1.Treatment of Hyperuricemia and Gouty Arthritis by Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng Decoction via Inhibition of PPAR-γ/NF-κB/AGEs/RAGE Pathway Based on Network Pharmacology
Yue CAO ; Wanmei YAO ; Tao YANG ; Man YANG ; Ruimin JIA ; Rongrong LU ; Xue FENG ; Biwang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):182-192
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the potential molecular biological mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction in treating hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology and preliminarily verify the mechanism through animal experiments. MethodsThe active ingredients and targets in the Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction were obtained by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and ETCM databases. The DisGeNET and GeneCards databases were utilized to acquire disease targets associated with hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. These disease targets were then intersected with drug targets to identify key targets. The R language ClusterProfiler package and Python were employed for conducting gene ontology(GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) enrichment analysis. The regulatory network diagram of the drug-key target-function-pathway was visualized using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network for key targets was depicted. Finally, the hub gene was determined through topological analysis. Auto Dock, PyMOL, and other software were used for molecular docking to explore the possible therapeutic mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction for hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis. In animal experiments, a composite rat model of hyperuricemia induced by intraperitoneal injection of oteracil potassium combined with gouty arthritis induced by the modified Coderre method was established. Through hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, uric acid test, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Western blot, and real-time polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR), the molecular mechanism and key targets of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction for treating hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis were observed. ResultsAfter screening and removing duplicate values, 76 active ingredients and 15 key targets were finally obtained. GO enrichment analysis yielded that the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis with Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction was significantly associated with acute inflammatory response, astrocyte activation, regulation of interleukin (IL)-8 production, nuclear receptor activity, and binding of growth factor receptor. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained that the key target genes were significantly associated with the IL-17 signaling pathway, advanced glycosylation end/receptor of advanced glycation endproducts(AGE/RAGE) signaling pathway, anti-inflammatory, and other pathways. PPI network indicated that albumin(ALB), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), IL-6, IL-1β, and C-reactive protein(CRP) were the key protein targets. The molecular docking results showed that ALB had the strongest binding force with beta-carotene (β-carotene). Biochemical results showed that blood uric acid decreased in the Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction groups. HE staining results showed that the low-dose (7.76 g·kg-1·d-1), medium-dose (15.53 g·kg-1·d-1), and high-dose (31.05 g·kg-1·d-1) groups of Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction had different degrees of remission, and the remission of the high-dose group was the most obvious. Fibroblastic tissue hyperplasia in synovial joints accompanied with inflammatory cell infiltration, as well as inflammatory cell infiltration in renal tissue of the high-dose group was significantly reduced, followed by the medium-dose and low-dose groups, and the expression of ALB, PPAR-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, and CRP was down-regulated to different degrees. ConclusionBy regulating the targets such as ALB, PPAR-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, and CRP, inhibiting the PPAR-γ/nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB pathway, and reducing AGEs/RAGE-mediated inflammation, Buyang Huanwu Tongfeng decoction exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and activates blood circulation and diuresis in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis.
2.Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the mechanism of myopia-related factors secreted by human scleral fibroblasts
Rongrong CHAO ; Zhixiang DING ; Jing FAN ; Liu ZHENG
International Eye Science 2025;25(2):198-205
AIM: To investigate the effects of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1)on the secretion of transforming growth factor β2(TGF-β2), matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2)and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α)in human scleral fibroblasts(HSF)and their mechanism.METHODS: The cells were cultured with IGF-1 and PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor LY294002, respectively. CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability and determine the optimal concentration and time of drug action. Cell migration activity was observed by cell scratch method. To determine the effects of IGF-1 on HSF cells and the regulatory role of PI3K/AKT pathway, HSF cells were divided into control group(without drugs), IGF-1(80 μg/L)group, IGF-1+LY294002(80 μg/L+5 mmol/L)group, and LY294002(5 mmol/L)group, and were cultured for 24 h; the protein expression levels of TGF-β2, MMP-2, HIF-1α, PI3K and AKT were detected by Western blot; the fluorescence expression of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α was detected by cellular immunofluorescence.RESULTS: The results of CCK-8 showed that the cell viability of the 80 μg/L IGF-1 group cultured with different concentrations of IGF-1 was the highest(all P<0.05), and the cell viability of the 80 μg/L IGF-1 group at 24 h was the highest under different culture times. Therefore, the concentration of IGF-1 was selected as 80 μg/L for 24 h. The viability of cells cultured with different concentrations of LY294002 gradually decreased from 6 h(all P<0.05). According to the IC50 value, therefore, the concentration of LY294002 was selected as 5 mmol/L for 24 h. The cell scratch results showed that compared with the control group, the cell mobility of 40 μg/L and 80 μg/L IGF-1 groups was increased(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, cell mobility in the 2.5 and 5 mmol/L LY294002 groups was decreased(all P<0.05). Western blot results showed that compared with the control group, the protein expressions of TGF-β2, MMP-2, HIF-1α, PI3K and AKT in the IGF-1 group were increased, while those in the LY294002 group were decreased(all P<0.05). Compared with the IGF-1 group, the expression levels of TGF-β2, MMP-2, HIF-1α, PI3K and AKT in the IGF-1+LY294002 group were decreased(all P<0.05). The results of cell immunofluorescence showed that compared with the control group, the fluorescence expressions of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α in the IGF-1 group were increased, while those in the LY294002 group were decreased(all P<0.05). Compared with the IGF-1 group, the fluorescence expressions of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α in the IGF-1+LY294002 group were significantly decreased(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: IGF-1 promoted the proliferation and migration of human HSF. IGF-1 may up-regulate the expression of TGF-β2, MMP-2 and HIF-1α in HSF through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and participate in the occurrence and development of myopia.
3.Marginal Zone Lymphoma with Recurrent Intestinal Obstruction After Multiple Chemotherapy: A Case Report
Sirui HAN ; Yan ZHANG ; Guannan ZHANG ; Peijun LIU ; Wen SHI ; Wenbo LI ; Rongrong LI ; Congwei JIA ; Jian CAO ; Wei WANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1344-1351
This article reports a diagnostically and therapeutically challenging case of small intestinal marginal zone lymphoma. The patient presented with recurrent abdominal pain as the chief complaint, and imaging revealed multifocal small bowel wall thickening with high uptake, multisegmental luminal stenosis, and proximal dilation. Initial diagnostic workup, including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, and enteroscopy with biopsy, failed to establish a definitive diagnosis. Empirical anti-tuberculosis therapy was ineffective. A repeat enteroscopic biopsy performed over eight months after symptom onset eventually confirmed the diagnosis of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) extranodal marginal zone lymphoma. Despite three different chemotherapy regimens, the patient's intestinal obstruction symptoms persisted, with imaging still showing multifocal bowel wall thickening and hypermetabolic activity. A critical diagnostic dilemma arose regarding whether the PET/CT-positive lesions represented residual lymphoma or fibrotic scarring, whether further chemotherapy adjustments were warranted, and whether surgical resection was necessary. Multidisciplinary discussion concluded that imaging had limited discriminatory value in this scenario and that surgical intervention should be pursued if feasible. The patient successfully underwent partial small bowel resection, with postoperative pathology confirming no residual lymphoma but significant fibrotic changes. The patient has since resumed a normal diet, with body weight nearly restored to pre-illness levels. This case highlights that fibrotic transformation is a common sequela of treated marginal zone lymphoma and that PET/CT may misleadingly suggest residual disease, potentially leading to unnecessary chemotherapy. Timely surgical intervention is crucial in such scenarios.
4.Research progress on the pharmacokinetics of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs under different intraocular injection methods
International Eye Science 2025;25(9):1466-1470
Fundus neovascular diseases(FNDs)are ocular diseases caused by pathological changes in retinal blood vessels, which are the leading cause of visual impairment globally. The overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)plays an important role in the formation of new blood vessels, and the current first-line treatment for FNDs is anti-VEGF drugs. The eyes have a special blood-eye barrier, which makes it difficult for eye drops, oral or intravenous drugs to enter the eye and exert their effects. Intraocular injection can bypass this barrier and directly inject drugs into the eye, which is the main route of administration for the treatment of eye diseases. Compared with systemic administration, it is more conducive to enrich the drug at the target site and reduce systemic adverse reactions. Intraocular administrations include intravitreal injection(IVI), suprachoroidal space(SCS)injection, subretinal injection(SRI), drug delivery systems and other invasive intraocular treatments. Previous studies have shown that different intraocular administration methods can affect the pharmacokinetic(PK)properties of drugs. This article reviews the PK changes of anti-VEGF drugs under different intraocular administration methods.
5.Artificial Intelligence Empowers Digestive Endoscopy:Clinical Status, Challenges, Countermeasures and Future Prospects
Qinfei XUE ; Hui ZONG ; Rongrong WU ; Xingyu LIU ; Bairong SHEN ; Rui LI
Journal of Medical Informatics 2025;46(9):1-8
Purpose/Significance To summarize the application progress of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of digestive endoscopy, to analyze the key challenges and look forward to future trends, so as to provide guidance for clinical practice and research. Method/Process Domestic and international literature databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI are retrieved. The application research of AI in the auxiliary diagnosis, process optimization and treatment precision of digestive endoscopy is sorted out. Result/Conclusion Although AI has significant clinical value in the field of digestive endoscopy, its application still faces major challenges, and its prospects and limitations need to be further discussed.
6.Regulation of iron metabolism in ferroptosis: From mechanism research to clinical translation.
Xin ZHANG ; Yang XIANG ; Qingyan WANG ; Xinyue BAI ; Dinglun MENG ; Juan WU ; Keyao SUN ; Lei ZHANG ; Rongrong QIANG ; Wenhan LIU ; Xiang ZHANG ; Jingling QIANG ; Xiaolong LIU ; Yanling YANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(10):101304-101304
Iron is an essential trace element in the human body, crucial in maintaining normal physiological functions. Recent studies have identified iron ions as a significant factor in initiating the ferroptosis process, a novel mode of programmed cell death characterized by iron overload and lipid peroxide accumulation. The iron metabolism pathway is one of the primary mechanisms regulating ferroptosis, as it maintains iron homeostasis within the cell. Numerous studies have demonstrated that abnormalities in iron metabolism can trigger the Fenton reaction, exacerbating oxidative stress, and leading to cell membrane rupture, cellular dysfunction, and damage to tissue structures. Therefore, regulation of iron metabolism represents a key strategy for ameliorating ferroptosis and offers new insights for treating diseases associated with iron metabolism imbalances. This review first summarizes the mechanisms that regulate iron metabolic pathways in ferroptosis and discusses the connections between the pathogenesis of various diseases and iron metabolism. Next, we introduce natural and synthetic small molecule compounds, hormones, proteins, and new nanomaterials that can affect iron metabolism. Finally, we provide an overview of the challenges faced by iron regulators in clinical translation and a summary and outlook on iron metabolism in ferroptosis, aiming to pave the way for future exploration and optimization of iron metabolism regulation strategies.
7.Association of physical activity with anxiety symptoms and academic performance among junior high school students in Anqing City
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(12):1746-1749
Objective:
To explore the association between physical activity, anxiety symptoms and academic performance among junior high school students, so as to provide data support for optimizing school physical education and health work and formulating physical activity guidelines.
Methods:
From September to December 2022, a convenience cluster sampling method was used to survey 2 800 junior high school students in a middle school from Anqing City, Anhui Province. Data were collected on the students anxiety symptoms, academic performance, 24 hour physical activity [moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity(MVPA), light intensity physical activity(LPA), sedentary behavior(SB), and sleep(SLP) duration] as well as demographic characteristics. Compositional data analysis was used to explore the associations between 24 hour physical activity, anxiety symptoms and academic performance among junior high school students, and to predict the optimal time use combination pattern.
Results:
Among the junior high school students, 16.0% (447 students) reported anxiety symptoms, and 42.0% (1 175 students) achieved excellent or good academic performance. Compositional data analysis showed that increased SLP duration was associated with both reduced anxiety symptoms ( β =-0.18) and decreased academic performance ( β =-0.03) among junior high school students; increased MVPA duration was correlated with fewer anxiety symptoms ( β =-0.02) and lower academic performance ( β =-0.13); in contrast, increased SB duration was linked to more anxiety symptoms ( β =0.09) and higher academic performance ( β =0.09) (all P <0.01). LPA duration exhibited a non linear relationship with anxiety symptoms and academic performance in junior high school students (all P >0.05). The time use combination pattern corresponding to the lowest anxiety symptoms and highest academic performance (top 5%) in adolescents was 611 (520-640) minutes of SLP, 258 (230-320) minutes of SB, 454 (280-610) minutes of LPA, and 117 (20-200) minutes of MVPA per day.
Conclusions
The 24 hour physical activity of junior high school students is associated with anxiety symptoms and academic performance. Therefore, it is recommended to increase the time spent on SB, MVPA, and LPA for junior high school students, while reducing SB.
8.Epidemiological characteristics of rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis among students in Chongqing during 2015-2024
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(12):1771-1775
Objective:
To delineate the epidemiologic profile of rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (RR-PTB) among students in Chongqing, so as to provide evidence for effectively controlling RR-PTB outbreaks in schools.
Methods:
Individual level surveillance records of 395 student RR-PTB cases reported from 2015 to 2024 were extracted from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The Joinpoint regression analysis was employed to quantify temporal trends in the registration rate of student RR-PTB cases, and the comparison of RR-PTB registration rates with different demographic characteristics and different regions was performed using Chi-square test.
Results:
From 2015 to 2024, a total of 395 student RR-PTB cases were identified, with the registration rate ranged from 0.07 per 100 000 to 1.47 per 100 000, showed a fluctuating upward trend ( AAPC= 35.22%, t =4.13, P <0.01). A turning point was detected in 2017, rates rose during 2015-2017 (APC=295.23%, t =4.62, P < 0.01 ) and plateaued thereafter (APC=-0.47%, t =-0.12, P =0.91). The proportion of RR-PTB cases occurring among students increased both among all RR-PTB cases (1.54% in 2015, 7.48% in 2024) and all student pulmonary tuberculosis cases (0.20% in 2015, 7.17% in 2024), with significant linear trends ( χ 2 trend =33.55,159.98, both P <0.01). The majority of cases were enrolled in senior high school (50.38%), classified as retreatment (53.92%), of Han ethnicity (75.95%), and diagnosed with multidrug resistant tuberculosis(53.16%). There were significant differences in the composition of different ethnicity, registration category and resistance pattern between different years( χ 2=23.47, 17.23, 59.64,all P <0.05). The South-Eastern Wuling Mountainous Region exhibited the highest notification rate (3.96 per 100 000), whereas the western region had the lowest rate ( 0.47 per 100 000). County level jurisdictions reported higher rates than district level ones (2.16 per 100 000 vs 0.63 per 100 000 ). Statistically significant differences were observed in the RR-PTB reported rates among students across different districts and counties( χ 2=418.05,167.05,both P <0.01).
Conclusions
From 2015 to 2024, the registration rate of detected student RR-PTB cases in Chongqing showed an increasing trend. Students have become one of the key populations for drug resistant TB prevention and control. Intensified health education and active case finding should be implemented to enhance proactive surveillance capabilities.
9.Effects of cognition-related lifestyles on early cognitive decline in community older adults in China
Haowei LI ; Shige QI ; Shengshu WANG ; Shanshan YANG ; Shimin CHEN ; Rongrong LI ; Xuehang LI ; Shaohua LIU ; Junhan YANG ; Huaihao LI ; Yinghui BAO ; Yueting SHI ; Zhihui WANG ; Yao HE ; Miao LIU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(1):63-70
Objective:To investigate the distribution characteristics of cognition-related lifestyles of elderly in communities and explore the integrated effects on early cognitive decline.Methods:The participants were from the Project of Prevention and Intervention of Neurodegenerative Disease for Elderly in China. A total of 2 537 older adults aged ≥60 years without dementia in the 2015 baseline survey and the 2017 follow-up survey were included. The information about their cognition-related lifestyles, including physical exercise, social interaction, leisure activity, sleep quality, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, were collected through questionnaire survey and the integrated scores were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between integrated cognition-related lifestyle score and early cognitive decline.Results:In the 2 537 older adults surveyed, 28.7% had score of 5-6, while only 4.8% had high scores for all 6 healthy lifestyles. Significant differences in healthy lifestyle factor distributions were observed between men and women. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that the risks for early cognitive decline in the older adults who had lifestyle score of 4 and 5-6 were lower than that in those with lifestyle score of 0-3 ( OR=0.683, 95% CI: 0.457-1.019; OR=0.623, 95% CI: 0.398-0.976; trend P=0.030). In the women, the risks for early cognitive decline was lower in groups with score of 4 and 5-6 than in group with score of 0-3 ( OR=0.491, 95% CI: 0.297-0.812; OR=0.556, 95% CI: 0.332-0.929; trend P=0.024). Conclusion:Cognition-related healthy lifestyles are associated with significantly lower risk for early cognitive decline in the elderly, especially in women.
10.Transfer learning enhanced graph neural network for aldehyde oxidase metabolism prediction and its experimental application.
Jiacheng XIONG ; Rongrong CUI ; Zhaojun LI ; Wei ZHANG ; Runze ZHANG ; Zunyun FU ; Xiaohong LIU ; Zhenghao LI ; Kaixian CHEN ; Mingyue ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):623-634
Aldehyde oxidase (AOX) is a molybdoenzyme that is primarily expressed in the liver and is involved in the metabolism of drugs and other xenobiotics. AOX-mediated metabolism can result in unexpected outcomes, such as the production of toxic metabolites and high metabolic clearance, which can lead to the clinical failure of novel therapeutic agents. Computational models can assist medicinal chemists in rapidly evaluating the AOX metabolic risk of compounds during the early phases of drug discovery and provide valuable clues for manipulating AOX-mediated metabolism liability. In this study, we developed a novel graph neural network called AOMP for predicting AOX-mediated metabolism. AOMP integrated the tasks of metabolic substrate/non-substrate classification and metabolic site prediction, while utilizing transfer learning from 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data to enhance its performance on both tasks. AOMP significantly outperformed the benchmark methods in both cross-validation and external testing. Using AOMP, we systematically assessed the AOX-mediated metabolism of common fragments in kinase inhibitors and successfully identified four new scaffolds with AOX metabolism liability, which were validated through in vitro experiments. Furthermore, for the convenience of the community, we established the first online service for AOX metabolism prediction based on AOMP, which is freely available at https://aomp.alphama.com.cn.


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