1.Banxia Xiexin Tang Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Rat Model of Vascular Dementia via AGE/RAGE Pathway
Shuzhi LIANG ; Zhongmin ZHAO ; Suyu HOU ; Dandan LUO ; Yan ZHANG ; Xijian LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):10-21
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Banxia Xiexin Tang (BXT) regulates the advanced glycation end products (AGE)/receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signaling pathway to reduce neuroinflammatory responses and ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of vascular dementia (VD). MethodsThe components of BXT were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole -orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS), and the core components and key action pathways were screened out by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly allocated into the sham and modeling groups by the random number table method. The VD model was replicated by the modified bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2-VO) method. The successfully modeled rats were randomly allocated into the model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (3.748 5, 7.497, 14.994 g·kg-1) BXT (BXT-L, BXT-M, and BXT-H), and nimodipine (NMP, 0.002 7 g·kg-1) groups according to the random number table method. The rats in the drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage, and the sham and model groups received the same amount of normal saline for 14 consecutive days. The Morris water maze, Y-maze, and new object recognition experiments were conducted to evaluate the cognitive dysfunction of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of the hippocampal tissue in rats. The mRNA levels of AGE, RAGE, and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in the hippocampal tissue of rats were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The expression of related proteins in the AGE/RAGE pathway in the hippocampal tissue of rats was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The levels of neurotransmitters and inflammatory mediators in the rat serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsThe chemical components of BXT were detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified the AGE/RAGE pathway as the key pathway. The results of the water maze, Y maze, and novel object recognition tests showed that compared with the sham group, the model group demonstrated prolonged successful latency and decreases in number of platform crossings, alternation rate, number of entries into the new arm, preference index, and discrimination index (P0.01). Compared with the model group, the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showed shortened successful latency (P0.01) and increases in number of platform crossings (P0.05), alternation rate (P0.01), number of entries into the new arm (P0.05), preference index (P0.01), and discrimination index (P0.01). HE results showed that compared with the sham group, the cells of model rats were loosely and disorderly arranged, and the nuclei were condensed. Compared with the model group, the pathological changes of the hippocampus in the BXT group were mitigated. Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group presented up-regulated mRNA levels of AGE, RAGE, and p-NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus (P0.01), and compared with the model group, the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of AGE, RAGE, and p-NF-κB p65 (P0.01). Western blot results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group presented up-regulated expression of AGE, RAGE, p-NF-κB p65, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P0.05), and compared with the model group, the BXT-H group presented down-regulated expression of AGE, RAGE, p-NF-κB p65, and TNF-α (P0.05). IHC results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group had increased expression of RAGE (P0.01), and compared with the model group, the BXT-H and BXT-M groups had reduced expression of RAGE (P0.01). ELISA results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group exhibited elevated levels of TNF-α and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and declined levels of acetylcholine (ACh) and dopamine (DA) in the serum (P0.01). Compared with the model group, the BXT-L, BXT-M, and BXT-H groups showed lowered levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum (P0.05) and elevated levels of ACh and DA (P0.05). ConclusionBXT may ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of VD by down-regulating the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, reducing neuroinflammatory responses, and regulating neurotransmitter levels.
2.Traditional Chinese Medicine Against Insomnia by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway: A Review
Suyu HOU ; Dandan LUO ; Xiangye GAO ; Yan ZHANG ; Xijian LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):284-293
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in falling asleep, sleep maintenance disorder and impaired daytime function. Its pathological mechanism involves multiple factors such as nerve excitability, circadian rhythm, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress injury. As a classical tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt) triggers Akt phosphorylation cascade, inducing inflammatory response, apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative damage, nerve excitability, and circadian rhythm imbalance. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can improve sleep by targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Based on this, this paper systematically reviews the research progress on the regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for insomnia at home and abroad. These drugs can regulate neuronal excitability by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway, affect the circadian rhythm, alleviate inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy and oxidative stress, and thus regulate sleep-wake. Furthermore, literature review indicates that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may represent a specific pathway underlying phlegm-turbidity disturbing the upper Jiao-type insomnia.
3.Banxia Xiexin Tang Ameliorates Cognitive Dysfunction in Rat Model of Vascular Dementia via AGE/RAGE Pathway
Shuzhi LIANG ; Zhongmin ZHAO ; Suyu HOU ; Dandan LUO ; Yan ZHANG ; Xijian LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):10-21
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Banxia Xiexin Tang (BXT) regulates the advanced glycation end products (AGE)/receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signaling pathway to reduce neuroinflammatory responses and ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of vascular dementia (VD). MethodsThe components of BXT were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole -orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS), and the core components and key action pathways were screened out by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Sixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly allocated into the sham and modeling groups by the random number table method. The VD model was replicated by the modified bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries (2-VO) method. The successfully modeled rats were randomly allocated into the model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (3.748 5, 7.497, 14.994 g·kg-1) BXT (BXT-L, BXT-M, and BXT-H), and nimodipine (NMP, 0.002 7 g·kg-1) groups according to the random number table method. The rats in the drug intervention groups were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage, and the sham and model groups received the same amount of normal saline for 14 consecutive days. The Morris water maze, Y-maze, and new object recognition experiments were conducted to evaluate the cognitive dysfunction of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to evaluate the histopathological changes of the hippocampal tissue in rats. The mRNA levels of AGE, RAGE, and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (p-NF-κB p65) in the hippocampal tissue of rats were determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The expression of related proteins in the AGE/RAGE pathway in the hippocampal tissue of rats was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). The levels of neurotransmitters and inflammatory mediators in the rat serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsThe chemical components of BXT were detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS/MS. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified the AGE/RAGE pathway as the key pathway. The results of the water maze, Y maze, and novel object recognition tests showed that compared with the sham group, the model group demonstrated prolonged successful latency and decreases in number of platform crossings, alternation rate, number of entries into the new arm, preference index, and discrimination index (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showed shortened successful latency (P<0.01) and increases in number of platform crossings (P<0.05), alternation rate (P<0.01), number of entries into the new arm (P<0.05), preference index (P<0.01), and discrimination index (P<0.01). HE results showed that compared with the sham group, the cells of model rats were loosely and disorderly arranged, and the nuclei were condensed. Compared with the model group, the pathological changes of the hippocampus in the BXT group were mitigated. Real-time PCR results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group presented up-regulated mRNA levels of AGE, RAGE, and p-NF-κB p65 in the hippocampus (P<0.01), and compared with the model group, the BXT-H and BXT-M groups showcased down-regulated mRNA levels of AGE, RAGE, and p-NF-κB p65 (P<0.01). Western blot results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group presented up-regulated expression of AGE, RAGE, p-NF-κB p65, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (P<0.05), and compared with the model group, the BXT-H group presented down-regulated expression of AGE, RAGE, p-NF-κB p65, and TNF-α (P<0.05). IHC results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group had increased expression of RAGE (P<0.01), and compared with the model group, the BXT-H and BXT-M groups had reduced expression of RAGE (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that compared with the sham group, the model group exhibited elevated levels of TNF-α and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and declined levels of acetylcholine (ACh) and dopamine (DA) in the serum (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BXT-L, BXT-M, and BXT-H groups showed lowered levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum (P<0.05) and elevated levels of ACh and DA (P<0.05). ConclusionBXT may ameliorate cognitive dysfunction in the rat model of VD by down-regulating the AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, reducing neuroinflammatory responses, and regulating neurotransmitter levels.
4.Traditional Chinese Medicine Against Insomnia by Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway: A Review
Suyu HOU ; Dandan LUO ; Xiangye GAO ; Yan ZHANG ; Xijian LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(3):284-293
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty in falling asleep, sleep maintenance disorder and impaired daytime function. Its pathological mechanism involves multiple factors such as nerve excitability, circadian rhythm, cell apoptosis, oxidative stress injury. As a classical tyrosine kinase signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B(PI3K/Akt) triggers Akt phosphorylation cascade, inducing inflammatory response, apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative damage, nerve excitability, and circadian rhythm imbalance. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) can improve sleep by targeting the PI3K/Akt pathway. Based on this, this paper systematically reviews the research progress on the regulation of PI3K/Akt pathway by traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for insomnia at home and abroad. These drugs can regulate neuronal excitability by regulating the PI3K/Akt pathway, affect the circadian rhythm, alleviate inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy and oxidative stress, and thus regulate sleep-wake. Furthermore, literature review indicates that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may represent a specific pathway underlying phlegm-turbidity disturbing the upper Jiao-type insomnia.
5.Bone density and Stroke
Suyu HUA ; Nan XING ; Jingwen ZHANG ; Litao LI
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2024;32(8):603-607
Stroke has become the first cause of death and disability in Chinese adults, which is characterized by high incidence rate, high recurrence rate, high disability rate, high mortality and high economic burden. Osteoporosis or bone loss are common after stroke, and decreased bone density may also be a risk factor for ischemic stroke. Although the correlation between the two has been confirmed, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood. This article reviews the association between the decreased bone density and stroke, as well as the screening and treatment of osteoporosis in stroke survivors.
6.Endoscopic and pathological analyses of fundic gland-type tumors
Chen JIANHUA ; Shi HONG ; Chen SUYU ; Huang RUI ; Lin LILIN ; Zhang YU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2024;51(15):764-768
Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of oxyntic gland adenoma(OGA)and gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type(GA-FG).Methods:Six cases of fundic gland-type tumors(three OGA and three GA-FG)diagnosed at the Fujian Cancer Hospital between August 2020 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical data,endoscopic features,pathological charac-teristics,immunohistochemical results,treatment,and prognosis were analyzed.Results:Six patients with an average age of 57 years,in-cluding one male and five females,were mainly affected in the gastric fundus and body,with the superficial elevated type being the most common.The pathological features of gastric gland-type tumors are mostly located in the deep layer of the gastric mucosa,showing a dis-ordered glandular structure mainly composed of chief cell-type cells.There were three cases of OGA and three cases of GA-FG.Immunohis-tochemical results showed that pepsinogen 1 was positive in five cases,mucin 6(MUC6)in five cases,synaptophysin(Syn)in six cases,chro-mogranin(CgA)was negative in all cases,and Ki-67 was less than 10%.Conclusions:The incidences of OGA and GA-FG are low,and there is no obvious endoscopic specificity.Endoscopy physicians have an insufficient understanding,which can easily lead to misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses.Immunohistochemistry is helpful for the differential diagnosis,and endoscopic mucosal resection or stripping is the pre-ferred treatment option.
7.Development and Validation of a Pathomics Model Using Machine Learning to Predict CXCL8 Expression and Prognosis in Head and Neck Cancer
Weihua WANG ; Suyu RUAN ; Yuhang XIE ; Shengjian FANG ; Junxian YANG ; Xueyan LI ; Yu ZHANG
Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology 2024;17(1):85-97
Objectives:
. The necessity to develop a method for prognostication and to identify novel biomarkers for personalized medicine in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cannot be overstated. Recently, pathomics, which relies on quantitative analysis of medical imaging, has come to the forefront. CXCL8, an essential inflammatory cytokine, has been shown to correlate with overall survival (OS). This study examined the relationship between CXCL8 mRNA expression and pathomics features and aimed to explore the biological underpinnings of CXCL8.
Methods:
. Clinical information and transcripts per million mRNA sequencing data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-HNSCC dataset. We identified correlations between CXCL8 mRNA expression and patient survival rates using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve. A retrospective analysis of 313 samples diagnosed with HNSCC in the TCGA database was conducted. Pathomics features were extracted from hematoxylin and eosin–stained images, and then the minimum redundancy maximum relevance, with recursive feature elimination (mRMR-RFE) method was applied, followed by screening with the logistic regression algorithm.
Results:
. Kaplan-Meier curves indicated that high expression of CXCL8 was significantly associated with decreased OS. The logistic regression pathomics model incorporated 16 radiomics features identified by the mRMR-RFE method in the training set and demonstrated strong performance in the testing set. Calibration plots showed that the probability of high gene expression predicted by the pathomics model was in good agreement with actual observations, suggesting the model’s high clinical applicability.
Conclusion
. The pathomics model of CXCL8 mRNA expression serves as an effective tool for predicting prognosis in patients with HNSCC and can aid in clinical decision-making. Elevated levels of CXCL8 expression may lead to reduced DNA damage and are associated with a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment, offering a potential therapeutic target.
8.High expression of variable domain of heavy-chain antibodies in Expi293F cells with optimized signal peptide and codons.
Shuzhen TAN ; Hu DONG ; Songjia PAN ; Suyu MU ; Yongjie CHEN ; Yun ZHANG ; Shiqi SUN ; Huichen GUO
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2024;40(11):4219-4227
The variable domain of heavy-chain antibody (VHH) has been developed widely in drug therapy, diagnosis, and research. Escherichia coli is the most popular expression system for VHH production, whereas low bioactivity occurs sometimes. Mammalian cells are one of the most ideal hosts for VHH expression at present. To improve the yield of VHH in Expi293F cells, we optimized the signal peptide (SP) and codons of VHH. Firstly, the fusion protein VHH1-Fc was used to screen SPs. The SP IFN-α2 showed the highest secretion as quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subsequently, codon optimization by improving GC3 and GC content doubled the yield of VHH1 and kept its binding activity to Senecavirus A (SVA). Finally, the mean yields of other 5 VHHs that fused with SP IFN-α2 and codon-optimized were over 191.6 mg/L, and these VHHs had high recovery and high purity in the culture supernatant. This study confirms that SP IFN-α2 and codon optimization could produce VHHs in Expi293F cells efficiently, which provides a reference for the large-scale production of VHHs.
Codon/genetics*
;
Protein Sorting Signals/genetics*
;
Escherichia coli/metabolism*
;
Humans
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis*
;
Interferon-alpha/metabolism*
;
Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains/immunology*
;
Cell Line
;
Immunoglobulin Variable Region/immunology*
9.Clinical comprehensive evaluation study on Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet
Yang TIAN ; Wen HU ; Yun LU ; Xuanxuan WANG ; Jiajia FENG ; Suyu GAO ; Kebiao LI ; Anqi HUANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Hong CHENG ; Wei LIU
Chinese Journal of Digestion 2023;43(9):612-625
Objective:To explore the contents and methods of clinical comprehensive evaluation of microecologics, with the example of Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet, in order to provide evidence for clinical rational use of microecologics, and microecologics research, development and related decision-making, and to promote rational use of medications. Methods:Based on the research data collected from systematic literature search, health technology assessment methods such as evidence-based medicine and pharmacoeconomics evaluation were used to estimate the safety, efficacy, economics, suitability, accessibility and innovation of Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet. Results:In terms of efficacy, Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet showed significant therapeutic effects in the treatment of pediatric diarrhea, antibiotic-related diarrhea, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, and secondary diarrhea caused by diseases such as ulcerative colitis, as well as constipation and functional dyspepsia. It can also be used in the treatment of various diseases such as Helicobacter pylori related gastritis, liver cirrhosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In terms of safety, the incidence of adverse effects of this medication was low, and most were mild to moderate and transient symptoms. In terms of economics, compared with mesalazine alone in the treatment of ulcerative colitis, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of combination of Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet and mesalazine was 1 743.2. Besides, the daily treatment cost of Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet was lower than that of combination of Bifidobacterium triple viable and Bacillus licheniformis (1.87 to 2.80 yuan vs. 2.08 to 5.78 yuan). In terms of innovation, this medication had multiple patents and had been identified as a high-tech product in Zhejiang Province. In terms of suitability, the overall suitability of use and technical characteristics of medication were good. It could be further improved in the aspects of dosage form and system. In terms of accessibility, the price of the medication was stable, affordable and accessible to the general public. Conclusions:Based on the existing evidence, Bifidobacterium quadruple viable tablet presented effective with supported evidences, good safety, accessibility and innovation. The suitability can be further optimized. However, more in-depth and targeted research is needed in terms of economics and innovation in different clinical applications, and there is space for optimization in medication suitability.
10.Real experience of puerpera in free delivery positions: a Meta-synthesis of qualitative research
Juan LIU ; Jianhong QIAO ; Hui LI ; Linlin LUAN ; Xinyu YANG ; Suyu ZHANG ; Zhenling LU ; Huating ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2023;29(28):3842-3848
Objective:To systematically analyze and integrate the real experience of puerpera in free delivery positions.Methods:Qualitative or mixed method studies on attitudes and emotional experiences of puerpera towards free delivery positions were retrieved through computer on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang Data. The search period was from database establishment to November 30, 2022. The quality of literature was evaluated using the quality evaluation criteria for qualitative research of the Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Health Care Center in Australia. The aggregation integration method was used to integrate the results.Results:A total of 5 articles were included and 28 results were extracted. The results were summarized into 10 categories, and 3 integrated results were formed, including factors that affected the choice of delivery position, the complex delivery experience of the puerpera, and the hope for much support.Conclusions:Hospitals, communities, and families should fully understand women's emotional experiences and needs for free delivery positions, provide sufficient support and guidance, and provide a reference basis for developing a reasonable delivery position plan and promoting a positive delivery experience.

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