1.Regulatory Effect of Danhe Granules on Oxidative Stress in Rats with Mixed Hyperlipidemia
Jingke MENG ; Susu LIU ; Pan GAO ; Mingjiao JIA ; Bochao JIA ; Qingzheng XING ; Yulong CHEN ; Wei WANG ; Xinlou CHAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):112-122
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology, as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM). Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) induced by palmitic acid (PA), followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-, medium-, and high-dose Danhe granules groups (1.134, 2.268, and 4.536 g·kg-1, respectively), as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium (4.020 mg·kg-1). After eight weeks of intervention, serum lipid levels, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indices, and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia, with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway, AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while increasing catalase (CAT) activity (P<0.05), thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in HepG2. In animal experiments, Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P<0.05), reduced hepatic MDA levels, and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis, upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expressions, and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels, enhancing SOD and CAT activities, scavenging excessive ROS, inhibiting oxidative stress, and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.
2.Regulatory Effect of Danhe Granules on Oxidative Stress in Rats with Mixed Hyperlipidemia
Jingke MENG ; Susu LIU ; Pan GAO ; Mingjiao JIA ; Bochao JIA ; Qingzheng XING ; Yulong CHEN ; Wei WANG ; Xinlou CHAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(10):112-122
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Danhe granules in treating mixed hyperlipidemia based on network pharmacology, as well as animal and cell experiments. MethodsThe active compounds and targets of Danhe granules were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM). Related targets for mixed hyperlipidemia were obtained from the GeneCards database. The intersecting targets were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. A high-fat model was established in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) induced by palmitic acid (PA), followed by intervention with Danhe granules to assess intracellular lipid accumulation and oxidative stress levels. A mixed hyperlipidemia rat model was also established and divided into low-, medium-, and high-dose Danhe granules groups (1.134, 2.268, and 4.536 g·kg-1, respectively), as well as a positive control group treated with pravastatin sodium (4.020 mg·kg-1). After eight weeks of intervention, serum lipid levels, inflammatory factors, oxidative stress indices, and the expression of key hepatic lipid metabolism-related proteins were determined. ResultsNetwork pharmacology identified 93 intersecting targets between Danhe granules and mixed hyperlipidemia, with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1B among the key nodes. The PPAR signaling pathway, AGE/RAGE signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were among the most significantly enriched pathways. Cellular experiments demonstrated that Danhe granules significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while increasing catalase (CAT) activity (P<0.05), thereby alleviating intracellular lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in HepG2. In animal experiments, Danhe granules markedly decreased serum total cholesterol (TC), TG, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (P<0.05), reduced hepatic MDA levels, and elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and CAT levels. Histological analysis showed alleviation of hepatic steatosis, upregulation of hepatic PPARA and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expressions, and downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDanhe granules improve lipid metabolism disorders in mixed hyperlipidemia by reducing MDA levels, enhancing SOD and CAT activities, scavenging excessive ROS, inhibiting oxidative stress, and mitigating liver injury. The underlying mechanism may involve the upregulation of PPARA and LPL and the suppression of SREBP1 expression.
3.Jianpi Xiao'ai Prescription Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Progression by Inducing Mitochondrial Dysfunction via Modulation of iNOS-ARG1 Axis
Xing LUO ; Bo PAN ; Jianfeng FU ; Jia HUANG ; Wei PENG ; Fang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):99-111
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Jianpi Xiao'ai prescription (JPXAP) inhibits colorectal cancer progression by regulating the inducible nitric oxide synthase-arginase 1 (iNOS-ARG1) metabolic axis and inducing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mito-ROS)-mediated mitochondrial structural and functional impairment. MethodsAn arginine metabolism disorder model of human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells was established by combined treatment with recombinant human interferon-γ (IFN-γ, 10 μg·L-1) and N(ω)-hydroxy-L-arginine (Nor-NOHA, 200 μmol·L-1) for 24 h, followed by intervention with 5%, 10%, or 20% JPXAP-containing serum. Cell proliferation was assessed using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining, and colony formation assays. Cell invasion and migration were evaluated using Transwell chamber and wound healing assays. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ROS levels were assessed by JC-1 and MitoSOX staining, respectively. Mitochondrial ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of iNOS, ARG1, and mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including mitofusin 2 (MFN2) and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The levels of L-arginine, citrulline, and urea were determined by colorimetric methods and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited significantly upregulated iNOS expression, downregulated ARG1 expression, a decreased ARG1/iNOS ratio, reduced L-arginine and urea levels, and increased citrulline levels (P<0.05). Meanwhile, mito-ROS accumulation was significantly increased, the JC-1 red/green fluorescence ratio was decreased, and mitochondria showed swelling and cristae disruption, indicating that metabolic disorder induced mitochondrial injury. Compared with the model group, all JPXAP-treated groups further decreased the ARG1/iNOS ratio, enhanced nitric oxide (NO) and reactive nitrogen species accumulation, further reduced L-arginine and urea levels, and increased citrulline levels (P<0.01). EdU-positive rate, colony formation rate, wound healing rate, and Transwell invasion number all decreased significantly with increasing serum concentration (P<0.01). Mito-ROS levels were further elevated, and the JC-1 red/green ratio further decreased. TEM revealed aggravated mitochondrial swelling and vacuolization. MFN2 expression was downregulated and DRP1 expression was upregulated (P<0.01),in a dose-dependent manner. ConclusionJPXAP further activates NO-mediated oxidative/nitrosative stress under arginine metabolism imbalance, inducing mito-ROS accumulation, MMP collapse, and mitochondrial dynamics imbalance, thereby inhibiting colorectal cancer cell proliferation and migration. These findings reveal an antitumor mechanism of JPXAP based on coordinated targeting of the "metabolism-mitochondria" axis.
4.Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis - Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis.
Wenhui QIAN ; Bei ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Yuting WANG ; Jiachen SHEN ; Dongbing LIANG ; Chao WANG ; Wei WEI ; Xing PAN ; Qiuying YAN ; Dongdong SUN ; Dong ZHU ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):101056-101056
Sustained inflammatory responses are closely related to various severe diseases, and inhibiting the excessive activation of inflammasomes and pyroptosis has significant implications for clinical treatment. Natural products have garnered considerable concern for the treatment of inflammation. Huanglian-Wumei decoction (HLWMD) is a classic prescription used for treating inflammatory diseases, but the necessity of their combination and the exact underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism have not yet been elucidated. Inspired by the supramolecular self-assembly strategy and natural drug compatibility theory, we successfully obtained berberine (BBR)-chlorogenic acid (CGA) supramolecular (BCS), which is an herbal pair from HLWMD. Using a series of characterization methods, we confirmed the self-assembly mechanism of BCS. BBR and CGA were self-assembled and stacked into amphiphilic spherical supramolecules in a 2:1 molar ratio, driven by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking; the hydrophilic fragments of CGA were outside, and the hydrophobic fragments of BBR were inside. This stacking pattern significantly improved the anti-inflammatory performance of BCS compared with that of single free molecules. Compared with free molecules, BCS significantly attenuated the release of multiple inflammatory mediators and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyroptosis. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of intracellular nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation and the noncanonical pyroptosis signalling pathway mediated by caspase-11.
5.Research progress on indirect energy measurement in guiding energy and nutritional application in nutritional support therapy for critically ill patients.
Yinqiang FAN ; Jun YAN ; Ning WEI ; Jianping YANG ; Hongmei PAN ; Yiming SHAO ; Jun SHI ; Xiuming XI
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(8):794-796
Nutritional support therapy is one of the extremely important treatment methods for patients in the intensive care unit. Timely and effective nutritional support regimens can improve patients' immune function, reduce complications, and optimize clinical outcomes. Energy expenditure is influenced by multiple factors, including patients' baseline characteristics (such as physical condition, gender, age) and dynamic changes in indicators (such as body temperature, nutritional support regimens, and therapeutic interventions). The currently recognized "gold standard" for accurately assessing energy metabolism in clinical practice is the indirect calorimetry system, also known as the metabolic cart. This device monitors carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption in real time and uses specific algorithms to estimate the metabolic proportions of the three major nutrients (carbohydrates, fats, and proteins) in energy expenditure. An appropriate nutrient ratio helps maintain the balance between supply and demand in the body's nutritional metabolism. In the management of critically ill patients, the application of the metabolic cart enables personalized nutritional therapy, avoiding over- or under-supply of energy and optimizing the use of medical resources. Furthermore, with real-time, quantitative data support from the energy metabolism monitoring system, clinicians can develop more precise nutritional intervention strategies, thereby improving patient prognosis. This article provides a systematic review of the technical features of the metabolic cart and its application value in various critical care scenarios, aiming to offer a reference for indirect calorimetry in clinical practice.
Humans
;
Critical Illness/therapy*
;
Nutritional Support
;
Energy Metabolism
;
Calorimetry, Indirect
6.Real-World Study of 21-Day Venetoclax Plus Azacitidine Regimen in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Unfit-Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Li-Ying AN ; Min CHEN ; Jin WEI ; Xing-Li ZOU ; Pan ZHAO ; Zhu YANG ; Xun NI ; Xiao-Jing LIN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1279-1286
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the efficacy and safety of 21-day venetoclax (VEN) plus azacitidine (AZA) (21-day VA) in newly diagnosed unfit acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in the real-world.
METHODS:
The clinical data of patients with unfit-AML who received 21-day VA regimen from December 2020 to July 2024 in our center and completed at least 1 cycle of therapeutic effect assessment was retrospectively collected to analyze the safety, efficacy and its influencing factors.
RESULTS:
A total of 59 patients were enrolled in our study, with a median age of 67(48-87) years old. After 1 cycle of therapy, the composite complete remission (cCR) rate was 74.5%, 54.2% of cases were negative for minimal residual disease (MRD). Among them, the MRD negative rate of patients with NPM1 mutation was significantly higher than that of patients without NPM1 mutation ( P =0.032). The median follow-up of patients was 19(2-38) months, the best cCR and MRD negative rates were 78% and 64.4%, respectively, the median overall survival (OS) time was 12 months, and the median progression free survival (PFS) time was 5 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed less than 4 cycles of VA chemotherapy were independent risk factor for PFS and OS ( P < 0.05). After achieving remission, anemia and thrombocytopenia improved with the increase of the number of chemotherapy cycle.
CONCLUSION
In real-world, 21-day VA regimen still shows significant efficacy in the treatment of newly diagnosed unfit-AML, without adversely affecting remission rate and MRD negative rate of the first cycle.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/drug therapy*
;
Aged
;
Middle Aged
;
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use*
;
Sulfonamides/therapeutic use*
;
Azacitidine/therapeutic use*
;
Aged, 80 and over
;
Male
;
Female
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Nucleophosmin
;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
;
Remission Induction
;
Mutation
;
Treatment Outcome
7.Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Epidemiological Characterization of the First Imported Case of Lassa Fever in China.
Yu Liang FENG ; Wei LI ; Ming Feng JIANG ; Hong Rong ZHONG ; Wei WU ; Lyu Bo TIAN ; Guo CHEN ; Zhen Hua CHEN ; Can LUO ; Rong Mei YUAN ; Xing Yu ZHOU ; Jian Dong LI ; Xiao Rong YANG ; Ming PAN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(3):279-289
OBJECTIVE:
This study reports the first imported case of Lassa fever (LF) in China. Laboratory detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of the Lassa virus (LASV) from this case offer valuable insights for the prevention and control of LF.
METHODS:
Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, urine, saliva, and environmental materials were collected from the patient and their close contacts for LASV nucleotide detection. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on positive samples to analyze the genetic characteristics of the virus.
RESULTS:
LASV was detected in the patient's CSF, blood, and urine, while all samples from close contacts and the environment tested negative. The virus belongs to the lineage IV strain and shares the highest homology with strains from Sierra Leone. The variability in the glycoprotein complex (GPC) among different strains ranged from 3.9% to 15.1%, higher than previously reported for the seven known lineages. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed multiple mutations within the GPC immunogenic epitopes, increasing strain diversity and potentially impacting immune response.
CONCLUSION
The case was confirmed through nucleotide detection, with no evidence of secondary transmission or viral spread. The LASV strain identified belongs to lineage IV, with broader GPC variability than previously reported. Mutations in the immune-related sites of GPC may affect immune responses, necessitating heightened vigilance regarding the virus.
Humans
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Genome, Viral
;
Lassa Fever/virology*
;
Lassa virus/classification*
;
Molecular Epidemiology
;
Phylogeny
8.Comparison of Logistic Regression and Machine Learning Approaches in Predicting Depressive Symptoms: A National-Based Study
Xing-Xuan DONG ; Jian-Hua LIU ; Tian-Yang ZHANG ; Chen-Wei PAN ; Chun-Hua ZHAO ; Yi-Bo WU ; Dan-Dan CHEN
Psychiatry Investigation 2025;22(3):267-278
Objective:
Machine learning (ML) has been reported to have better predictive capability than traditional statistical techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of ML algorithms and logistic regression (LR) for predicting depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods:
Analyses were carried out in a national cross-sectional study involving 21,916 participants. The ML algorithms in this study included random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), neural network (NN), and gradient boosting machine (GBM) methods. The performance indices were sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).
Results:
LR and NN had the best performance in terms of AUCs. The risk of overfitting was found to be negligible for most ML models except for RF, and GBM obtained the highest sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and F1-score. Therefore, LR, NN, and GBM models ranked among the best models.
Conclusion
Compared with ML models, LR model performed comparably to ML models in predicting depressive symptoms and identifying potential risk factors while also exhibiting a lower risk of overfitting.
9.Effect and safety of a conditioning regimen with chidamide and BEAM for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in lymphoma
Yuanli GONG ; Siying PAN ; Tongyao XING ; Hua YIN ; Haorui SHEN ; Li WANG ; Jinhua LIANG ; Jianyong LI ; Wei XU
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2025;64(12):1211-1217
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Chi-BEAM regimen (chidamide combined with carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with high-risk or relapsed/refractory lymphoma.Methods:This retrospective case series included 78 patients with newly treated high-risk or relapsed/refractory lymphoma who underwent ASCT with the Chi-BEAM conditioning regimen in the Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Jiangsu Province Hospital), from June 2021 to May 2024. Descriptive statistics were employed to evaluate clinical characteristics, efficacy, and adverse events. The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to calculate cumulative progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates.Results:The median age of the 78 evaluable patients was 47 years (range 16-68), with 8 patients (10.3%) aged ≥60 years. At the first post-transplant assessment (3 months), the objective response rate was 94.9% (74/78). The median follow-up was 20.1 months (range 2.9-44.9). The median PFS time was 20.1 months (range 1.6-45.1), with a 2-year cumulative PFS rate of 81.8%. The median OS time was 20.6 months (range 3.1-45.1), with a cumulative 2-year OS rate of 93.2%. The regimen was well-tolerated; mild-to-moderate hypocalcemia within 1 week post-infusion and transient mild erythrocyturia on the infusion day were the primary adverse reactions.Conclusion:The Chi-BEAM regimen combined with ASCT demonstrates both safety and clinical benefit in patients with high-risk or relapsed/refractory lymphoma.
10.Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis-Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis
Wenhui QIAN ; Bei ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Yuting WANG ; Jiachen SHEN ; Dongbing LIANG ; Chao WANG ; Wei WEI ; Xing PAN ; Qiuying YAN ; Dongdong SUN ; Dong ZHU ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):411-424
Sustained inflammatory responses are closely related to various severe diseases,and inhibiting the excessive activation of inflammasomes and pyroptosis has significant implications for clinical treatment.Natural products have garnered considerable concern for the treatment of inflammation.Huanglian-Wumei decoction(HLWMD)is a classic prescription used for treating inflammatory diseases,but the necessity of their combination and the exact underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism have not yet been elucidated.Inspired by the supramolecular self-assembly strategy and natural drug compatibility theory,we successfully obtained berberine(BBR)-chlorogenic acid(CGA)supramolecular(BCS),which is an herbal pair from HLWMD.Using a series of characterization methods,we confirmed the self-assembly mechanism of BCS.BBR and CGA were self-assembled and stacked into amphiphilic spherical supra-molecules in a 2:1 molar ratio,driven by electrostatic interactions,hydrophobic interactions,and π-πstacking;the hydrophilic fragments of CGA were outside,and the hydrophobic fragments of BBR were inside.This stacking pattern significantly improved the anti-inflammatory performance of BCS compared with that of single free molecules.Compared with free molecules,BCS significantly attenuated the release of multiple inflammatory mediators and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced pyroptosis.Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of intracellular nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB)p65 phosphorylation and the noncanonical pyroptosis signalling pathway mediated by caspase-11.

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