1.Potential Components and Mechanisms of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan in Treatment of Viral Pneumonia
Weichao ZHANG ; Yayun LI ; Tianci GAO ; Mengxing HOU ; Wenzhong XU ; Fenqiao CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):188-196
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of action of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan in treating viral pneumonia by combining network pharmacology and molecular docking with in vivo experimental validation. MethodsNetwork pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the core components, target genes, and major pathways of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan. Molecular docking was then applied to verify the interactions between the core components and key targets. Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10 per group), including blank, model, dexamethasone, and Ganlu Xiaodu Dan low-, medium-, and high-dose groups. The blank and model groups were gavaged with physiological saline (10 mL·kg-1) every 12 h. The dexamethasone group received intraperitoneal injections of dexamethasone (5 mg·kg-1). The low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan were gavaged with solutions at concentrations of 7.2, 14.4, and 21.6 g·kg-1, respectively, every 12 h. Lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) was measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Western blot was performed to detect the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) in lung tissue for further validation. ResultsTwelve potential active components of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan were identified through network pharmacology. A total of 306 overlapping target genes were obtained between Ganlu Xiaodu Dan and viral pneumonia. PPI network analysis identified the top 20 key targets, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed the top 20 signaling pathways. An “active component–target–pathway” network was constructed. Molecular docking demonstrated strong affinity between the core components of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan and key targets related to viral pneumonia. In animal experiments, compared with the blank group, the model group showed severe bronchial epithelial damage, disordered alveolar structure, massive inflammatory cell infiltration, widened alveolar septa, and obvious interstitial edema. W/D, levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17 in BALF, and protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt in lung tissue were all significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, lung injury in the Ganlu Xiaodu Dan groups and the dexamethasone group was alleviated. W/D and TNF-α levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05). IL-1β and IL-17 levels were significantly reduced in the medium- and high-dose groups and the dexamethasone group, and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionGanlu Xiaodu Dan can alleviate lung injury in viral pneumonia by suppressing the inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway activation.
2.Potential Components and Mechanisms of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan in Treatment of Viral Pneumonia
Weichao ZHANG ; Yayun LI ; Tianci GAO ; Mengxing HOU ; Wenzhong XU ; Fenqiao CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):188-196
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanisms of action of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan in treating viral pneumonia by combining network pharmacology and molecular docking with in vivo experimental validation. MethodsNetwork pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict the core components, target genes, and major pathways of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan. Molecular docking was then applied to verify the interactions between the core components and key targets. Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10 per group), including blank, model, dexamethasone, and Ganlu Xiaodu Dan low-, medium-, and high-dose groups. The blank and model groups were gavaged with physiological saline (10 mL·kg-1) every 12 h. The dexamethasone group received intraperitoneal injections of dexamethasone (5 mg·kg-1). The low-, medium-, and high-dose groups of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan were gavaged with solutions at concentrations of 7.2, 14.4, and 21.6 g·kg-1, respectively, every 12 h. Lung wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) was measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to determine the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-1β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Western blot was performed to detect the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt) in lung tissue for further validation. ResultsTwelve potential active components of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan were identified through network pharmacology. A total of 306 overlapping target genes were obtained between Ganlu Xiaodu Dan and viral pneumonia. PPI network analysis identified the top 20 key targets, and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed the top 20 signaling pathways. An “active component–target–pathway” network was constructed. Molecular docking demonstrated strong affinity between the core components of Ganlu Xiaodu Dan and key targets related to viral pneumonia. In animal experiments, compared with the blank group, the model group showed severe bronchial epithelial damage, disordered alveolar structure, massive inflammatory cell infiltration, widened alveolar septa, and obvious interstitial edema. W/D, levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17 in BALF, and protein expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt in lung tissue were all significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, lung injury in the Ganlu Xiaodu Dan groups and the dexamethasone group was alleviated. W/D and TNF-α levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05). IL-1β and IL-17 levels were significantly reduced in the medium- and high-dose groups and the dexamethasone group, and the protein expression levels of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt in lung tissue were significantly decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionGanlu Xiaodu Dan can alleviate lung injury in viral pneumonia by suppressing the inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway activation.
3.The effect of hip-knee-ankle active and passive movement therapy on joint function in early and intermedi-ate-stage knee osteoarthritis patients
Xi LI ; Xiaoying REN ; Yongwei JIAO ; Zhipeng SUN ; Shilin YIN ; Zekun ZHANG ; Tianci GAO ; Jingxi WANG ; Yongwang ZHANG ; Lu LIU ; Shuangqing DU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(6):829-837
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of hip-knee-ankle active and passive exercise therapy in patients with early-to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods A total of 180 patients with early to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis(KOA)were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Tradi-tional Chinese Medicine between March 2023 and March 2024.Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups:active movement group,passive movement group,combined movement group,and control group,with 45 patients in each group.The active movement group received hip-knee-ankle active movement therapy daily until the end of follow-up.The passive movement group underwent hip-knee-ankle passive movement therapy three times per week for two weeks.The combined movement group received both active and passive therapies.The control group was administered oral celecoxib capsules(200 mg once daily for two weeks).Joint function was assessed in all four groups before treatment,at two weeks post-treatment,and at 14 weeks post-treatment.The primary outcome measure was the WOMAC joint function score,while secondary outcomes included the WOMAC pain score,stiffness score,and quality of life score(SF-12).Results A total of 160 patients completed the trial,with 39 in the active group,42 in the passive group,40 in the combined group,and 39 in the control group.There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the groups(P>0.05).Compared to baseline,the WOMAC scores for function,pain,and stiffness in the passive,combined,and control groups decreased significantly at both 2 and 14 weeks post-treatment(P<0.05),while the SF-12 scores increased significantly(P<0.05).Between 2 and 14 weeks post-treat-ment,the active and combined groups showed further significant decreases in WOMAC function,pain,and stiffness scores(P<0.05)and increases in SF-12 scores(P<0.05).At 2 weeks post-treatment,compared to the control group,the passive and combined groups exhibited significantly lower WOMAC function scores(P<0.05),with no significant difference between the passive and combined groups(P>0.05).By 14 weeks post-treatment,the active and combined groups demonstrated significantly lower WOMAC function scores(P<0.05),with the combined group showing a significantly lower score than the active group(P<0.05).Conclusion The four therapeutic approaches demonstrate a certain degree of efficacy in improving joint function for patients with early and mid-stage KOA.The passive therapy group exhibits superior short-term outcomes,while the active therapy group shows better long-term benefits.The combined therapy group presents notable advantages in both short-term and long-term effi-cacy,although its short-term effectiveness does not surpass that of the passive therapy group.It is recommended for patients with early and mid-stage KOA who have underlying gastrointestinal and cardiovascular conditions.
4.Buyang-Huanwu decoction attenuates rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting autophagy of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells
Meng LI ; Chunyue ZUO ; Xiaofei JIN ; Tianci ZHANG ; Xiaohong ZHOU ; Wei-juan GAO
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(3):481-491
AIM:This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Buyang-Huanwu decoction(BYHWD)on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI)in rats,focusing on its role in regulating the autophagy of cerebral micro-vascular endothelial cells(BMECs).METHODS:(1)We established a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/re-perfusion(MCAO/R)and divided the subjects into four groups:sham group,model(MCAO/R)group,BYHWD group,and 3-n-butylphthalide(NBP)group.Neurological deficits were assessed using the Zea Longa score,while the volume of cerebral infarction was measured through 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining.Pathological damage in the ischemic penumbra was evaluated using HE staining,and blood-brain barrier(BBB)permeability was assessed by Evans blue(EB)staining.The ultrastructure of BMECs was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy,and the co-expres-sion and positive cell rate of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)in BMECs were determined through im-munofluorescence double staining.Additionally,the protein expression levels of ZO-1,claudin-5 and occludin in the cor-tical region of the ischemic penumbra in rats were examined using Western blot analysis.(2)A rat BMEC model of oxy-gen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)was also established.Rat BMECs were categorized into normal control(CON),OGD/R,dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO),rapamycin and 3-methyladenine groups to observe autophagy levels by monodansylcadaverine(MDC)staining.Furthermore,rat BMECs were divided into CON,OGD/R,BYHWD-containing serum(BHDS)and NBP groups.The cell autophagy was assessed by MDC staining and Western blot,while cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.RESULTS:(1)The rats in MCAO/R group exhibited significantly higher neurological scores(P<0.01)and increased cerebral infarction volumes(P<0.01)compared with sham group.Severe damage in the ischemic penumbra was observed,characterized by disordered tissue structure,widened intercellular spaces,and compro-mised cellular integrity.The EB dye permeability was notably elevated(P<0.01),and BMECs showed structural destruc-tion,including damaged cell membranes,swollen Golgi apparatus,dilated endoplasmic reticulum vesicles,and damaged mitochondria.The ratio of LC3+CD31+/CD31+and the protein levels of ZO-1,claudin-5 and occludin were significantly el-evated(P<0.01).In contrast,the rats in BYHWD and NBP groups demonstrated lower neurological scores(P<0.01)and reduced cerebral infarction volumes(P<0.01).Furthermore,EB permeability decreased(P<0.01),BMEC morphol-ogy improved,and the protein expression levels of ZO-1,claudin-5 and occludin increased(P<0.05).(2)Rat BMECs in OGD/R group had a significantly elevated autophagy level compared with CON group(P<0.01),with increased expres-sion of LC3 and beclin-1 proteins and decreased level of P62 protein(P<0.05).Notably,the cells in BHDS and NBP groups displayed decreased autophagy level compared with OGD/R group,with increased cell viability(P<0.01),re-duced LC3 and beclin-1 protein expression,and increased P62 protein expression(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Buyang-Huanwu decoction alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the autophagy of cerebral microvas-cular endothelial cells.
5.Astragaloside IV-pretreated neural stem cell-derived exosomes attenuate brain injury in ischemic stroke rats by inhibiting classical pyroptosis pathway
Chunyue ZUO ; Meng LI ; Xiaofei JING ; Tianci ZHANG ; Xiaohan CHEN ; Shaoze YANG ; Tiangang ZHENG ; Weijuan GAO ; Xiaohong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(2):277-286
AIM:To investigate the mechanism by which exosomes(EXOs)derived from neural stem cells(NSCs)pretreated with astragaloside IV(ASIV)alleviate brain damage in rats after ischemic stroke.METHODS:Rat NSCs were isolated from fetal rats within 24 h of birth,cultured for 3 d,and subsequently treated with ASIV for additional 5 d.The EXOs from untreated NSCs and ASIV-pretreated NSCs(ASIV-EXOs)were isolated via ultracentrifugation of the cell supernatant.These EXOs were characterized using Western blot to detect specific markers such as CD63,tumor sus-ceptibility gene 101(TSG101)and calnexin.Nanoparticle analysis was employed to determine the size,and the morpholo-gy of the EXOs was observed under electron microscope.Six to eight-week-old SD male rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups:sham group,middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model group,edaravone(EDA)treatment(MCAO/R+EDA)group,EXOs treatement(MCAO/R+EXOs)group and ASIV-EXOs treatment(MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs)group.Tail vein injections were administered within 2 h following the successful establishment of the MCAO/R model.The Zea Longa method was utilized to evaluate neurological deficits,while the TTC method was employed to assess brain infarc-tion.Pathological changes were examined through HE staining,and TUNEL and caspase-1 immunofluorescence double staining were conducted to detect cellular pyroptosis.Serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-18 were measured us-ing ELISA,and Western blot was performed to evaluate the expression of caspase-1,nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),gasdermin D(GSDMD),and IL-18 proteins in the ischemic area of the rat cerebral cortex across all groups.RE-SULTS:The MCAO/R group exhibited significantly higher neurological deficit scores compared to the sham group(P<0.01)and lower scores in the administered groups relative to the MCAO/R group(P<0.05).Cerebral infarction was mark-edly increased in the MCAO/R group compared to the sham group(P<0.01),whereas the infarction area was reduced in the administered groups compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.05).Serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly el-evated in the MCAO/R group versus the sham group(P<0.01)and were lower in the administered groups compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.01).Moreover,IL-1β and IL-18 levels in the MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs group were lower than those in the MCAO/R+EXOs group(P<0.05).HE staining revealed pronounced sieve-like infarction foci in the ischemic area of the rat cerebral cortex in MCAO/R group,characterized by disorganized neuronal arrangements,reduced or absent Nys-trom's vesicles,shrunken or fragmented nuclei,and numerous red neurons.In contrast,drug-treated groups exhibited milder pathological changes with clearer neuronal structures and a significant reduction in red neuron counts.Immunofluo-rescence double staining indicated a significant increase in double-positive cells in the MCAO/R group compared to the sham group(P<0.01),with a decrease in double-positive cells in the administered groups relative to the MCAO/R group(P<0.05)and a further reduction in the MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs group compared to the MCAO/R+EXOs group(P<0.05).The expression levels of caspase-1,NLRP3,ASC,IL-18 and GSDMD proteins in the ischemic region of the rat cerebral cortex were significantly reduced in the administered groups compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.01),with further re-duction observed in the MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs group compared to the MCAO/R+EXOs group(P<0.05).CONCLU-SION:Exosomes derived from ASIV-pretreated NSCs attenuate brain damage in ischemic stroke rats,potentially through a mechanism involving the inhibition of pyroptosis mediated by the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway.
6.The effect of hip-knee-ankle active and passive movement therapy on joint function in early and intermedi-ate-stage knee osteoarthritis patients
Xi LI ; Xiaoying REN ; Yongwei JIAO ; Zhipeng SUN ; Shilin YIN ; Zekun ZHANG ; Tianci GAO ; Jingxi WANG ; Yongwang ZHANG ; Lu LIU ; Shuangqing DU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(6):829-837
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of hip-knee-ankle active and passive exercise therapy in patients with early-to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods A total of 180 patients with early to mid-stage knee osteoarthritis(KOA)were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Tradi-tional Chinese Medicine between March 2023 and March 2024.Patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups:active movement group,passive movement group,combined movement group,and control group,with 45 patients in each group.The active movement group received hip-knee-ankle active movement therapy daily until the end of follow-up.The passive movement group underwent hip-knee-ankle passive movement therapy three times per week for two weeks.The combined movement group received both active and passive therapies.The control group was administered oral celecoxib capsules(200 mg once daily for two weeks).Joint function was assessed in all four groups before treatment,at two weeks post-treatment,and at 14 weeks post-treatment.The primary outcome measure was the WOMAC joint function score,while secondary outcomes included the WOMAC pain score,stiffness score,and quality of life score(SF-12).Results A total of 160 patients completed the trial,with 39 in the active group,42 in the passive group,40 in the combined group,and 39 in the control group.There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics among the groups(P>0.05).Compared to baseline,the WOMAC scores for function,pain,and stiffness in the passive,combined,and control groups decreased significantly at both 2 and 14 weeks post-treatment(P<0.05),while the SF-12 scores increased significantly(P<0.05).Between 2 and 14 weeks post-treat-ment,the active and combined groups showed further significant decreases in WOMAC function,pain,and stiffness scores(P<0.05)and increases in SF-12 scores(P<0.05).At 2 weeks post-treatment,compared to the control group,the passive and combined groups exhibited significantly lower WOMAC function scores(P<0.05),with no significant difference between the passive and combined groups(P>0.05).By 14 weeks post-treatment,the active and combined groups demonstrated significantly lower WOMAC function scores(P<0.05),with the combined group showing a significantly lower score than the active group(P<0.05).Conclusion The four therapeutic approaches demonstrate a certain degree of efficacy in improving joint function for patients with early and mid-stage KOA.The passive therapy group exhibits superior short-term outcomes,while the active therapy group shows better long-term benefits.The combined therapy group presents notable advantages in both short-term and long-term effi-cacy,although its short-term effectiveness does not surpass that of the passive therapy group.It is recommended for patients with early and mid-stage KOA who have underlying gastrointestinal and cardiovascular conditions.
7.Buyang-Huanwu decoction attenuates rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting autophagy of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells
Meng LI ; Chunyue ZUO ; Xiaofei JIN ; Tianci ZHANG ; Xiaohong ZHOU ; Wei-juan GAO
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(3):481-491
AIM:This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Buyang-Huanwu decoction(BYHWD)on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury(CIRI)in rats,focusing on its role in regulating the autophagy of cerebral micro-vascular endothelial cells(BMECs).METHODS:(1)We established a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion/re-perfusion(MCAO/R)and divided the subjects into four groups:sham group,model(MCAO/R)group,BYHWD group,and 3-n-butylphthalide(NBP)group.Neurological deficits were assessed using the Zea Longa score,while the volume of cerebral infarction was measured through 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining.Pathological damage in the ischemic penumbra was evaluated using HE staining,and blood-brain barrier(BBB)permeability was assessed by Evans blue(EB)staining.The ultrastructure of BMECs was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy,and the co-expres-sion and positive cell rate of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)in BMECs were determined through im-munofluorescence double staining.Additionally,the protein expression levels of ZO-1,claudin-5 and occludin in the cor-tical region of the ischemic penumbra in rats were examined using Western blot analysis.(2)A rat BMEC model of oxy-gen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)was also established.Rat BMECs were categorized into normal control(CON),OGD/R,dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO),rapamycin and 3-methyladenine groups to observe autophagy levels by monodansylcadaverine(MDC)staining.Furthermore,rat BMECs were divided into CON,OGD/R,BYHWD-containing serum(BHDS)and NBP groups.The cell autophagy was assessed by MDC staining and Western blot,while cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.RESULTS:(1)The rats in MCAO/R group exhibited significantly higher neurological scores(P<0.01)and increased cerebral infarction volumes(P<0.01)compared with sham group.Severe damage in the ischemic penumbra was observed,characterized by disordered tissue structure,widened intercellular spaces,and compro-mised cellular integrity.The EB dye permeability was notably elevated(P<0.01),and BMECs showed structural destruc-tion,including damaged cell membranes,swollen Golgi apparatus,dilated endoplasmic reticulum vesicles,and damaged mitochondria.The ratio of LC3+CD31+/CD31+and the protein levels of ZO-1,claudin-5 and occludin were significantly el-evated(P<0.01).In contrast,the rats in BYHWD and NBP groups demonstrated lower neurological scores(P<0.01)and reduced cerebral infarction volumes(P<0.01).Furthermore,EB permeability decreased(P<0.01),BMEC morphol-ogy improved,and the protein expression levels of ZO-1,claudin-5 and occludin increased(P<0.05).(2)Rat BMECs in OGD/R group had a significantly elevated autophagy level compared with CON group(P<0.01),with increased expres-sion of LC3 and beclin-1 proteins and decreased level of P62 protein(P<0.05).Notably,the cells in BHDS and NBP groups displayed decreased autophagy level compared with OGD/R group,with increased cell viability(P<0.01),re-duced LC3 and beclin-1 protein expression,and increased P62 protein expression(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Buyang-Huanwu decoction alleviates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by inhibiting the autophagy of cerebral microvas-cular endothelial cells.
8.Astragaloside IV-pretreated neural stem cell-derived exosomes attenuate brain injury in ischemic stroke rats by inhibiting classical pyroptosis pathway
Chunyue ZUO ; Meng LI ; Xiaofei JING ; Tianci ZHANG ; Xiaohan CHEN ; Shaoze YANG ; Tiangang ZHENG ; Weijuan GAO ; Xiaohong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(2):277-286
AIM:To investigate the mechanism by which exosomes(EXOs)derived from neural stem cells(NSCs)pretreated with astragaloside IV(ASIV)alleviate brain damage in rats after ischemic stroke.METHODS:Rat NSCs were isolated from fetal rats within 24 h of birth,cultured for 3 d,and subsequently treated with ASIV for additional 5 d.The EXOs from untreated NSCs and ASIV-pretreated NSCs(ASIV-EXOs)were isolated via ultracentrifugation of the cell supernatant.These EXOs were characterized using Western blot to detect specific markers such as CD63,tumor sus-ceptibility gene 101(TSG101)and calnexin.Nanoparticle analysis was employed to determine the size,and the morpholo-gy of the EXOs was observed under electron microscope.Six to eight-week-old SD male rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups:sham group,middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R)model group,edaravone(EDA)treatment(MCAO/R+EDA)group,EXOs treatement(MCAO/R+EXOs)group and ASIV-EXOs treatment(MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs)group.Tail vein injections were administered within 2 h following the successful establishment of the MCAO/R model.The Zea Longa method was utilized to evaluate neurological deficits,while the TTC method was employed to assess brain infarc-tion.Pathological changes were examined through HE staining,and TUNEL and caspase-1 immunofluorescence double staining were conducted to detect cellular pyroptosis.Serum levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and IL-18 were measured us-ing ELISA,and Western blot was performed to evaluate the expression of caspase-1,nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain(ASC),gasdermin D(GSDMD),and IL-18 proteins in the ischemic area of the rat cerebral cortex across all groups.RE-SULTS:The MCAO/R group exhibited significantly higher neurological deficit scores compared to the sham group(P<0.01)and lower scores in the administered groups relative to the MCAO/R group(P<0.05).Cerebral infarction was mark-edly increased in the MCAO/R group compared to the sham group(P<0.01),whereas the infarction area was reduced in the administered groups compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.05).Serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 were significantly el-evated in the MCAO/R group versus the sham group(P<0.01)and were lower in the administered groups compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.01).Moreover,IL-1β and IL-18 levels in the MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs group were lower than those in the MCAO/R+EXOs group(P<0.05).HE staining revealed pronounced sieve-like infarction foci in the ischemic area of the rat cerebral cortex in MCAO/R group,characterized by disorganized neuronal arrangements,reduced or absent Nys-trom's vesicles,shrunken or fragmented nuclei,and numerous red neurons.In contrast,drug-treated groups exhibited milder pathological changes with clearer neuronal structures and a significant reduction in red neuron counts.Immunofluo-rescence double staining indicated a significant increase in double-positive cells in the MCAO/R group compared to the sham group(P<0.01),with a decrease in double-positive cells in the administered groups relative to the MCAO/R group(P<0.05)and a further reduction in the MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs group compared to the MCAO/R+EXOs group(P<0.05).The expression levels of caspase-1,NLRP3,ASC,IL-18 and GSDMD proteins in the ischemic region of the rat cerebral cortex were significantly reduced in the administered groups compared to the MCAO/R group(P<0.01),with further re-duction observed in the MCAO/R+ASIV-EXOs group compared to the MCAO/R+EXOs group(P<0.05).CONCLU-SION:Exosomes derived from ASIV-pretreated NSCs attenuate brain damage in ischemic stroke rats,potentially through a mechanism involving the inhibition of pyroptosis mediated by the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway.
9.Evaluation of the curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine bone-setting technique in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Xi LI ; Jian ZHANG ; Guohui LIU ; Yunhao LIU ; Zekun ZHANG ; Tianci GAO ; Jingxi WANG ; Yongwang ZHANG ; Shilin YIN ; Lu LIU ; Liqing QI ; Shuangqing DU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(17):2495-2502
Objective To observe the clinical effect of traditional Chinese medicine bone-setting technique using spinal,pelvi-lower extremity line to treat patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods 426 patients with KOA were all from the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.They were randomly divided into experimental group(384 cases,57 cases of elimination,shedding and termination)by computer generated sequence.Traditional Chinese bone setting techniques were applied with spinal-pelvic-lower limb force line(divided into three parts:lumbar fixed point reduction method,hip joint push-pull and extension method and knee peripheral tendon recovery method every 3 days.2 weeks)treatment;The control group was the waiting treatment group(48 cases,6 cases were eliminated,abscission,termination),which was only used for clinical observation for 2 weeks.The main outcome index was WOMAC pain score.Secondary outcome measures were WOMAC stiffness score,functional score,standardized score and quality of life score(SF-12).The test time points were baseline,2 weeks after enrollment,and follow-up(14 weeks after enrollment).The control group was at baseline and 2 weeks after enrollment.Results Compared with baseline,WOMAC pain score,stiffness score,functional score and standardized score were all decreased in 2 groups 2 weeks after enrollment(P<0.05),but the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with the control group(P<0.001).SF-12 quality of life scores were all higher than before(P<0.001),but the experimental group was significantly higher than the control group(P<0.001).At follow-up,compared with 2 weeks after enrollment,WOMAC pain scores were increased(P<0.001),WOMAC stiffness,joint function and standardized scores were decreased(P<0.001),and SF-12 scores were increased(P<0.001).Conclusion The use of spinal-pelvi-lower extremity line of traditional Chinese medicine bone-setting technique in the treatment of KOA is effective in improving the knee joint function and improving the quality of life of patients,but the short-term effect of pain relief is good,and the long-term effect is not good.Its safety is good,and it can be considered in clinical application for KOA patients with joint dysfunction as the main manifestation.
10.Metal-organic Framework Immobilized Enzyme and Its Application in Screening of Enzyme Inhibitors of Traditional Chinese Medicine:A Review
Haipeng LIU ; Yong ZHANG ; Jing WANG ; Tianci LYU ; Ruixin DING ; Guihua GAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):256-264
Enzymes are widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries because of their advantages of high efficiency and specificity. However, the shortcomings of the free enzymes, such as poor stability and difficulty in recycling, limit their application. Therefore, the immobilization and application of enzymes have become one of the research hotspots. The selection of the immobilization carriers is a critical step in the process of enzyme immobilization. Metal-organic frameworks(MOFs), a kind of porous materials, are formed by the coordination of metal ions or metal clusters with organic ligands. As an emerging immobilization carrier, its advantages such as high porosity, strong stability, and surface modifiability make it ideal for immobilized enzyme carriers. By immobilizing the free enzyme on MOFs, the above mentioned deficiencies of the free enzymes can be effectively solved, which greatly broaden the applicable condition. Ligand fishing is a method to find receptor-specific ligands from complex components, which has the advantages of high efficiency, simple sample pretreatment and high specificity. The MOF-enzyme complex formed by enzyme immobilization can act as a "fishing rod" for ligand fishing, which can screen out the targets from the complex system of components. The complex chemical composition and various active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) make the ligand fishing technology to play a big role in the screening of enzyme inhibitors from TCM. And the screened enzyme inhibitors are expected to be further developed into the lead compounds with good efficacy and low adverse effects, so the immobilized enzymes of MOFs have a wide application in the screening of active ingredients from TCM. Based on this, this paper summarized the methods of immobilized enzymes of MOFs in recent years, analyzed the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of each method, and summarized the laws of preparation conditions and mechanisms. Meanwhile, the application and future development of immobilized enzymes of MOFs in the field of enzyme inhibitor screening from TCM were also summarized and prospected, with a view to providing a reference for the development of natural ingredients and the modernization of TCM.

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