1.Bioinformatics Reveals Mechanism of Schisandrin B in Inhibiting Ferroptosis to Ameliorate Methionine and Choline Deficiency-induced Fatty Liver Disease in Mice
Zhifeng ZHU ; Wenting LI ; Yongjun CAO ; Yuanyuan LIN ; Yifei LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):74-83
ObjectiveNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic stress liver injury. Ferroptosis is involved in the occurrence and development of NAFLD. Exploring the efficacy and mechanism of schisandrin B in treating NAFLD facilitates the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. MethodsThe molecular structure of schisandrin B was obtained by searching against PubChem, and the related targets were predicted by SwissTargetPrediction. The active ingredients and their targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the high-throughput experiment- and reference-guide database of traditional Chinese medicine (HERB). GeneCards and FerrDb were searched for the targets of NAFLD and ferroptosis. The common targets were taken as the core targets, and the protein-protein interaction network of the core targets was established. DAVID was used for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Finally, molecular docking was performed between schisandrin B and core targets, and the binding energy was calculated. C57BL/6 mice were fed with a methionine and choline-deficiency (MCD) diet for the modeling of NAFLD. Mice were randomized into normal, model, positive drug (essentiale), and low- and high-dose schisandrin B groups. The body mass and liver index of mice were measured after drug administration. The levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum and those of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and Fe2+ in the liver homogenate were measured by biochemical assay kits. The pathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and red oil O staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to determine the levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) in the serum. Western blotting and real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), transferrin, and ferritin heavy chain (FTH) in the liver tissue. ResultsA total of 2 370, 2 547, and 1 451 targets of schisandrin B, NAFLD, and ferroptosis were obtained, in which 90 common targets were shared by the three. Enrichment analyses predicted 505 GO terms and 92 KEGG pathways. Molecular docking suggested that schizandrin B had strong binding affinity with the key targets of ferropstosis (SLC7A11 and SLC3A2). Animal experiments showed that schizandrin B significantly decreased the liver index, lowered the levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, alleviated hepatocyte ballooning and inflammatory cell infiltration, and reduced lipid accumulation in the liver of NAFLD mice. In addition, schisandrin B significantly lowered the levels of MDA, 4-HNE, and Fe2+, elevated the level of GSH, up-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of SLC7A11, SLC3A2, and GPX4, and down-regulated the protein and mRNA levels of transferrin in the liver tissue. ConclusionSchisandrin B can alleviate NAFLD by inhibiting ferroptosis in hepatocytes.
2.Clinical study on screening value of TCT combined with HPV DNA detection in cervical cancer
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(9):2122-2127
Objective To analyze the application value of liquid based thin-layer cytology(TCT)com-bined with human papillomavirus DNA(HPV-DNA)detection in cervical cancer screening.Methods The clinical data of 195 patients with suspected cervical cancer undergoing cervical cancer screening in this hospital from June 2020 to June 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent TCT,HPV-DNA test and pathological diagnosis.The results of HPV-DNA and TCT single and combined test were compared with the pathological diagnosis results(gold standard)to analyze the application value of different methods in cervical cancer screening.Results The pathological diagnosis results showed that among 195 patients,34 cases(17.44%)were cervicitis,49 cases(25.13%)were CIN grade 1,56 cases(28.72%)were CIN grade Ⅱ,and 32 cases(16.41%)were CIN grade Ⅲ,and 24 cases(12.31%)were carcinoma in situ;among 195 patients,the HPV-DNA examination showed 49 positive cases and 146 negative cases,including 15 cases of CIN grade Ⅱand 15 cases of CIN grade Ⅲ,and 19 cases of cervical cancer;among 195 patients,NILM,ASCUS,LSIL,HSIL and SCC were detected by TCT examination in 29,30,48,64 and 24 cases,respectively.Among them,17 cases were correctly diagnosed as cervical cancer and 7 cases were misdiagnosed as HSIL;the diagnostic accu-racy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of HPV-DNA examination for cervical cancer were 82.05%,79.17%,82.46%,38.78%and 96.58%,respectively;which in the TCT ex-amination results were 92.82%,70.83%,95.91%,70.83%and 95.91%,respectively;which in the joint ex-aminations were 97.95%,91.67%,98.83%,91.67%and 98.83%,respectively;the diagnostic accuracy,sensi-tivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of joint examination were higher than those of HPV-DNA and TCT single examination;the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of TCT combined with HPV-DNA detection was 0.815(95%CI:0.722-0.931).Conclusion The combination detection of TCT and HPV-DNA has a high screening value for cervical cancer,which could improve the detection rate of cervical cancer.
3.Identification of a nanobody able to catalyze the destruction of the spike-trimer of SARS-CoV-2.
Kai WANG ; Duanfang CAO ; Lanlan LIU ; Xiaoyi FAN ; Yihuan LIN ; Wenting HE ; Yunze ZHAI ; Pingyong XU ; Xiyun YAN ; Haikun WANG ; Xinzheng ZHANG ; Pengyuan YANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(3):493-506
Neutralizing antibodies have been designed to specifically target and bind to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of spike (S) protein to block severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus from attaching to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This study reports a distinctive nanobody, designated as VHH21, that directly catalyzes the S-trimer into an irreversible transition state through postfusion conformational changes. Derived from camels immunized with multiple antigens, a set of nanobodies with high affinity for the S1 protein displays abilities to neutralize pseudovirion infections with a broad resistance to variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2, including SARS-CoV and BatRaTG13. Importantly, a super-resolution screening and analysis platform based on visual fluorescence probes was designed and applied to monitor single proteins and protein subunits. A spontaneously occurring dimeric form of VHH21 was obtained to rapidly destroy the S-trimer. Structural analysis via cryogenic electron microscopy revealed that VHH21 targets specific conserved epitopes on the S protein, distinct from the ACE2 binding site on the RBD, which destabilizes the fusion process. This research highlights the potential of VHH21 as an abzyme-like nanobody (nanoabzyme) possessing broad-spectrum binding capabilities and highly effective anti-viral properties and offers a promising strategy for combating coronavirus outbreaks.
Single-Domain Antibodies/immunology*
;
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/metabolism*
;
SARS-CoV-2/immunology*
;
Animals
;
Humans
;
Antibodies, Neutralizing/immunology*
;
Camelus
;
COVID-19/immunology*
;
Antibodies, Viral/immunology*
;
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
4.Surveillance report of viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Wuxi from 2018 to 2023
Dan SHA ; Qianqian QI ; Hong NI ; Wenting CAO
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(15):2320-2324
OBJECTIVE To monitor the common pathogens for viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Wuxi area,and to analyze their epidemiological characteristics and trends.METHODS Diarrhea specimens were collected from inpatient and outpatient children with diarrhea in sentinel hospitals in Wuxi from 2018 to 2023.The norovir-us,rotavirus,sapovirus,enteradenovirus and astrovirus were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative pol-ymerase chain reaction(PCR),and the monitoring results were statistically analyzed.RESULTS A total of 654 vi-rus-positive cases were detected from 1898 diarrhea specimens with an overall detection rate of 34.46%.Among them,norovirus and rotavirus had the highest detection rates 12.54%and 11.70%,respectively.The detection rate of viruses was the highest in children aged 12 to<24 months,reaching 59.03%.In inpatient children with di-arrhea,rotavirus had the highest detection rate at 14.03%,while in outpatient children with diarrhea,norovirus had the highest detection rate at 11.93%.There was a significant difference in the detection rate of rotavirus be-tween inpatient and outpatient children(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Viral diarrheal diseases exhibit a notably high detection rate among children aged 12 to<24 months in Wuxi,suggesting the need to further optimize prevention and control measures for this age group.
5.Surveillance report of viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Wuxi from 2018 to 2023
Dan SHA ; Qianqian QI ; Hong NI ; Wenting CAO
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(15):2320-2324
OBJECTIVE To monitor the common pathogens for viral diarrhea in children under 5 years old in Wuxi area,and to analyze their epidemiological characteristics and trends.METHODS Diarrhea specimens were collected from inpatient and outpatient children with diarrhea in sentinel hospitals in Wuxi from 2018 to 2023.The norovir-us,rotavirus,sapovirus,enteradenovirus and astrovirus were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative pol-ymerase chain reaction(PCR),and the monitoring results were statistically analyzed.RESULTS A total of 654 vi-rus-positive cases were detected from 1898 diarrhea specimens with an overall detection rate of 34.46%.Among them,norovirus and rotavirus had the highest detection rates 12.54%and 11.70%,respectively.The detection rate of viruses was the highest in children aged 12 to<24 months,reaching 59.03%.In inpatient children with di-arrhea,rotavirus had the highest detection rate at 14.03%,while in outpatient children with diarrhea,norovirus had the highest detection rate at 11.93%.There was a significant difference in the detection rate of rotavirus be-tween inpatient and outpatient children(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Viral diarrheal diseases exhibit a notably high detection rate among children aged 12 to<24 months in Wuxi,suggesting the need to further optimize prevention and control measures for this age group.
6.Regulation effect of dopamine on sepsis-associated macrophage functions and the mechanisms involved
Wenting SONG ; Yinfeng ZHANG ; Bailu DU ; Xi MO ; Qing CAO
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2024;31(1):52-56
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the host disordered response to infections.As one of the most important innate immune cells in the body,macrophages can maintain the immune homeostasis by recruiting other immune cells,clearing pathogens,presenting antigens,and play important regulatory roles in infectious diseases such as sepsis by releasing inflammatory factors.As a critical neurotransmitter,dopamine not only participates in the neurological processes such as learning and cognition,but also regulates the immune processes,including regulating the activation,proliferation and functional changes of immune cells such as neutrophils,lymphocytes,monocytes and macrophages.Current studies demonstrate that during the infection and inflammation process of sepsis,the phagocytosis,polarization,and release of inflammatory factors of macrophages are regulated by dopamine.This review summarized the recent research progress on the regulatory functions and the underlying mechanisms of dopamine on macrophages in sepsis.
7.GC Fingerprint and Multi-component Content Determination of Xiangsha Yangwei
Yiqing MAO ; Liqing TONG ; Ying ZHU ; Qing ZHANG ; Wenting LIU ; Yu CAO
Herald of Medicine 2024;43(1):115-121
Objective To establish the method of fingerprint and content determination of multi-component for Xiangsha Yangwei pill by gas chromatography(GC).Methods The GC fingerprint of Xiangsha Yangwei pill was found,and the peak attribution was carried out.The contents of limonene,eucalyptol,camphor,borneol,bornyl acetate,patchouli alcohol,pogostone,and α-cyperone were determined.Results The fingerprint similarity of 56 batches of Xiangsha Yangwei pill were 0.33-0.99,28 common peaks were confirmed,and 14 known components were identified.Limonene,eucalyptol,camphor,borneol,bornyl acetate,patchouli alcohol,pogostone and α-cyperone showed good linearity within the determined ranges(14.30-286.08,24.52-490.44,16.14-322.88,9.40-187.95,15.39-307.83,25.78-515.60,19.95-398.90,and 24.87-497.30 μg·mL-1).The average recoveries were 101.20%,97.90%,93.97%,94.23%,102.94%,100.54%,99.16%,and 98.31%;with the RSDs were 2.41%,1.48%,1.65%,2.00%,1.93%,2.30%,2.07%,and 2.38%,respectively.The concentrations of eight components were 0.2-959.1,0.3-420.4,1.0-542.6,0.0-64.5,0.0-364.2,0.0-339.6,0.0-130.7,0.0-82.0 μg·g-1,respectively.Conclusion The fingerprint and multi-component determination method can be used for the quality control and evaluation of Xiangsha Yangwei pill.
8.The Development of Chinese Herbal Formulae for Non-severe COVID-19 Based on Artificial Intelligence Technology and Investigation of Its Action Mechanisms
Wenting HUANG ; Liansheng QIAO ; Di YAN ; Tengwen LIU ; Hongmei CAO ; Hongyan GUO ; Zhi ZHANG ; Jing CHENG ; Lan XIE ; Qingquan LIU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(1):103-112
ObjectiveTo develop traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulae for the treatment of nonsevere coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to explore its anti-inflammatory mechanism. MethodsThe dysregulated signaling pathways were determined in macrophages from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of COVID-19 patients and in lung epithelial cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 in vitro based on transcriptome analysis. A total of 102 TCM formulae for the clinical treatment of nonsevere COVID-19 were collected through literature. The pathway-reversing rates of these formulae in macrophages and lung epithelial cells were evaluated based on signature signaling pathways, and the basic formula was determined in conjunction with TCM theory. The commonly used Chinese materia medica for nonsevere COVID-19 were summarized from the 102 TCM formulae as abovementioned. And together with the screening results from the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, a “Chinese materia medica pool” was esta-blished for the development of TCM formulae for COVID-19. The regulatory effects of each herb on signaling pathways were obtained based on targeted transcriptome analysis. Oriented at reversing dysregulated signaling pathways of COVID-19, the calculation was carried out, and the artificial intelligent methods for compositing formulae, that are exhaustive method and parallel computing, were used to obtain candidate compound formulas. Finally, with reference to professional experience, an innovative formula for the treatment of nonsevere COVID-19 was developed. The ethanol extract of the formula was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory effects by detecting the mRNA expression of interleukin 1b (Il1b), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (Cxcl2), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (Cxcl10), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (Ccl2), nitric oxide synthase 2 (Nos2), and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2) using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in RAW264.7 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). ResultsIn macrophages and lung epithelial cells, 34 dysregulated signaling pathways associated with COVID-19 were identified respectively. The effects of the 102 formulae for clinical treatment of nonsevere COVID-19 were evaluated based on the dysregulated signaling pathways and targeted transcriptome, and the result showed that Yinqiao Powder and Pingwei Powder (银翘散合平胃散, YQPWP) ranked first, reversing 91.18% of the dysregulated signaling pathways in macrophages and 100% of the dysregulated signaling pathways in lung epithelial cells. Additionally, YQPWP had the function of scattering wind and clearing heat, resolving toxins and removing dampness in accordance with the pathogenesis of wind-heat with dampness in COVID-19. It was selected as the basic formula, and was further modified and optimized to develop an innovative fomula Qiaobang Zhupi Yin (翘蒡术皮饮, QBZPY) based on expert experience and artificial intelligence in composing formulae. QBZPY can reverse all the dysregulated signaling pathways associated with COVID-19 in macrophages and lung epithelial cells, with the reversing rates of 100%. The chief medicinal of QBZPY, including Lianqiao (Fructus Forsythiae), Xixiancao (Herba Siegesbeckiae) and Niubangzi (Fructus Arctii), can down-regulate multiple signaling pathways related with virus infection, immune response, and epithelial damage. RT-qPCR results indicated that compared with the model group, the QBZPY group down-regulated the mRNA expression of Il1b, tumor necrosis factor (Tnf), Cxcl2, Cxcl10, Ccl2, Nos2 and Ptgs2 induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionBased on targeted transcriptome analysis, expert experience in TCM and artificial intelligence, QBZPY has been developed for the treatment of nonsevere COVID-19. The ethanol extract of QBZPY has been found to inhibit mRNA expression of several pro-inflammatory genes in a cellular inflammation model.
9.Clinical Effect of Jianpi Huoxue Prescription Combined with Acupuncture on Chronic Atrophic Gastritis with Gastric Blood Stasis and Its Impact on Inflammatory Indicators and Gastric Mucosal Function
Wenting KANG ; Zhaohong SHI ; Song LIU ; Shu ZHANG ; Tuo SHI ; Lin YANG ; Dan CAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):103-110
ObjectiveTo explore the application effect of Jianpi Huoxue prescription combined with acupuncture in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) of gastric blood stasis type. MethodA total of 86 patients with CAG admitted to Wuhan First Hospital from November 2021 to March 2023 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine, while the observation group was treated with Jianpi Huoxue prescription combined with acupuncture. The clinical efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, pathological score, negative conversion rate of Helicobacter pylori (Hp), inflammatory indicators [neutrophils/lymphocytes (NLR) and interleukin (IL)-1β], changes in levels of gastric protease (PG) Ⅰ, PG Ⅰ/PG Ⅱ, and gastrin-17 (G-17), and drug safety during treatment were observed after treatment in both groups. ResultAfter treatment, the total effective rate of the observation group [95.35% (41/43)] was significantly better than that of the control group [79.07% (34/43)], and the difference was statistically significant (χ2=5.108, P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of the primary and secondary TCM syndromes in the observation group and the control group were significantly decreased (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of primary and secondary TCM syndromes in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the pathological scores of gastric mucosa atrophy, activity, chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia were significantly lower in the observation group and control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the pathological scores of gastric mucosa atrophy, activity, chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the Hp conversion rate in the observation group was significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of inflammatory indicators NLR and IL-1β in the observation group and control group were significantly lower (P<0.05), and the levels of inflammatory indicators NLR and IL-1β in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of PGI and PGⅠ/PGⅡ in the observation group and control group were significantly higher (P<0.05), and the levels of PGI and PGⅠ/PGⅡ in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the G-17 level of the observation group and the control group was different at different time points (P<0.05), and the G-17 level of the observation group was higher at different time points than that of the control group (P<0.05). The G-17 level of the observation group had an increasing trend compared with the control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the risk of adverse reactions between the two groups. ConclusionThe combination of Jianpi Huoxue prescription and acupuncture can effectively alleviate symptoms, increase Hp negative conversion rate, inhibit inflammation, and regulate PG and G-17 levels in CAG patients, thus controlling or even reversing gastric mucosal atrophy and reducing the probability of its progression to gastric cancer.
10.Infections and epidemiological characteristics of viral myocarditis in Wuxi Region
Ze XU ; Ting LI ; Wenting CAO
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2024;35(3):107-110
Objective To analyze the epidemic situation and pathological characteristics of viral myocarditis in Wuxi region, laying the foundation for epidemiological research on viral myocarditis. Method A total of 8 000 patients with viral myocarditis from 2013 to 2022 were included. The basic data and infection status of patients diagnosed with viral myocarditis within 10 years were statistically analyzed, and the serum of the patients was tested for Coxsackie B virus nucleic acid. Results Viral myocarditis is mainly caused by Coxsackie B virus infection, with a confirmed positive rate of 69.24%. The main types of infected viruses are B3 and B4, with 29.31% and 33.87%, respectively. The infection of viral myocarditis varies with age, and the positive rate in children is higher at 69.29%, with statistical differences among different age groups(χ2=1210.344 , P<0.001). The infection rate of Coxsackie B virus was 38.21% in males and 31.03% in females, with a statistically significant difference(χ2=155.032 , P<0.001). Conclusion In the past 10 years, the infection rate of suspected viral myocarditis in children in Wuxi region has been higher than that in adults, and the incidence of COVID-19 B group virus infection is higher in men, with B3 and B4 being the main cases. It is necessary to increase prevention efforts in children and young men.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail