1.Mechanisms of Huanglian Jiedutang and Its Major Active Constituents in Inhibiting LPS-induced M1 Polarisation of BV2 Microglia
Haojia ZHANG ; Kai WANG ; Kunjing LIU ; Xin LAN ; Zijin SUN ; Chunyu WANG ; Wenyuan MA ; Wei SHAO ; Jinhua HAN ; Liyang DONG ; Changxiang LI ; Xueqian WANG ; Youxiang CUI ; Fafeng CHENG ; Qingguo WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):44-55
ObjectiveTo investigate whether Huanglian Jiedutang (HLJD) and its major active constituents (geniposide, baicalin, and berberine) can inhibit the inflammatory response of BV2 cells under lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation via the high-mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, and to explore differences in therapeutic efficacy among the three monomers, their combined formula, and HLJD under equal content ratios. MethodsBV2 microglial cells were used as the primary experimental model. Cell viability was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method to examine the effects of different concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, 0.8%, 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.05%) on cell viability. IncuCyte was employed to monitor the growth of cells under different concentrations of HLJD (200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25 mg·L-1). Nitric oxide (NO) assay was used to screen the optimal HLJD concentration. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) determined the content of geniposide, baicalin, and berberine in HLJD, and experimental groups were subsequently established according to the relative proportions of these constituents. CCK-8 assay evaluated cell viability under different treatments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) in the supernatant. Flow cytometry assessed the effects of treatments on M1-type polarization of BV2 cells. Western blot determined the expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB-related proteins. ResultsCompared with the blank group, DMSO at concentrations ≤0.2% did not affect cell viability within 48 h. BV2 cell growth plateaued at 24 h after treatment with 200 mg·L-1 HLJD. Under stimulation with 2 mg·L-1 LPS, this concentration of HLJD effectively reduced NO release, and 6 h pre-treatment had a stronger inhibitory effect on NO than direct administration. HPLC results showed that 1 mg of HLJD freeze-dried powder contained approximately 24 μg of geniposide, 15 μg of baicalin, and 30 μg of berberine. Based on these ratios, experimental groups were blank, LPS (2 mg·L-1), HLJD (200 mg·L-1), monomer combination, geniposide (4.8 mg·L-1), baicalin (3 mg·L-1), and berberine (6 mg·L-1). The monomer combination group consisted of all three active constituents dissolved together. LPS and HLJD or its active constituents did not affect cell viability compared with the blank group. LPS significantly increased TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the supernatant (P<0.01). HLJD and its active constituents significantly reduced pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01) while upregulating anti-inflammatory IL-10 (P<0.01), with the monomer combination showing the strongest effect (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, LPS significantly increased the proportion of CD80⁺CD86⁺ (M1-type) BV2 cells (P<0.01). HLJD and its constituents partially inhibited M1 polarization (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the monomer combination exhibiting the most pronounced effect (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, LPS upregulated HMGB1, TLR4, and NF-κB-related proteins (P<0.01), whereas HLJD and its active constituents significantly reduced their expression (P<0.05, P<0.01), with the monomer combination having the strongest regulatory effect (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHLJD and its major active constituents (geniposide, baicalin, berberine) can inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory responses in BV2 cells. The combination of the three active constituents demonstrates the most potent anti-inflammatory effect, significantly attenuating M1-type polarization of BV2 cells via the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
2.Carvedilol to prevent hepatic decompensation of cirrhosis in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension stratified by new non-invasive model (CHESS2306)
Chuan LIU ; Hong YOU ; Qing-Lei ZENG ; Yu Jun WONG ; Bingqiong WANG ; Ivica GRGUREVIC ; Chenghai LIU ; Hyung Joon YIM ; Wei GOU ; Bingtian DONG ; Shenghong JU ; Yanan GUO ; Qian YU ; Masashi HIROOKA ; Hirayuki ENOMOTO ; Amr Shaaban HANAFY ; Zhujun CAO ; Xiemin DONG ; Jing LV ; Tae Hyung KIM ; Yohei KOIZUMI ; Yoichi HIASA ; Takashi NISHIMURA ; Hiroko IIJIMA ; Chuanjun XU ; Erhei DAI ; Xiaoling LAN ; Changxiang LAI ; Shirong LIU ; Fang WANG ; Ying GUO ; Jiaojian LV ; Liting ZHANG ; Yuqing WANG ; Qing XIE ; Chuxiao SHAO ; Zhensheng LIU ; Federico RAVAIOLI ; Antonio COLECCHIA ; Jie LI ; Gao-Jun TENG ; Xiaolong QI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(1):105-118
Background:
s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model.
Methods:
Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort.
Results:
In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM).
Conclusions
Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.
3.Brief analysis on " Lijie and yellowish sweating" in Synopsis of Golden Chamber
Xin LAN ; Zilin REN ; Qi SHAO ; Yuxiao ZHENG ; Changxiang LI ; Fafeng CHENG ; Xueqian WANG ; Qingguo WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(2):161-165
" Lijie and yellowish sweating" originates from the chapter on stroke and arthralgia diseases in Synopsis of Golden Chamber. Later generations typically interpret it as yellow fluid oozing from painful joints, a characteristic manifestation of arthralgia. In Western medicine, Lijie corresponds to diseases such as gouty arthritis, with its primary clinical manifestations being redness, swelling, heat, and painful joints, most often without yellow fluid discharge. Therefore, the interpretation of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" contradicts the clinical manifestations often observed in this disease. Thus, this article reinterprets the meaning of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" from the pathogenesis of " sweat exposure to water, as if water harms the heart" , combined with the viewpoints of other medical practitioners. Determining the meaning of " yellowish sweating" is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of arthralgia and clarifying the relationship between arthralgia and yellowish sweating. ZHANG Zhongjing mentioned arthralgia and " yellowish sweating" together, not to differentiate between the two diseases but to emphasize the common pathogenesis of the two, namely, the cold and dampness injuring the heart, blood, and vessels. This paper proposes a new explanation of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" , which suggests that " yellowish sweating" is not confined to the joints but can be found all over the body. The pathogenesis of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" lies in the insufficiency of the liver and kidney and exogenous water dampness, leading to disharmony between nutrient qi and defensive qi and between yin and yang. Primary treatment should harmonize yingfen and weifen, as well as tonify and replenish the liver and kidney. The clinical selection of medicines can be considered Guizhi Decotion, a type of formula. The pathogenesis of " Lijie and yellowish sweating" is complex, and clinical treatment should be comprehensively considered to achieve the best therapeutic effect.
4.Research progress of metabolomics in age-related macular degeneration
Feng WANG ; Chenghong LAN ; Yiling LIU ; Yi SHAO
International Eye Science 2025;25(5):760-764
Age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)is a common multifactorial disease among the elderly, which may lead to irreversible vision loss; however, the pathogenesis of ARMD is still unclear. Metabolomics is a relatively new “omics” technique that can provide qualitative and quantitative information about low molecular weight metabolites that make up biological systems, thereby revealing the physiological or pathological state of cell or tissue samples at specific time points. In recent years, increasing evidence suggests that metabolic dysfunction plays an important role in the development and progression of ARMD. Metabolic pathway dysregulation involves lipid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism, which may play important roles in the occurrence and development of ARMD. The retina is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the human body, so using metabolomics techniques to measure molecular changes in ARMD will further enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis. This will provide important insights for the prevention and treatment of ARMD, This article reviews the application of metabolomics in ARMD.
5.Carvedilol to prevent hepatic decompensation of cirrhosis in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension stratified by new non-invasive model (CHESS2306)
Chuan LIU ; Hong YOU ; Qing-Lei ZENG ; Yu Jun WONG ; Bingqiong WANG ; Ivica GRGUREVIC ; Chenghai LIU ; Hyung Joon YIM ; Wei GOU ; Bingtian DONG ; Shenghong JU ; Yanan GUO ; Qian YU ; Masashi HIROOKA ; Hirayuki ENOMOTO ; Amr Shaaban HANAFY ; Zhujun CAO ; Xiemin DONG ; Jing LV ; Tae Hyung KIM ; Yohei KOIZUMI ; Yoichi HIASA ; Takashi NISHIMURA ; Hiroko IIJIMA ; Chuanjun XU ; Erhei DAI ; Xiaoling LAN ; Changxiang LAI ; Shirong LIU ; Fang WANG ; Ying GUO ; Jiaojian LV ; Liting ZHANG ; Yuqing WANG ; Qing XIE ; Chuxiao SHAO ; Zhensheng LIU ; Federico RAVAIOLI ; Antonio COLECCHIA ; Jie LI ; Gao-Jun TENG ; Xiaolong QI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(1):105-118
Background:
s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model.
Methods:
Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort.
Results:
In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM).
Conclusions
Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.
6.Carvedilol to prevent hepatic decompensation of cirrhosis in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension stratified by new non-invasive model (CHESS2306)
Chuan LIU ; Hong YOU ; Qing-Lei ZENG ; Yu Jun WONG ; Bingqiong WANG ; Ivica GRGUREVIC ; Chenghai LIU ; Hyung Joon YIM ; Wei GOU ; Bingtian DONG ; Shenghong JU ; Yanan GUO ; Qian YU ; Masashi HIROOKA ; Hirayuki ENOMOTO ; Amr Shaaban HANAFY ; Zhujun CAO ; Xiemin DONG ; Jing LV ; Tae Hyung KIM ; Yohei KOIZUMI ; Yoichi HIASA ; Takashi NISHIMURA ; Hiroko IIJIMA ; Chuanjun XU ; Erhei DAI ; Xiaoling LAN ; Changxiang LAI ; Shirong LIU ; Fang WANG ; Ying GUO ; Jiaojian LV ; Liting ZHANG ; Yuqing WANG ; Qing XIE ; Chuxiao SHAO ; Zhensheng LIU ; Federico RAVAIOLI ; Antonio COLECCHIA ; Jie LI ; Gao-Jun TENG ; Xiaolong QI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(1):105-118
Background:
s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model.
Methods:
Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort.
Results:
In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM).
Conclusions
Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.
7.Influence of Outdoor Light at Night on Early Reproductive Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization and Its Threshold Effect: Evidence from a Couple-Based Preconception Cohort Study.
Wen Bin FANG ; Ying TANG ; Ya Ning SUN ; Yan Lan TANG ; Yin Yin CHEN ; Ya Wen CAO ; Ji Qi FANG ; Kun Jing HE ; Yu Shan LI ; Ya Ning DAI ; Shuang Shuang BAO ; Peng ZHU ; Shan Shan SHAO ; Fang Biao TAO ; Gui Xia PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(8):1009-1015
8.Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Myelodysplasia-Related.
Wei-Bin LI ; Lan YANG ; Shao-Jie CHENG ; Ya CHEN ; Yan JIANG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(3):666-671
OBJECTIVE:
To understand clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplasia-related (AML-MR).
METHODS:
Blood sample of one patient with AML-MR admitted to our hospital in September 2021 was collected and synthetically analyzed by using techniques including complete blood cell count, peripheral blood and bone marrow cell morphology, bone marrow pathology and immunohistochemistry, hematology examination, flow cytometry (FCM), chromosome karyotype analysis and molecular pathology. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of AML-MR were analyzed and summarized according to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.
RESULTS:
The patient showed pancytopenia and increased proportion of blasts in smear of peripheral blood cells. Bone marrow cytology and pathological examination showed significant proliferation of hematopoietic cells. Pathological immunohistochemistry showed increased expression of CD61, CD34, and CD117, while MPO, CD13, and CD33 were positive. FCM showed that abnormal myeloid progenitor cells accounted for approximately 18.61% of the total number of nuclear cells, with expression of CD34, CD13, CD117, HLA-DR, and CD33 (small amount). Additionally, 36.34% of the cells were primitive/immature red blood cells which expressed CD36, CD71, and CD117 (small amount). Chromosome karyotype analysis and molecular pathology detected three kinds of abnormalities including -5 and two kinds of TP53 related gene mutation, respectively.
CONCLUSION
AML-MR patient shows pancytopenia and increased proportion of blasts in smear of peripheral blood cells. Bone marrow cytology and pathological examination show significant proliferation of hematopoietic cells. FCM can detect myeloid progenitor cells and primitive/immature red blood cells, while chromosome karyotype analysis can detect three abnormal karyotypes.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis*
;
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
;
Flow Cytometry
;
Karyotyping
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Mutation
9.Effects of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing erythropoietin on apoptosis of SH-SY5Y neurons in ischemia and hypoxia
Ning KONG ; Jixiang TANG ; Yubo HOU ; Lan MENG ; Lei SUN ; Baodong MA ; Yiming SHAO ; Ranran JIN ; Han YUE ; Hui ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(36):7752-7761
BACKGROUND:Long non-coding RNA(LncRNA)plays an important role in nervous system development and neurological diseases.Previous studies by the research team have demonstrated that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells overexpressing erythropoietin(EPO-MSCs)under ischemic and hypoxic conditions have better neuroprotective functions and significantly activate the expression of LncRNA XIST.Research suggests that XIST is related to the pathogenesis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy,but the role and mechanism of its regulation by EPO-MSCs in protecting ischemic-hypoxic neurons remain unclear.OBJECTIVE:To explore the new mechanism by which LncRNA XIST,in response to EPO-MSC signaling,affects the apoptosis of ischemic-hypoxic SH-SY5Y cells.METHODS:(1)SH-SY5Y cell lines with knockdown of LncRNA XIST(sh-XIST)and negative control(NC-XIST)were constructed through lentiviral transfection.Oxygen-glucose deprivation was used to induce ischemic-hypoxic injury in the cells.Transwell chambers were used to create a non-contact co-culture system with EPO-MSCs,sh-XIST,and NC-XIST ischemic-hypoxic SH-SY5Y cells.Cell proliferation ability was detected using the CCK-8 assay.Cell migration ability was assessed using the scratch assay,and cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry.(2)RNA-seq bioinformatics analysis was performed to screen for differentially expressed genes and pathways between sh-XIST and NC-XIST cell lines.Dual-luciferase experiments were used to verify the relationship between miR-124-3p and the target genes XIST and GRIN1.qRT-PCR was conducted to validate the expression levels of downstream miR-124-3p and GRIN1 genes.(3)miR-124-3p inhibitors and mimics were added to verify phenotypic changes in SH-SY5Y cells after ischemic-hypoxic injury and co-culture with EPO-MSCs.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the NC-XIST group,SH-SY5Y cells in the sh-XIST group showed reduced proliferation and migration abilities and increased apoptosis after ischemic-hypoxic injury and co-culture with EPO-MSCs.(2)Dual-luciferase experiments showed that miR-124-3p interacted with the target gene XIST.SH-SY5Y cells transfected with miR-124-3p mimics and co-cultured with EPO-MSCs showed decreased apoptosis after ischemic-hypoxic injury,while SH-SY5Y cells transfected with miR-124-3p inhibitors showed increased apoptosis after co-culture with EPO-MSCs.(3)Transcriptomic sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of sh-XIST revealed significant downregulation of the neuroactive ligand-receptor pathway and the key receptor gene GRIN1 for central nervous system development.(4)Dual-luciferase experiments showed that miR-124-3p interacted with GRIN1.GRIN1 expression was significantly downregulated in the sh-XIST group after ischemic-hypoxic injury compared with the NC-XIST group.These findings indicate that LncRNA XIST promotes GRIN1 expression by upregulating miR-124-3p,thereby reducing cell apoptosis after ischemic-hypoxic injury and co-culture with EPO-MSCs and enhancing proliferation and migration.sh-XIST can block this protective function.
10.Radiomics-semantic models based on multicenter MRI to predict the treatment resistance of brain gliomas to chemoradiotherapy
Zhaotao ZHANG ; Yun PENG ; Youming ZHANG ; Di WU ; Binyan QIAN ; Lan LIU ; Yawen XIAO ; Jiman SHAO ; Xinlan XIAO
Journal of Practical Radiology 2025;41(9):1432-1436,1466
Objective To construct radiomics-semantic models to predict the treatment resistance of chemoradiotherapy in brain gliomas based on MRI and clinical data of multicenter patients.Methods Among 2 108 brain gliomas patients from five medical institutions,132 patients had residual gliomas after surgery.The clinical risk factors and multimodal MRI were collected.All patients were divided into training set(n=95)and validation set(n=37).The treatment response of gliomas after standardized chemoradiotherapy were divided into resistant and non-resistant types.The semantic features of MRI were evaluated by two radiologists.Three different segmentation regions of interest(ROI)were delineated to extract radiomics features.And that three groups of radiomics models were con-structed based on different sequence MRIs.The radiomics model with the best predictive efficacy in each group was selected and combined with MRI semantic features,three radiomics-semantic models(combined models)were established.Finally,a MRI semantic model,three groups of radiomics models and three combined models were developed.Results Comparisons between the different models showed that the radiomics-semantic model based on pre-operative T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence,had the best predictive efficacy,the area under the curve(AUC)in the training and validation sets were 0.866[95%confidence interval(CI)0.790-0.942]and 0.810(95%CI 0.667-0.952),respectively.The radiomics-semantic model based on postoperative T1 WI sequence performed the second best,with the AUC of the training and validation sets being 0.812(95%CI 0.726-0.898)and 0.711(95%CI 0.541-0.881),respectively.Conclusion The combined models based on MRI radiomics and semantic features are able to predict the treatment resistance of chemoradiotherapy in brain gliomas patients,and may be used as an important basis for optimizing treatment.


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