1.Role of Innate Trained Immunity in Diseases
Chuang CHENG ; Yue-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Qin MU ; Xi ZHENG ; Jing HE ; Jun WANG ; Chao TAN ; Xiao-Wen LIU ; Li-Li ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):119-132
The innate immune system can be boosted in response to subsequent triggers by pre-exposure to microbes or microbial products, known as “trained immunity”. Compared to classical immune memory, innate trained immunity has several different features. Firstly, the molecules involved in trained immunity differ from those involved in classical immune memory. Innate trained immunity mainly involves innate immune cells (e.g., myeloid immune cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells) and their effector molecules (e.g., pattern recognition receptor (PRR), various cytokines), as well as some kinds of non-immune cells (e.g., microglial cells). Secondly, the increased responsiveness to secondary stimuli during innate trained immunity is not specific to a particular pathogen, but influences epigenetic reprogramming in the cell through signaling pathways, leading to the sustained changes in genes transcriptional process, which ultimately affects cellular physiology without permanent genetic changes (e.g., mutations or recombination). Finally, innate trained immunity relies on an altered functional state of innate immune cells that could persist for weeks to months after initial stimulus removal. An appropriate inducer could induce trained immunity in innate lymphocytes, such as exogenous stimulants (including vaccines) and endogenous stimulants, which was firstly discovered in bone marrow derived immune cells. However, mature bone marrow derived immune cells are short-lived cells, that may not be able to transmit memory phenotypes to their offspring and provide long-term protection. Therefore, trained immunity is more likely to be relied on long-lived cells, such as epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and non-immune cells such as fibroblasts. Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the key molecular mechanisms that induces trained immunity, including DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In addition to epigenetic reprogramming, different cellular metabolic pathways are involved in the regulation of innate trained immunity, including aerobic glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, through a series of intracellular cascade responses triggered by the recognition of PRR specific ligands. In the view of evolutionary, trained immunity is beneficial in enhancing protection against secondary infections with an induction in the evolutionary protective process against infections. Therefore, innate trained immunity plays an important role in therapy against diseases such as tumors and infections, which has signature therapeutic effects in these diseases. In organ transplantation, trained immunity has been associated with acute rejection, which prolongs the survival of allografts. However, trained immunity is not always protective but pathological in some cases, and dysregulated trained immunity contributes to the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Trained immunity provides a novel form of immune memory, but when inappropriately activated, may lead to an attack on tissues, causing autoinflammation. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, trained immunity may lead to enhance inflammation and tissue lesion in diseased regions. In Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, trained immunity may lead to over-activation of microglial cells, triggering neuroinflammation even nerve injury. This paper summarizes the basis and mechanisms of innate trained immunity, including the different cell types involved, the impacts on diseases and the effects as a therapeutic strategy to provide novel ideas for different diseases.
2.Mid-long term follow-up reports on head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma in children
Chao DUAN ; Sidou HE ; Shengcai WANG ; Mei JIN ; Wen ZHAO ; Xisi WANG ; Zhikai LIU ; Tong YU ; Lejian HE ; Xiaoman WANG ; Chunying CUI ; Xin NI ; Yan SU
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(1):62-69
Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of children with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and to summarize the mid-long term efficacy of Beijing Children′s Hospital Rhabdomyosarcoma 2006 (BCH-RMS-2006) regimen and China Children′s Cancer Group Rhabdomyosarcoma 2016 (CCCG-RMS-2016) regimen.Methods:A retrospective cohort study. Clinical data of 137 children with newly diagnosed head and neck RMS at Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University from March 2013 to December 2021 were collected. Clinical characteristic of patients at disease onset and the therapeutic effects of patients treated with the BCH-RMS-2006 and CCCG-RMS-2016 regimens were compared. The treatments and outcomes of patients with recurrence were also summarized. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, and Log-Rank test was used for comparison of survival rates between groups.Results:Among 137 patients, there were 80 males (58.4%) and 57 females (41.6%), the age of disease onset was 59 (34, 97) months. The primary site in the orbital, non-orbital non-parameningeal, and parameningeal area were 10 (7.3%), 47 (34.3%), and 80 (58.4%), respectively. Of all patients, 32 cases (23.4%) were treated with the BCH-RMS-2006 regimen and 105 (76.6%) cases were treated with the CCCG-RMS-2016 regimen. The follow-up time for the whole patients was 46 (20, 72) months, and the 5-year progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates for the whole children were (60.4±4.4)% and (69.3±4.0)%, respectively. The 5-year OS rate was higher in the CCCG-RMS-2016 group than in BCH-RMS-2006 group ((73.0±4.5)% vs. (56.6±4.4)%, χ2=4.57, P=0.029). For the parameningeal group, the 5-year OS rate was higher in the CCCG-RMS-2016 group (61 cases) than in BCH-RMS-2006 group (19 cases) ((57.3±7.6)% vs. (32.7±11.8)%, χ2=4.64, P=0.031). For the group with meningeal invasion risk factors, the 5-year OS rate was higher in the CCCG-RMS-2016 group (54 cases) than in BCH-RMS-2006 group (15 cases) ((57.7±7.7)% vs. (30.0±12.3)%, χ2=4.76, P=0.029). Among the 10 cases of orbital RMS, there was no recurrence. In the non-orbital non-parameningeal RMS group (47 cases), there were 13 (27.6%) recurrences, after re-treatment, 7 cases survived. In the parameningeal RMS group (80 cases), there were 40 (50.0%) recurrences, with only 7 cases surviving after re-treatment. Conclusions:The overall prognosis for patients with orbital and non-orbital non-parameningeal RMS is good. However, children with parameningeal RMS have a high recurrence rate, and the effectiveness of re-treatment after recurrence is poor. Compared with the BCH-RMS-2006 regimen, the CCCG-RMS-2016 regimen can improve the treatment efficacy of RMS in the meningeal region.
3.Feixin Decoction Treats Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension by Regulating Pyroptosis in PASMCs via PPARγ/NF-κB/NLRP3 Signaling Pathway
Junlan TAN ; Xianya CAO ; Runxiu ZHENG ; Wen ZHANG ; Chao ZHANG ; Jian YI ; Feiying WANG ; Xia LI ; Jianmin FAN ; Hui LIU ; Lan SONG ; Aiguo DAI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):1-9
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism by which Feixin decoction treats hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) by regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)/NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) signaling pathway. MethodsForty-eight male SD rats were randomly allocated into normal, hypoxia, and low-, medium- and high-dose (5.85, 11.7, 23.4 g·kg-1, respectively) Feixin decoction groups, with 8 rats in each group. Except the normal group, the remaining five groups were placed in a hypoxia chamber with an oxygen concentration of (10.0±0.5)% for 8 h per day, 28 days, and administrated with corresponding drugs during the modeling process. After 4 weeks of treatment, echocardiographic parameters [pulmonary artery acceleration time (PAT), pulmonary artery ejection time (PET), right ventricular anterior wall thickness (RVAWd), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE)] were measured for each group. The right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was measured by the right heart catheterization method, and the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was calculated by weighing the heart. The pathological changes in pulmonary arterioles were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The co-localization of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) with NLRP3, N-terminal gasdermin D (N-GSDMD), and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1) in pulmonary arteries was detected by immunofluorescence. The protein levels of PPARγ, NF-κB, NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), N-GSDMD, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18(IL-18), and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue was determined by Western blot. The ultrastructural changes in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) were observed by transmission electron microscopy. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the hypoxia group showed increased RVSP and RVHI (P<0.01), decreased right heart function (P<0.01), increased pulmonary vascular remodeling (P<0.01), increased co-localization of α-SMA with NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and Caspase-1 in pulmonary arterioles (P<0.01), up-regulated protein levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, N-GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18, and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01), a down-regulated protein level of PPARγ (P<0.05, P<0.01), and pyroptosis in PASMCs. Compared with the hypoxia group, Feixin decoction reduced RVSP and RVHI, improved the right heart function and ameliorated pulmonary vascular remodeling (P<0.05, P<0.01), decreased the co-localization of α-SMA with NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and Caspase-1 (P<0.05, P<0.01), down-regulated the protein levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, N-GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18, and cleaved Caspase-1 in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01), up-regulated the protein level of PPARγ (P<0.05, P<0.01), and alleviated pyroptosis in PASMCs. ConclusionFeixin decoction can ameliorate pulmonary vascular remodeling and right heart dysfunction in chronically induced HPH rats by regulating pyroptosis in PASMCs through the PPARγ/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.
4.Junctophilin-2 MORN-Helix Domain: Structural Basis for Membrane Binding and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-associated Mutations
Jing-Xin WANG ; Zhi-Wei LI ; Wei LIU ; Wen-Qing ZHANG ; Jian-Chao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2103-2116
ObjectiveJunctophilin-2 (JPH2) is an essential structural protein that maintains junctional membrane complexes (JMCs) in cardiomyocytes by tethering the plasma membrane to the sarcoplasmic reticulum, thereby facilitating excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. Mutations in JPH2 have been associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), but the molecular mechanisms governing its membrane-binding properties and the functional relevance of its membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) repeat motifs remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to elucidate the structural basis of JPH2 membrane association and its implications for HCM pathogenesis. MethodsA recombinant N-terminal fragment of mouse JPH2 (residues1-440), encompassing the MORN repeats and an adjacent helical region, was purified under near-physiological buffer conditions.X-ray crystallography was employed to determine the structure of the JPH2 MORN-Helix domain. Sequence conservation analysis across species and junctophilin isoforms was performed to assess the evolutionary conservation of key structural features. Functional membrane-binding assays were conducted using liposome co-sedimentation and cell-based localization studies in COS7 and HeLa cells. In addition, site-directed mutagenesis targeting positively charged residues and known HCM-associated mutations, including R347C, was used to evaluate their effects on membrane interaction and subcellular localization. ResultsThe crystal structure of the mouse JPH2 MORN-Helix domain was resolved at 2.6 Å, revealing a compact, elongated architecture consisting of multiple tandem MORN motifs arranged in a curved configuration, forming a continuous hydrophobic core stabilized by alternating aromatic residues. A C-terminal α-helix further reinforced structural integrity. Conservation analysis identified the inner groove of the MORN array as a highly conserved surface, suggesting its role as a protein-binding interface. A flexible linker segment enriched in positively charged residues, located adjacent to the MORN motifs, was found to mediate direct electrostatic interactions with negatively charged phospholipid membranes. Functional assays demonstrated that mutation of these basic residues impaired membrane association, while the HCM-linked R347C mutation completely abolished membrane localization in cellular assays, despite preserving the overall MORN-Helix fold in structural modeling. ConclusionThis study provides structural insight into the membrane-binding mechanism of the cardiomyocyte-specific protein JPH2, highlighting the dual roles of its MORN-Helix domain in membrane anchoring and protein interactions. The findings clarify the structural basis for membrane targeting via a positively charged linker and demonstrate that disruption of this interaction—such as that caused by the R347C mutation—likely contributes to HCM pathogenesis. These results not only enhance current understanding of JPH2 function in cardiac E-C coupling but also offer a structural framework for future investigations into the assembly and regulation of JMCs in both physiological and disease contexts.
5.Risk prediction of Reduning Injection batches by near-infrared spectroscopy combined with multiple machine learning algorithms.
Wen-Yu JIA ; Feng TONG ; Heng-Xu LIU ; Shu-Qin JIN ; Yong-Chao ZHANG ; Chen-Feng ZHANG ; Zhen-Zhong WANG ; Xin ZHANG ; Wei XIAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(2):430-438
In this paper, near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) was employed to analyze 129 batches of commercial products of Reduning Injection. The batch reporting rate was estimated according to the report of Reduning Injection in the direct adverse drug reaction(ADR) reporting system of the drug marketing authorization holder of the Center for Drug Reevaluation of the National Medical Products Administration(National Center for ADR Monitoring) from August 2021 to August 2022. According to the batch reporting rate, the samples of Reduning Injection were classified into those with potential risks and those being safe. No processing, random oversampling(ROS), random undersampling(RUS), and synthetic minority over-sampling technique(SMOTE) were then employed to balance the unbalanced data. After the samples were classified according to appropriate sampling methods, competitive adaptive reweighted sampling(CARS), successive projections algorithm(SPA), uninformative variables elimination(UVE), and genetic algorithm(GA) were respectively adopted to screen the features of spectral data. Then, support vector machine(SVM), logistic regression(LR), k-nearest neighbors(KNN), naive bayes(NB), random forest(RF), and artificial neural network(ANN) were adopted to establish the risk prediction models. The effects of the four feature extraction methods on the accuracy of the models were compared. The optimal method was selected, and bayesian optimization was performned to optimize the model parameters to improve the accuracy and robustness of model prediction. To explore the correlations between potential risks of clinical use and quality test data, TreeNet was employed to identify potential quality parameters affecting the clinical safety of Reduning Injection. The results showed that the models established with the SVM, LR, KNN, NB, RF, and ANN algorithms had the F1 scores of 0.85, 0.85, 0.86, 0.80, 0.88, and 0.85 and the accuracy of 88%, 88%, 88%, 85%, 91%, and 88%, respectively, and the prediction time was less than 5 s. The results indicated that the established models were accurate and efficient. Therefore, near infrared spectroscopy combined with machine learning algorithms can quickly predict the potential risks of clinical use of Reduning Injection in batches. Three key quality parameters that may affect clinical safety were identified by TreeNet, which provided a scientific basis for improving the safety standards of Reduning Injection.
Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Machine Learning
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Algorithms
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Humans
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Quality Control
6.Network pharmacology and animal experiments reveal molecular mechanisms of Cordyceps sinensis in ameliorating heart aging and injury in mice by regulating Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway.
Si-Yi LIU ; Yue TU ; Wei-Ming HE ; Wen-Jie LIU ; Kai-Zhi WEN ; Cheng-Juan LI ; Chao HAN ; Xin-Yu LIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1063-1074
This study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of the traditional Chinese medicine Cordyceps sinensis(CS) in ameliorating heart aging and injury in mice based on animal experiments and network pharmacology. A mouse model of heart aging was established by continuously subcutaneous injection of D-galactose(D-gal). Thirty mice were randomly assigned into a normal group, a model group, a low-dose CS(CS-L) group, a high-dose CS(CS-H) group, and a vitamin E(VE) group. Mice in these groups were administrated with normal saline, different doses of CS suspension, or VE suspension via gavage daily. After 60 days of treatment with D-gal and various drugs, all mice were euthanized, and blood and heart tissue samples were collected for determination of the indicators related to heart aging and injury in mice. Experimental results showed that both high and low doses of CS and VE ameliorated the aging phenotype, improved the heart index and myocardial enzyme spectrum, restored the expression levels of proteins associated with cell cycle arrest and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes(SASP), and alleviated the fibrosis and histopathological changes of the heart tissue in model mice. From the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),259 active ingredients of CS were retrieved. From Gene Cards and OMIM, 2 568 targets related to heart aging were identified, and 133common targets shared by CS and heart aging were obtained. The Gene Ontology(GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes( KEGG) pathway enrichment revealed that the pathways related to heart aging involved oxidative stress,apoptosis, inflammation-related signaling pathways, etc. The animal experiment results showed that both high and low doses of CS and VE ameliorated oxidative stress and apoptosis in the heart tissue to varying degrees in model mice. Additionally, CS-H and VE activated the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) pathway and inhibited the expression of key proteins in the nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) pathway in the heart tissue of model mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrated based on network pharmacology and animal experiments that CS may alleviate heart aging and injury in aging mice by reducing oxidative stress,apoptosis, and inflammation in the heart via the Nrf2/HO-1/NF-κB pathway.
Animals
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Cordyceps/chemistry*
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Mice
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics*
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NF-kappa B/genetics*
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Aging/genetics*
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Male
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Network Pharmacology
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics*
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Heart/drug effects*
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Humans
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Myocardium/metabolism*
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Membrane Proteins/genetics*
7.Dahuang Zhechong Pills delay heart aging by reducing cardiomyocyte apoptosis via PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Wen-Jie LIU ; Yue TU ; Wei-Ming HE ; Si-Yi LIU ; Liu-Yun-Xin PAN ; Kai-Zhi WEN ; Cheng-Juan LI ; Chao HAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1276-1285
This study aimed to investigate the effect of Dahuang Zhechong Pills(DHZCP) in delaying heart aging(HA) and explore the potential mechanism. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to explore the targets and potential mechanisms of DHZCP in delaying HA. Furthermore, in vitro experiments were conducted with the DHZCP-containing serum to verify key targets and pathways in D-galactose(D-gal)-induced aging of cardiomyocytes. Active components of DHZCP were searched against the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCSMP), and relevant targets were predicted. HA-related targets were screened from the GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM), and DisGeNET. The common targets shared by the active components of DHZCP and HA were used to construct a protein-protein interaction network in STRING 12.0, and core targets were screened based on degree in Cytoscape 3.9.1. Metaspace was used for Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses of the core targets to predict the mechanisms. Molecular docking was performed in AutoDock Vina. The results indicated that a total of 774 targets of the active components of DHZCP and 4 520 targets related to HA were screened out, including 510 common targets. Core targets included B-cell lymphoma 2(BCL-2), serine/threonine kinase 1(AKT1), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit A(HIF1A). The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggested that DHZCP mainly exerted its effects via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1α signaling pathway, longevity signaling pathway, and apoptosis signaling pathway. Among the pathways predicted by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway was selected for verification. The cell-counting kit 8(CCK-8) assay showed that D-gal significantly inhibited the proliferation of H9c2 cells, while DHZCP-containing serum increased the viability of H9c2 cells. SA-β-gal staining revealed a significant increase in the number of blue-green positive cells in the D-gal group, which was reduced by DHZCP-containing serum. TUNEL staining showed that DHZCP-containing serum decreased the number of apoptotic cells. After treatment with DHZCP-containing serum, the protein levels of Klotho, BCL-2, p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT1/AKT1, and HIF-1α were up-regulated, while those of P21, P16, BCL-2 associated X protein(Bax), and cleaved caspase-3 were down-regulated. The results indicated that DHZCP delayed HA via multiple components, targets, and pathways. Specifically, DHZCP may delay HA by reducing apoptosis via activating the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1α signaling pathway.
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Apoptosis/drug effects*
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Myocytes, Cardiac/cytology*
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics*
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Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics*
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Animals
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Rats
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Humans
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Aging/metabolism*
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Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects*
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Heart/drug effects*
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Network Pharmacology
8.Effect of Wenpi Pills on lipid metabolism in mice with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by various diets.
Chen-Fang ZHANG ; Kai LIU ; Chao-Wen FAN ; Mei-Ting TAI ; Xin ZHANG ; Rong ZHANG ; Qin-Wen CHEN ; Zun-Li KE
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2730-2739
The aim of this study was to investigate the improvement effect of Wenpi Pills(WPP) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD). The experiment was divided into two parts, using C57BL/6 mouse models induced by a high-fat diet(HFD) and a methionine and choline deficiency diet(MCD). The HFD-induced experiment lasted for 16 weeks, while the MCD-induced experiment lasted for 6 weeks. Mice in both parts were divided into four groups: control group, model group, low-dose WPP group(3.875 g·kg~(-1), WPP_L), and high-dose WPP group(15.5 g·kg~(-1), WPP_H). After sample collection from the HFD-induced mice, lipid content in the serum and liver, liver function indexes in the serum, and hepatic pathology were examined. Real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of lipid-related genes. After sample collection from the MCD-induced mice, serum liver function indexes and inflammatory factors were measured, and hepatic pathology and lipid changes were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and widely targeted lipidomic profiling, respectively. The results from the HFD-induced experiment showed that, compared with the HFD group, WPP administration significantly reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), triglyceride(TG), and total cholesterol(TC) in the serum, with the WPP_H group showing the most significant improvement. HE staining results indicated that, compared with the HFD group, WPP treatment improved the morphology of white adipocytes, reducing their size, and alleviated hepatic steatosis and lipid droplet accumulation. The qRT-PCR results suggested that WPP might increase the mRNA expression of liver cholesterol-converting genes, such as liver X receptor α(LXRα) and cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily A member 1(CYP27A1), as well as lipid consumption genes like peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α(PPARα) and adenosine mono-phosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK). Meanwhile, WPP decreased the mRNA expression of lipid synthesis genes, including fatty acid synthetase(FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1(SCD1), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c(SREBP-1c), thereby reducing liver lipid accumulation. The results from the MCD-induced experiment showed that, compared with the MCD group, WPP administration reduced the levels of ALT, AST, and inflammatory factors in the serum, thereby alleviating liver injury and the inflammatory response. HE staining of liver tissue indicated that WPP effectively improved hepatic steatosis. Non-targeted lipidomics analysis showed that WPP improved lipid metabolism disorders in the liver, mainly by affecting the metabolism of TG and cholesterol esters. In conclusion, WPP can improve hepatic lipid accumulation in NAFLD mice induced by both HFD and MCD. This beneficial effect is primarily achieved by alleviating liver injury and inflammation, as well as regulating lipid metabolism.
Animals
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Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/genetics*
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Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Male
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Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*
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Liver/drug effects*
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Humans
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Disease Models, Animal
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Methionine
9.Preparation of baicalin-berberine complex nanocrystal enteric microspheres and pharmacodynamic evaluation of ulcerative colitis treatment in rats.
Xiao-Chao HUANG ; Yi-Wen HU ; Peng-Yu SHEN ; Rui-Hong JIAN ; Dong-Li QI ; Zhi-Dong LIU ; Jia-Xin PI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4263-4274
To enhance the therapeutic efficacy of the baicalin-berberine complex(BA-BBR) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC), BA-BBR nanocrystal microspheres(BA-BBR NC MS) were prepared using the dropping method. The microspheres were characterized in terms of morphology, particle size, differential scanning calorimetry(DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction(XRD). The release profiles of BA and BBR from the microspheres were measured, and the drug release mechanism was investigated. A rat model of UC was induced by 5% dextran sodium sulfate(DSS) and treated continuously for 7 days to evaluate the therapeutic effects of different formulations. The results showed that the prepared BA-BBR MS and BA-BBR NC MS were uniform gel spheres with particle sizes of(1.77±0.16) mm and(1.67±0.08) mm, respectively. After drying, the gels collapsed inward and exhibited a rough surface. During the preparation process, the BA-BBR nanocrystals(BA-BBR NC) were uniformly encapsulated within the microspheres. The release profiles of the microspheres followed a first-order kinetic model, and the 12-hour cumulative release of BA and BBR from BA-BBR NC MS was higher than that from BA-BBR MS. Compared with BA-BBR, BA-BBR NC, and BA-BBR MS, BA-BBR NC MS further alleviated UC symptoms in rats, most significantly reducing the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MPO, while increasing the level of IL-4 in colon tissues. These results indicate that BA-BBR NC MS, based on a "nano-in-micro" design, can deliver BA-BBR to the intestine and exert significant therapeutic effects in a UC rat model, suggesting it as a promising new strategy for the treatment of UC.
Animals
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Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism*
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Rats
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Nanoparticles/chemistry*
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Microspheres
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Male
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Berberine/administration & dosage*
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Flavonoids/administration & dosage*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Humans
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Particle Size
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology*
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Drug Liberation
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Drug Compounding
10.Survival predictor in emergency resuscitative thoracotomy for blunt trauma patients: Insights from a Chinese trauma center.
Shan LIU ; Lin LING ; Yong FU ; Wen-Chao ZHANG ; Yong-Hu ZHANG ; Qing LI ; Liang ZENG ; Jun HU ; Yong LUO ; Wen-Jie LIU
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2025;28(4):288-293
PURPOSE:
Emergency resuscitative thoracotomy (ERT) is a final salvage procedure for critically injured trauma patients. Given its low success rate and ambiguous indications, its use in blunt trauma scenarios remains highly debated. Consequently, our study seeks to ascertain the overall survival rate of ERT in blunt trauma patients and determine which patients would benefit most from this procedure.
METHODS:
A retrospective case-control study was conducted for this research. Blunt trauma patients who underwent ERT between January 2020 and December 2023 in our trauma center were selected for analysis, with the endpoint outcome being in-hospital survival, divided into survival and non-survival groups. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, the Kruskal-Wallis test, Student's t-test, or the Mann-Whitney U test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess potential predictors of survival. Then, the efficacy of the predictors was assessed through sensitivity and specificity analysis.
RESULTS:
A total of 33 patients were included in the study, with 4 survivors (12.12%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated a significant association between cardiac tamponade and survival, with an adjusted odds ratio of 33.4 (95% CI: 1.31 - 850.00, p = 0.034). Additionally, an analysis of sensitivity and specificity, targeting cardiac tamponade as an indicator for survivor identification, showed a sensitivity rate of 75.0% and a specificity rate of 96.6%.
CONCLUSION
The survival rate among blunt trauma patients undergoing ERT exceeds traditional expectations, suggesting that select individuals with blunt trauma can significantly benefit from the procedure. Notably, those presenting with cardiac tamponade are identified as the subgroup most likely to derive substantial benefits from ERT.
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Case-Control Studies
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China
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Logistic Models
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Resuscitation/mortality*
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Retrospective Studies
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Survival Rate
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Thoracotomy/methods*
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Trauma Centers/statistics & numerical data*
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Wounds, Nonpenetrating/surgery*

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