2.Unveiling the renoprotective mechanisms of self-assembled herbal nanoparticles from Scutellaria barbata and Scleromitrion diffusum in acute kidney injury: A nano-TCM approach.
Lunyue XIA ; Qunfang YANG ; Kangzhe FU ; Yutong YANG ; Kaiyue DING ; Yuexue HUO ; Lanfang ZHANG ; Yunong LI ; Borong ZHU ; Peiyu LI ; Yijie HUO ; Liang SUN ; Ya LIU ; Haigang ZHANG ; Tao LIU ; Wenjun SHAN ; Lin ZHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4265-4284
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical clinical condition characterized by rapid renal function decline, with high morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown potential effects on mitigating oxidative stress and programmed cell death in AKI models. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R. J. Wang (SD), a classic TCM herbal pair exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Using advanced chromatographic separation technology, we enriched the effective fractions of water extracts from SB-SD, obtaining self-assembled herbal nanoparticles (SB and SD nanoparticles, SSNPs) rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. These SSNPs demonstrated robust antioxidant properties in vitro and mitigated AKI progression in vivo by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Oral administration of SSNPs in mice resulted in absorption into the bloodstream, formation of a protein corona, reduced macrophage phagocytosis, and enhanced bioavailability and renal targeting. Furthermore, we investigated the self-assembly principle of SSNPs using representative flavonoids and terpenoids. Kinetic studies and in situ transmission electron microscopy (in situ TEM) revealed that these compounds self-assemble via supramolecular forces like hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions, forming stable nanostructures. This study elucidates the renoprotective effects and mechanisms of SB and SD, and provides a novel approach for the development of TCM-based nanomedicines, highlighting the potential of nano-TCM in AKI treatment.
3.Effect of an extracorporeal diaphragm pacemaker combined with airway clearance technology on pulmonary infection, diaphragmatic mobility and thickness in older adult patients with dementia
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2024;31(1):76-80
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of an extracorporeal diaphragm pacemaker (EDP) combined with airway clearance technology (ACT) in the treatment of pulmonary infection in older adult patients with dementia and its impact on diaphragmatic mobility and thickness.Methods:A total of 60 patients with dementia and pulmonary infections who received treatment at The Second Hospital of Jinhua from June 2022 to February 2023 were included in this prospective study. These patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 patients in each group. The control group received ACT treatment, while the observation group received EDP treatment on the basis of ACT treatment. Two groups were treated for 4 successive weeks. Efficacy was compared between the two groups. Before and after treatment, sputum color score, sputum quality score, diaphragmatic mobility, and diaphragmatic thickness were compared between the two groups.Results:The overall response rate in the observation group was 93.33% (28/30), which was significantly higher than 73.33% (22/30) in the control group ( Z = 2.08, P = 0.038). After treatment, the sputum color score, sputum quality score, and sputum volume in the observation group were (0.46 ± 0.12) points, (0.34 ± 0.10) points, and (8.47 ± 1.23) mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than (0.89 ± 0.17) points, (0.76 ± 0.18) points, and (13.25 ± 2.87) mL, respectively, in the control group ( t = 11.32, 11.17, 8.38, all P < 0.001). After treatment, the diaphragmatic mobility and thickness in the observation group were (13.52 ± 0.51) mm and (0.52 ± 0.06) mm, respectively, which were significantly greater than (12.76 ± 0.41) mm and (0.44 ± 0.04) mm, respectively, in the control group ( t = -6.36, -6.08, both P < 0.001). Conclusion:The combined application of EDP and ACT shows a significant therapeutic effect on patients with dementia and pulmonary infection, effectively improving their pulmonary function, increasing the mobility and thickness of the diaphragm, and alleviating difficulties in breathing.
4.Visual analysis of the research hotspots and trends of emergency nursing training at home and abroad based on CiteSpace
Xinyu DUAN ; Hongzhen XIE ; Ao WU ; Tenggang SHEN ; Wenjuan XU ; Qiaoqiao ZHANG ; Qunfang YANG ; Duo LIU ; Xiaoqi FAN ; Jianjing WANG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(26):2059-2068
Objective:To analyze the status quo, hotspots and fronts of emergency nursing training research at home and abroad in the past ten years, and to provide reference and ideas for the efficient development of emergency nursing training in China.Methods:CiteSpace 6.2.R2 software was used to visually analyze the Chinese and English literatures on emergency nursing training included in CNKI and Web of Science core databases from January 1, 2013 to June 1, 2023.Results:A total of 1 177 Chinese literatures and 1 163 English literatures were included. The number of foreign articles in this field increased year by year, while the number of domestic articles showed a downward trend since 2018. There were many stable core author groups and core institution groups in foreign countries, while there was less cooperation among domestic authors and institutions. The common research hotspots and frontiers at home and abroad focused on broadening the training audience of emergency nursing, innovating the training methods of emergency nursing, strengthening the evaluation of the effect of emergency nursing training, and paying attention to the training experience and needs of nurses. Foreign researches also focused on specialized nurses, interprofessional education and nurses′mental health, etc, and the research direction was diversified.Conclusions:The development stages of emergency nursing training researches at home and abroad are different, and the research hotspots are different. In the future, we should learn from foreign research, strengthen interdisciplinary cooperation, improve the depth and breadth of research, and strengthen the cooperation between authors, institutions and countries to promote the high-quality development of emergency nursing training research in China.
5.Shuyuwan Regulates M1/M2 Polarization of Tumor-associated Macrophages to Inhibit Progression of Colorectal Cancer
Fengmei REN ; Chao YANG ; Jingjing ZENG ; Yanhua GUO ; Qunfang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(13):20-26
ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism of Shuyuwan regulating polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to inhibit the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). MethodThe nude mouse model of orthotopic transplantation of colon cancer was established. Male BALB/c-nu nude mice (n=28, 4 weeks old) were randomly assigned into 4 groups (n=7): Model group (normal saline) and low-, medium-, and high-dose (1.725, 2.310, 2.895 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) Shuyuwan groups. On day 9 after the tumor block was inoculated, the mice were administrated by gavage with corresponding agents at a dose of 15 mL·kg-1 once a day, 6 days a week, and no agent on the 7th day. After two consecutive weeks of intervention, the nude mice were sacrificed and the tumor samples were collected. A part of the colon tissue and the tumor tissue was used to prepare sections, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed for pathological observation. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 (Arg-1) in the tumor tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The mRNA levels of interleukin-12 (IL-12), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the tumor tissue were determined by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of iNOS, IL-12, EGF, and TGF-β1 in the tumor tissue. ResultCompared with the model group, Shuyuwan inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in nude mice and caused the tumor cell necrosis in different degrees. The high-dose Shuyuwan group had the strongest inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor cells, which basically lost the normal morphology. Furthermore, Shuyuwan up-regulated the expression of iNOS and IL-12 in M1-type macrophages (P<0.05) and down-regulated the expression of Arg-1, EGF, and TGF-β1 in M2-type macrophages (P<0.05), which indicated the weakened polarization of macrophages toward M2 type and the enhanced polarization toward M1 type after treatment with Shuyuwan. ConclusionShuyuwan can inhibit the growth of orthotopically transplanted colon tumor by blocking the polarization of TAMs to M2 type and promoting the polarization of TAMs to M1 type.
6.Decreased vitamin D-binding protein level portends poor outcome in acute-on-chronic liver failure caused by hepatitis B virus
Daxian WU ; Qunfang RAO ; Zhongyang XIE ; Xiaoqing ZHU ; Yuanmei CHE ; Jian WU ; Hainv GAO ; Jingyu ZHANG ; Zhouhua HOU ; Xiaoyu CHENG ; Zeyu SUN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2022;28(4):912-925
Background/Aims:
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a catastrophic illness. Few studies investigated the prognostic value of vitamin D-binding protein (VDBP) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) resulted in conflicting results.
Methods:
Two prospective HBV-ACLF cohorts (n=287 and n=119) were enrolled to assess and validate the prognostic performance of VDBP.
Results:
VDBP levels in the non-survivors were significantly lower than in the survivors (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression demonstrated that VDBP was an independent prognostic factor for HBV-ACLF. The VDBP level at admission gradually decreased as the number of failed organs increased (P<0.001), and it was closely related to coagulation failure. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the Child-Pugh-VDBP and chronic liver failuresequential organ failure assessment (CLIF–SOFA)-VDBP scores were significantly higher than those of Child-Pugh (P<0.001) and CLIF-SOFA (P=0.0013). The AUCs of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD)-VDBP were significantly higher than those of MELD (P= 0.0384) only in the case of cirrhotic HBV-ACLF patients. Similar results were validated using an external multicenter HBV-ACLF cohort. By longitudinal observation, the VDBP levels gradually increased in survivors (P=0.026) and gradually decreased in non-survivors (P<0.001). Additionally, the VDBP levels were found to be significantly decreased in the deterioration group (P=0.012) and tended to be decreased in the fluctuation group (P=0.055). In contrast, they showed a significant increase in the improvement group (P=0.036).
Conclusions
The VDBP was a promising prognostic biomarker for HBV-ACLF. Sequential measurement of circulating VDBP shows value for the monitoring of ACLF progression.
7.Simultaneous determination of seven constituents in Chenxiang Lubailu tablet by HPLC
Lu ZHANG ; Qunfang DAI ; Sisi CHEN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2022;40(6):553-556
Objective To establish the method for the simultaneous determination of liquiritin, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, hesperidin, nobiletin;tangeretin;costunolide, dehydrocostuslactone in Chenxiang Lubailu tablet by HPLC. Methods ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 chromatographic column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) was used. The mobile phase was methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid solution. Gradient elution with flow rate of 1.0 ml/min was used. Column temperature was 35 ℃. Detection wavelength for liquiritin, ammonium, tangeretin, and costunolide was at 237 nm. Detection wavelength for glycyrrhizinate was at 283 nm. Detection wavelength for hesperidin and nobiletin was at 330 nm. Injection volume was 10 μl. 16 batches of samples were tested. Results The linear ranges for the detection of liquiritin, ammonium, glycyrrhizinate, hesperidin, nobiletin, tangeretin, and costunolide were 1.110 - 55.72 (r=0.9992), 22.15 - 1108 (r=0.9999), 6.140 - 307.2 (r=0.9995), 1.130 - 56.25 (r=0.9997), 0.3700 - 18.75 (r=0.9982), 0.5200 - 26.01 (r=0.9991), and 1.180 - 58.95 (r=0.9999) μg/ml respectively. The average recoveries were 98.71%, 98.12%, 98.44%, 98.22%, 99.17%, 99.18%, and 97.93%, and the RSDs were 0.16%, 0.67%, 0.57%, 0.62%, 0.48%, 0.56%, and 0.58% respectively. The contents of the seven components in 16 batches of samples were 0.1250 - 1.174, 2.354 - 7.426, 1.822 - 27.21, 0.0370 - 1.399, 0.0723 - 0.4433, 0.0140 - 0.1990, and 0.2207 - 1.407 mg/g respectively. Conclusion The method is accurate, reproducible and durable, which could be used to the quality control and evaluation of Chenxiang Lubailu tablet.
8.Clinical features and outcomes of cancer-related versus non-cancer-related sepsis in pediatric intensive care unit
Tanli ZHOU ; Yiping ZHOU ; Yucai ZHANG ; Yun CUI ; Fei WANG ; Rongxin CHEN ; Qunfang RONG ; Chunxia WANG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2020;58(6):482-487
Objective:To compare the clinical features and outcomes of cancer-related and non-cancer-related sepsis in children who were admitted pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).Methods:The clinical history of patients with sepsis, who were admitted to PICU in Shanghai Children′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2016 to July 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 768 patients were divided into the cancer-related sepsis group (135 cases) and the non-cancer-related sepsis group (633 cases). The patients in the cancer-related group were further categorized into three subgroups including hematological malignancy (80 cases), solid tumor (43 cases) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) (12 cases). The variables of clinical features, laboratory tests, pathogens, management strategies and in-hospital mortality were compared between the two groups by student t test, Mann-Whitney U test or Chi-square test. Results:The patients with cancer-related sepsis accounted for 17.6% of all patients (135/768). Regarding the site of initial infection, the incidence of gastrointestinal infection (43.0% (58/135) vs. 28.6% (181/633), χ 2=10.718, P=0.001), blood stream infection (29.6% (40/135) vs. 17.1% (108/633), χ 2=11.297, P=0.001) and skin and soft tissue infection (22.2% (30/135) vs. 4.1% (26/633), χ 2=54.013, P<0.01) were higher in the patients with cancer-related sepsis than in those with non-cancer-related sepsis. On first PICU admission, the levels of hemoglobin (71 (61, 83) vs. 106 (92, 116) g/L, Z=13.594, P<0.01), white blood cell (1.4 (0.3, 5.2) vs. 9.8 (5.8, 15.1)×10 9/L, Z=11.213, P<0.01), platelet count (51 (15, 121) vs. 286 (192, 384)×10 9/L, Z=13.336, P<0.01), CD19 +cells (0.106 (0.008, 0.274) vs. 0.325 (0.224, 0.454), Z=6.555, P<0.01), and neutrophil (0.449 (0.170, 0.730) vs. 0.683 (0.537, 0.800), Z=5.974, P<0.01) were significantly lower in patients with cancer-related sepsis; however, the levels of C-reactive protein (82 (25, 155) vs. 36 (11, 86) mg/L, Z=-5.257, P<0.01), procalcitonin (1.5 (0.3, 12.0) vs. 0.8 (0.2, 4.0) μg/L, Z=-2.767, P=0.006), CD8 +cells (0.329 (0.253, 0.514) vs. 0.209 (0.156, 0.275), Z=-5.699, P<0.01), interleukin (IL) -6 (0.1 (0.1, 522.4) vs. 0.1 (0.1, 0.1) ng/L, Z=-2.747, P=0.006), IL-8 (0.1 (0.1, 177.0) vs. 0.1 (0.1, 4.5) ng/L, Z=-2.087, P=0.037), and IL-10 (0.1 (0.1, 42.7) vs. 0.1 (0.1, 6.6) ng/L, Z=-2.148, P=0.032) were significantly higher in patients with cancer-related sepsis. Similarly, the rate of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) (34.8% (47/135) vs. 16.9% (107/633), χ 2=26.267, P<0.01) and the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (83.0% (112/135) vs. 66.2% (419/633), χ 2=14.667, P<0.01) were significantly higher in cancer-related sepsis group. Moreover, the incidence of co-infection with fungi was also higher in cancer-related sepsis group (14.1% (19/135) vs. 0.5%(3/633), χ 2=73.965, P<0.01), and so was the number of multiple organ dysfunction (3 (2, 5) vs. 2 (1, 3), Z=-6.988, P<0.01). Finally, the in-hospital mortality rate of cancer-related sepsis and non-cancer-related sepsis were 36.3% (49/135) and 9.3% (59/633), respectively, also significantly different (χ 2=67.000, P<0.01). There was no difference in the in-hospital mortality among children with hematologic tumors, solid tumors and HLH (35.0% (28/80) vs. 32.6% (14/43) vs. 7/12, χ 2=2.838, P=0.242). Conclusions:The site of initial infection, inflammatory markers on PICU admission, and co-infection pathogen during hospitalization are different between patients with cancer-related sepsis and non-cancer-related sepsis. Besides, the in-hospital mortality of cancer-related sepsis is about 4-fold that of non-cancer-related sepsis. The monitoring of clinical features and organ dysfunction, and timely treatment are crucial for cancer-related sepsis.
9.Genetic characteristics of 313 patients with thalassemia gene in Ningbo area of Zhejiang Province
Qunfang GE ; Yi ZHANG ; Qitian MU ; Yi WANG ; Fei GUO ; Guifang OUYANG
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2019;38(10):844-848
Objective To investigate the genetic characteristics of patients with thalassemia gene in Ningbo City.Methods Totally 313 patients with thalassemia gene diagnosed during March 2015 to April 2016 in Ningbo First Hospital were included in the study.The results of routine blood test,hemoglobin electrophoresis and gene test,as well as the gender and origin distribution of patients with thalassemia gene were analyzed.Results Of the 313 patients who carried the thalassemia gene,there were 289 females and 24 males with a median age of 29 years,ranging from 1 d to 57 years after birth.And of the 313 patients,75 carried the α-thalassemia gene,230 β-thalassemia and 8 composite thalassemia.The average value of hemoglobin was around 100 g/L and the average value of erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was less than 80 ft.Abnormal hemoglobin was usually found in α-thalassemia.81.74% (188/230) of β-thalassemia had abnormal hemoglobin electrophoresis.Most of the patients were women who were diagnosed of anemia in routine prenatal examination.The number of patients,who came from Ningbo City or one of whose grandparents came from Ningbo City,was closed to 50%.Among 20 α-thalassemia patients coming from Ningbo City,genotype of--sea was the commonest genotype,accounted for 70.00% (14/20).Among 82 β3-thalassemia patients coming from Ningbo,genotype of IVS-Ⅱ-654 was commonest genotype,accounted for 54.88% (45/82).Genotypes of 2 composite thalassemia coming from Ningbo City were αcs compound IVS-Ⅱ-654 and-α3.7 compound CD41-42.Conclusions In Ningbo City,the incidence of thalassemia in women in Ningbo is higher than that in men.The morbidity of β-thalassemia genotype is apparently higher than that of α-thalassemia,and genotype of IVS-Ⅱ-654 in β3-thalassemia patients is the commonest genotype.
10.Preliminary study on effect and mechanism of MgIG in improvement of pulmonary fibrosis induced by radiation in mice
Pan ZHANG ; Tao LIU ; Fangqin WANG ; Qunfang YANG ; Xiaohong CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2017;33(2):201-205,206
Aim To investigate the effect of magnesi-um isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG)on radiation -induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and the mechanism.Meth-ods Fifty female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divid-ed into control group,irradiation (RT)group,MgIG group,RT +MgIG group and RT +dexamethasone (DXM)group,with 1 0 mice in each group.Except for control group and MgIG group,the remaining mice were given a single 1 5Gy 60 Co γray on whole lung. The mice in each group were administered 2 h before irradiation and each day after irradiation:MgIG group and RT +MgIG group were administered with MgIG (1 00 mg·kg -1 )by intraperitoneal injection;control group and RT group were administered with normal sa-line (20 mL·kg -1 )by intraperitoneal injection;RT+DXMgroup was administered with DXM(0.5 mg· kg -1 )by intraperitoneal injection.After 1 2 weeks,the mice were sacrificed and lung tissues were taken out. The degree of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis were observed by HE staining and Masson staining.The ex-pressions of type Ⅰ collagen,type Ⅲ collagen and TGF-β1 protein were detected by immunohistochem-isty.Results The alveolitis,pulmonary fibrosis and expressions of type Ⅰ collagen,type Ⅲ collagen, TGF-β1 ,p-Smad2,p-Smad3 increased significantly in RT group compared with control group (P <0.05 ), and were significantly lower in RT +MgIG group and RT +DXMgroup than those in RT group(P <0.05). Conclusion MgIG can improve radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mouse lung tissue,and its mech-anism may be related to the influence of MgIG on TGF-βsignaling pathway.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail