Methods A total of 60 first-day pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,dydrogesterone group and Danggui Shaoyao power low,middle,and high dose groups,with 10 rats in each group.The low,middle,and high dose groups were given Danggui Shaoyao power 5.175 g·kg-1,10.35 g·kg-1,20.7 g·kg-1,respectively,from 1 to 12 days of gestation,and the dydrogesterone group was given dydrogesterone tablet solution 2 mg·kg-1 once a day.On the 13th day of gestation,rats model of spontaneous abortion was established by intragastric administration of 5 mg·kg-1 of mifepristone tablet solution except for the normal group.Serum levels of GnRH,FSH,LH,E2 were measured,and abortion rates and uterine coefficients were calculated.The pathological changes of pregnant uterus were observed by haematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.The differential proteins in rats pregnant uterus were detected by Label-Free shotgun proteomic technique,and the PPI,Gene Ontology(GO),and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways analysis of the differential proteins were analyzed.Immunohistochemistry was used to verify the expression levels of differential proteins.Results Compared with normal group,the serum levels of GnRH,FSH,LH,E2 and uterine coefficients were decreased,and the abortion rates were increased in model group(P<0.05).There were abortion lesions of spontaneous abortion in model group.Compared with model group,the serum levels of GnRH,FSH,LH,E2 and uterine coefficients were increased(P<0.05),and the abortion rates were decreased(P<0.05)in dydrogesterone group and Danggui Shaoyao power low,middle,and high dose groups.Proteomic results showed that a total of 550 proteins were quantified in this study.PPI analysis showed that a total of 159 proteins interacted with other proteins as hubs;the results of GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the intervention effect of Danggui Shaoyao power on spontaneous abortion is related to the focal adhesion pathway,and involved upregulation of Akt2,Col6a1,Col6a2 and downregulation of Pten.Immunohistochemistry results showed that compared with normal group,the expression level of Akt2,Col6a1 and Col6a2 were decreased(P<0.05),and the expression level of Pten was increased(P<0.05)in model group.Compared with model group,the expression level of Akt2,Col6a1 and Col6a2 were increased(P<0.05),and the expression level of Pten was decreased(P<0.05)in dydrogesterone group and Danggui Shaoyao power low,middle,and high dose groups.Conclusions Danggui Shaoyao power has the intervention effect on spontaneous abortion,and its mechanism may be related to by demoting the protein expressions of Pten,and promoting the protein expressions of Akt2,Col6a1 and Col6a2.
6.Effect of Siwu Decoction in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases and its mechanism
Yajie GUAN ; Lihui ZHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Qizhen ZHANG ; Wenxia ZHAO ; Minghao LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(7):1450-1455
Siwu Decoction is a classic formula for tonifying the blood and activating blood circulation and is characterized by its ability to tonify the blood without leaving stasis and promote blood circulation without harming the vital energy of the body.It is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of various conditions related to blood deficiency and poor blood circulation,such as anemia,menstrual disorders,and dysmenorrhea.The liver is responsible for governing the free flow of Qi and storing blood,and abnormalities in liver function are associated with various acute and chronic liver injuries.Siwu Decoction can restore liver homeostasis by tonifying the blood,activating blood circulation,nourishing the blood,and soothing the liver.Based on its unique prescription formulation and multiple pharmacological mechanisms,Siwu Decoction has become an important prescription for enhancing liver microcirculation,facilitating hepatocyte repair and regeneration,and alleviating liver injury.This article reviews the effect and mechanism of Siwu Decoction in the prevention and treatment of various liver injuries(including alcoholic liver disease,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,liver fibrosis,and liver cirrhosis)and discusses existing problems and future research directions.
7.Recent advance in synergistic pathogenesis of complement and antibody in Guillain-Barré syndrome and its immunotherapy
Yuqian XUE ; Ailing LIU ; Chengjing FEI ; Yulei LIU ; Minghao DU ; Zeyu ZHANG ; Rong YIN
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(9):959-964
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune-mediated acute polyradiculoneuropathy. Its key feature is focal segmental demyelination along with inflammatory cell infiltration and axonal damage. In clinical practice, anti-ganglioside antibodies in the body fluid of GBS patients show heterogeneity, and conventional immunotherapy is ineffective in some GBS subtypes. Drawing on treatment options for other neuroimmune diseases, targeted regulation of antibody-complement system has now become an important direction in GBS treatment research. This paper examines the immune response mechanisms involving complement, antibodies and related inflammatory factors, explores new strategy in GBS immunotherapy, so as to provide theoretical basis and research entry points for GBS individualized treatment.
8.Comparison of clinical efficacy of local anesthetic Lichtenstein, modified Kugel and general anesthetic transabdominal preperitoneal hemioplasty in the treatment of unilateral primary inguinal hernia in elderly patients
Baoyu LI ; Bin LIU ; Fangxin WAN ; Minghao CHEN ; Haocheng ZHANG ; Yankui LI
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;40(11):879-882
Objective:To compare the curative effect of local anesthesia Lichtenstein, modified Kugel and general anesthetic transabdominal preperitoneal(TAPP) hemioplasty in the treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernia in elderly patients.Methods:Six hundred and twenty-one patients with unilateral primary inguinal hernia admitted at Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from January 2021 to December 2023 were randomly divided into 3 groups before operation: Lichtenstein group, Modified-Kugel group, TAPP group,207 patients in each group. The clinical data were compared.Results:The average operation time of the Lichtenstein and modified Kugel hernia repair groups was significantly shorter than that of TAPP group ( P<0.01), and the hospitalization cost was also significantly lower than that of TAPP group. The postoperative pain score, time spent in the ground and hospital stay in TAPP group were significantly lower than those in Lichtenstein and modified Kugel groups ( P<0.05). There were no serious complications in the 3 groups. Conclusions:Three kinds of hernia repair are all safe and effective in the treatment of elderly patients with unilateral primary inguinal hernia. TAPP has lighter postoperative pain and quicker recovery. Lichtenstein and Modified-Kugel hernia repair under local anesthesia are suitable for those who cannot tolerate general anesthesia.
9.A case of mental retardation-56 caused by the CLTC gene mutation and literature review
Bingbin MAI ; Wenhui MO ; Yi LI ; Qiaowen TU ; Minghao HUANG ; Haojie LIU ; Yun CAO ; Xin XIAO
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2025;40(2):133-137
The clinical data and genetic characteristics of one child with mental retardation-56 (MRD56) diagnosed at the Department of Neonatology, Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital in October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The patient was admitted to the hospital with " 34 + 2 weeks of preterm birth, shortness of breath, and dyspnea for 0.5 hours". In the neonatal period, the patient had special facial features, hypotonia, weaning and feeding difficulties, laryngeal stridor.In infancy, the patient showed global psychomotor development delay, intellectual disability, epilepsy, etc.Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed delayed myelination and dysplasia of the cerebellum and corpus callosum.Whole-exome sequencing showed that the CLTC gene had a new missense mutation c.3334T>C (p.Trp1112Arg), and MRD56 was confirmed.A total of 32 cases of MRD56 were reported worldwide, with special facial features, intellectual disability, and psychomotor retardation as the main clinical manifestations.The cause is a mutation in the CLTC gene, which leads to abnormality in the structure of the clathrin encoded, thus affecting neurotransmitter transmission.This is the first report of MRD56 caused by the CLTC gene mutation in China, and a new clinical phenotype has been discovered.The finding enriches the phenotypic spectrum of the disease and provides a basis for clinicians to understand and study the disease.
10.Effect of Siwu Decoction in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases and its mechanism
Yajie GUAN ; Lihui ZHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Qizhen ZHANG ; Wenxia ZHAO ; Minghao LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(7):1450-1455
Siwu Decoction is a classic formula for tonifying the blood and activating blood circulation and is characterized by its ability to tonify the blood without leaving stasis and promote blood circulation without harming the vital energy of the body.It is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of various conditions related to blood deficiency and poor blood circulation,such as anemia,menstrual disorders,and dysmenorrhea.The liver is responsible for governing the free flow of Qi and storing blood,and abnormalities in liver function are associated with various acute and chronic liver injuries.Siwu Decoction can restore liver homeostasis by tonifying the blood,activating blood circulation,nourishing the blood,and soothing the liver.Based on its unique prescription formulation and multiple pharmacological mechanisms,Siwu Decoction has become an important prescription for enhancing liver microcirculation,facilitating hepatocyte repair and regeneration,and alleviating liver injury.This article reviews the effect and mechanism of Siwu Decoction in the prevention and treatment of various liver injuries(including alcoholic liver disease,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,liver fibrosis,and liver cirrhosis)and discusses existing problems and future research directions.

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