1.Exploring the Mechanism of Shaoyao Decoction in Treating Ulcerative Colitis Based on Network Pharmacology,Molecular Docking,and Experimental Studies
Tonghui JIN ; Chaoyue LIU ; Ying WANG ; Han WANG ; Tiejun LIU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(8):2373-2389
Objective To explore the active components,therapeutic targets,and molecular mechanisms of Shaoyao Decoction in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC)using network pharmacology techniques,bioinformatics methods,and experimental approaches.Methods Screening active components of Shaoyao Decoction and predicting their targets using databases such as PubChem,screening HCC-related disease targets through the NCBI database,constructing a PPI network,conducting GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis to identify potential biological processes and signaling pathways involved,and validating with molecular docking using AutoDock Tools.Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal,model,Mesalazine,and Shaoyao Tang groups based on body weight.Except for the normal group,all other groups were induced with ulcerative colitis(UC)by providing 2.5%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)in drinking water for 5 days.After continuous intragastric administration for 7 days,the mice were sacrificed.The levels of cytokines such as IL-2,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α in colon tissues were measured by ELISA,and pathological sections of colon tissue samples were observed.Results The study identified 20 active components and 945 targets of Shaoyao Tang,among which 609 were related to UC.Through PPI network analysis,22 key targets including VEGFA,AKT1,PTGS2,and STAT3 were determined.GO analysis revealed 409 enriched terms,involving negative regulation of inflammatory response to antigenic stimulus,positive regulation of inflammatory response,etc.KEGG analysis discovered 136 significantly enriched pathways,including the NF-κB signaling pathway,Toll-like receptor signaling pathway(related to inflammation and immunity),VEGF signaling pathway,and ErbB signaling pathway(related to cell proliferation and apoptosis).Molecular docking revealed that the active ingredients exhibited strong affinity with target proteins such as IL-6,TNF,TLR4,IL-2,IL-1B,and PTGS2,forming stable conformations.The final ELISA results demonstrated that the levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines in the colon tissue of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis(UC)mouse models were significantly elevated,with notable upregulation of IL-2,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α compared to the normal group(P<0.05).Following drug intervention,both the Mesalazine group and the Shaoyao Decoction group exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects,effectively reducing the expression levels of the aforementioned inflammatory cytokines in the colon tissue(P<0.05).Notably,compared to the Mesalazine group,Shaoyao Decoction demonstrated a more pronounced regulatory effect on inflammatory cytokines(P<0.05).Conclusion In this study,the innovative integration of network pharmacology prediction,molecular docking validation and key inflammatory factor assay systematically elucidated the"multi-component-multi-target-multi-pathway"anti-inflammatory mode of Paeonia lactiflora broth in the treatment of UC.The experiments demonstrated that Paeonia lactiflora broth could regulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by regulating the levels of IL-2,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α cytokines and other related cytokines to reduce the inflammation of the colon and improve the damage of colon tissues in mice with UC.
2.Xiao Chaihutang Intervention in Digestive System Tumors: A Review
Ying WANG ; Tonghui JIN ; Yanting SUN ; Tiejun LIU ; Weipeng YANG ; Han WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(24):257-268
Xiao Chaihutang, originating from the Treatise on Typhoid and Miscellaneous Diseases, is a classic formula for harmonizing the Shaoyang. It excels in regulating the pivotal mechanism and unblocking the triple energizer, corresponding to the pathogenesis of digestive system tumors characterized by the interlocking of deficiency, stasis, phlegm, and toxicity, as well as disharmony between Yin and Yang. This paper systematically reviews research findings from China and abroad over the past decade, exploring the anti-tumor effects of Xiao Chaihutang on digestive system tumors from three dimensions: theoretical rationale, clinical efficacy, and molecular mechanisms. At the level of principle and method, Xiao Chaihutang takes "harmonization" as its core therapeutic guideline. By reconciling the exterior and interior to restore the Shaoyang pivot, harmonizing Yin and Yang to improve the tumor microenvironment, and regulating the liver and spleen to consolidate and protect the foundation of postnatal essence, it promotes the restoration of the body's dynamic balance of Yin and Yang. Clinical studies have demonstrated that Xiao Chaihutang, used alone or in combination with modern medical therapies, shows definite efficacy against digestive system tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, and gastrointestinal carcinoma. It can significantly improve patients' quality of life, inhibit tumor progression, effectively relieve concomitant symptoms such a s cancer-related fever, anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and alleviate postoperative embolic syndromes as well as adverse reactions to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Experimental studies have revealed that Xiao Chaihutang can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, suppress tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and improve the tumor microenvironment. Through the above analysis, this study elucidates the current clinical and experimental research status of Xiao Chaihutang in the treatment of digestive system tumors, aiming to provide theoretical support for its precise clinical application. On this basis, it further explores key issues in the identification of pharmacodynamic substances and the accumulation of evidence in evidence-based medicine, thereby offering a new perspective for the innovative development of integrative Chinese and Western medicine in synergistic cancer therapy.
3.Clinical study on the changes of cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in breast cancer patients caused by EC-T chemotherapy
Tonghui LIU ; Peng LI ; Huawen ZHANG ; Wei FENG ; Guoqiang LI
Journal of Chinese Physician 2025;27(4):520-526
Objective:To explore the changes of cerebral blood flow in patients with chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment using magnetic resonance pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL).Methods:Twenty-seven patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who were treated at Nuclear Industry 215 Hospital of Shaanxi Province from June 2019 to October 2021 were selected as the patient group. All of them received modified radical mastectomy for the affected breast cancer and were treated with EC-T chemotherapy after the operation. During the same period, 26 healthy volunteers with matched age and years of education were included as the control group. The time point before the first chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer patients is defined as point T0, and the time point after the end of the entire chemotherapy cycle is defined as point T1. At point T0, neuropsychological scale assessment and magnetic resonance data collection were conducted for the patient group, while the control group completed the data collection of the above two indicators from June 2019 to May 2020. Subsequently, the neuropsychological scale scores and cerebral blood flow (CBF) graphs of the two groups of samples were compared. At point T1, the neuropsychological scale assessment and magnetic resonance scanning were conducted again for the patient group. The neuropsychological scale scores and CBF plots of the patient group at points T0 and T1 were longitudinally compared. Finally, based on linear regression analysis, the relationship between the differences in CBF before and after chemotherapy for breast cancer and the neuropsychological score was explored.Results:At point T0, there was no statistically significant difference in the CBF and neuropsychological scale scores between the patient group and the control group (all P>0.05). Compared with point T0, in the patient group, the scores of multiple sub-items of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test-HuaShan Version (AVLT-H) at point T1 [including immediate recall (AVLT_1), short-term delayed recall (AVLT_2), and long-term delayed recall (AVLT_3)] were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); The score of the backward digit span (BDS) also significantly decreased ( P<0.05); The time spent on the Color Trails Test (CTT) [including CTT-1 and CTT-2] significantly increased (all P<0.05); In addition, compared with point T0, in the patient group, CBF decreased in the left middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule at point T1 (all P<0.05, GRF corrected), and the CBF of the right superior radiative crown, anterior radiative crown, anterior limb of the internal capsule, anterior part of the corpus callosum and pusin increased (all P<0.05, corrected by GRF). The results of regression analysis indicated that ΔCTT-1 was negatively correlated with Δ left inferior parietal lobular CBF ( t=-5.741, P<0.001). Conclusions:Chemotherapy can cause changes in cerebral blood flow in patients with breast cancer, accompanied by multiple reductions in cognitive domain functions. The decreased cerebral blood flow in the left inferior parietal lobule is closely related to the decline of attention function and executive function in patients.
4.Exploring the Mechanism of Shaoyao Decoction in Treating Ulcerative Colitis Based on Network Pharmacology,Molecular Docking,and Experimental Studies
Tonghui JIN ; Chaoyue LIU ; Ying WANG ; Han WANG ; Tiejun LIU
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(8):2373-2389
Objective To explore the active components,therapeutic targets,and molecular mechanisms of Shaoyao Decoction in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC)using network pharmacology techniques,bioinformatics methods,and experimental approaches.Methods Screening active components of Shaoyao Decoction and predicting their targets using databases such as PubChem,screening HCC-related disease targets through the NCBI database,constructing a PPI network,conducting GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis to identify potential biological processes and signaling pathways involved,and validating with molecular docking using AutoDock Tools.Forty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal,model,Mesalazine,and Shaoyao Tang groups based on body weight.Except for the normal group,all other groups were induced with ulcerative colitis(UC)by providing 2.5%dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)in drinking water for 5 days.After continuous intragastric administration for 7 days,the mice were sacrificed.The levels of cytokines such as IL-2,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α in colon tissues were measured by ELISA,and pathological sections of colon tissue samples were observed.Results The study identified 20 active components and 945 targets of Shaoyao Tang,among which 609 were related to UC.Through PPI network analysis,22 key targets including VEGFA,AKT1,PTGS2,and STAT3 were determined.GO analysis revealed 409 enriched terms,involving negative regulation of inflammatory response to antigenic stimulus,positive regulation of inflammatory response,etc.KEGG analysis discovered 136 significantly enriched pathways,including the NF-κB signaling pathway,Toll-like receptor signaling pathway(related to inflammation and immunity),VEGF signaling pathway,and ErbB signaling pathway(related to cell proliferation and apoptosis).Molecular docking revealed that the active ingredients exhibited strong affinity with target proteins such as IL-6,TNF,TLR4,IL-2,IL-1B,and PTGS2,forming stable conformations.The final ELISA results demonstrated that the levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines in the colon tissue of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis(UC)mouse models were significantly elevated,with notable upregulation of IL-2,IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α compared to the normal group(P<0.05).Following drug intervention,both the Mesalazine group and the Shaoyao Decoction group exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects,effectively reducing the expression levels of the aforementioned inflammatory cytokines in the colon tissue(P<0.05).Notably,compared to the Mesalazine group,Shaoyao Decoction demonstrated a more pronounced regulatory effect on inflammatory cytokines(P<0.05).Conclusion In this study,the innovative integration of network pharmacology prediction,molecular docking validation and key inflammatory factor assay systematically elucidated the"multi-component-multi-target-multi-pathway"anti-inflammatory mode of Paeonia lactiflora broth in the treatment of UC.The experiments demonstrated that Paeonia lactiflora broth could regulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by regulating the levels of IL-2,IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α cytokines and other related cytokines to reduce the inflammation of the colon and improve the damage of colon tissues in mice with UC.
5.Clinical study on the changes of cerebral blood flow and cognitive function in breast cancer patients caused by EC-T chemotherapy
Tonghui LIU ; Peng LI ; Huawen ZHANG ; Wei FENG ; Guoqiang LI
Journal of Chinese Physician 2025;27(4):520-526
Objective:To explore the changes of cerebral blood flow in patients with chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment using magnetic resonance pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL).Methods:Twenty-seven patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast who were treated at Nuclear Industry 215 Hospital of Shaanxi Province from June 2019 to October 2021 were selected as the patient group. All of them received modified radical mastectomy for the affected breast cancer and were treated with EC-T chemotherapy after the operation. During the same period, 26 healthy volunteers with matched age and years of education were included as the control group. The time point before the first chemotherapy after surgery for breast cancer patients is defined as point T0, and the time point after the end of the entire chemotherapy cycle is defined as point T1. At point T0, neuropsychological scale assessment and magnetic resonance data collection were conducted for the patient group, while the control group completed the data collection of the above two indicators from June 2019 to May 2020. Subsequently, the neuropsychological scale scores and cerebral blood flow (CBF) graphs of the two groups of samples were compared. At point T1, the neuropsychological scale assessment and magnetic resonance scanning were conducted again for the patient group. The neuropsychological scale scores and CBF plots of the patient group at points T0 and T1 were longitudinally compared. Finally, based on linear regression analysis, the relationship between the differences in CBF before and after chemotherapy for breast cancer and the neuropsychological score was explored.Results:At point T0, there was no statistically significant difference in the CBF and neuropsychological scale scores between the patient group and the control group (all P>0.05). Compared with point T0, in the patient group, the scores of multiple sub-items of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test-HuaShan Version (AVLT-H) at point T1 [including immediate recall (AVLT_1), short-term delayed recall (AVLT_2), and long-term delayed recall (AVLT_3)] were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); The score of the backward digit span (BDS) also significantly decreased ( P<0.05); The time spent on the Color Trails Test (CTT) [including CTT-1 and CTT-2] significantly increased (all P<0.05); In addition, compared with point T0, in the patient group, CBF decreased in the left middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobule at point T1 (all P<0.05, GRF corrected), and the CBF of the right superior radiative crown, anterior radiative crown, anterior limb of the internal capsule, anterior part of the corpus callosum and pusin increased (all P<0.05, corrected by GRF). The results of regression analysis indicated that ΔCTT-1 was negatively correlated with Δ left inferior parietal lobular CBF ( t=-5.741, P<0.001). Conclusions:Chemotherapy can cause changes in cerebral blood flow in patients with breast cancer, accompanied by multiple reductions in cognitive domain functions. The decreased cerebral blood flow in the left inferior parietal lobule is closely related to the decline of attention function and executive function in patients.
6.Expression of TLR3 in human adenocarcinoma of the lung cells induced by respiratory syncytial virus and its significance in the diagnosis of pneumonia in children
Dongmei LIU ; Yanan WANG ; Tonghui MA ; Jingmin WANG ; Hua WANG ; Dandan MA ; Xiuling HOU ; Qiaoli DONG
Journal of Chinese Physician 2023;25(6):859-863
Objective:To study the expression of Toll like receptor 3 (TLR3) in human adenocarcinoma of the lung cells induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and its significance in the diagnosis of pneumonia in children.Methods:A549 cells were divided into RSV infection group [added 1 μg/ml Lipopolysaccharide (TLR3 agonist) transfected RSV virus after 150 μl intervention], Lipopolysaccharide stimulation group (added 1 μg/ml Lipopolysaccharide 150 μl intervention) and normal control group (normal culture). The mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 8, TLR3 protein and TLR3 in A549 Cells of different groups were compared. We prospectively selected 80 children with RSV infectious pneumonia admitted to Baoding Second Central Hospital from August 2019 to October 2021 as the RSV pneumonia group, and sixty children with common pneumonia were taken as the common pneumonia group, and 60 healthy children in our hospital were taken as the control group. The mRNA expression of serum TLR3 in different groups was compared, and the diagnostic efficacy of serum TLR3 in RSV pneumonia was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic.Results:There was a statistically significant difference in the expression of TLR3 protein among different groups of A549 cells ( P<0.001). The expression differences of TLR3 mRNA in different groups of A549 cells at different time points were statistically significant(all P<0.001). There was significant difference in the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin 8 of A549 cells at different time points in different groups (all P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the expression of serum TLR3 mRNA among the three groups of subjects ( F=155.237, P<0.001). The critical value for TLR3 gene diagnosis was 66.87, with corresponding sensitivity of 73.75%, specificity of 70.83%, and the area under curve (AUC) of 0.803(95% CI: 0.753-0.855). Conclusions:Respiratory syncytial virus induces human lung cancer cells and promotes disease progression through TLR3 expression; Serum TLR3 can be used for the diagnosis of RSV pneumonia.
7.Embolotherapy with Onyx for ma xillofacia l arteriovenous malformations
Weichao REN ; Chengjian SUN ; Yanhua WANG ; Tonghui LIU ; Lingling XIE ; Cheng'en WANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2016;23(1):19-22
OBJECTIVE To discuss the efficacy and safety of Onyx embolization for the treatment of maxillofacial arteriovenous malformation(mAVMs). METHODS Between February 2013 to May 2014, 16 patients with mAVMs received embolotherapy in our department. Eight cases' mAVMs located in mandibular region, 5 cases located in the maxillary region and the other 3 cases located near the orbital region. Embolotherapy with Onyx was carried out in all patients and all the patients were followed-up. The effect of embolization was evaluated according to the deformity arteriolar blood flow. RESULTS After the embolization, angiograpy showed that complete occlusion of mAVMs was achieved in 3 cases, 50%-90%occlusion in 10 cases, <50% occlusion in 3 cases, and the overall response rate was 81.25% (13/16). After operation, temporary decreased vision was obtained in one patient and recovered after 20 days, no permanent visual abnormality was found in all of the cases. Complications as distending pain, fever disappeared in 13 patients, improved in 2 patients and became worse in one patient. There was no case of skin necrosis occurred. Follow-up for 6 months after treatment, the deformity arteriolar blood flow larger than before was found in 2 cases and the others were stable. CONCLUSION Onyx embolization for the treatment of maxillofacial arteriovenous malformation is a safe and effective method, the short term curative effect has been confirmed while the long term curative effect should be further evaluated.
8.Comparative study of superb microvascular imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in differentiating thyroid micronodules
Hongyan CHEN ; Yue CHEN ; Hui ZHU ; Weiping XU ; Donghua WANG ; Weiyan LIU ; Tonghui YANG ; Yongqi CHEN ; Lin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Ultrasonography 2016;(1):44-47
Objective To explore the value of superb microvacular imaging ( SMI) technology in differentiating thyroid microcarcinomas from benign micronodules comparing with contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) . Methods A total of 195 thyroid micronodules ( ≤1 .0 cm) from 172 patients were examined using CEUS and SMI ,and the findings were reviewed and evaluated in comparison to the pathological results . Results Of all the 195 thyroid nodules ,pathologic findings revealed that 140 (71 .8% ) were malignant and 55 (28 .2% ) were benign ,CEUS diagnosed that 127 (65 .1% ) were malignant and 68 (34 .9% ) were benign ,and SMI diagnosed that 129 (66 .2% ) were malignant and 66 (33 .8% ) were benign . There were no differences between the SMI and CEUS in terms of sensitivity ( 90 .0% vs 87 .9% ) , specificity ( 94 .5% vs 92 .7% ) ,accuracy ( 91 .3% vs 89 .2% ) ,positive predictive value ( 97 .7% vs 96 .9% ) and negative predictive value ( 92 .9% vs 87 .9% ) ( P > 0 .05 for all) . Conclusions SMI can effectively observe the perforating blood vessels of thyroid micronodules , which plays an important role in differentiating of benign and malignant thyroid micronodules .
9.Efficacy of splenic artery trunk embolization with detachable balloon for portal hypertension and hypersplenism.
Chengen WANG ; Chengjian SUN ; Yanhua WANG ; Tonghui LIU ; Lingling XIE ; Weichao REN
Chinese Journal of Hepatology 2015;23(6):433-436
OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of detachable balloon for splenic artery trunk embolization in patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension and hypersplenism.
METHODSEight patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension received splenic artery trunk disconnection using detachable balloons under the guidance of digital subtraction angiography. The diameter and blood flow of the portal vein, the superior mesenteric vein, the splenic vein and the hepatic artery were measured by color Doppler ultrasound. Markers of liver function and blood coagulation, and routine blood parameters were assessed. Gastroscopy was used to evaluate to the degree of gastroesophageal varices. All complications experienced during the perioperative period were recorded.
RESULTSThe portal vein diameter decreased from 1.55±0.38 cm to 1.55±0.38 cm, and the splenic artery diameter decreased from 1.45±0.10 cm to 1.41±0.09 cm (P < 0.05). The portal vein blood flow was reduced from 971.52±174.77 ml/min to 785.86±100.17 ml/min, and the splenic vein blood flow decreased from 938.01±208.86 ml/min to 644.02±188.15 ml/min, while the hepatic artery blood flow increased from 261.25±65.47 ml/min to 449.32±84.05 ml/min (P < 0.05). The symptoms of splenism were improved effectively, with platelet counts rising from 37.75±10.61*109/L to 138.63±28.22*109/L after the procedure (P < 0.05). There were no episodes of severe complications or death in the perioperative period, and all patients showed remarkable improvement in markers of liver function and coagulation function, and improvement of esophagogastric varices.
CONCLUSIONSThe interventional disconnection technique of the splenic artery trunk using detachable balloon for the treatment of portal hypertension and hypersplenism is safe and effective.
Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatic Artery ; Humans ; Hypersplenism ; Hypertension, Portal ; Mesenteric Veins ; Platelet Count ; Portal Vein ; Splenic Artery
10.Endovascular embolization treatment for the spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae
Lingling XIE ; Chengjian SUN ; Yanhua WANG ; Chengen WANG ; Tonghui LIU ; Weichao REN
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2015;(3):185-187
Objective To investigate the clinical effect of endovascular embolization in treating spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae, and to discuss its imaging manifestations. Methods A total of 7 patients with spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae were included in this study. Endovascular embolization was carried out in all the 7 patients. The clinical data, including epidemiology, spinal MRI and DSA manifestations, therapeutic method and follow-up findings, were retrospectively analyzed. Results Abnormal MRI manifestations of spinal cord were demonstrated in all 7 patients. After the diagnosis was confirmed by DSA, endovascular embolization was carried out. All patients were followed up for 6 months, and their clinical symptoms were improved in different degrees. N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) glue was used as embolization agent in 4 cases, and no recurrence was observed in them. Onyx liquid glue was used in 3 patients, and in one of them the arteriovenous fistula recurred. Conclusion For the treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae, endovascular embolization is effective and safe although further investigation is still needed.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail