1.Effect of Oral Sodium Butyrate on Skeletal Muscle Atrophy via The Gut-muscle Axis in Antibiotic-pretreated CT26 Tumor-bearing Mice and Its Mechanism
Shu-Ling ZHANG ; Jun-Wei WANG ; Shi-Liang HU ; Tu-Tu WANG ; Shun-Chang LI ; Jia FAN ; Jun-Zhi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):724-739
ObjectiveTo explore the effect of oral sodium butyrate on skeletal muscle atrophy in CT26 tumor mice through the gut microbiota-skeletal muscle axis and its potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF BALB/c male mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into a normal control group (NC, n=18) and a ABX-depleted group (ABX, n=42). The ABX mice were pretreated with a quadruple antibiotic cocktail via oral gavage (0.2 ml per administration, once daily, 6 d per week, for 2 weeks), whereas NC received an equal volume of sterile water. The quadruple antibiotic cocktail consisted of metronidazole (1 g/L), vancomycin (0.5 g/L), ampicillin (1 g/L), and gentamicin (1 g/L). Following successful pretreatment, six mice from each group were randomly selected for gut microbiota sequencing analysis and designated as the Abx group and the NC0 group, respectively. Theremaining mice in ABX were subcutaneously inoculated in the dorsum with 0.2 ml of CT26 cell suspension (at a cell density of 1×107/ml). Then these mice were randomly allocated into three subgroups: a control tumor bearing model group (0_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving low-dose oral sodium butyrate (L_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving high-dose oral sodium butyrate (H_NaB, n=12). And mice in NC were inoculated at the same site with 0.2 ml of normal saline. The administration dose for L_NaB was 0.3 g/(kg·d), that for H_NaB was 0.5 g/(kg·d), while NC and 0_NaB were given the same volume of normal saline (0.2ml per time, once daily, 6 d per week, for 4 weeks). The general condition of mice was monitored, and forelimb grip strength gastrocnemius muscle mass and its muscle fiber cross-sectional area were measured for each group. The structural changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents. Pathological alterations in the intestinal wall were examined via HE staining. Serum and gastrocnemius muscle levels of TNF‑α, IL-6, IL-1β, and LPS were quantified using ELISA. The protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the small intestine, as well as proteins associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastrocnemius muscle, were detected by Western blot analysis. Results(1) The alpha-diversity in Abx was significantly lower than that in NC0 (P<0.01), a significant decrease of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius (P<0.01), with the majority of gut microbiota being effectively depleted. (2) Compared with NC, the subcutaneous tumors of mice in 0_NaB were prominent, a significant increase of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius, accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight at the end of the 3th and 4th week (P<0.05), and a significant weakening of the forelimb grasping strength at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.01). Compared with 0_NaB, the tumor mass of mice in L_NaB and H_NaB showed a significant decreasing trend, and the grip strength of the forelimbs significantly increased at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.05, P<0.01). (3) Compared with 0_NaB, the Shannon and Observed species indices in α diversity of L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with 0_NaB, L_NaB exhibited a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Parasutterella (P< 0.01), while H_NaB showed significant reductions in the relative abundances of both Escherichia-Shigella and Parasutterella (P < 0.01). (4) Compared with 0_NaB, the small intestinal tissue structure in L_NaB and H_NaB was more intact, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, and the capillaries were slightly dilated. The expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin proteins in L_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.01). (5) The LPS concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and the protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF‑κB p65 in L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05). The serum TNF‑α concentration in H_NaB and TNF-α concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle of the L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). ConclusionOral administration of NaB can improve gut microbiota α diversity, adjusting its composition, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, reducing the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response, and delaying skeletal muscle atrophy. The underlying mechanism may involve down regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in skeletal muscle.
2.Ancient and Modern Documentation of Classic Formula Sangjuyin
Xiaofang WANG ; Lyuyuan LIANG ; Jialei CAO ; Ziming XU ; Wangju ZHOU ; Yiping WANG ; Yujie CHANG ; Ruiting SU ; Yihan LI ; Jingwen LI ; Bingqi WEI ; Bingxiang MA ; Wenli SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(4):200-207
Sangjuyin, as a pungent and cooling agent with precise therapeutic effect, is a classic pungent formula for cooling relief of the epidermis, which is highly respected by medical practitioners. This formula is from the Wenbing Tiaobian written by WU Jutong in the Qing dynasty, on the basis of which subsequent medical practitioners have made additions and subtractions to apply it. The authors used the bibliometric method to systematically organize the medical books from the Qing dynasty and the Republic of China and modern literature to analyze the composition, concoction, decoction, efficacy, and previous and modern application of Sangjuyin. After examination, the drug base of this formula is basically clear. Armeniacae Semen Amarum is the dried mature seeds of Armeniaca vulgaris, family Rosaceae. Forsythiae Fructus is the dried fruit of Forsythia suspensa, family Mulleinaceae. Menthae Haplocalycis Herba is the dried above-ground part of Mentha haplocalyx, family Labiatae. Mori Folium is the dried leaves of Morus alba, family Moraceae. Chrysanthemi Flos is the dried head of Chrysanthemum morifolium, family Asteraceae. Platycodonis Radix is the dried root of Eryngium grandiflorum, family Eryngium. Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is the dried root and rhizome of Glycyrrhiza uralensis of the Leguminosae family, and Phragmitis Rhizoma is the fresh or dried rhizome of Phragmites communis of the Gramineae family. It is recommended that the eight drugs be used in raw form as medicine. The dosage and method of decoction were converted into a modern single dosage of 7.46 g Armeniacae Semen Amarum, 5.60 g Forsythiae Fructus, 2.98 g Menthae Haplocalycis Herba, 9.33 g Mori Folium, 3.73 g Chrysanthemi Flos, 7.46 g Platycodonis Radix, 2.98 g Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, and 11.19 g Phragmitis Rhizoma, with 400 mL water added, and the solution was boiled to obtain 200 mL, taken twice a day. Sangjuyin has the efficacy of dispersing wind and clearing heat, promoting lung and relieving cough, and it is used for treating the initial onset of wind-warmth and the evidence of evil spirits in the lungs and collaterals. Modern research has shown that Sangjuyin is often used in the treatment of cough, pneumonia, rhinitis, and other respiratory diseases, and the results of this study provide a reference for the later development of Sangjuyin.
3.Analysis of the Experience of Shi Qi,A Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine,in the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain Based on the Theory of"Homology of Yi and Gui"
Xiaobo WANG ; Ran LI ; Yazhu YANG ; Shuang LIU ; Junli CHANG ; Qi SHI ; Yanping YANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(9):2666-2672
Yi and Gui,its physiological characteristics and pathological manifestations are closely related to the lumbar spine.The intervertebral disc,chamber of arthrosis,requires nourishment from qi and blood circulation,as well as support from liver and kidney functions to maintain its health.Chinese medicine master Shi Qi has based on the pathological manifestations of discogenic low back pain patients at different stages and followed the guidelines of the Visceral manifestation theory.Combining more than 60 years of experience in traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment,he has used external observations to infer internal conditions and examined causes to find solutions.By entering the body from the outside and focusing on the"Homology of Yi and Gui"as a benchmark,he emphasizes the distinctive characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine in medical treatment.He states that"visceral pattern is fundamental"and"qi-blood is first,"emphasizing the importance of treating liver and kidney together.This article aims to draw on the wisdom of Taishan to provide a bridge for colleagues.
4.Development and validation a predictive model for distinguishing malignant pleural effusion
Jinling JI ; Qiong WANG ; Ting SHI ; Yuzhang JIANG ; Chang LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science 2025;43(9):702-709
Objective To development and validate a predictive model for distinguishing between malignant pleural effusion(MPE)and benign pleural effusion(BPE).Methods A total of 428 patients diagnosed with pleural effusion(PE)and hospitalized at the First Hospital of Huai'an Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from July 2020 to May 2022 were selected.The patients were divided into BPE group(211 cases)and MPE group(217 cases)according to diagnostic criteria.The basic information and clinical data of these patients were collected.Boruta method was used for univariate screening,followed by multivariate Logistic regression to construct a basic nomogram model.Bootstrap method was used for internal validation to evaluate the performance of the nomogram,including dis-crimination,accuracy,and clinical applicability.Results The model included 8 key variables:dyspnea,chest pain,general symp-toms,X-ray/CT with malignant tumor features,serum carcinoembryonic antigen,serum neuron-specific enolase,pleural lactate dehy-drogenase,and pleural carcinoembryonic antigen.Internal validation showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUCROC)of the model was 0.933(95%confidence interval:0.912-0.954),with good accuracy(P>0.05).Decision curve a-nalysis(DCA)indicated that this predictive model for predicting MPE risk had a significant net benefit when the probability threshold exceeded 1%.Conclusion The constructed prediction model could effectively distinguish between MPE and BPE.
5.Discovery of FAM3 A-targeting Small Molecule Agents Using Integrated Virtual Screening and SPR Technology
Zi-Shuo XU ; Chao SHI ; Zhang-Xin CHEN ; Zhe-Yong XUE ; Li-Xin HUANG ; Zhen-Zhan CHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(11):1711-1718
Family with sequence similarity 3 member A(FAM3A),a novel mitochondrial protein,plays a pivotal role in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism by enhancing ATP synthesis and secretion and mod-ulating the ATP-P2 receptor-Akt signaling pathway.Dysregulation of FAM3A is closely associated with the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).In this study,targeting FAM3A as a therapeutic candidate,we conducted virtual screening to identify 47 small-molecule compounds with potential binding activity.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR)analysis re-vealed three compounds exhibiting high binding affinity to FAM3 A.Further structural characterization of the FAM3A-compound complexes,combined with intermolecular interaction analysis,elucidated the binding mode of the lead compound Index 2(taxifolin)to FAM3A at atomic resolution.These findings provide critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ligand-FAM3A interactions and deliver valuable chemical scaffolds for the development of therapeutics targeting NAFLD and T2DM.This work establishes a foundation for advancing drug discovery efforts focused on FAM3A-mediated metabolic disor-ders.
6.Analysis of the Experience of Shi Qi,A Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine,in the Treatment of Discogenic Low Back Pain Based on the Theory of"Homology of Yi and Gui"
Xiaobo WANG ; Ran LI ; Yazhu YANG ; Shuang LIU ; Junli CHANG ; Qi SHI ; Yanping YANG
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(9):2666-2672
Yi and Gui,its physiological characteristics and pathological manifestations are closely related to the lumbar spine.The intervertebral disc,chamber of arthrosis,requires nourishment from qi and blood circulation,as well as support from liver and kidney functions to maintain its health.Chinese medicine master Shi Qi has based on the pathological manifestations of discogenic low back pain patients at different stages and followed the guidelines of the Visceral manifestation theory.Combining more than 60 years of experience in traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment,he has used external observations to infer internal conditions and examined causes to find solutions.By entering the body from the outside and focusing on the"Homology of Yi and Gui"as a benchmark,he emphasizes the distinctive characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine in medical treatment.He states that"visceral pattern is fundamental"and"qi-blood is first,"emphasizing the importance of treating liver and kidney together.This article aims to draw on the wisdom of Taishan to provide a bridge for colleagues.
7.Application of MRI diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence in abdominal enhanced imaging of infants and young children
Di GUO ; Qian-cheng LI ; Cheng-long LI ; Shi-xian LI ; Li-ya LU ; Shu-juan WANG ; Chang-chang LIU ; Xiu-hong DAI
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2025;34(10):896-899
Objective To explore the application value of MRI diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with three dimensional liver acquisition with volume acceleration-flexible(3D LAVA-FLEX)sequence in abdominal enhanced imaging of infants and young children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on imaging data of 84 infants and young children who underwent abdominal enhanced MRI examination in our hospital between January 2021 and December 2023.All 84 infants and young children initially underwent conventional dynamic contrast-enhanced 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence scanning;the delayed phase images obtained were included in the dynamic enhancement group.Subsequently,diaphragmatic navigation combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence examination was implemented,and the obtained images were included in the diaphragm navigation group.Subjective scoring was performed for images in both groups,while the signal to noise ratio(SNR),contrast to noise ratio(CNR),and artifact quantification(AQ)were measured and compared between the two groups.Results The respiratory motion artifacts,the clarity of liver parenchyma enhancement,the clarity of liver vascular enhancement,the clarity of spleen parenchyma enhancement and the overall image quality score in the diaphragm navigation group were higher than those in the dynamic enhancement group,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).There were statistically significant differences in SNR and AQ between the two groups of images(P<0.000 1),while there was no statistically significant difference in CNR between the two groups of images(P>0.05).Conclusion Diaphragmatic navigation technology combined with 3D LAVA-FLEX sequence imaging can improve the image quality of abdominal MRI enhanced imaging in infants and young children,and provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
8.Development and validation a predictive model for distinguishing malignant pleural effusion
Jinling JI ; Qiong WANG ; Ting SHI ; Yuzhang JIANG ; Chang LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science 2025;43(9):702-709
Objective To development and validate a predictive model for distinguishing between malignant pleural effusion(MPE)and benign pleural effusion(BPE).Methods A total of 428 patients diagnosed with pleural effusion(PE)and hospitalized at the First Hospital of Huai'an Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from July 2020 to May 2022 were selected.The patients were divided into BPE group(211 cases)and MPE group(217 cases)according to diagnostic criteria.The basic information and clinical data of these patients were collected.Boruta method was used for univariate screening,followed by multivariate Logistic regression to construct a basic nomogram model.Bootstrap method was used for internal validation to evaluate the performance of the nomogram,including dis-crimination,accuracy,and clinical applicability.Results The model included 8 key variables:dyspnea,chest pain,general symp-toms,X-ray/CT with malignant tumor features,serum carcinoembryonic antigen,serum neuron-specific enolase,pleural lactate dehy-drogenase,and pleural carcinoembryonic antigen.Internal validation showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUCROC)of the model was 0.933(95%confidence interval:0.912-0.954),with good accuracy(P>0.05).Decision curve a-nalysis(DCA)indicated that this predictive model for predicting MPE risk had a significant net benefit when the probability threshold exceeded 1%.Conclusion The constructed prediction model could effectively distinguish between MPE and BPE.
9.Ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Wenjun WU ; Chang LIU ; Shengsheng YAO ; Daming LIU ; Yuan LUO ; Yihan SUN ; Ting RUAN ; Mengyou LIU ; Li SHI ; Mingming XIAO ; Qi ZHANG ; Zhengshuai LIU ; Xingai JU ; Jiahao WANG ; Xiang FEI ; Li LU ; Yang GAO ; Ying ZHANG ; Liying GONG ; Xuanyu CHEN ; Wanli ZHENG ; Xiali NIU ; Xiao YANG ; Huimei CAO ; Shijie CHANG ; Zuoxin MA ; Jianchun CUI
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(3):313-319
Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.
10.Relationship between kinase insert domain receptor rs2305948 polymorphism and clopidogrel resistance in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving percutaneous coronary intervention
Miao SHI ; Jianliang CHANG ; Xingyu ZHU ; Qian FENG ; Suyan CHEN ; Senlin LI
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2025;34(2):170-175
Objective To investigate the relationship between kinase insert domain receptor(KDR)rs2305948 polymorphism and clopidogrel resistance(CR)in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 468 patients with acute coronary syndrome,who were admitted to the Zhangjiakou Municipal First Hospital of China from September 2022 to September 2023,were selected as the subjects of study.All patients received PCI treatment and took medication of clopidogrel after the treatment.The occurrence of CR was recorded.The factors influencing the occurrence of CR were analyzed.The clinical significance of KDR rs2305948 polymorphism in predicting CR in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI was evaluated.Results Of 468 patients with acute coronary syndrome,116(24.79%)developed CR.Logistic multivariate regression analysis indicated that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C,95%CI=1.420-8.390,OR=3.452),type 2 vascular endothelial growth factor receptor(VEGFR-2,95%CI=1.374-8.118,OR=3.340),KDR rs2305948 T/T genotype(95%CI=1.677-9.905,OR=4.076),and T allele(95%CI=1.390-8.207,OR=3.377)were the independent factors influencing the occurrence of CR inpatients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI(all P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis showed that the sensitivity,specificity,and area under ROC curve(AUC)of the T/T genotype of KDR rs2305948 in predicting CR in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI were 75.86%,70.45%,and 0.773(95%CI=0.666-0.880)respectively.Conclusion In patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI,the risk of developing CR is higher.The KDR rs2305948 polymorphism is correlated with CR in patients with acute coronary syndrome after receiving PCI,and it has a certain predictive value for CR.

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