1.Sex-specific effects of Semen Cuscutae aqueous extract on behavior, proteomics, and gut microbiota in rats
Zihan ZHAO ; Yaling YANG ; Junhui ZHOU ; Jie REN ; Zhiqiang LUO ; Ruibin BAI ; Jian YANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):50-61
Background: Sex-based differences often influence the therapeutic efficacy and safety of medications. Semen Cuscutae is a traditional tonic botanical drug with sex-specific characteristics, traditionally indicated for conditions such as impotence (exclusive to males) and restless fetus (exclusive to pregnant females). However, most existing studies have focused on a single sex. Objective: To evaluate the sex-specific biological effects of Semen Cuscutae in rats and explore its molecular mechanisms, with the aim of uncovering its pharmacological characteristics through a multiomics approach. Methods: A traditional aqueous extract of Semen Cuscutae (SCA) was used as the experimental material. Forty adult Sprague-Dawley rats (equal numbers of males and females) were randomly divided into 4 groups: male control, male SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), female control, and female SCA treatment (240 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group. The biological effects were comprehensively evaluated using a combination of open field test, biochemical analyses, proteomics, and gut microbiota profiling. Results: As a tonic botanical drug, SCA appeared to directly affect the mental and behavioral state of rats. It significantly altered the time spent by rats in the center area during the open field test, showing a sex-dependent reversal of behaviors. Proteomic analysis of brain tissue identified 624 differentially expressed proteins across the groups, with 10 key differentially expressed proteins related to sex differences, including fibroblast growth factor receptor 3, transcription elongation factor A protein-like 1, 40S ribosomal protein S25, neural cell adhesion molecule, and anion exchange protein 2 (SLC4A2). Enrichment analysis revealed that in male rats, SCA upregulated proteins involved in biological processes such as ribosome function and energy derivation, supporting protein synthesis and enhancing energy supply, showing an overall gain effect. In contrast, in female rats, SCA downregulated proteins associated with processes such as positive regulation of target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and vesicle transport, suggesting suppression of neuronal signaling and material transport, indicative of a shift toward a more restrained physiological state. Furthermore, SCA reduced gut microbiota diversity in female rats but increased it in males, including the abundance of Akkermansia, which may serve as a crucial mediator. Conclusion: Overall, the biological effects of SCA differ significantly between male and female rats, with evidence suggesting greater health benefits in males. These findings help elucidate the scientific basis of its traditional applications and provide guidance for the precise application of SCA as a functional health food.
2.Deep learning-based fusion of color and spectral features from hyperspectral imaging for the origin identification of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Ruibin BAI ; Feng XIONG ; Hui WANG ; Meiqi LUAN ; Junhui ZHOU ; Xiufu WAN ; Zihan ZHAO ; Xiaobo ZHANG ; Chu ZHANG ; Jian YANG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(3):250-258
Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, commonly known as “Danshen” in China due to the distinctive red color of its roots, is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines. It is cultivated in various regions across China, and environmental differences among these regions can affect the secondary metabolites of plants, thereby influencing the quality of S. miltiorrhiza. In recent years, increasing demand for S. miltiorrhiza has exacerbated the problem of origin fraud. Therefore, ensuring the authenticity of its geographical origin is crucial for the sustainable development of the industry. Objective: The red coloration of S. miltiorrhiza is closely associated with the content of its primary active compounds, particularly tanshinones. Therefore, both its internal chemical composition and external color characteristics serve as key indicators for quality assessment. This study utilized hyperspectral imaging technology to evaluate its potential in classifying the geographical origin of S. miltiorrhiza. Methods: Spectral data reflecting the internal chemical properties of S. miltiorrhiza were integrated with color information representing its external features through 3 levels of data fusion. These fused datasets were then combined with deep learning algorithms to achieve accurate origin classification. Results: The results demonstrated that the Transformer model combined with soft-voting decision-level fusion achieved the highest classification accuracy of 98.72% by integrating image color and short-wave infrared spectral data. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that integrating hyperspectral imaging spectral data with color information provides a reliable and innovative approach for verifying the authenticity and traceability of S. miltiorrhiza.
3.Deep learning-based fusion of color and spectral features from hyperspectral imaging for the origin identification of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Bai RUIBIN ; Xiong FENG ; Wang HUI ; Luan MEIQI ; Zhou JUNHUI ; Wan XIUFU ; Zhao ZIHAN ; Zhang XIAOBO ; Zhang CHU ; Yang JIAN
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(3):250-258
Background:Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge,commonly known as"Danshen"in China due to the distinctive red color of its roots,is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines.It is cultivated in various regions across China,and environmental differences among these regions can affect the secondary metabolites of plants,thereby influencing the quality of S.miltiorrhiza.In recent years,increasing demand for S.miltiorrhiza has exacerbated the problem of origin fraud.Therefore,ensuring the authenticity of its geo-graphical origin is crucial for the sustainable development of the industry.Objective:The red coloration of S.miltiorrhiza is closely associated with the content of its primary active compounds,particularly tanshinones.Therefore,both its internal chemical composition and external color characteristics serve as key indicators for quality assessment.This study utilized hyperspectral imaging technology to evaluate its potential in classifying the geographical origin of S.miltiorrhiza.Methods:Spectral data reflecting the internal chemical properties of S.miltiorrhiza were integrated with color information represent-ing its external features through 3 levels of data fusion.These fused datasets were then combined with deep learning algorithms to achieve accurate origin classification.Results:The results demonstrated that the Transformer model combined with soft-voting decision-level fusion achieved the highest classification accuracy of 98.72%by integrating image color and short-wave infrared spectral data.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that integrating hyperspectral imaging spectral data with color information provides a reliable and innovative approach for verifying the authenticity and traceability of S.miltiorrhiza.
4.Prediction of pathological classification of ground glass nodules based on artificial intelligence CT quantitative parameters and histogram parameters
Jie XU ; Ruibin YANG ; Lihua ZHAO ; Lizhen LUO ; Xiuqin GUO
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(4):318-321
Objective:To analyze the prediction of pathological classification of ground glass nodules based on artificial intelligence computed tomography (CT) quantitative parameters combined with histogram parameters.Methods:The clinical data of 268 suspected patients with ground glass nodules admitted to Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects. They were divided into pre invasive lesions group (100 cases) and invasive lesions group(168 cases) according to pathological classification. Basic data of patients with different pathological classifications and the CT characteristics were compared, the prediction of pathological classification of ground glass nodules based on CT quantitative parameters combined and histogram parameters were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The edge and boundary of the tumor, shape of the lesion, the peripheral signs of the lesion and the boundary between the two groups had statistical differences ( P<0.05). The CT quantitative parameters of maximum diameter, lesion volume, average CT value in the invasive lesions group and pre invasive lesions group had statistical differences: (15.29 ± 3.20) cm vs. (9.75 ± 2.14) cm, (1.54 ± 0.31) cm 3 vs. (0.51 ± 0.10) cm 3, (- 328.16 ± 46.35) HU vs. (-541.25 ± 100.30) HU, P<0.05. The CT histogram parameters of inproportion of solid components, entropy and maximum CT value in the invasive lesions group and pre invasive lesions group had statistical differences: (66.39 ± 13.25)% vs. (42.65 ± 11.20)%, 4.31 ± 0.52 vs. 3.32 ± 0.39, (-75.34 ± 21.27) HU vs. (-141.72 ± 32.43)HU, P<0.05. Compared with the single prediction of CT quantitative parameters and CT histogram parameters, the combined prediction of the two parameters had higher value in predicting different pathological subtypes of ground glass nodules (the area under the curve was 0.877, P = 0.001). Conclusions:The combined detection of CT quantitative parameters and histogram parameters based on artificial intelligence can effectively evaluate the invasion status of ground glass nodules, which is beneficial for improving the detection of different pathological types of ground glass nodules.
5.Deep learning-based fusion of color and spectral features from hyperspectral imaging for the origin identification of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Bai RUIBIN ; Xiong FENG ; Wang HUI ; Luan MEIQI ; Zhou JUNHUI ; Wan XIUFU ; Zhao ZIHAN ; Zhang XIAOBO ; Zhang CHU ; Yang JIAN
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;3(3):250-258
Background:Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge,commonly known as"Danshen"in China due to the distinctive red color of its roots,is one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines.It is cultivated in various regions across China,and environmental differences among these regions can affect the secondary metabolites of plants,thereby influencing the quality of S.miltiorrhiza.In recent years,increasing demand for S.miltiorrhiza has exacerbated the problem of origin fraud.Therefore,ensuring the authenticity of its geo-graphical origin is crucial for the sustainable development of the industry.Objective:The red coloration of S.miltiorrhiza is closely associated with the content of its primary active compounds,particularly tanshinones.Therefore,both its internal chemical composition and external color characteristics serve as key indicators for quality assessment.This study utilized hyperspectral imaging technology to evaluate its potential in classifying the geographical origin of S.miltiorrhiza.Methods:Spectral data reflecting the internal chemical properties of S.miltiorrhiza were integrated with color information represent-ing its external features through 3 levels of data fusion.These fused datasets were then combined with deep learning algorithms to achieve accurate origin classification.Results:The results demonstrated that the Transformer model combined with soft-voting decision-level fusion achieved the highest classification accuracy of 98.72%by integrating image color and short-wave infrared spectral data.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that integrating hyperspectral imaging spectral data with color information provides a reliable and innovative approach for verifying the authenticity and traceability of S.miltiorrhiza.
6.Prediction of pathological classification of ground glass nodules based on artificial intelligence CT quantitative parameters and histogram parameters
Jie XU ; Ruibin YANG ; Lihua ZHAO ; Lizhen LUO ; Xiuqin GUO
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(4):318-321
Objective:To analyze the prediction of pathological classification of ground glass nodules based on artificial intelligence computed tomography (CT) quantitative parameters combined with histogram parameters.Methods:The clinical data of 268 suspected patients with ground glass nodules admitted to Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital from June 2021 to June 2023 were retrospectively selected as the research subjects. They were divided into pre invasive lesions group (100 cases) and invasive lesions group(168 cases) according to pathological classification. Basic data of patients with different pathological classifications and the CT characteristics were compared, the prediction of pathological classification of ground glass nodules based on CT quantitative parameters combined and histogram parameters were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:The edge and boundary of the tumor, shape of the lesion, the peripheral signs of the lesion and the boundary between the two groups had statistical differences ( P<0.05). The CT quantitative parameters of maximum diameter, lesion volume, average CT value in the invasive lesions group and pre invasive lesions group had statistical differences: (15.29 ± 3.20) cm vs. (9.75 ± 2.14) cm, (1.54 ± 0.31) cm 3 vs. (0.51 ± 0.10) cm 3, (- 328.16 ± 46.35) HU vs. (-541.25 ± 100.30) HU, P<0.05. The CT histogram parameters of inproportion of solid components, entropy and maximum CT value in the invasive lesions group and pre invasive lesions group had statistical differences: (66.39 ± 13.25)% vs. (42.65 ± 11.20)%, 4.31 ± 0.52 vs. 3.32 ± 0.39, (-75.34 ± 21.27) HU vs. (-141.72 ± 32.43)HU, P<0.05. Compared with the single prediction of CT quantitative parameters and CT histogram parameters, the combined prediction of the two parameters had higher value in predicting different pathological subtypes of ground glass nodules (the area under the curve was 0.877, P = 0.001). Conclusions:The combined detection of CT quantitative parameters and histogram parameters based on artificial intelligence can effectively evaluate the invasion status of ground glass nodules, which is beneficial for improving the detection of different pathological types of ground glass nodules.
7.Progress of 5-HT2A receptor antagonists in treatment of hallucinatory symptoms induced by neuropsychiatric disorders
Yu ZHAO ; Aibing CHEN ; Gang YU ; Ruibin SU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(5):384-391
Neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson disease,Alzheimer disease,and schizo-phrenia may induce hallucinations,delusions,and other psychiatric symptoms during the course of disease development.These symptoms are highly prevalent and difficult to cure,and have a impact on the lives of patients.Classical antipsychotic drugs such as chlorpromazine,sulpiride and perphenazine can con-trol related symptoms,but they can also cause uncontrollable extrapyramidal system reactions and side effects such as hyperprolactinemia.In recent years,it has been found that non-classical antipsy-chotics such as olanzapine,clozapine,risperidone and pimovanserin can treat hallucinatory symptoms in neuropsychiatric disorders by antagonising the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A(5-HT2A)receptor,or by antago-nising both the 5-HT2A receptor(strong)and the dopamine 2(D2)receptor(weak).In preclinical studies,non-classical antipsychotic drugs have shown great therapeutic effects against hallucination induced by multiple factors.Clinical studies have confirmed that these drugs improve psychotic symptoms(mainly hallucinations and delusions)significantly.In patients who are insensitive or tolerant to clozapine and risperidone,pimavanserin still shows therapeutic effects.At the same time,the incidence and severity of adverse reactions to non-classical antipsychotic drugs are reduced,and they are well tolerated.This article reviews the research progress in the role of 5-HT2A receptor antagonists in attenuating hallucino-genic symptoms so as to provide reference for the design and development of new therapeutic drugs.
8.Design,synthesis and activity evaluation of novel 5-HT2A receptor antagonists
Luobing HAN ; Shiyang SUN ; Yu ZHAO ; Gang YU ; Ruibin SU ; Zhibing ZHENG ; Song LI
Military Medical Sciences 2024;48(10):767-777
Objective To discover 5-HT2A receptor antagonist molecules with novel structures and explore their structure-activity relationship through structure-and mechanism-based drug design,synthesis and activity evaluation.Methods The way in which pimovanserin interacted with 5-HT2A receptor was analyzed via molecular docking,molecular dynamics simulation and binding free energy calculations.Based on the results of this study,the 5-HT2A receptor antagonist target compounds with novel structures were designed using pimovanserin as the lead molecule.According to the structures of target compounds,corresponding synthetic routes were designed.The heterocyclic methylamine intermediates were obtained by reductive amination or reduction reaction from heterocyclic formaldehyde or heterocyclic methanonitrile before being reacted with 4-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-1-methylpiperidine to obtain the target compounds using CDI urea synthesis method.The inhibitory activity of the target compounds against 5-HT2A receptor was tested at the cellular level,and the anti-hallucinogenic effects of the target compounds were tested in the mouse head twitch response model.Results Twelvenovel compounds were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by HR-MS,1H-NMR and 13C-NMR.The results of the activity assay showed that compounds 6a,6c and 6d exhibited better 5-HT2Areceptor inhibitoryactivity with IC50 values of 120,152 and 285 nmol/L,respectively while compounds 6c and 6d exhibited better anti-hallucinogenic activity in mice with inhibition rates of 97.0%and 82.9%(10 mg/kg),respectively.Conclusion The novel compound 6c and 6d have shown strong 5-HT2A receptor inhibitoryactivity and anti-hallucinogenic activity and deserve more research.Structure-activity relationship analyses of target compounds indicate that the repulsion of the heterocyclic ring with basic N atoms and the accommodation of the heterocyclic ring without basic N atoms by the side extended pocket of the 5-HT2A receptor could significantly affect the ex vivo and in vivo effects of antagonists.
9.Psychological dependence liability of gaboxadol in two-bottle free-choice model in mice
MUHEYATI ALAI ; Yu ZHAO ; Gang YU ; Ruibin SU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(2):97-104
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the psychological dependence of the extrasynaptic GABAA receptor(GABAAR)agonist gaboxadol and compare it with the synaptic GABAAR modulator midazolam in the two-bottle free-choice model of mice.METHODS ① Male C57BL/6J mice were ig administered with vehicle,midazolam(59.0,73.7,92.2,115.2,144.0 and 180.0 mg·kg-1)or gaboxadol(8.4,10.5,13.1,16.4,20.5,25.6 and 32.0 mg·kg-1),and the loss of righting reflex was observed.The median effective dose(ED50)was obtained from the dose-response curve.② A two-bottle free-choice model was used to find out whether gaboxadol and midazolam induced preference behavior in mice.The mice were divided into normal control,gaboxadol or midazolam groups.During the habituation stage(the first day to the third day,D1-D3),both test and vehicle bottles contained water.During the trail stage(D4-D5),4%sucrose solution was provided in both bottles.During the test stage(D6-D15),test bottles contained vehicle,gaboxadol(3.9×10-6 mol·L-1)or midazolam(1.4×10-5 mol·L-1)in sucrose solu-tions,while other bottles contained the corresponding vehicle in sucrose solutions.Bottles were placed on the two sides of the home cage,to which mice had free access,and their consumption from each bottle was recorded daily.Total consumption,accumulated daily consumption,relative consumption,and accumulated relative consumption during the test stage were calculated.The weight of the mice was also recorded.RESULTS ① Midazolam and gaboxadol dose-dependently increased the rate of loss of right reflex in mice,with ED50 of 105.3 mg·kg-1(95%CI:96.4-115.2 mg·kg-1,R2=0.9796),13.7 mg·kg-1(95%CI:12.6-15.0 mg·kg-1,R2=0.9773),respectively.② Compared with the normal control group,there was no significant difference in the total consumption in the gaboxadol and midazolam groups.Compared to the vehicle bottles,the daily consumption from test bottles in the midazolam group increased significantly on D11-D15 of the test stage(P<0.05),while daily consumption from gaboxadol test bottles was significantly higher than that of vehicle bottles(P<0.01).Compared with the normal control group,the daily relative consumption in the gaboxadol group was significantly increased on D9(P<0.05),and the accumulative relative consumption was significantly higher than in the normal control group(P<0.01).There was no significant change in body weight across the groups over the test stage.CONCLU-SION Like midazolam,gaboxadol exhibits psychological dependence potential in a two-bottle free-choice model.
10.Research and implementation of ideological and political elements into the medical physics curriculum
Lihua QIAO ; Jing ZHANG ; Lei LIU ; Ruibin ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2023;22(2):185-187
In order to improve the students' initiative and values in knowledge seeking, this study integrates ideological and political elements into the medical physics curriculum. On the basis of the standard curriculum, 11 ideological and political elements corresponding to 6 knowledge points are added to the courseware and teaching plan and implemented in the classroom. The changes of students' ideological and moral level and values before and after teaching were statistically analyzed by questionnaire. The results show that through the integration of ideological and political elements, 98.15% (106/108) think it is necessary to integrate the ideological and political elements into the curriculum. The proportion of students who study for the purpose of working skills, national medical care and world medical care has increased, while the proportion of students who earn credits has decreased, which shows that students' learning initiative and values have been improved.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail