1.Mechanism of Qushi huoxue decoction in improving metabolic-associated fatty liver disease through the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 autophagy signaling pathway
Xiaoqian GONG ; Weiqiang TAN ; Yehuang WEI ; Rongrong WANG ; Yanfang TANG ; Xudong LIU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(16):2105-2111
OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Qushi huoxue decoction in improving metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) based on the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/UNC-51-like kinase 1 (AMPK/mTOR/ULK1) autophagy signaling pathway.METHODS Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Qushi huoxue decoction groups [4.10, 8.20, 16.40 mg/(g·d)], with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal group, mice in the other groups were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks to establish the MAFLD model. Starting 24 hours after modeling, mice in each group were administered the drug solution or normal saline once daily for 6 consecutive weeks. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected according to the kit instructions. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and oil red O staining were used to observe pathological changes in mouse liver tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the expression and positive protein expression related to the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 autophagy signaling pathway.RESULTS Compared with the normal group, the serum levels of TC, TG, ALT, AST, and LDL-C in the model group were significantly increased, while the HDL-C level was significantly decreased ( P <0.01). HE staining showed obvious steatosis in hepatocytes of the model group, and oil red O staining showed a large amount of lipid droplet accumulation in liver tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining results showed that the expression levels of p-mTOR/mTOR and p62 proteins, as well as the relative fluorescence intensities of p-mTOR and p62 proteins in liver tissue of the model group, were significantly increased/enhanced ( P <0.01), while the expression levels of p-AMPK/AMPK, ULK1, and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3Ⅱ (LC3Ⅱ) proteins, as well as the relative fluorescence intensities of p-AMPK and LC3 proteins, were significantly decreased/weakened ( P <0.01). After intervention with Qushi huoxue decoction, the above pathological changes and abnormal indicators in liver tissue of mice in the low-, medium-, and high-dose groups were significantly reversed, with most indicators showing statistically significant differences ( P <0.05 or P <0.01).CONCLUSIONS Qushi huoxue decoction can significantly improve liver pathology, blood lipid levels, and liver function in MAFLD model mice; this improvement may be achieved through the activation of the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 autophagy signaling pathway.
2.Textual Research on Key Information of Famous Classical Formula Jiegengtang
Yang LEI ; Yuli LI ; Xiaoming XIE ; Zhen LIU ; Shanghua ZHANG ; Tieru CAI ; Ying TAN ; Weiqiang ZHOU ; Zhaoxu YI ; Yun TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):182-190
Jiegengtang is a basic formula for treating sore throat and cough. By means of bibliometrics, this study conducted a textual research and analysis on the key information such as formula origin, decocting methods, and clinical application of Jiegengtang. After the research, it can be seen that Jiegengtang is firstly contained in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Disease, which is also known as Ganjietang, and it has been inherited and innovated by medical practitioners of various dynasties in later times. The origins of Chinese medicines in this formula is basically clear, Jiegeng is the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, Gancao is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, the two medicines are selected raw products. The dosage is 27.60 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 13.80 g of Platycodonis Radix, decocted with 600 mL of water to 200 mL, taken warmly after meals, twice a day, 100 mL for each time. In ancient times, Jiegengtang was mainly used for treating Shaoyin-heat invasion syndrome, with cough and sore throat as its core symptoms. In modern clinical practice, Jiegengtang is mainly used for respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis, esophagitis, tonsillitis and lung abscess, especially for pharyngitis and lung abscess with remarkable efficacy. This paper can provide literature reference basis for the modern clinical application and new drug development of Jiegengtang.
3.Textual Research on Key Information of Famous Classical Formula Jiegengtang
Yang LEI ; Yuli LI ; Xiaoming XIE ; Zhen LIU ; Shanghua ZHANG ; Tieru CAI ; Ying TAN ; Weiqiang ZHOU ; Zhaoxu YI ; Yun TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(7):182-190
Jiegengtang is a basic formula for treating sore throat and cough. By means of bibliometrics, this study conducted a textual research and analysis on the key information such as formula origin, decocting methods, and clinical application of Jiegengtang. After the research, it can be seen that Jiegengtang is firstly contained in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Disease, which is also known as Ganjietang, and it has been inherited and innovated by medical practitioners of various dynasties in later times. The origins of Chinese medicines in this formula is basically clear, Jiegeng is the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, Gancao is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, the two medicines are selected raw products. The dosage is 27.60 g of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and 13.80 g of Platycodonis Radix, decocted with 600 mL of water to 200 mL, taken warmly after meals, twice a day, 100 mL for each time. In ancient times, Jiegengtang was mainly used for treating Shaoyin-heat invasion syndrome, with cough and sore throat as its core symptoms. In modern clinical practice, Jiegengtang is mainly used for respiratory diseases such as pharyngitis, esophagitis, tonsillitis and lung abscess, especially for pharyngitis and lung abscess with remarkable efficacy. This paper can provide literature reference basis for the modern clinical application and new drug development of Jiegengtang.
4.Mechanism of action of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene in the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and related targeted therapies
Zhaoquan PAN ; Xudong LIU ; Weiqiang TAN ; Xiaoke RAN ; Yuan YUAN ; Xinfeng LOU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1167-1173
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease with the pathological feature of lipid accumulation in the liver, and it is closely associated with liver metabolic disorders. The latest research has shown that the pathogenesis of MAFLD is associated with the abnormal expression of specific genes, especially the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene. The abnormal activity of the FTO gene may lead to an imbalance in liver lipid metabolism, which manifests as the increase in fatty acid synthesis and the reduction in fatty acid oxidation, thereby promoting liver fat deposition and inflammatory response. Therefore, regulating the expression or activity of the FTO gene is considered one of the potential strategies for the treatment of MAFLD. At present, drug research targeting the function of the FTO gene has achieved preliminary results, and inhibition of the activity of the FTO gene can help to regulate liver lipid metabolism and alleviate liver inflammatory injury. This article reviews the mechanism of action of the FTO gene in the development and progression of MAFLD, summarizes the advances in drug research on the FTO gene and related metabolic pathways in recent years, and analyzes their application prospect in research and treatment.
5.Torso Simulation Research on Electromagnetic Compatibility of Implantable Neurostimulator.
Qifei LI ; Weiming WANG ; Weiqiang ZHANG ; Linzhi DAI ; Jiawei LIU
Chinese Journal of Medical Instrumentation 2025;49(2):212-218
In the YY 0989.3-2023 standard, clause 27.106 specifies the protection test against electromagnetic interference, but it only briefly describes the test level for electromagnetic exposure, and does not detail the parameters of the torso. This study aims to explore the internal field distribution for different torso parameters under electromagnetic exposure, and explore the patterns of field distribution through modeling and simulation. The results indicate that the parameters of the torso significantly affect the internal field distribution. The findings of this study provide a basis and reference for the electromagnetic compatibility test for implantable neurostimulator products.
Electromagnetic Fields
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Implantable Neurostimulators
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Computer Simulation
6.Study on the mechanism of Compound lizard powder on reversing cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer by inducing apoptosis and autophagic death
Caiyue LIU ; Zheng LI ; Weiqiang LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(23):2924-2929
OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of Compound lizard powder on reversing cisplatin(DDP) resistance in resistant gastric cancer cell MKN45/DDP through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/SNAIL signaling pathway. METHODS MKN45/DDP cells were divided into model group (20% normal rat serum), DDP group (1.3 μg/mL DDP+20% fetal bovine serum) and Compound lizard powder low- and high-dose drug-containing serum+DDP groups (17.2, 68.8 g/kg Compound lizard powder 20% drug-containing serum+1.3 μg/mL DDP). The viability, apoptosis and intracellular autophagosome of MKN45/DDP cells were detected. The content of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in the cell supernatant was detected. The expressions of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-related X protein (Bax), as well as the protein expression levels of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 (p-NF-κB p65) and SNAIL were detected. The molecular mechanism of Compound lizard powder in improving DDP resistance was further clarified by using NF-κB pathway agonist tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). RESULTS Compared with model group and DDP group, the cell survival rates of Compound lizard powder low- and high-dose drug-containing serum+DDP groups were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the levels of apoptosis and autophagic death were significantly increased (P<0.05). The expression levels of Bcl-2 (except for the compound lizard powder low-dose drug-containing serum+DDP group), p-NF-κB p65 and SNAIL protein in MKN45/DDP cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The content of LC3 and expression of Bax protein were significantly increased (P<0.05). High-dose Compound lizard powder drug-containing serum+DDP could effectively reverse the down-regulation of LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ and Bax protein expression induced by TNF- α (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Compound lizard powder drug-containing serum combined with DDP can induce apoptosis and autophagic death of MKN45/DDP cells by inhibiting NF-κB/SNAIL signaling pathway, thus reversing DDP resistance of cells.
7.Relationship of miR-155,miR-92a and miR-126 with restenosis after interventional surgery in elderly CHD patients
Jianhua LIU ; Shixun LI ; Weiqiang ZHANG ; Shuhan YANG
Chinese Journal of Geriatric Heart Brain and Vessel Diseases 2025;27(7):885-889
Objective To explore the relationship of microRNA(miR)-155,miR-92a and miR-126 with in-stent restenosis(ISR)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in elderly patients with coronary heart disease(CHD).Methods A total of 118 elderly CHD patients receiving PCI in our hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were enrolled,and according to whether ISR occurred by coronary angiography(CAG)at 1 year after surgery,they were divided into a stenosis group(45 cases)and a non-stenosis group(73 cases).Their baseline data,number of stent,stent diameter,medication,coronary artery lesion score,and serum expression levels of miR-155,miR-92a and miR-126 were compared between the two groups.The correlation of expression levels of the three miRNAs and clinical indicators was analyzed.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of ISR in elderly CHD patients.ROC curve was adopted to analyze the diagnostic value of the three miRNAs for ISR in the elderly patients.Results Signifi-cantly higher BMI,SBP and DBP,and larger proportions of stent count ≥3 and stent diameter<3 mm were observed in the stenosis group than the non-stenosis group(P<0.05,P<0.01).The expression levels of miR-155 and miR-126 were obviously lower,while that of miR-92a was nota-bly higher in the stenosis group than the non-stenosis group(P<0.01).Pearson correlation analy-sis showed that miR-155 and miR-126 were negatively correlated with BMI,SBP,DBP,and stent count,and positively correlated with stent diameter(P<0.01);miR-92a was positively correlated with BMI,SBP,DBP,and stent count,and negatively with stent diameter(P<0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that stent count,stent diameter and miR-92a were risk fac-tors for ISR in elderly CHD patients after PCI,and miR-155 and miR-126 were protective factors(P<0.05,P<0.01).ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC value of miR-155,miR-92a,and miR-126 alone and combined together was 0.742,0.778,0.751 and 0.853,respectively,with a sen-sitivity of 86.67%,71.11%,73.33%and 93.33%respectively,and the combined detection showed better diagnostic value for ISR than the single detection(P<0.01).Conclusion Down-regulation of miR-155 and miR-126 and up-regulation of miR-92a may be involved in the occurrence of ISR in elderly CHD patients after PCI.Monitoring the three miRNAs is beneficial to auxiliary clinical prediction for ISR after PCI.
8.Transcriptome analysis of radiation-induced brain injury in mice subjected to Flash whole-brain irradiation with electron beams
Feifei GAO ; Yanxi MA ; Jiahao ZHANG ; Wei CHENG ; Boyi YU ; Jianxin WANG ; Xianhong LIU ; Xiaodong JIN ; Weiqiang CHEN ; Qiang LI
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(6):537-543
Objective:To reveal the differences in the transcriptome maps of brain tissues in mice subjected to Flash irradiation and conventional dose rate irradiation with electron beams and to explain the biological effect and mechanisms of Flash irradiation from multiple perspectives.Methods:Following the principle of grouping based on approximate body weights, 36 female C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups, i. e., the control, conventional dose rate irradiation (CONV), and Flash irradiation (Flash) groups, with 12 mice in each group. Both the CONV and Flash groups received a single 15 Gy whole-brain irradiation with 9 MeV electron beams. At 3 d post-irradiation, the whole-brain tissue specimens were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe pathological changes. At 1, 3, and 10 weeks post-irradiation, the motion function, cognitive ability, depression level, and spatial memory capacity of the mice were assessed using ethology. At 1 and 10 weeks after behavioral experiments, brain tissue samples were collected and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for reference-based transcriptome sequencing. Accordingly, the differences in the transcriptome maps of radiation-induced brain injury between CONV and Flash groups were analyzed.Results:The HE staining-based pathological result revealed that compared to the CONV group, the Flash group exhibited reduced glial cell hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration in brain tissues. Ethological research result at 1 week post-irradiation showed that the CONV group manifested a significantly decreased total traveled distance compared to the control and Flash groups ( t = 5.51, 2.38, P < 0.05) and a significantly increased immobility time compared to the control group ( t = 3.60, P < 0.05). Ethological research result at 3 weeks post-irradiation indicated that compared to the CONV group, the Flash group displayed significantly alleviated cognitive impairment ( t = 3.35, P < 0.05) and reduced depression levels ( t = 2.39, P < 0.05). Ethological research result at 10 weeks post-irradiation demonstrated that the CONV group showed the worst cognitive performance, significantly differing from the control group ( t = 4.53, P < 0.05). Transcriptome sequencing result revealed that besides immune-related pathways, the Flash group also exhibited multiple upregulated metabolic pathways and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-related pathways compared to the CONV group. Conclusions:Compared to conventional dose rate irradiation, Flash irradiation can effectively alleviate radiation-induced brain injury in mice. This effect is associated with various metabolic pathways (including amino acid metabolism) and FGF-related pathways besides immune pathways.
9.Two sample Mendelian randomization study on causal relationship between insulin-like growth factor-1 and colorectal cancer
Huaxia MU ; Weixiao BU ; Shuting DING ; Mengyao GAO ; Weiqiang SU ; Zhen ZHANG ; Qifu BO ; Feng LIU ; Fuyan SHI ; Qinghua WANG ; Yujia KONG ; Suzhen WANG
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(2):479-485
Objective:To explore the causal association between insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)and colorectal cancer(CRC)based on two sample Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis.Methods:A bidirectional two sample MR analysis was conducted based on publicly aggregated data from the IEU OpenGWAS project.The inverse variance weighted(IVW)method was used as the main analysis model to assess the causal relationship between IGF-1 and CRC.Additional analyses were performed using weighted median(WM),MR-Egger regression,weighted mode estimator(WME),and simple mode(SM)methods.Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the results.Results:A total of 386 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were selected as instrumental variables(IVs)with IGF-1 as the exposure factor.The MR analysis results revealed a positive causal association between IGF-1 and the risk of CRC[odds ratio(OR)=1.178,95%confidence interval(CI):1.092-1.272)](P<0.001),and the association remained significant after adjusting for height[OR(95%CI)=1.214(1.111,1.327)](P<0.001).Cochran's Q-test showed heterogeneity among the IVs(P<0.05),while the horizontal pleiotropy of IV was not detected by the MR-Egger regression(P>0.05).The leave-one-out analysis showed that the MR results were robust.Reverse MR analysis indicated no reverse causal relationship between IGF-1 and CRC[OR(95%CI):1.017(0.997,1.037)](P=0.103).Conclusion:There is a causal relationship between IGF-1 level and CRC,and elevated IGF-1 level could be a risk factor for CRC.
10.Transcriptome analysis of radiation-induced brain injury in mice subjected to Flash whole-brain irradiation with electron beams
Feifei GAO ; Yanxi MA ; Jiahao ZHANG ; Wei CHENG ; Boyi YU ; Jianxin WANG ; Xianhong LIU ; Xiaodong JIN ; Weiqiang CHEN ; Qiang LI
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(6):537-543
Objective:To reveal the differences in the transcriptome maps of brain tissues in mice subjected to Flash irradiation and conventional dose rate irradiation with electron beams and to explain the biological effect and mechanisms of Flash irradiation from multiple perspectives.Methods:Following the principle of grouping based on approximate body weights, 36 female C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups, i. e., the control, conventional dose rate irradiation (CONV), and Flash irradiation (Flash) groups, with 12 mice in each group. Both the CONV and Flash groups received a single 15 Gy whole-brain irradiation with 9 MeV electron beams. At 3 d post-irradiation, the whole-brain tissue specimens were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe pathological changes. At 1, 3, and 10 weeks post-irradiation, the motion function, cognitive ability, depression level, and spatial memory capacity of the mice were assessed using ethology. At 1 and 10 weeks after behavioral experiments, brain tissue samples were collected and snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for reference-based transcriptome sequencing. Accordingly, the differences in the transcriptome maps of radiation-induced brain injury between CONV and Flash groups were analyzed.Results:The HE staining-based pathological result revealed that compared to the CONV group, the Flash group exhibited reduced glial cell hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration in brain tissues. Ethological research result at 1 week post-irradiation showed that the CONV group manifested a significantly decreased total traveled distance compared to the control and Flash groups ( t = 5.51, 2.38, P < 0.05) and a significantly increased immobility time compared to the control group ( t = 3.60, P < 0.05). Ethological research result at 3 weeks post-irradiation indicated that compared to the CONV group, the Flash group displayed significantly alleviated cognitive impairment ( t = 3.35, P < 0.05) and reduced depression levels ( t = 2.39, P < 0.05). Ethological research result at 10 weeks post-irradiation demonstrated that the CONV group showed the worst cognitive performance, significantly differing from the control group ( t = 4.53, P < 0.05). Transcriptome sequencing result revealed that besides immune-related pathways, the Flash group also exhibited multiple upregulated metabolic pathways and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-related pathways compared to the CONV group. Conclusions:Compared to conventional dose rate irradiation, Flash irradiation can effectively alleviate radiation-induced brain injury in mice. This effect is associated with various metabolic pathways (including amino acid metabolism) and FGF-related pathways besides immune pathways.

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