1.Effect of Jianpi Huazhuo Tiaozhi Granule(健脾化浊调脂颗粒)on Perivascular Adipose Tissue Browning and PI3K/AKT Pathway in the Aorta of Atherosclerosis Model Mice
Zhuhua WANG ; Yanfang WANG ; Mingshu ZHONG ; Shupeng CHEN ; Yishun YUAN ; Shan HUANG ; Yanwei LIU ; Zhongyong LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(11):1200-1210
ObjectiveTo explore the possible mechanism of Jianpi Huazhuo Tiaozhi Granule (健脾化浊调脂颗粒, JHTG) in treating atherosclerosis (AS) based on the regulation of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) browning via the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. MethodsFifteen SPF male C57BL/6J mice served as control group, while 76 ApoE-/- mice were first fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks to establish AS model. After successful modeling, they were randomly divided into model group (n=16), as well as the browning group, the low-, medium- and high-dose JHTG group, with 15 mice in each group. The browning group was intraperitoneally injected with β3-adrenergic receptor agonist CL 316243 at 1 mg/(kg·d) once daily. The low-, medium- and high-dose JHTG groups were treated with 4.3 g/(kg·d), 8.6 g/(kg·d), and 17.2 g/(kg·d) of JHTG by gavage, respectively, while the control group and the model group were given normal saline at 10 ml/(kg·d) by intragastric administration, once daily. All groups received continuous intervention for 4 weeks. The aorta was collected to assess the plaque ratio by gross oil red O staining. HE staining was used to measure the plaque area in cross-sections. Masson staining was employed to detect the proportion of collagen fibers in plaque. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the quantity and morphological changes of mitochondria and lipid droplets in adipocytes. The levels of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were detected, as well as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in the PVAT and aorta. The protein levels of adiponectin and leptin in PVAT, and protein expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (p-PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), and PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) were measured. The mRNA expression levels of UCP1, PGC-1α and PRDM16 in PVAT were detected. ResultsCompared to the control group, the model group showed increased serum TG, TC, and LDL-C levels and decreased HDL-C level, elevated TNF-α and IL-6 levels in PVAT and aorta, decreased average fluorescence intensity of adiponectin, increased average fluorescence intensity of leptin, reduced p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT values as well as protein levels and mRNA expression levels of UCP1, PGC-1α and PRDM16 (P<0.01). The pathological results showed that no significant plaque formation was observed in the aortas of mice in the control group. In the model group, multiple plaques were observed in the aortas, with large numbers of foam cells, cholesterol crystals, and inflammatory cell aggregation in the plaques. Compared to the model group, the browning group and the high-dose JHTG group significantly improved the above indicators and aortic pathological changes (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Three JHTG groups showed a dose-dependent effect in reducing LDL-C level and plaque ratio by gross oil red O staining, elevating the average fluorescence intensity of adiponectin, the p-AKT/AKT value, the protein level of PGC-1α, and the mRNA expression levels of UCP1 and PRDM16 (P<0.05). The high-dose JHTG group and the browning group showed similar efficacy in improving the pathology of the aorta. ConclusionJHTG may promote PVAT browning in AS model mice through the PI3K/AKT pathway, improve the endocrine function of PVAT, inhibit aortic inflammation, and thereby ameliorate the formation of AS plaques.
2.Formulation and interpretation of the Guidelines for the Pharmacist-managed Clinics Service and Document Writing and Usage(Reference)
Lijuan YANG ; Quanzhi LI ; Kejing WANG ; Xiaofen YE ; Zining WANG ; Xuelian YAN ; Liang HUANG ; Juan LI ; Jiancun ZHEN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(11):1301-1305
The writing of pharmacist-managed clinics documents (hereinafter referred to as “outpatient medication record”) is a necessary part of pharmacist-managed clinics service. Outpatient medication record is an important carrier to reflect the quality of pharmacist-managed clinics service. The Chinese Hospital Association Pharmaceutical Specialized Committee was entrusted by the Pharmaceutical Administration Department of the National Health Commission to lead the formulation of the Guidelines for the Pharmacist-managed Clinics Service and Document Writing and Usage (Reference) (hereinafter referred to as Guidelines) according to the compilation method of group standards and the technical route of “documentation combing→framework establishment→draft writing→opinion collection→Guidelines formation”. The Guidelines standardizes the basic requirements of pharmacist-managed clinics record management and the basic content of record, and provides a general template and two specialized templates including pregnant and lactating pharmacist-managed clinics record template and cough and asthma pharmacist-managed clinics record template, which provides a reference for medical institutions to write pharmacist-managed clinics record. This paper introduces the formulation process of Guidelines and analyzes the key contents of Guidelines, which is helpful for the application practice of Guidelines and further improves the quality of pharmacist-managed clinics work.
3.Baicalein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via miR-299b-5p/HIF1-α pathway.
Wen-Yan ZHOU ; Jian-Kui DU ; Hong-Hong LIU ; Lei DENG ; Kai MA ; Jian XIAO ; Sheng ZHANG ; Chang-Nan WANG
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(5):560-575
OBJECTIVE:
Baicalein has been reported to have wide therapeutic effects that act through its anti-inflammatory activity. This study examines the effect and mechanism of baicalein on sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC).
METHODS:
A thorough screening of a small library of natural products, comprising 100 diverse compounds, was conducted to identify the most effective drug against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated H9C2 cardiomyocytes. The core target proteins and their associated signaling pathways involved in baicalein's efficacy against LPS-induced myocardial injury were predicted by network pharmacology.
RESULTS:
Baicalein was identified as the most potent protective agent in LPS-exposed H9C2 cardiomyocytes. It exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell injury and inflammation. In the LPS-induced septic mouse model, baicalein demonstrated a significant capacity to mitigate LPS-triggered myocardial deficits, inflammatory responses, and ferroptosis. Network pharmacological analysis and experimental confirmation suggested that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit α (HIF1-α) is likely to be the crucial factor in mediating the impact of baicalein against LPS-induced myocardial ferroptosis and injury. By combining microRNA (miRNA) screening in LPS-treated myocardium with miRNA prediction targeting HIF1-α, we found that miR-299b-5p may serve as a regulator of HIF1-α. The reduction in miR-299b-5p levels in LPS-treated myocardium, compared to the control group, was reversed by baicalein treatment. The reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and dual-luciferase reporter gene analyses together identified HIF1-α as the target of miR-299b-5p in cardiomyocytes.
CONCLUSION
Baicalein mitigates SIC at the miRNA level, suggesting the therapeutic potential of it in treating SIC through the regulation of miR-299b-5p/HIF1-α/ferroptosis pathway. Please cite this article as: Zhou WY, Du JK, Liu HH, Deng L, Ma K, Xiao J, Zhang S, Wang CN. Baicalein attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced myocardial injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via miR-299b-5p/HIF1-α pathway. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):560-575.
Flavanones/pharmacology*
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Animals
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MicroRNAs/genetics*
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Lipopolysaccharides
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics*
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Ferroptosis/drug effects*
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Mice
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Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Rats
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Male
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Cardiomyopathies/etiology*
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Cell Line
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Sepsis/complications*
4.Correlation between electronic cross-matching and the detection rate of unexpected antibodies in red blood cells
Can LOU ; Hang LEI ; Yuqing WANG ; Songsong GONG ; Xuefeng WANG ; Wei ZOU ; Xiaohong CAI ; Shikai CHEN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(10):1370-1376
Objective: To analyze changes in Rh system antibodies among antibody-positive patients and evaluate the efficacy of Rh phenotype-matched electronic cross-matching (hereinafter referred to as Rh-ECM). Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on antibody screening data of 48 254 patients in our hospital from December 2023 to March 2025. The antibody screening results were compared between the pre-application phase (n=46 346, control group) and post-application phase (n=48 254, experimental group) of Rh-ECM technology, focusing on the changes in the proportion of Rh system antibodies, with statistical analysis conducted using SPSS 26.0 software. Meanwhile, the initial and re-examination situations of Rh antibody in the antibody screening of approximately 20 000 person-times each before (June 2019 to June 2020, n=21 048) and after (July 2020 to April 2021, n=20 965) of Rh-ECM were evaluated to explore the influence of Rh-ECM on the detection rate of Rh antibody. Results: After Rh-ECM implementation, 345 positive cases (0.7%) (345/48 254) were detected among 48 254 patients, primarily consisting of mns system antibodies (128 cases, 37.1%) (128/345) and rh system antibodies (95 cases, 27.5%) (95/345). Before Rh-ECM implementation, 199 positive cases (0.4%) (199/46 346) were detected among 46 346 patients, with rh system antibodies accounting for 97 cases (48.7%) (97/199). The difference in the composition ratio of Rh antibodies between the two phases was statistically significant (P<0.001), and the relative risk ratio of Rh antibody detection after Rh-ECM implementation was 56.5% compared to before. Another set of data analysis showed that before Rh-ECM, there were 37 cases with initial positive results and 8 cases with re-examination positive results; after Rh-ECM, these numbers were 44 and 2 respectively There was a statistically significant difference in the re-examination positive rate of Rh antibodies between the two stages (P<0.05). Conclusion: The implementation of Rh-ECM technology significantly reduced the proportion of Rh system antibodies among patients with positive antibody screening results. This suggests that Rh-ECM can effectively reduce the detection rate of Rh antibodies, which may be related to the reduced risk of antibody production due to Rh-matched transfusion, thus improving transfusion safety. Therefore, Rh-ECM is worthy of broader promotion in clinical transfusion testing.
5.Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition)
Jianling FAN ; Tiejun WANG ; Pengfei YANG ; Keke DING ; Xiaoning HAO ; Sunfang JIANG ; Ankang LÜ ; Jianping LU ; Sheng RONG ; Weibin SHI ; Shengwei SUN ; Yan TAN ; Qilei TU ; Zhiping WANG ; Bing WANG ; Jianyun WANG ; Weijian WANG ; Yan WANG ; Qun XU ; Chenli ZHANG ; Fan ZHANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Yansong ZHENG ; Jieru ZHOU ; Dan CHEN ; Jiaoyang ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(6):1097-1111
Obesity, as a chronic recurrent disease, has become a major public health challenge in China. To implement the requirements of the Healthy China Initiative (2019—2030), under domestic guidelines or consensus statements on overweight and obesity, and in alignment with the latest scientific advances globally, the Quality control protocol for adult overweight and obesity screening in health management (examination) institutions (2025 edition) was developed. This protocol was drafted by the Health Management Center of Shanghai Changzheng Hospital and formulated through multiple rounds of deliberation by experts in China’s health examination quality control field. The protocol establishes unified standards for screening facilities, personnel qualifications, and measurement or testing procedures. It defines specific screening items, outlines a standardized screening pathway, and sets requirements for the final medical review, ensuring the scientific validity, effectiveness, and safety of the screening process. The implementation of this protocol will enhance the consistency of weight management practices for adults across health examination institutions and strengthen the quality control of overweight and obesity screening programs.
6.A qualitative study on family fusion experience of breast cancer patients and inspiration for nursing care
Ruijin TANG ; Jing HAN ; Xiaoxu LI ; Dan WANG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(8):940-946
Objective To explore the ways of breast cancer patients and family fusion and self-adjustment strategies,and to provide reference information for the adjustment of breast cancer patients and their families.Methods By purposive and theoretical sampling,we selected patients who sought medical treatment at a tertiary hospital from September 2020 to July 2023.The semi-structured interviews were conducted in the suspicion,diagnosis,treatment,and recovery periods,respectively.Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory was used for data analysis.Results The behavioural characteristics of breast cancer patients'fusion with their families throughout the disease trajectory were anxiety transmission,information sharing,emotional connection and experience review.The patient's fusion behaviour can bring dual psychological experiences to the patients,including a sense of relaxation and anxiety,a sense of trust and loss of control,a sense of intimacy and constraint,and a sense of meaning and burden.Self-adjustment strategies,such as staying calm,opening communication,setting boundaries and self-identification,can promote patients'and families'adaptation.Conclusion The adjustment model of breast cancer patients and family fusion suggests medical staff to pay attention to the identification of emotional reactions of patients and their families in family fusion according to the behavioural characteristics of patients and family integration,and timely apply self-adjustment strategies to improve patients'behavioural management ability,reduce negative emotions in the family system,and promote the adjustment of patients and families.
7.Dual activation of GCGR/GLP1R signaling ameliorates intestinal fibrosis via metabolic regulation of histone H3K9 lactylation in epithelial cells.
Han LIU ; Yujie HONG ; Hui CHEN ; Xianggui WANG ; Jiale DONG ; Xiaoqian LI ; Zihan SHI ; Qian ZHAO ; Longyuan ZHOU ; JiaXin WANG ; Qiuling ZENG ; Qinglin TANG ; Qi LIU ; Florian RIEDER ; Baili CHEN ; Minhu CHEN ; Rui WANG ; Yao ZHANG ; Ren MAO ; Xianxing JIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):278-295
Intestinal fibrosis is a significant clinical challenge in inflammatory bowel diseases, but no effective anti-fibrotic therapy is currently available. Glucagon receptor (GCGR) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) are both peptide hormone receptors involved in energy metabolism of epithelial cells. However, their role in intestinal fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Herein GCGR and GLP1R were found to be reduced in the stenotic ileum of patients with Crohn's disease as well as in the fibrotic colon of mice with chronic colitis. The downregulation of GCGR and GLP1R led to the accumulation of the metabolic byproduct lactate, resulting in histone H3K9 lactylation and exacerbated intestinal fibrosis through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Dual activating GCGR and GLP1R by peptide 1907B reduced the H3K9 lactylation in epithelial cells and ameliorated intestinal fibrosis in vivo. We uncovered the role of GCGR/GLP1R in regulating EMT involved in intestinal fibrosis via histone lactylation. Simultaneously activating GCGR/GLP1R with the novel dual agonist peptide 1907B holds promise as a treatment strategy for alleviating intestinal fibrosis.
8.FtsZ as a novel target for antibiotics development: Promises and challenges.
Ming-Wei WANG ; Kaini HANG ; Wei HAN ; Xin LI ; Qingtong ZHOU ; Dehua YANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):3978-3996
Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ), a protein essential for bacterial cell division, is highly conserved across bacterial species but absent in humans, positioning it as a strategic target for the development of antibiotics. Significant efforts to identify FtsZ inhibitors-via biochemical assays (e.g., GTPase activity) and cellular approaches (e.g., immunofluorescence)-have yielded over 100 natural products and synthetic compounds, whose cheminformatics clustering underscores a limited chemical diversity among the current scaffolds. Structural studies, including X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, have resolved 97 FtsZ structures revealing conserved polymerization mechanisms and conformational plasticity, as exemplified by extremophile adaptations (e.g., Shewanella benthica from the high-pressure environment of the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep). However, clinical translation is hindered by weak binding affinities, inhibitory inefficacy, dynamic conformational flexibility, and evolving drug resistance linked to FtsZ's functional plasticity. To address these challenges, future efforts should be directed to resolve transient assembly intermediates, leveraging machine learning with high-throughput screening, and integrating structural biology with pharmacokinetic optimization. Multidisciplinary strategies combining these approaches hold promise for translating FtsZ-focused research into clinically viable therapies, addressing the critical unmet need posed by antibiotics resistance.
9.A computational medicine framework integrating multi-omics, systems biology, and artificial neural networks for Alzheimer's disease therapeutic discovery.
Yisheng YANG ; Yizhu DIAO ; Lulu JIANG ; Fanlu LI ; Liye CHEN ; Ming NI ; Zheng WANG ; Hai FANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4411-4426
The translation of genetic findings from genome-wide association studies into actionable therapeutics persists as a critical challenge in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research. Here, we present PI4AD, a computational medicine framework that integrates multi-omics data, systems biology, and artificial neural networks for therapeutic discovery. This framework leverages multi-omic and network evidence to deliver three core functionalities: clinical target prioritisation; self-organising prioritisation map construction, distinguishing AD-specific targets from those linked to neuropsychiatric disorders; and pathway crosstalk-informed therapeutic discovery. PI4AD successfully recovers clinically validated targets like APP and ESR1, confirming its prioritisation efficacy. Its artificial neural network component identifies disease-specific molecular signatures, while pathway crosstalk analysis reveals critical nodal genes (e.g., HRAS and MAPK1), drug repurposing candidates, and clinically relevant network modules. By validating targets, elucidating disease-specific therapeutic potentials, and exploring crosstalk mechanisms, PI4AD bridges genetic insights with pathway-level biology, establishing a systems genetics foundation for rational therapeutic development. Importantly, its emphasis on Ras-centred pathways-implicated in synaptic dysfunction and neuroinflammation-provides a strategy to disrupt AD progression, complementing conventional amyloid/tau-focused paradigms, with the future potential to redefine treatment strategies in conjunction with mRNA therapeutics and thereby advance translational medicine in neurodegeneration.
10.Divergent activation patterns of BRS3 revealed by two Chinese herb-derived agonists.
Jie LI ; Changyao LI ; Qingtong ZHOU ; Wei HAN ; Mingzhu FANG ; Youwei XU ; Yiting MAI ; Yao ZHANG ; Jiahua CUI ; H Eric XU ; Yan ZHANG ; Wanchao YIN ; Ming-Wei WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5231-5243
Bombesin receptor subtype-3 (BRS3) is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that plays critical roles in energy homeostasis, glucose metabolism, and insulin secretion. Recent structural studies have elucidated BRS3 signaling mechanisms using synthetic ligands, including BA1 and MK-5046. However, the molecular basis of BRS3 activation by bioactive natural compounds and their derivatives, particularly those derived from traditional Chinese medicine, remains unclear. Here, we present high-resolution cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the human BRS3-Gq complex in both unliganded and active states bound by two herb-derived compounds (DSO-5a and oridonin), at resolutions of 2.9, 2.8, and 2.9 Å, respectively. These structures display distinct ligand recognition patterns between DSO-5a and oridonin. Although both compounds bind to the orthosteric pocket, they differentially engage the interaction network of BRS3, as demonstrated by mutagenesis studies assessing calcium mobilization and inositol phosphate 1 (IP1) accumulation. These findings enhance our understanding of BRS3 activation and provide valuable insights into the development of small-molecule BRS3 modulators with therapeutic potential.

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