1.The technology of fecal microbiota transplantation and its application progress
Shuo YUAN ; Yi-fan ZHANG ; Peng GAO ; Jun LEI ; Ying-yuan LU ; Peng-fei TU ; Yong JIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):82-95
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) technology originated in China during the Eastern Jin Dynasty and has rapidly developed over the past two decades, becoming a primary method for studying the causal relationship between gut microbiota and the occurrence and progression of diseases. At the same time, the therapeutic effects of FMT in the field of gastrointestinal diseases have gained widespread recognition and are gradually expanding into other disease areas. The FMT procedure is relatively complex, and there is currently no standardized method; its success is influenced by various factors, including the donor, recipient, processing of the fecal material, and the method of implantation. Given the increasingly recognized relationship between gut microbiota and various diseases, FMT has become a research hotspot in both scientific studies and clinical applications, achieving a series of significant advancements. To help researchers better understand this technology, this paper will outline the development history of FMT, summarize common operational methods in research and clinical settings, review its application progress, and look forward to future development directions.
2.The Mechanisms of Neurotransmitters and Their Receptors in Exercise Central Fatigue
Lu-Lu GUAN ; Bo-Te QI ; Du-Shuo FENG ; Jing-Wang TAN ; Meng CAO ; Yu ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1321-1336
Exercise fatigue is a complex physiological and psychological phenomenon that includes peripheral fatigue in the muscles and central fatigue in the brain. Peripheral fatigue refers to the loss of force caused at the distal end of the neuromuscular junction, whereas central fatigue involves decreased motor output from the primary motor cortex, which is associated with modulations at anatomical sites proximal to nerves that innervate skeletal muscle. The central regulatory failure reflects a progressive decline in the central nervous system’s capacity to recruit motor units during sustained physical activity. Emerging evidence highlights the critical involvement of central neurochemical regulation in fatigue development, particularly through neurotransmitter-mediated modulation. Alterations in neurotransmitter release and receptor activity could influence excitatory and inhibitory signal pathways, thus modulating the perception of fatigue and exercise performance. Increased serotonin (5-HT) could increase perception of effort and lethargy, reduce motor drive to continue exercising, and contribute to exercise fatigue. Decreased dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NE) neurotransmission can negatively impact arousal, mood, motivation, and reward mechanisms and impair exercise performance. Furthermore, the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems interact with each other; a low 5-HT/DA ratio enhances motor motivation and improves performance, and a high 5-HT/DA ratio heightens fatigue perception and leads to decreased performance. The expression and activity of neurotransmitter receptors would be changed during prolonged exercise to fatigue, affecting the transmission of nerve signals. Prolonged high-intensity exercise causes excess 5-HT to overflow from the synaptic cleft to the axonal initial segment and activates the 5-HT1A receptor, thereby inhibiting the action potential of motor neurons and affecting the recruitment of motor units. During exercise to fatigue, the DA secretion is decreased, which blocks the binding of DA to D1 receptor in the caudate putamen and inhibits the activation of the direct pathway of the basal ganglia to suppress movement, meanwhile the binding of DA to D2 receptor is restrained in the caudate putamen, which activates the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia to influence motivation. Furthermore, other neurotransmitters and their receptors, such as adenosine (ADO), glutamic acid (Glu), and γ‑aminobutyric acid (GABA) also play important roles in regulating neurotransmitter balance and fatigue. The occurrence of central fatigue is not the result of the action of a single neurotransmitter system, but a comprehensive manifestation of the interaction between multiple neurotransmitters. This review explores the important role of neurotransmitters and their receptors in central motor fatigue, reveals the dynamic changes of different neurotransmitters such as 5-HT, DA, NE, and ADO during exercise, and summarizes the mechanisms by which these neurotransmitters and their receptors regulate fatigue perception and exercise performance through complex interactions. Besides, this study presents pharmacological evidence that drugs such as agonists, antagonists, and reuptake inhibitors could affect exercise performance by regulating the metabolic changes of neurotransmitters. Recently, emerging interventions such as dietary bioactive components intake and transcranial electrical stimulation may provide new ideas and strategies for the prevention and alleviation of exercise fatigue by regulating neurotransmitter levels and receptor activity. Overall, this work offers new theoretical insights into the understanding of exercise central fatigue, and future research should further investigate the relationship between neurotransmitters and their receptors and exercise fatigue.
3.Exploring Common Principles and Characteristic Differences in Stir-frying Through Varied Processing Techniques
Hong LIU ; Lingyun ZHONG ; Yanwen DENG ; Xingmei LU ; Shuo WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(22):282-290
As the core technology of processing, the stir-frying method of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) realizes the regulation of efficacy of medicinal substances through the coordination of fire gradient and excipients. This study aims to systematically analyze the influence of different stir-frying degrees(stir-frying until yellow, stir-frying to brown, stir-frying to charcoal) and excipient types(solid excipients such as rice, wheat bran, soil, liquid excipients such as rice wine, vinegar, honey) on the physicochemical properties, efficacy and toxicity of TCM, summarizing their common regulatory mechanisms and characteristics. Then, the three-dimensional regulatory common mechanisms and five-dimensional regulatory specificity mechanisms of different stir-frying processes were obtained. The three-dimensional regulatory common mechanisms are as follows:①Thermal effects break down inherent barriers of medicinal materials and improve the dissolution of components. ②Inducing Maillard reaction, carbonization and other reactions of medicinal materials to promote the transformation of components. ③Combining the catalytic and harmonizing effects of excipients to achieve targeted enrichment of efficacious substances and precise control of toxic components. The five-dimensional regulatory specificity mechanisms manifest as:①The efficacy gradient pattern where stir-frying until yellow strengthens the spleen, stir-frying to brown aids digestion, and stir-frying to charcoal stops bleeding. ②According to the polarity difference and intrinsic properties, the liquid excipients form a directional synergistic mechanism of wine processing enhances ascending nature, ginger processing to warm and disperse, salt processing directs effects to the kidneys, vinegar processing targets the liver, honey processing imparts sweetness and moderation. ③Through porous structure and interfacial properties, solid excipients give the synergistic effect of rice processing for diarrhea relief, bran processing for stomach tonification, soil processing for warming the middle warmer, and clam powder/talcum powder/sand processing for texture optimization. ④Thermal effects induce decomposition/oxidation/polymerization and other reactions to reshape the material basis, directing changes in the efficacy. ⑤The targeted distribution of efficacy is regulated by component enrichment and meridian-guiding effect, and the meridian tropism is changed. The system, driven by thermal effect, excipient synergy and physicochemical reconstruction, integrates five-dimensional regulation of fire, solvent, interface, composition and distribution. It systematically explains the inherent law of efficacy-substance-process of traditional stir-frying, and provides theoretical basis and practical guidance for standardizing TCM processing and enhancing the efficacy.
4.Expert consensus on prognostic evaluation of cochlear implantation in hereditary hearing loss.
Xinyu SHI ; Xianbao CAO ; Renjie CHAI ; Suijun CHEN ; Juan FENG ; Ningyu FENG ; Xia GAO ; Lulu GUO ; Yuhe LIU ; Ling LU ; Lingyun MEI ; Xiaoyun QIAN ; Dongdong REN ; Haibo SHI ; Duoduo TAO ; Qin WANG ; Zhaoyan WANG ; Shuo WANG ; Wei WANG ; Ming XIA ; Hao XIONG ; Baicheng XU ; Kai XU ; Lei XU ; Hua YANG ; Jun YANG ; Pingli YANG ; Wei YUAN ; Dingjun ZHA ; Chunming ZHANG ; Hongzheng ZHANG ; Juan ZHANG ; Tianhong ZHANG ; Wenqi ZUO ; Wenyan LI ; Yongyi YUAN ; Jie ZHANG ; Yu ZHAO ; Fang ZHENG ; Yu SUN
Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2025;39(9):798-808
Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation(CI) serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system(Favorable, Marginal, Poor). The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss(such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1) and syndromic hereditary hearing loss(such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome), which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans
;
Cochlear Implantation
;
Prognosis
;
Hearing Loss/surgery*
;
Consensus
;
Connexin 26
;
Mutation
;
Sulfate Transporters
;
Connexins/genetics*
5.Fibroblast activation protein targeting radiopharmaceuticals: From drug design to clinical translation.
Yuxuan WU ; Xingkai WANG ; Xiaona SUN ; Xin GAO ; Siqi ZHANG ; Jieting SHEN ; Hao TIAN ; Xueyao CHEN ; Hongyi HUANG ; Shuo JIANG ; Boyang ZHANG ; Yingzi ZHANG ; Minzi LU ; Hailong ZHANG ; Zhicheng SUN ; Ruping LIU ; Hong ZHANG ; Ming-Rong ZHANG ; Kuan HU ; Rui WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4511-4542
The activation proteins released by fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment regulate tumor growth, migration, and treatment response, thereby influencing tumor progression and therapeutic outcomes. Owing to the proliferation and metastasis of tumors, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is typically highly expressed in the tumor stroma, whereas it is nearly absent in adult normal tissues and benign lesions, making it an attractive target for precision medicine. Radiolabeled agents targeting FAP have the potential for targeted cancer diagnosis and therapy. This comprehensive review aims to describe the evolution of FAPI-based radiopharmaceuticals and their structural optimization. Within its scope, this review summarizes the advances in the use of radiolabeled small molecule inhibitors for tumor imaging and therapy as well as the modification strategies for FAPIs, combined with insights from structure-activity relationships and clinical studies, providing a valuable perspective for radiopharmaceutical clinical development and application.
6.Advances and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients against antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli infections.
Shuo YANG ; Ping SU ; Lu LI ; Shuang LIU ; Yi WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):101117-101117
In clinical practice, antibiotics have historically been utilized for the treatment of pathogenic bacteria. However, the gradual emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacterial strains has posed a significant challenge to this approach. In 2022, Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacterium renowned for its widespread pathogenicity and high virulence, emerged as the predominant pathogenic bacterium in China. The rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains has rendered antibiotics insufficient to fight E. coli infections. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has made remarkable contributions to the health of Chinese people for thousands of years, and its significant therapeutic effects have been proven in clinical practice. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the advances and mechanisms of TCM and its active ingredients against antibiotic-resistant E. coli infections. First of all, this review introduces the classification, antibiotic resistance characteristics and mechanisms of E. coli. Then, the TCM formulas and extracts are listed along with their active ingredients against E. coli, including extraction solution, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and the antibacterial mechanisms. In addition, there is growing evidence supporting the synergistic therapeutic strategy of combining TCM with antibiotics for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant E. coli infections, and we provide a summary of this evidence and its underlying mechanisms. In conclusion, we present a comprehensive review of TCM and highlight its potential and advantages in the prevention and treatment of E. coli infections. We hold the opinion that TCM will play an important role in global health, pharmaceutical development, and livestock farming in the future.
7.Shenlian Extract Protects against Ultrafine Particulate Matter-Aggravated Myocardial Ischemic Injury by Inhibiting Inflammation and Cell Apoptosis.
Shui Qing QU ; Yan LIANG ; Shuo Qiu DENG ; Yu LI ; Yue DAI ; Cheng Cheng LIU ; Tuo LIU ; Lu Qi WANG ; Li Na CHEN ; Yu Jie LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):206-218
OBJECTIVE:
Emerging evidence suggests that exposure to ultrafine particulate matter (UPM, aerodynamic diameter < 0.1 µm) is associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Previous studies have found that Shenlian (SL) extract possesses anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties and has a promising protective effect at all stages of the atherosclerotic disease process. In this study, we aimed to investigated whether SL improves UPM-aggravated myocardial ischemic injury by inhibiting inflammation and cell apoptosis.
METHODS:
We established a mouse model of MI+UPM. Echocardiographic measurement, measurement of myocardialinfarct size, biochemical analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), histopathological analysis, Transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL), Western blotting (WB), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and so on were used to explore the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of SL in vivo and in vitro.
RESULTS:
SL treatment can attenuate UPM-induced cardiac dysfunction by improving left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and decreasing cardiac infarction area. SL significantly reduced the levels of myocardial enzymes and attenuated UPM-induced morphological alterations. Moreover, SL significantly reduced expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1. UPM further increased the infiltration of macrophages in myocardial tissue, whereas SL intervention reversed this phenomenon. UPM also triggered myocardial apoptosis, which was markedly attenuated by SL treatment. The results of in vitro experiments revealed that SL prevented cell damage caused by exposure to UPM combined with hypoxia by reducing the expression of the inflammatory factor NF-κB and inhibiting apoptosis in H9c2 cells.
CONCLUSION
Overall, both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that SL attenuated UPM-aggravated myocardial ischemic injury by inhibiting inflammation and cell apoptosis. The mechanisms were related to the downregulation of macrophages infiltrating heart tissues.
Animals
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Particulate Matter/adverse effects*
;
Mice
;
Male
;
Inflammation/drug therapy*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Myocardial Ischemia/drug therapy*
;
Cell Line
8.A Retrospective Study of Pregnancy and Fetal Outcomes in Mothers with Hepatitis C Viremia.
Wen DENG ; Zi Yu ZHANG ; Xin Xin LI ; Ya Qin ZHANG ; Wei Hua CAO ; Shi Yu WANG ; Xin WEI ; Zi Xuan GAO ; Shuo Jie WANG ; Lin Mei YAO ; Lu ZHANG ; Hong Xiao HAO ; Xiao Xue CHEN ; Yuan Jiao GAO ; Wei YI ; Yao XIE ; Ming Hui LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(7):829-839
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development.
METHODS:
A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected.
RESULTS:
Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ 2 = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006).
CONCLUSIONS
Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans
;
Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Adult
;
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Pregnancy Outcome
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Viremia/virology*
;
Hepatitis C
;
Hepacivirus/physiology*
;
Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology*
;
Young Adult
;
Alanine Transaminase/blood*
9.Clinical efficacy of a novel autologous blood recovery device during ECMO weaning
Yufeng LU ; Chuanfa ZHANG ; Dongmei FAN ; Shuo HU ; Xianming WEN ; Ziyou LIU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(11):1573-1576
Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a novel autologous blood recovery device during the weaning process from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Methods: A total of 16 patients who received ECMO support and underwent blood recovery during the weaning process from January 2022 to September 2024 at our hospital were included in the experimental group. In contrast, 58 patients who did not receive blood recovery during the weaning process were assigned to the control group. Transfusion components, costs, and changes in routine blood tests and coagulation functions were compared between the two groups from the day of weaning until 48 hours post-weaning. Results: Significant differences were observed in the volumes of red blood cell transfusions, plasma transfusions, and transfusion costs between the two groups from the day of weaning to 48 hours post-weaning (P<0.05). Additionally, in the experimental group, significant differences were noted in hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (Plt), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) results when comparing values before and after extubation (P<0.05). Conclusion: The application of a novel autologous blood recovery device during ECMO weaning reduces patient costs, minimizes wastage of autologous blood, decreases reliance on exogenous blood transfusions, and mitigates the risks associated with allogeneic blood transfusion. This approach merits further promotion for clinical use.
10.Effects of Huayu Xiaozheng Granules on Angiogenesis and Invasion in Trophoblast Cells with Overexpression of MiR-210 and Under Hypoxia
Wen-Jing LU ; Shuo YUAN ; Jia-Han QIU ; Pin QIU ; Gao-Pi DENG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(11):2992-2998
Objective To observe the effect of Huayu Xiaozheng Granules on angiogenesis and invasion in trophoblast cells with overexpression of miR-210 and under hypoxia.Methods HTR-8/SVneo cells were cultured in vitro,a miR-210 overexpression model was established by transfection,and a chemical hypoxia model was established by CoCl2 method.The blank group,miR-210 overexpression group,miR-210 overexpression-negative group,miR-210 overexpression+Chinese medicine group,hypoxia+Chinese medicine group and Chinese medicine group in experiment were set up.Western Blot method was used to detect protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and invasion-associated factors[matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9)and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase 1(TIMP-1)]in HTR-8/SVneo cells.Results Compared with the blank group,the protein expression levels of HIF-1α,VEGF,MMP-9,TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio were increased in the miR-210 overexpression group(P<0.05);compared with the miR-210 overexpression group,the HIF-1α,VEGF,MMP-9,TIMP-1 protein expression levels and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in the miR-210 overexpression-negative group,miR-210 overexpression+Chinese medicine group,hypoxia+Chinese medicine group and Chinese medicine group were all decreased(P<0.05),and the decrease effects in Chinese medicine group was especially obvious;compared with the miR-210 overexpression+Chinese medicine group,the protein expression levels of HIF-1α,VEGF,MMP-9,TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in hypoxia+Chinese medicine group and Chinese medicine group were all decreased(P<0.05);compared with the hypoxia+Chinese medicine group,the above indicators were decreased in the Chinese medicine group(P<0.05).Conclusion Huayu Xiaozheng Granules can negatively regulate the increased angiogenesis and invasion of trophoblast cells with miR-210 overexpression and under hypoxia,which may be one of the action mechanisms of its treatment for tubal pregnancy.

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