1.Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba ameliorates cartilage inflammation in knee osteoarthritis by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway
Li-kai YU ; Zi-shan SU ; Di TIAN ; Ze-en WANG ; Shang-qi LIU ; Pei-min WANG ; Nong-shan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1382-1390
Aim To verify the mechanism of action of Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba in treating KOA carti-lage inflammation based on network pharmacology and in vitro and in vivo experiments.Methods The effec-tive ingredients of Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba were screened through the database,the core targets of"drug disease"were analyzed,and pathway enrichment analy-sis and molecular docking verification were conducted.Experimental verification:Primary chondrocytes were extracted from mice and divided into the control group,IL-1β group,treatment group,and treatment+TLR4 agonist group.CCK-8 method was used to screen the optimal intervention concentration of Carthami Flos-Ly-copodii Herba.ELISA was used to detect the content of inflammatory factors in chondrocytes.Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression related to cellular pathways.Subsequently,a KOA mouse model was constructed using the DMM method.After admin-istration,the knee joint injury of mice was evaluated u-sing safranin O-green staining.ELISA was used to de-tect the levels of inflammatory factors in serum.West-ern blot was employed to detect collagen Ⅱ,MMP13,Aggrecan,and apoptosis related protein expression in cartilage tissue.TUNEL staining was used to detect the apoptosis rate of cells.Results A total of 26 active ingredients of Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba were screened,as well as 123 potential targets for treating KOA.The enrichment analysis results indicated that it mainly involved mechanisms such as Toll like receptors and cell apoptosis.The experimental results showed that Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba alleviated the in-flammatory response of chondrocytes and affected the expression of pathway related proteins.Compared with KOA mice,safflower stretched muscle grass could im-prove cartilage damage and reduce the concentration of serum inflammatory factors,regulate the expression of collagen Ⅱ,MMP13,Aggrecan,and apoptosis related proteins in cartilage tissue,and reduce the fluorescence intensity of TUNEL staining in the tissue.Conclusions Carthami Flos-Lycopodii Herba can improve KOA cartilage inflammation,and its mechanism may be relat-ed to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
2.Exploring the differentiation and treatment of apoplexy based on"treating the elderly by focusing on the fu":a perspective from"six fu viscera-xuanfu-collaterals"
Di ZHAO ; Xiao LIANG ; Jingjing WEI ; Lina MIAO ; Yunfan ZHANG ; Hongxi LIU ; Yue LIU ; Liuding WANG ; Qi ZHANG ; Yunling ZHANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(5):690-695
The incidence of apoplexy remains persistently high among the older population.Based on the traditional Chinese medicine principle of"treating the elderly by focusing on the fu",this paper explores the holistic connotation of"fu".It proposes that the onset of apoplexy in the elderly is characterized by obstruction,stagnation,depression,and sluggishness,which should be treated from six fu viscera,xuanfu,and collaterals.The interconnected hierarchical network of these three systems,serving as macro-and micro-channels for qi and fluid metabolism,plays a central role in both disease development and treatment.The failure of the six fu viscera to descend and the upward invasion of turbid yin are identified as prerequisites for apoplexy onset,whereas yang qi stagnation and xuanfu blockage act as key pathogenic drivers,and the core mechanisms involve phlegm-stasis-toxin accumulation,and dysfunction of the collaterals and fu.In the treatment,acute phase requires unblocking fu viscera and restoring xuanfu patency;chronic phase focuses on dredging collaterals and opening xuanfu;and recovery phase emphasizes tonifying combined with regulating xuanfu.The understanding of"treating the elderly by focusing on the fu"emphasizes that the pathogenesis of the disease should be changed to individual conditions;"six fu viscera-xuanfu-collaterals"exhibits a pathological mechanism characterized by the transmission and reception of pathogenic factors,as well as progressive mutual involvement;in clinical practice,treatment should meticulously assess the severity and nuances of the condition,prioritizing method that emphasizes unobstructed flow;additionally,therapy should be essential to protect stomach qi and integrate therapeutic attacks within a framework of supplementation.These principles offer valuable reference for the differentiation and treatment of apoplexy.
3.Research advances in mitochondrial inflammation-mediated damage in central nervous system degenerative disorders
Shu-qin LI ; Sha-sha LIU ; Qian YAN ; Han-long WANG ; Yang SUN ; Yan-ting HUANG ; Hao-jie ZHANG ; Jin-ping LIANG ; Shi-feng CHU ; Yan-tao YANG ; Qi-di AI ; Nai-hong CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(12):2218-2225
Central nervous system(CNS)degenerative disorders refer to a spectrum of pathological alterations triggered by struc-tural damage to cerebral neural tissues,clinically manifested as diverse neurological dysfunction syndromes,including multiple sclerosis(MS),neurodegenerative diseases(NDs),and ische-mic stroke.The hallmark pathological features of these disorders involve irreversible neuronal damage and decompensation of functional neural networks,ultimately leading to progressive neurological deficits.Notably,with the accelerating global popu-lation aging,the incidence of these diseases has surged signifi-cantly.According to WHO statistics,they now rank among the top three global causes of disability and mortality.Current re-search has confirmed that the pathogenesis of CNS degenerative disorders exhibits high heterogeneity,encompassing multifaceted pathophysiological processes such as genetic predisposition,oxi-dative stress,protein misfolding,and metabolic dysregulation.This intricate pathogenic network not only complicates clinical differential diagnosis but also poses substantial challenges to the development of precision therapeutic strategies.Importantly,re-cent studies have revealed that mitochondrial homeostasis disrup-tion-induced inflammatory cascades(termed mitochondrial in-flammation)play a pivotal regulatory role in neurodegenerative progression.Key molecular mechanisms include impaired mito-phagy,aberrant mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA)release and NL-RP3 inflammasome activation.This review systematically deci-phers the molecular regulatory network of mitochondrial inflam-mation,with a focus on its biological effects in critical pathologi-cal events such as blood-brain barrier disruption,microglial hy-peractivation and neuronal apoptosis.The overarching aim is to provide a theoretical foundation for developing innovative thera-peutic strategies targeting mitochondrial homeostasis restoration.
4.Important factors affecting depression:modulatory effects of Cx43 on neuroinflammation
Xuan ZENG ; Zi-han YAN ; Zhi-feng TIAN ; Hong-bin WANG ; Qi-di AI ; Mei-yu LIN ; Xuan LIU ; Nai-hong CHEN ; Song-wei YANG ; Yan-tao YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(11):2027-2031
Numerous studies have shown that depression is main-ly associated with the abnormal expression of connexin 43(Cx43)in astrocytes(Astro)and its mediated dysfunction of gap junction(GJ).However,the molecular mechanism of post-translational modifications targeting Cx43 to regulate neuroin-flammation-associated depression is still unclear.Post-transla-tional modifications of Cx43 mainly include phosphorylation of specific amino acid sites by PKC,PKA,PKG,MAPK and PTK,and protein degradation of Cx43 through the K48/K63 polyubiq-uitylation and deubiquitination pathways,which ultimately lead to protein degradation through K48/K63 polyubiquitination and deubiquitination.These modifications are ultimately involved in the regulation of neuroinflammatory responses through the associ-ation of GJ function.In this paper,we systematically review the role of Cx43 post-translational modifications in neuroinflamma-tion,with the aim of further exploring the potential application of targeting these modifications to modulate the inflammatory re-sponse mechanism in improving depressive symptoms.
5.Effect of different layers of masseter on the bony structure of facial lateral area
Yu-Qi ZHAO ; Jin-Rui JIANG ; Jin-Ran CHEN ; Ze-Chuan WANG ; Hou-En ZHOU ; Wen-Di XU ; Liu-Jun YONG
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2025;56(2):208-213
Objective To observe the morphology of the superficial,middle,and deep layers of the masseter muscle and related bony structures in the lateral facial region of adults through gross anatomy,and to probe into the effects of these muscle layers on the bony structures of the lateral facial region.Methods The bilateral masseter muscles of 12 adult cadavers were exposed,and the superficial,middle,and deep layers were separated and measured for muscle length,tendon length,and muscle belly length.After the masseter muscles were stripped,the total thickness was measured,and the mandible and zygomatic arch were exposed to measure the angle of the mandibular angle,thickness of the zygomatic arch,and width of the zygomatic arch.Observations were made of the masseter tuberosities,and statistical analysis was conducted on their interrelations.Results The zygomatic arch thickness was positively correlated with the length of superficial,middle and deep masseter muscles and the length of superficial and middle masseter belly(r superficial masseter length=0.624,r middle masseter length=0.787,r deep masseter length=0.423,r superficial masseter belly length=0.493,r middle masseter belly length=0.548).The width of the zygomatic arch was positively correlated with the lengths of the superficial and middle muscle layers and the middle muscle belly length(r superficial masseter length=0.527,r middle masseter length=0.521,r middle masseterbelly length=0.437).The angle of the mandibular angle was only negatively correlated with the middle muscle belly length(r=-0.422).The tuberosities of the superficial and middle masseter muscles were not affected by the corresponding muscle layers;However,the tuberosity of the deep masseter was negatively correlated with the length of the deep muscle and the length of the deep tendon(r deep masseter length=-0.543,r deep masseter tendon length=-0.443).Conclusion In the masseter muscle layers of Chinese individuals,the superficial and middle layers have the most significant impact on the bony structures structures of the lateral facial region.These findings are of guiding significance for the remodeling of structures in the lateral facial region.
6.Important factors affecting depression:modulatory effects of Cx43 on neuroinflammation
Xuan ZENG ; Zi-han YAN ; Zhi-feng TIAN ; Hong-bin WANG ; Qi-di AI ; Mei-yu LIN ; Xuan LIU ; Nai-hong CHEN ; Song-wei YANG ; Yan-tao YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(11):2027-2031
Numerous studies have shown that depression is main-ly associated with the abnormal expression of connexin 43(Cx43)in astrocytes(Astro)and its mediated dysfunction of gap junction(GJ).However,the molecular mechanism of post-translational modifications targeting Cx43 to regulate neuroin-flammation-associated depression is still unclear.Post-transla-tional modifications of Cx43 mainly include phosphorylation of specific amino acid sites by PKC,PKA,PKG,MAPK and PTK,and protein degradation of Cx43 through the K48/K63 polyubiq-uitylation and deubiquitination pathways,which ultimately lead to protein degradation through K48/K63 polyubiquitination and deubiquitination.These modifications are ultimately involved in the regulation of neuroinflammatory responses through the associ-ation of GJ function.In this paper,we systematically review the role of Cx43 post-translational modifications in neuroinflamma-tion,with the aim of further exploring the potential application of targeting these modifications to modulate the inflammatory re-sponse mechanism in improving depressive symptoms.
7.Cinnamaldehyde enhances synovial macrophage efferocytosis in KOA mice by regulating RhoA/ROCK1/MLC pathway
Zi-shan SU ; Li-kai YU ; Di TIAN ; Shang-qi LIU ; Ze-en WANG ; Pei-min WANG ; Nong-shan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1636-1643
Aim To investigate the therapeutic effects of cinnamaldehyde on synovial lesions in mice with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and its regulatory mecha-nism in the phagocytic function of synovial macropha-ges.Methods In the animal experiments,mouse ser-um and synovial tissue were extracted.HE staining was used to evaluate the inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovial tissue.ELISA was employed to detect the lev-els of inflammatory factors such as interleukins in the serum.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Ras homolog family member A(RhoA),Rho-associ-ated protein kinase 1(ROCK1),myosin light chain(MLC),and p-MLC proteins in the synovial tissue.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of in-flammatory factors and pathway-related mRNA in the synovial tissue.TUNEL staining was used to detect ap-optosis in the synovial tissue.In the cellular experi-ments,after the intervention,RAW267.4 cells were subjected to Western blot and RT-qPCR for the detec-tion of the aforementioned indicators,and confocal mi-croscopy was used to assess phagocytic function.Re-sults After cinnamaldehyde intervention,the synovial inflammatory infiltration was significantly reduced,the protein and mRNA expression of the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signaling pathway was markedly downregulated,the fluorescence intensity of TUNEL staining signifi-cantly decreased,and the phagocytic function of macro-phages was enhanced.Conclusion Cinnamaldehyde can inhibit RhoA/Rock1/MLC signaling pathway,en-hance macrophage burial,improve synovial inflamma-tion,and delay the progression of KO A mice.
8.Cinnamaldehyde enhances synovial macrophage efferocytosis in KOA mice by regulating RhoA/ROCK1/MLC pathway
Zi-shan SU ; Li-kai YU ; Di TIAN ; Shang-qi LIU ; Ze-en WANG ; Pei-min WANG ; Nong-shan ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1636-1643
Aim To investigate the therapeutic effects of cinnamaldehyde on synovial lesions in mice with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)and its regulatory mecha-nism in the phagocytic function of synovial macropha-ges.Methods In the animal experiments,mouse ser-um and synovial tissue were extracted.HE staining was used to evaluate the inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovial tissue.ELISA was employed to detect the lev-els of inflammatory factors such as interleukins in the serum.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Ras homolog family member A(RhoA),Rho-associ-ated protein kinase 1(ROCK1),myosin light chain(MLC),and p-MLC proteins in the synovial tissue.RT-qPCR was utilized to detect the expression of in-flammatory factors and pathway-related mRNA in the synovial tissue.TUNEL staining was used to detect ap-optosis in the synovial tissue.In the cellular experi-ments,after the intervention,RAW267.4 cells were subjected to Western blot and RT-qPCR for the detec-tion of the aforementioned indicators,and confocal mi-croscopy was used to assess phagocytic function.Re-sults After cinnamaldehyde intervention,the synovial inflammatory infiltration was significantly reduced,the protein and mRNA expression of the RhoA/ROCK1/MLC signaling pathway was markedly downregulated,the fluorescence intensity of TUNEL staining signifi-cantly decreased,and the phagocytic function of macro-phages was enhanced.Conclusion Cinnamaldehyde can inhibit RhoA/Rock1/MLC signaling pathway,en-hance macrophage burial,improve synovial inflamma-tion,and delay the progression of KO A mice.
9.Clinical application of inflatable unilateral axillary approach robot assisted bilateral thyroid lobe lesion resection.
Di WU ; Zheng ZHAO ; Qi FANG ; Fei CAO ; Ruobin LIN ; Jun CHEN ; Xuekui LIU
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(11):1022-1027
Objective:To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and short-term efficacy of robot-assisted unilateral axillary approach for partial or total thyroidectomy without inflation. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 98 patients who underwent gasless unilateral axillary approach robot-assisted resection of bilateral thyroid lesions at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between October 2022 and October 2024. Perioperative indicators were recorded and compared among patients undergoing different surgical approaches(total thyroidectomy vs. bilateral partial thyroidectomy) and with different body mass index(BMI) values, including operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph nodes dissected, incidence of postoperative hoarseness, incidence of postoperative hypocalcemia, and other postoperative complications. Results:A total of 98 patients were included, of whom 78.57% were female, with a median age of 39 years(interquartile range[IQR]: 35-49) and a median BMI of 24.08 kg/m²(IQR: 21.43-25.98). The median intraoperative blood loss was 32.14 mL(IQR: 20.00-50.00), the median operative time was 130.0 minutes(IQR: 104.80-150.30), and the median hospital stay was 2.01 days(IQR: 1.00-2.00). The most common postoperative complication was transient hypocalcemia, with an incidence of 16.32%. There were no cases of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or conversion to open surgery. Compared with the non-total thyroidectomy group, the total thyroidectomy group had a significantly longer operative time(135.10±33.28 min vs 120.30±30.53 min, P=0.033). Subgroup analysis based on BMI showed no statistically significant differences in operative time, hospital stay, drainage volume, or incidence of hypocalcemia between patients with BMI≥25 kg/m² and those with BMI<25 kg/m². Conclusion:The gasless unilateral axillary approach for robot-assisted partial or total thyroidectomy demonstrates favorable safety, cosmetic outcomes, and feasibility. Appropriate selection of surgical techniques and meticulous protection of critical structures during the procedure can further reduce the risk of complications and optimize therapeutic outcomes.
Humans
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Thyroidectomy/methods*
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Retrospective Studies
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Female
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Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*
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Male
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Adult
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Middle Aged
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Axilla/surgery*
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Operative Time
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Postoperative Complications
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Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery*
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Thyroid Gland/surgery*
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Lymph Node Excision
10.Progress in the application of robotic technology in thyroid surgery.
Di WU ; Zheng ZHAO ; Qi FANG ; Fei CAO ; Ruobin LIN ; Jun CHEN ; Xuekui LIU
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(11):1068-1074
In recent years, robot-assisted thyroid surgery has gained widespread adoption in major hospitals worldwide, offering advantages such as a shorter learning curve and superior cosmetic outcomes while overcoming the limitations of endoscopic surgery. Currently, the main surgical approaches include the transaxillary, bilateral axillo-breast(BABA), retroauricular, and transoral vestibular routes. However, the widespread adoption of robotic thyroidectomy still faces several challenges, including technical complexity, prolonged operative time, a higher complication rate during the learning curve, and high costs. Nevertheless, when performed by experienced surgeons on carefully selected patients, robotic thyroidectomy can achieve outcomes comparable to those of conventional open transcervical thyroidectomy. This article provides a systematic review of the development and latest advances in robotic thyroid surgery.
Humans
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Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods*
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Thyroidectomy/methods*
;
Thyroid Gland/surgery*

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