1.Multidimensional Analysis of Mechanisms of Nuciferine Against Cerebral Ischemia Based on Transcriptomic Data
Yingying QIN ; Peng LI ; Sha CHEN ; Yan LIU ; Jintang CHENG ; Qingxia XU ; Guohua WANG ; Jing ZHOU ; An LIU ; Chang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):184-191
ObjectiveStudies have shown that nuciferine has anti-cerebral ischemia effect, but the specific mechanism of action has not been elaborated. Based on the transcriptome results, the pharmacological mechanism of nuciferine against cerebral ischemia was analyzed from multiple dimensions including tissue, cell, pathological process, biological process and signaling pathway. MethodsThirty SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, model group and nuciferine group(40 mg·kg-1) according to weight. Except for the sham group, the model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) was established by thread embolization method after 30 min of administration in the other two groups. Twenty-four hours after surgery, transcriptome sequencing was used to detect the gene expression profiles in the cortex penumbra of rat cerebral tissue, and gene ontology(GO) and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed for differentially expressed genes. The mechanismof nuciferine against cerebral ischemia was analyzed from 5 dimensions of tissue, cell, pathological process, biological process and signaling pathway by the transcriptome-based multi-scale network pharmacology platform(TMNP). ResultsTranscriptome sequencing and gene quantitative analysis showed that 667 genes were significantly reversed by nuciferine. Further enrichment analysis of KEGG and GO suggested that the pathways of nuciferine involved regulating stress response, ion transport, cell proliferation and differentiation, and synaptic function. TMNP research found that at the tissue level, nuciferine could significantly improve the cerebral tissue injury caused by ischemia. At the cellular and pathological levels, nuciferine could play an anti-cerebral ischemia role by improving the state of various nerve cells, mobilizing immune cells, regulating inflammation. And at the level of biological processes and signaling pathways, nuciferine mainly acted on the processes such as vascular remodeling, inflammation-related signaling pathways, and synaptic signaling. ConclusionCombined with the results of transcriptome sequencing, gene quantitative analysis and TMNP, the mechanism of nuciferine against cerebral ischemia may be related to processes such as intervening in stress response and inflammation, affecting vascular remodeling and regulating synaptic function. These results can provide a basis and reference for further study of the pharmacological mechanism of nuciferine against cerebral ischemia.
2.Research and prospect of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine in treatment of bronchiectasis.
Qing MIAO ; Zi YANG ; Bo XU ; Sha-Sha YUAN ; Yu-Chen WEI ; Jin-Zhi ZHANG ; Rui LI ; Chang-Zheng FAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3692-3698
Bronchiectasis(BE) is the third major chronic airway disease, and its incidence rate shows a continuously increasing trend. Bronchiectasis is a highly heterogeneous chronic airway disease. Due to structural alterations, airflow limitation, and mucus hypersecretion, clinical treatment faces many challenges. Particularly, problems including Pseudomonas aeruginosa-dominant drug-resistant bacterial colonization, recurrent infections, airway mucus hypersecretion, and impaired lung function are the most urgent, requiring long-term and personalized treatment and management integrating traditional Chinese and western medicine to prevent the recurrence and continuous progression of the disease. In recent years, both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine have made certain progress in pathogenesis theories, clinical studies, and basic research regarding the therapeutic challenges of bronchiectasis. Therefore, this paper summarized relevant research from the past 10 years and explored future directions and potential advantages of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment, providing references for optimizing the clinical management strategies for bronchiectasis.
Bronchiectasis/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Animals
3.Data Mining in Medication Rules of Chinese Herbal Concentrated-Granule for the Treatment of Hypertension
Yuxing SHUAI ; Sha ZHOU ; Liangjing WANG ; Jiasheng TIAN ; Zejun SHAN ; Tongjie CHEN ; Huilin MA ; Taichuan FENG ; Qing MA ; Jinrong CHANG ; Xinlin CHEN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(7):1809-1816
Objective To analyze the medication rules of Chinese herbal concentrated-granule for the treatment of hypertension nationwide using data mining and knowledge graph methods,thus to provide evidence for expanding its application in treating hypertension.Methods From January 2022 to March 2023,Chinese herbal concentrated-granule prescriptions for hypertension prescribed by traditional Chinese medicine experts nationwide were collected.Microsoft Excel was used to analyze the frequency,properties and flavors,meridian tropism,and efficacy categories of the medicinals.Hierarchical clustering was applied for cluster analysis,and the Neo4j graph database was utilized to construct an information knowledge graph illustrating the relationships between regions and medicinals.Results A total of 2 600 Chinese herbal concentrated-granule prescriptions were included,involving 370 medicinals.The top six frequently-used medicinals were Poria(Fuling),Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(Gancao),Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(Baizhu),Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium(Chenpi),Paeoniae Radix Alba(Baishao),and Angelicae Sinensis Radix(Danggui).The properties of the medicinals were mainly warm and mild,and their flavors were usually sweet,pungent,and bitter.The medicinals frequently have the meridian tropism of the spleen,lung,and liver meridians.Hierarchical clustering yielded seven clusters.The information knowledge graph of region-medicinals relationships revealed that medicinals used in five or more regions were Baishao,Baizhu,Chenpi,Pinelliae Rhizoma(Banxia),Fuling,Gastrodiae Rhizoma(Tianma),Bupleuri Radix(Chaihu),Chuanxiong Rhizoma(Chuanxiong),Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(Danshen),Danggui,Gancao,and Astragali Radix(Huangqi).Conclusion Chinese herbal concentrated-granule for hypertension usually consist of tonifying medicinals,with sweet and warm properties,and having the meridian tropism of the spleen meridian.And the medicinals composed of the prescriptions often have the actions of calming the liver and suppressing yang,strengthening the spleen and removing dampness,and nourishing the liver and kidney.
4. Lycium barbarian seed oil activates Nrf2/ARE pathway to reduce oxidative damage in testis of subacute aging rats
Rui-Ying TIAN ; Wen-Xin MA ; Zi-Yu LIU ; Hui-Ming MA ; Sha-Sha XING ; Na HU ; Chang LIU ; Biao MA ; Jia-Yang LI ; Hu-Jun LIU ; Chang-Cai BAI ; Dong-Mei CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(3):490-498
Aim To explore the effects of Lycium berry seed oil on Nrf2/ARE pathway and oxidative damage in testis of subacute aging rats. Methods Fifty out of 60 male SD rats, aged 8 weeks, were subcutaneously injected with 125 mg • kg"D-galactosidase in the neck for 8 weeks to establish a subacute senescent rat model. The presence of senescent cells was observed using P-galactosidase ((3-gal), while testicular morphology was examined using HE staining. Serum levels of testosterone (testosterone, T), follicle-stimulating hormone ( follicle stimulating hormone, FSH ) , luteinizing hormone ( luteinizing hormone, LH ) , superoxide dis-mutase ( superoxide dismutase, SOD ) , glutathione ( glutathione, GSH) and malondialdehyde ( malondial-dehyde, MDA) were measured through ELISA, and the expressions of factors related to aging, oxidative damage, and the Nrf2/ARE pathway were assessed via immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. Results After successfully identifying the model, the morphology of the testis was improved and the intervention of Lycium seed oil led to a down-regulation in the expression of [3-gal and -yH2AX. The serum levels of SOD, GSH, T, and FSH increased while MDA and LH decreased (P 0. 05) . Additionally, there was an up-regulated expression of Nrf2, GCLC, NQOl, and SOD2 proteins in testicular tissue ( P 0. 05 ) and nuclear expression of Nrf2 in sertoli cells. Conclusion Lycium barbarum seed oil may reduce oxidative damage in testes of subacute senescent rats by activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.
5.Health risk assessment of oral exposure to 9 metals/ metalloids in drinking water for adults in Zibo, Shandong Province
Sha ZHU ; Yi HE ; Hui GAO ; Tong CHANG ; Tao WANG ; Cheng PENG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(9):1049-1053
Background Oral exposure to metals/metalloid elements in drinking water may be harmful to human health. Objective To assess potential health risks of oral exposure to 9 metals/metalloids in drinking water in Zibo City of Shandong Province from 2019 to 2023, and provide reference for the development of local drinking water management policies. Method From 2019 to 2023, a total of
6.Random forest model analysis of cognitive emotion regulation strategies and fear of negative evaluation among college students
WANG Xingyu, MENG Sha, WANG Ying, CHANG Hongjuan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(11):1579-1583
Objective:
To explore the impact of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on fear of negative evaluation among college students using a random forest algorithm in order to provide empirical evidence to support mental health improvements.
Methods:
In March 2024, a convenience sampling method was used to conduct an online survey with 5 750 college students from three universities in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A least squares regression model was employed to analyze whether cognitive emotion regulation strategies significantly influenced fear of negative evaluation. A random forest model was also constructed to identify predictors and rank the importance of various factors affecting fear of negative evaluation.
Results:
The least squares regression model indicated that cognitive emotion regulation strategies significantly impacted fear of negative evaluation among college students ( β=4.25, 95%CI=3.81-4.68, P <0.05). Family support, including mild impairment ( β=-2.71, 95%CI =-3.36 to -2.06, P <0.05) and severe impairment in the domain ( β=-1.64, 95%CI =-2.27 to -1.01, P <0.05), were associated with increased fear. The random forest model further revealed that cognitive emotion regulation strategies, family support index, and academic ranking were the main factors affecting the fear of negative evaluation among college students.
Conclusions
Cognitive emotion regulation strategies are key factors influencing fear of negative evaluation among college students. Universities should provide enhanced mental health resources, offer training to strengthen cognitive emotion regulation strategies, and offer additional support to students with low family support.
7.Mechanism of Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Decoction for regulating the intestinal microflora and its metabolites to improve atherosclerosis in mice
Zhifan CHEN ; Yulin CHEN ; Sha NIE ; Wenhao SUN ; Chang LI ; Zishan MA ; Kai HU ; Yingying HE ; Ying LIU ; Yaoping TANG
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(7):10-19
Objective To explore the mechanism of Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Decoction(GXB)in improving atherosclerosis(AS)in mice by regulating the gut microbiota(GM)and its metabolites.Methods Thirty-two male ApoE-/-mice were divided randomly into a Blank group,Model group,atorvastatin(Ato)group,and GXB group(n=8 mice per group).AS was established in all mice,except the Blank group,and the respective treatments were administered by gavage.Aortic plaques were detected by Oil red O staining and pathological changes in aortic tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The GM was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology,and mouse GM metabolites,including trimethylamine oxide(TMAO),short-chain fatty acids(SCFA),and serum levels of triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and nitric oxide(NO)were determined.Results Compared with the Blank group,mice in the Model and Ato groups showed an increase in AS plaque area(P<0.05).Serum levels of TG,TC,and LDL-C were increased(P<0.001)while levels of HDL-C and NO were decreased(P<0.01,P<0.001)in the Model group compared with the Blank group.The plaque area was decreased(P<0.05),serum levels of TG,TC,and LDL-C were decreased(P<0.001),and NO levels were increased(P<0.01)in the Ato and GXB groups,while HDL-C levels were increased in the GXB group(P<0.05)compared with the Model group.Plaque area was decreased(P<0.05)and the NO level was increased(P<0.01)in the GXB group compared with the Ato group.A total of 6345 characteristic sequences were obtained from 16S rRNA analysis.α-Diversity analysis indicated that GXB reduced the richness of the GM in AS mice(P<0.001)and improved its uniformity(P<0.05).β-Diversity analysis suggested that the microbial community structure in the GXB group was similar to that in the Blank group.The abundance of microbial communities differed among the groups at the phylum and genus levels.At the phylum level,the abundance of Proteobacteria was increased(P<0.01)in AS mice,while GXB intervention reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria(P<0.01)and increased the abundance of Verrucomimicrobiota(P<0.05).At the genus level,GXB effectively increased the abundance of Akkermansia(P<0.05).SCFAs were significantly increased(P<0.01)and TMAO levels were significantly decreased(P<0.01)in the GXB group compared with the Model group.Conclusions GXB can regulate the intestinal flora and intestinal flora metabolites SCFA and TMAO to improve AS.Akkermansia may be a key bacterial genus of the gut microbiota through which GXB may improve AS.
8.Analysis on research hotspots and trends in the field of TCM for cervical cancer based on CiteSpace
Min WANG ; Hanzhu NIE ; Fang LI ; Xiaoyan PANG ; Yuehan DUAN ; Ting LIU ; Tiantian WU ; Sha GONG ; Wei CHANG
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;45(5):620-625
Objective:To analyze the research hotspots and trends in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for cervical cancer at home and abroad in recent 30 years through visualization method.Methods:By setting "cervical cancer" and "TCM" as the research subjects, the articles were retrieved from CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, PubMed, and Web of Science Core database (WoS) from January 1, 1992 to January 1, 2022. Citespace 5.8 R3 software was used to conduct visual analysis on the authors, institutions and keywords included in the articles.Results:A total of 1 123 Chinese articles and 573 English articles were included. The number of articles issued showed a gradual upward trend; the author with the largest number of Chinese publications was Jin Zhe, and the author with the largest number of English publications was Chen Guo. The institution with the largest number of Chinese publications was Beijing University of Chinese Medicine; the institution with the largest number of English publications was Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Keywords co-occurrence of the top 3 Chinese keywords in the network frequency (excluding the search words) were "cervical erosion", "urinary retention" and "Yunnan Baiyao"; English keywords were "HeLa cell", "bibliometric", and "information monitoring system". Chinese keywords formed 11 clusters and 25 emergent words; English keywords formed 9 clusters and 17 emergent words.Conclusions:The research content in the field of TCM of cervical cancer about knowledge map in the past 30 years at home and abroad is rich. TCM can play the role of antagonizing human papillomavirus, enhancing immune function, regulating TCM constitution, improving quality of life and so on. At present, the research hotspot is the mechanism exploration of cervical cancer and the curative effect research of clinical complications, and the research trend is clinical curative effect research.
9.Accuracy of bone age assessment system based on deep learning in children with abnormal growth and development
Sha CHANG ; Dong YAN ; Xia DU ; Yuqiao ZHANG ; Xiaoguang CHENG ; Jie YANG ; Lingling SONG ; Bo GAO ; Xian LUO
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2023;57(4):364-369
Objective:To explore the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) system based on deep learning in evaluating bone age of children with abnormal growth and development.Methods:The positive X-ray films of the left wrist of children with abnormal growth and development who were treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January 2020 to December 2021 were collected retrospectively. A total of 717 children were collected, including 266 males and 451 females, aged 2-18 (11±3) years. Based on Tanner Whitehouse 3 (TW 3)-RUS (radius, ulna, short bone) and TW3-Carpal (carpal bone) method, bone age was measured by 3 senior radiologists, and the mean value was taken as reference standard. The bone ages were independently evaluated by the AI system (Dr.Wise bone age prediction software) and two junior radiologists (physicians 1 and 2). The accuracy within 0.5 year, the accuracy within 1 year, the mean absolute error (MAE) and the root mean square error (RMSE) between the evaluation results and the reference standard were analyzed. Paired sample t-test was used to compare MAE between AI system and junior physicians. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the consistency between AI system, junior physician and reference standard. The Bland-Altman diagram was drawn and the 95% consistency limit was calculated between AI system and reference standard. Results:For TW3-RUS bone age, compared with the reference standard, the accuracy within 0.5 year of AI system, physician 1 and physician 2 was 75.3% (540/717), 62.1% (445/717) and 66.2% (475/717), respectively. The accuracy within 1 year was 96.9% (695/717), 86.3% (619/717) and 89.1% (639/717), respectively. MAE was 0.360, 0.565 and 0.496 years, and RMSE was 0.469, 0.634 and 0.572 years, respectively. For TW3-Carpal bone age, compared with the reference standard, the accuracy within 0.5 year of AI system, physician 1 and physician 2 was 80.9% (580/717), 65.1% (467/717) and 71.7% (514/717), respectively. The accuracy within 1 year was 96.0% (688/717), 87.3% (626/717) and 90.4% (648/717), respectively. MAE was 0.330, 0.527 and 0.455 years, and RMSE was 0.458, 0.612, 0.538 years, respectively. Based on TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal bone age, the MAE of AI system were lower than those of physician 1 and physician 2, and the differences were statistically significant ( P all<0.001). The evaluation results of AI, physician 1 and physician 2 were in good agreement with the reference standard (ICC all>0.950). The Bland-Altman analysis showed that the 95% agreement limits of AI system for assessing TW3-RUS and TW3-Carpal bone age were -0.75-1.02 years and-0.86-0.91 years, respectively. Conclusion:The accuracy of AI system in evaluating the bone age of children with abnormal growth and development is close to that of senior doctors, better than that of junior doctors, and in good agreement with senior doctors.
10.Mechanisms of Yangxin Tongmai Formula for blood stasis syndrome in coronary heart disease rats based on untargeted plasma metabolomics and intestinal flora 16S rRNA sequencing
LIU Yinxing ; CHEN Zijun ; WANG Yiqin ; CHENG Xihua ; LI Jie ; CHEN Lingli
Digital Chinese Medicine 2023;6(2):198-209
【Objective】 To investigate the correlations between intestinal flora, plasma metabolites, and
blood stasis syndrome in coronary heart disease (CHD), and the mechanisms of Yangxin
Tongmai Formula (养心通脉方, YXTMF) for blood stasis syndrome in CHD rats.
【Methods】 A total of 18 specific pathogen free (SPF) male Sqrague-Dawley (SD) rats were used
to establish CHD rat models with blood stasis syndrome, which were then randomized into model, YXTMF, and atorvastatin calcium (AVT) groups, with six rats in each group, and were intervened through gavage for two weeks. Subsequently, additional six rats that received normal diet were included as normal group. The pathological changes in the CHD rat models were identified by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The electrocardiogram, hemodynamics, and lipid profiles of the rats were detected as well. The untargeted plasma metabolomics of rats were analyzed by liquid chromotography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), their ileal mucosal flora by 16S rRNA sequencing, and the correlation between the two results were also analyzed.
【Results】 The whole blood viscosity, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of rats in the model group increased compared with those in the control group (P < 0.05). In the model group, the proliferation of endothelial cells in the coronary artery of rats was damaged, with quite a few vacuolated pathological changes observed. However, the endothelial lesions in the coronary artery of rats were alleviated in the intervention groups (YXTMF and AVT groups). With the use of LC-MS/MS, a total of 33 potential endogenous metabolites were identified in plasma, among which 1-methylhistidine, N-acetylhistamine, progesterone, and deoxycorticosterone were expected to be the differential metabolites in CHD rats with blood stasis syndrome. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that improved diversity and abundance of intestinal flora were observed in the YXTMF group. The correlation analysis suggested that Hydrogenophaga, Limnohabitans, and Polaromonas, which were highly related to the formation of blood stasis syndrome in CHD patients, were positively correlated with plasma metabolites such as 5-hydroxyindole, N-acetylhistamine,
and progesterone (P < 0.01), but were negatively correlated with plasma metabolites such as L-arginine, homoarginine, and Boc-beta-cyano-L-alanine (P < 0.01). After YXTMF intervention, Lactobacillus, Corynebacterium, and Candidatus Nitrososphaera were positively correlated with plasma metabolites such as Boc-β-cyano-L-alanine, stachydrine, and naringenin (P < 0.05), while negatively correlated with 5-hydroxyindole, N-acetylhistamine, and oleoylethanolamide (P < 0.05).
【Conclusion】 YXTMF could alleviate blood stasis syndrome in CHD rats through improving
their plasma metabolisms achieved by regulating the intestinal flora.


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