1.Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang in Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review
Yalong KANG ; Bo NING ; Juanjuan TAN ; Hongfei QI ; Yan SHI ; Fang GUAN ; Haifang WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):256-267
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD),a group of common diseases in clinical practice,are witnessing a steady rise in both incidence and mortality rates,posing a challenge to public health. Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang,originating from Synopsis of the Golden Chamber (《金匮要略》),was initially used to treat severe cases of chest impediment. The formula consists of Trichosanthis Fructus,Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus,Pinelliae Rhizoma,and Baijiu. It has a wide range of clinical applications,with therapeutic effects including moving Qi to relieve depression,activating Yang to dissipate mass,and expelling phlegm to alleviate chest congestion. In recent years,clinical research has confirmed that Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang,with or without modification,used alone or in combination with Western medicine,has definite effects in the treatment of CVD such as hyperlipidemia,coronary atherosclerotic heart disease,hypertension,heart failure,and arrhythmia. It can alleviate disease symptoms and reduce the risk of re-hospitalization. Basic research indicates that the mechanisms of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang include improving endothelial functions,exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties,countering oxidative stress,preventing apoptosis,inhibiting ventricular remodeling,regulating mitochondrial functions,improving hemorheology,and modulating autophagy and neurotransmitters. This article reviews relevant articles in recent years with focuses on the compatibility,clinical application,and mechanism of Gualou Xiebai Banxiatang. This review is expected to provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism research and clinical application of this formula in treating CVD and to offer ideas and reference for in-depth research.
2.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
3.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
4.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
5.Conserved translational control in cardiac hypertrophy revealed by ribosome profiling.
Bao-Sen WANG ; Jian LYU ; Hong-Chao ZHAN ; Yu FANG ; Qiu-Xiao GUO ; Jun-Mei WANG ; Jia-Jie LI ; An-Qi XU ; Xiao MA ; Ning-Ning GUO ; Hong LI ; Zhi-Hua WANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(5):757-774
A primary hallmark of pathological cardiac hypertrophy is excess protein synthesis due to enhanced translational activity. However, regulatory mechanisms at the translational level under cardiac stress remain poorly understood. Here we examined the translational regulations in a mouse cardiac hypertrophy model induced by transaortic constriction (TAC) and explored the conservative networks versus the translatome pattern in human dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The results showed that the heart weight to body weight ratio was significantly elevated, and the ejection fraction and fractional shortening significantly decreased 8 weeks after TAC. Puromycin incorporation assay showed that TAC significantly increased protein synthesis rate in the left ventricle. RNA-seq revealed 1,632 differentially expressed genes showing functional enrichment in pathways including extracellular matrix remodeling, metabolic processes, and signaling cascades associated with pathological cardiomyocyte growth. When combined with ribosome profiling analysis, we revealed that translation efficiency (TE) of 1,495 genes was enhanced, while the TE of 933 genes was inhibited following TAC. In DCM patients, 1,354 genes were upregulated versus 1,213 genes were downregulated at the translation level. Although the majority of the genes were not shared between mouse and human, we identified 93 genes, including Nos3, Kcnj8, Adcy4, Itpr1, Fasn, Scd1, etc., with highly conserved translational regulations. These genes were remarkably associated with myocardial function, signal transduction, and energy metabolism, particularly related to cGMP-PKG signaling and fatty acid metabolism. Motif analysis revealed enriched regulatory elements in the 5' untranslated regions (5'UTRs) of transcripts with differential TE, which exhibited strong cross-species sequence conservation. Our study revealed novel regulatory mechanisms at the translational level in cardiac hypertrophy and identified conserved translation-sensitive targets with potential applications to treat cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in the clinic.
Animals
;
Humans
;
Cardiomegaly/physiopathology*
;
Ribosomes/physiology*
;
Protein Biosynthesis/physiology*
;
Mice
;
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/genetics*
;
Ribosome Profiling
6.Multi-organ inflammatory phenotypes and transcriptomic characterization in an inflammation-driven mouse model of preeclampsia induced by LPS.
Ning WANG ; Jing-Qiu FENG ; Ying XIE ; Meng-Can SUN ; Qi WANG ; Zhe WANG ; Lu GAO
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(5):775-791
Preeclampsia (PE) is a severe gestational disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, with a subset of cases exhibiting an immune-driven phenotype marked by placental overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines and chronic inflammatory damage, profoundly impacting fetal development. To elucidate the pathophysiology of this PE subtype, we established an inflammation-driven PE mouse model via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneal injection, systematically evaluating histopathological changes in maternal heart, liver, lung, kidney, and placenta, and integrating transcriptomic profiling to uncover molecular mechanisms. LPS administration robustly induced maternal hypertension and proteinuria, hallmarks of PE, without significantly altering organ or fetal weights. Histological analyses revealed pronounced inflammatory damage in the maternal lung, kidney, and placenta, with the lung exhibiting the most severe pathology, characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar wall thickening, and interstitial edema-challenging the conventional focus on placental and renal primacy in PE. Placental labyrinth and junctional zones displayed extensive structural disruption and necrosis, indicating functional impairment. Transcriptomic analysis identified 27 inflammation-related genes consistently upregulated across tissues, with protein-protein interaction networks pinpointing Il1β, Il6, Ccl5, Ccl2, Cxcl10, Tlr2, and Icam1 as hub genes. Quantitative PCR validation confirmed Tlr2 as a central regulator, evidenced by significant upregulation of Tlr2 in lung, kidney, and placenta of LPS-induced PE mice, while Cxcl10 exhibited placenta-specific upregulation, suggesting a synergistic inflammatory axis in placental pathology. These findings highlight the lung as a critical, yet underappreciated, target in inflammation-driven PE, reframe the multi-organ inflammatory landscape of the disease, and nominate Tlr2 and Cxcl10 as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, offering new avenues for precision intervention in PE.
Animals
;
Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Mice
;
Pre-Eclampsia/genetics*
;
Inflammation
;
Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects*
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Transcriptome
;
Placenta/pathology*
;
Phenotype
7.Studies on the best production mode of traditional Chinese medicine driven by artificial intelligence and its engineering application.
Zheng LI ; Ning-Tao CHENG ; Xiao-Ping ZHAO ; Yi TAO ; Qi-Long XUE ; Xing-Chu GONG ; Yang YU ; Jie-Qiang ZHU ; Yi WANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3197-3203
The traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) industry is a crucial part of China's pharmaceutical sector and plays a strategic role in ensuring public health and promoting economic and social development. In response to the practical demand for high-quality development of the TCM industry, this paper focused on the bottlenecks encountered during the digital and intelligent transformation of TCM production systems. Specifically, it explored technical strategies and methodologies for constructing the best TCM production mode. An innovative artificial intelligence(AI)-centered technical architecture for TCM production was proposed, focusing on key aspects of production management including process modeling, state evaluation, and decision optimization. Furthermore, a series of critical technologies were developed to realize the best TCM production mode. Finally, a novel AI-driven TCM production mode characterized by a closed-loop system of "measurement-modeling-decision-execution" was presented through engineering case studies. This study is expected to provide a technological pathway for developing new quality productive forces within the TCM industry.
Artificial Intelligence
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Humans
8.Effective Salvage Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells with High-Dose Etoposide in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Who Failed Initial Mobilization with High-Dose Cyclophosphamide.
Yue-Qi WANG ; Shi-Hua ZHAO ; Yi MA ; Xi-Lin CHEN ; Shun-Zong YUAN ; Na-Na CHENG ; Guang-Ning SHI ; Wen-Rong HUANG ; Xiu-Bin XIAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1380-1385
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the safety and efficacy of high-dose etoposide (VP-16) combined with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) as salvage mobilization for peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients.
METHODS:
From April 2021 to May 2023, eight NDMM patients who had failed to yield sufficient PBSC during initial mobilization with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) combined with rhG-CSF underwent salvage mobilization with 1.2 g/m2 etoposide combined with rhG-CSF 10 μg/(kg·d). The effects and adverse reactions of initial mobilization and salvage mobilization were analyzed.
RESULTS:
For salvage mobilization and initial mobilization, the numbers of PBSC collections were 16 and 18, respectively. The mean value of total collected CD34+ cells were (11.90±5.75)×106/kg and (1.67±0.75)×106/kg (P =0.0010) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. The proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34+ cell count≥2×106/kg were 100% and 37.5% (P =0.0625), and the proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34+ cell count≥5×106/kg were 87.5% and 0% (P =0.0156) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. For five patients who underwent high-dose CTX initial mobilization but had a total CD34+ cell count < 2×106/kg, successful collection was achieved through salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16. Salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16 was scheduled 2-3 weeks after failure of CTX mobilization. Adverse reactions of high-dose VP-16 mobilization did not increase compared to the initial mobilization with high-dose CTX.
CONCLUSION
As a salvage mobilization regimen, VP-16 1.2 g/m2 combined with rhG-CSF is safe and highly effective in NDMM patients who failed to initial mobilization with high-dose CTX combined with rhG-CSF.
Humans
;
Multiple Myeloma/therapy*
;
Etoposide/therapeutic use*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization/methods*
;
Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use*
;
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
;
Salvage Therapy
;
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Female
;
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
9.The Impacts of Climate Change on the Environment and Human Health in China: A Call for more Ambitious Action.
Shi Lu TONG ; Yu WANG ; Yong Long LU ; Cun de XIAO ; Qi Yong LIU ; Qi ZHAO ; Cun Rui HUANG ; Jia Yu XU ; Ning KANG ; Tong ZHU ; Dahe QIN ; Ying XU ; Buda SU ; Xiao Ming SHI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):127-143
As global greenhouse gases continue rising, the urgency of more ambitious action is clearer than ever before. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the countries affected most by climate change. The evidence about the impacts of climate change on the environment and human health may encourage China to take more decisive action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate impacts. This article aimed to review the evidence of environmental damages and health risks posed by climate change and to provide a new science-based perspective for the delivery of sustainable development goals. Over recent decades, China has experienced a strong warming pattern with a growing frequency of extreme weather events, and the impacts of climate change on China's environment and human health have been consistently observed, with increasing O 3 air pollution, decreases in water resources and availability, land degradation, and increased risks for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Therefore, China's climate policy should target the key factors driving climate change and scale up strategic measures to curb carbon emissions and adapt to inevitable increasing climate impacts. It provides new insights for not only China but also other countries, particularly developing and emerging economies, to ensure climate and environmental sustainability whilst pursuing economic growth.
Climate Change
;
China
;
Humans
;
Greenhouse Gases
;
Air Pollution
;
Sustainable Development
;
Environment
10.Mitigative effect and mechanism of nootkatone on depression-like behavior in mild blast traumatic brain injury rat
Xiao-Lin FAN ; Hong WANG ; Qi WANG ; Cun-Zhi LI ; Qing LU ; Liang LI ; Ning MA ; Jun-Hong GAO
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(6):694-700
Objective To investigate the mechanism of nootkatone(NKT)in mitigating depression-like behavior caused by blast traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods The rat bTBI depression-like model was established by simulating the shock wave parameters of blast overpressure(BOP of 60 kPa,90 kPa,and 120 kPa)with a biological shock wave tube.After 14 days of exposure,we evaluated the depression-like behavior of rats using the tail suspension test and forced swimming test.We identified that the BOP(120 kPa)condition caused the most noticeable depressive behavior and used this condition for subsequent experiments.Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,bTBI group(BOP of 120 kPa),and bTBI+NKT group[at 1 d after exposure to BOP of 120 kPa,giving NKT 10 mg/(kg·d)orally for 14 days],10 in each group.After 14 days of exposure,the depression-like behavior of rats was evaluated by tail suspension test and forced swimming test.The expression levels of protein kinase A(PKA),phosphorylated cyclic adenosine monophosphate effector binding protein(pCREB),and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in the hippocampus of rat were determined by Western blotting.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the generation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)-labeled neurons in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG).Results BOP of 90 kPa can cause depression-like in rats and BOP of 120 kPa can cause the most noticeable depressive behavior(P<0.05).Therefore,we selected the BOP exposure of 120 kPa for subsequent experiments.After 14 days of BOP exposure,compared with sham operation group,the immobility time of tad suspension test in bTBI group was prolonged(P<0.05),the latency of for ced swimming test was shortened,the immobility time was prolonged(P<0.05),the expression levels of PKA,pCREB and BDNF protein in hippocampus were lowered(P<0.05),and the number of PCNA-labeled neurons in hippocampal DG area was reduced(P<0.05);compared with the bTBI group,the immobility time of tail suspension test in bTBI+NKT group was shortened(P<0.05),the latency of forced swimming test was prolonged,the immobility time was shortened(P<0.05),the expression levels of PKA,pCREB and BDNF protein in hippocampus were increased(P<0.05),and the number of PCNA-labeled neurons in hippocampal DG area was increased(P<0.05).Conclusions Early treatment with NKT can improve depression-like behavior in mild bTBI rats.The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of the PKA-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway and increased expression levels of pCREB and BDNF in the hippocampus,which results in increased neuron numbers in the DG region of the hippocampus.

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