1.Guidelines for standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics (2026 edition)
Pengxiang ZHOU ; Maobai LIU ; Xiaoli DU ; Xiaoyang LU ; Mei DONG ; Rong DUAN ; Ruigang HOU ; Xiaoyu LI ; Qi CHEN ; Yanxiao XIANG ; Weiyi FENG ; Rong CHEN ; Deshi DONG ; Yong YANG ; Li LI ; Xiaocong ZUO ; Jinfang HU ; Hongliang ZHANG ; Qingchun ZHAO ; Qi LIN ; Yang HU ; Jiaying WU ; Rongsheng ZHAO
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1105-1112
OBJECTIVE To formulate Guidelines for the standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics ( 2026 edition ) in response to the challenges faced by such clinics in China, including uneven development, large discrepancies in service specifications, insufficient patient awareness, and limited medical insurance coverage. METHODS Led by the Pharmaceutical Affairs Professional Committee of the Chinese Hospital Association, the Evidence-based Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association, and the Hospital Pharmacy Professional Committee of the Cross-strait Medical and Health Exchange Association, a total of 19 domestic hospital pharmacy experts were organized. Through a systematic review of national policies and literature research, current practical experience was summarized. Consensus on the contents of the guidelines was reached after in-depth discussions. RESULTS &CONCLUSIONS The guidelines covered five sections: definition and connotation of pharmacist-managed clinics, establishment requirements, implementation and management, post competency, and practical research. Firstly, the definition and connotation included three operational forms of pharmacist-managed clinics (independent mode, physician-pharmacist joint mode, and online pharmacist-managed clinic mode) and classified service modes (specialty-specific, drug-specific, and disease-specific pharmacist-managed clinics). The establishment requirements were further refined, covering system construction (pharmaceutical service management system, quality control and assessment mechanism), personnel qualifications (professional credentials, continuing education and professional training, etc), service recipients, as well as service venues and facilities. Subsequently, the implementation and management of pharmacist-managed clinics were proposed, involving service procedures, intervention measures, documentation and records, patient education and follow-up, humanistic care, as well as risk management and quality control. Finally, post competency encompassed the competency requirements for pharmacists providing services in pharmacist-managed clinics, as well as the suggestions on teaching methods; practical research encouraged the conduct of high-quality pharmaceutical practice in the setting of pharmacist-managed clinics. The guidelines provide valuable guidance for the standardized implementation of pharmacist-managed clinics in China in terms of establishment, management, teaching, and research, fill the guideline gap in this field, and can promote the high-quality development of pharmacist-managed clinics.
2.Myocardial Metabolomics Reveals Mechanism of Shenfu Injection in Ameliorating Energy Metabolism Remodeling in Rat Model of Chronic Heart Failure
Xinyue NING ; Zhenyu ZHAO ; Mengna ZHANG ; Yang GUO ; Zhijia XIANG ; Kun LIAN ; Zhixi HU ; Lin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):178-186
ObjectiveTo examine the influences of Shenfu injection on the endogenous metabolic byproducts in the myocardium of the rat model exhibiting chronic heart failure, thus deciphering the therapeutic mechanism of the Qi-reinforcing and Yang-warming method. MethodsSD rats were randomly allocated into a control group and a modeling group. Chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome in rats was modeled by multi-point subcutaneous injection of isoproterenol, and the rats were fed for 14 days after modeling. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into model, Shenfu injection (6.0 mL·kg-1), and trimetazidine (10 mg·kg-1) groups and treated with corresponding agents for 15 days. The control group and the model group were injected with equal doses of normal saline, and the samples were collected after the intervention was completed. Cardiac color ultrasound was performed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histopathological morphology, and the serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mitochondrial morphological and structural changes of cardiomyocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the metabolic profiling was carried out by ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quantitative exactive-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS). Differential metabolites were screened and identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) and other methods, and then the MetaboAnalyst database was used for further screening. The relevant biological pathways were obtained through pathway enrichment analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to evaluate the diagnostic value of each potential biomarker for myocardial injury and the evaluation value for drug efficacy. ResultsThe results of color ultrasound showed that Shenfu Injection improved the cardiac function indexes of model rats (P<0.05). The results of HE staining showed that Shenfu injection effectively alleviated the pathological phenomena such as myocardial tissue structure disorder and inflammatory cell infiltration in model rats. The results of ELISA showed that Shenfu injection effectively regulated the serum NT-proBNP level in the model rats. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that Shenfu injection effectively restored the mitochondrial morphological structure. The results of metabolomics showed that the metabolic phenotypes of myocardial samples presented markedly differences between groups. Nine differential metabolites could be significantly reversed in the Shenfu injection group, involving three metabolic pathways: pyruvate metabolism, histidine metabolism, and citric acid cycle (TCA cycle). The results of ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of all metabolites were between 0.75 and 1.0, indicating that the differential metabolites had high diagnostic accuracy for myocardial injury, and the changes in their expression levels could be used as potential markers for efficacy evaluation. ConclusionShenfu injection significantly alleviated the damage of cardiac function, myocardium, and mitochondrial structure in the rat model of chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome by ameliorating energy metabolism remodeling. Reinforcing Qi and warming Yang is a key method for treating chronic heart failure with heart-Yang deficiency syndrome.
3.Chlorhexidine and Fondaparinux-Induced Kounis Syndrome: a Case Report
Fangzheng YU ; Yajing WANG ; Hang LIN ; Lifeng ZHANG ; Yuhui ZHU ; Xiaomeng SHI ; Huimin ZHOU ; Nan LIN ; Xiang GAO
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(3):334-340
Kounis syndrome is an acute coronary syndrome triggered by an allergic reaction, which is clinically rare and frequently subject to misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. This article presents a case report of a 70-year-old male patient who developed a rash, pruritus, and chest pain following colon polyp resection. Coronary angiography revealed occlusion of the left anterior descending artery, and blood flow was restored after stent implantation. However, the patient experienced recurrent symptoms accompanied by loss of consciousness. Drug skin tests confirmed positive reactions to chlorhexidine and fondaparinux sodium, leading to a diagnosis of type Ⅱ Kounis syndrome. By avoiding allergenic drugs and combining antihistamines with symptomatic treatment to correct myocardial ischemia, the patient′s clinical symptoms significantly improved, and he eventually recovered and was discharged from the hospital. This case underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance for this syndrome in patients with allergies accompanied by chest pain and promptly identifying and avoiding allergens.
4.Diagnostic Techniques and Risk Prediction for Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) Syndrome
Song HOU ; Lin-Shan ZHANG ; Xiu-Qin HONG ; Chi ZHANG ; Ying LIU ; Cai-Li ZHANG ; Yan ZHU ; Hai-Jun LIN ; Fu ZHANG ; Yu-Xiang YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2585-2601
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and metabolic disorders are the 3 major chronic diseases threatening human health, which are closely related and often coexist, significantly increasing the difficulty of disease management. In response, the American Heart Association (AHA) proposed a novel disease concept of “cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome” in October 2023, which has triggered widespread concern about the co-treatment of heart and kidney diseases and the prevention and treatment of metabolic disorders around the world. This review posits that effectively managing CKM syndrome requires a new and multidimensional paradigm for diagnosis and risk prediction that integrates biological insights, advanced technology and social determinants of health (SDoH). We argue that the core pathological driver is a “metabolic toxic environment”, fueled by adipose tissue dysfunction and characterized by a vicious cycle of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, which forms a common pathway to multi-organ injury. The at-risk population is defined not only by biological characteristics but also significantly impacted by adverse SDoH, which can elevate the risk of advanced CKM by a factor of 1.18 to 3.50, underscoring the critical need for equity in screening and care strategies. This review systematically charts the progression of diagnostic technologies. In diagnostics, we highlight a crucial shift from single-marker assessments to comprehensive multi-marker panels. The synergistic application of traditional biomarkers like NT-proBNP (reflecting cardiac stress) and UACR (indicating kidney damage) with emerging indicators such as systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and Klotho protein facilitates a holistic evaluation of multi-organ health. Furthermore, this paper explores the pivotal role of non-invasive monitoring technologies in detecting subclinical disease. Techniques like multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) and impedance cardiography (ICG) provide a real-time window into microcirculatory and hemodynamic status, enabling the identification of early, often asymptomatic, functional abnormalities that precede overt organ failure. In imaging, progress is marked by a move towards precise, quantitative evaluation, exemplified by artificial intelligence-powered quantitative computed tomography (AI-QCT). By integrating AI-QCT with clinical risk factors, the predictive accuracy for cardiovascular events within 6 months significantly improves, with the area under the curve (AUC) increasing from 0.637 to 0.688, demonstrating its potential for reclassifying risk in CKM stage 3. In the domain of risk prediction, we trace the evolution from traditional statistical tools to next-generation models. The new PREVENT equation represents a major advancement by incorporating key kidney function markers (eGFR, UACR), which can enhance the detection rate of CKD in primary care by 20%-30%. However, we contend that the future lies in dynamic, machine learning-based models. Algorithms such as XGBoost have achieved an AUC of 0.82 for predicting 365-day cardiovascular events, while deep learning models like KFDeep have demonstrated exceptional performance in predicting kidney failure risk with an AUC of 0.946. Unlike static calculators, these AI-driven tools can process complex, multimodal data and continuously update risk profiles, paving the way for truly personalized and proactive medicine. In conclusion, this review advocates for a paradigm shift toward a holistic and technologically advanced framework for CKM management. Future efforts must focus on the deep integration of multimodal data, the development of novel AI-driven biomarkers, the implementation of refined SDoH-informed interventions, and the promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration to construct an efficient, equitable, and effective system for CKM screening and intervention.
5.POU2F1 inhibits miR-29b1/a cluster-mediated suppression of PIK3R1 and PIK3R3 expression to regulate gastric cancer cell invasion and migration.
Yizhi XIAO ; Ping YANG ; Wushuang XIAO ; Zhen YU ; Jiaying LI ; Xiaofeng LI ; Jianjiao LIN ; Jieming ZHANG ; Miaomiao PEI ; Linjie HONG ; Juanying YANG ; Zhizhao LIN ; Ping JIANG ; Li XIANG ; Guoxin LI ; Xinbo AI ; Weiyu DAI ; Weimei TANG ; Jide WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(7):838-850
BACKGROUND:
The transcription factor POU2F1 regulates the expression levels of microRNAs in neoplasia. However, the miR-29b1/a cluster modulated by POU2F1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown.
METHODS:
Gene expression in GC cells was evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and RNA in situ hybridization. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to evaluate protein interactions. Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to investigate the biological behavior of GC cells. MiR-29b1/a cluster promoter analysis and luciferase activity assay for the 3'-UTR study were performed in GC cells. In vivo tumor metastasis was evaluated in nude mice.
RESULTS:
POU2F1 is overexpressed in GC cell lines and binds to the miR-29b1/a cluster promoter. POU2F1 is upregulated, whereas mature miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p are downregulated in GC tissues. POU2F1 promotes GC metastasis by inhibiting miR-29b-3p or miR-29a-3p expression in vitro and in vivo . Furthermore, PIK3R1 and/or PIK3R3 are direct targets of miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p , and the ectopic expression of PIK3R1 or PIK3R3 reverses the suppressive effect of mature miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p on GC cell metastasis and invasion. Additionally, the interaction of PIK3R1 with PIK3R3 promotes migration and invasion, and miR-29b-3p , miR-29a-3p , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 regulate migration and invasion via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway in GC cells. In addition, POU2F1 , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 expression levels negatively correlated with miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p expression levels in GC tissue samples.
CONCLUSIONS
The POU2F1 - miR-29b-3p / miR-29a-3p-PIK3R1 / PIK3R1 signaling axis regulates tumor progression and may be a promising therapeutic target for GC.
MicroRNAs/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Cell Movement/physiology*
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Octamer Transcription Factor-1/metabolism*
;
Mice, Nude
;
Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism*
;
Neoplasm Invasiveness
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics*
;
Male
;
Immunohistochemistry
;
Female
6.Percutaneous coronary intervention vs . medical therapy in patients on dialysis with coronary artery disease in China.
Enmin XIE ; Yaxin WU ; Zixiang YE ; Yong HE ; Hesong ZENG ; Jianfang LUO ; Mulei CHEN ; Wenyue PANG ; Yanmin XU ; Chuanyu GAO ; Xiaogang GUO ; Lin CAI ; Qingwei JI ; Yining YANG ; Di WU ; Yiqiang YUAN ; Jing WAN ; Yuliang MA ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhimin DU ; Qing YANG ; Jinsong CHENG ; Chunhua DING ; Xiang MA ; Chunlin YIN ; Zeyuan FAN ; Qiang TANG ; Yue LI ; Lihua SUN ; Chengzhi LU ; Jufang CHI ; Zhuhua YAO ; Yanxiang GAO ; Changan YU ; Jingyi REN ; Jingang ZHENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(3):301-310
BACKGROUND:
The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China.
METHODS:
This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences.
RESULTS:
Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses.
CONCLUSION
This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans
;
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Renal Dialysis/methods*
;
Middle Aged
;
Aged
;
China
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Treatment Outcome
7.Serum immune parameters as predictors for treatment outcomes in cervical cancer treated with concurrent chemo-radiotherapy.
Lihua CHEN ; Weilin CHEN ; Yingying LIN ; Xinran LI ; Yu GU ; Chen LI ; Yuncan ZHOU ; Ke HU ; Fuquan ZHANG ; Yang XIANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(23):3131-3138
BACKGROUND:
Concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), but there are still many patients who suffer tumor recurrence. However, valuable predictors of treatment outcomes remain limited. This study aimed to assess the value of the serum immune biomarkers to predict the prognosis.
METHODS:
We reviewed cervical cancer patients treated with CCRT between January 2014 and May 2018 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The systemic immune inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were calculated using blood samples. The relationship between immune markers and the treatment outcome was analyzed. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive efficiency. The Cox proportional hazards model and log-rank were used to predict overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS).
RESULTS:
This study included 667 patients. Among them, 195 (29.2%) patients were defined as treatment failure, including 127 (19.0%) patients with pelvic failure, 94 (14.1%) distant failure, and 25 (3.7%) concurrent pelvic and distant failure. It revealed that the tumor stage, size, metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs), and serum immune biomarkers, such as SII, SIRI, and LDH, were significantly related to treatment outcomes. We demonstrated that the optimal cut-off of the SII, SIRI, and LDH were 970.4 × 10 9 /L, 1.3 × 10 9 /L, and 207.52 U/L, respectively. Importantly, this study presented that LDH level had the highest OR (OR = 4.2; 95% CI [2.3-10.8]). Furthermore, the OS and DFS for patients with pre-SII ≥970.5 × 10 9 /L were significantly worse than those with pre-SII <970.5 × 10 9 /L. Similarly, pre-SIRI ≥1.25 × 10 9 /L and pre-LDH ≥207.5 U/L were related to poor survival outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that the baseline SII, SIRI, and LDH levels can be used to accurately and effectively predict the treatment outcomes after CCRT and long-term prognosis. Our results may offer additional prognostic information in clinical, which helps to detect the potential recurrent metastasis in time.
Humans
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Female
;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Middle Aged
;
Adult
;
Aged
;
Chemoradiotherapy/methods*
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L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/blood*
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Treatment Outcome
;
Disease-Free Survival
;
Prognosis
;
ROC Curve
;
Biomarkers, Tumor/blood*
;
Proportional Hazards Models
8.Grounded theory, scientific connotation, and clinical application of aromatic immunity in traditional Chinese medicine.
Si-Rui XIANG ; Qin JIAN ; Qi XU ; Jun-Zhi LIN ; Ding-Kun ZHANG ; Ming YANG ; Chuan ZHENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1137-1145
Aromatic immunity in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) is the medical knowledge accumulated in the process of people's struggling with diseases. It plays an important role in plague prevention, disease treatment, health preservation, and rehabilitation, and has profound TCM basic theoretical support and abundant modern scientific evidence. With the in-depth promotion of the Healthy China initiative and the succession of health needs in the post-COVID-19 era, how to practice the health concept of aromatic immunity in TCM and develop its health service resources with high quality has become an important proposition to be discussed urgently. This paper summarizes the cognitive process, puts forward the basic concept, discusses the scientific connotation and clinical application value, and looks forward to the future development trend of aromatic immunity in TCM, aiming to provide guidance for the development of great health products and promote the application of aromatic immunity in TCM in serving people's health.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Humans
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COVID-19/immunology*
;
China
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
SARS-CoV-2
9.Exploring in vivo existence forms of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in rats.
Meng-Ge FENG ; Lin-Han XIANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Wen-Hui ZHAO ; Yang LI ; Li-Li LI ; Guang-Xue LIU ; Shao-Qing CAI ; Feng XU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2539-2562
The study aims to elucidate the existence forms(original constituents and metabolites) of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in rats and reveal its metabolic pathways. After Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma was administered orally once a day for seven consecutive days to rats, all urine and feces samples were collected for seven days, while the blood samples were obtained 6 h after the last administration. Using the ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) technique, this study identified 6, 73, and 156 existence forms of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma in the rat plasma, urine, and feces samples, respectively. Among them, 101 compounds were identified as new existence forms, and 13 original constituents were identified by comparing with reference compounds. The metabolic reactions of constituents from Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma were mainly deglycosylation, dehydration, hydroxylation, hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, acetylation, and amino acid conjugation. Furthermore, the possible in vivo metabolic pathways of protopanaxatriol(PPT) in rats were proposed. Through comprehensive analysis of the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) data, isomeric compounds were discriminated, and the planar chemical structures of 32 metabolites were clearly identified. According to the literature, 48 original constituents possess antitumor and cardiovascular protective bioactivities. Additionally, 32 metabolites were predicted to have similar bioactivities by SuperPred. This research lays the foundation for further exploring the in vivo effective forms of Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma.
Animals
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Rats
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacokinetics*
;
Rhizome/metabolism*
;
Male
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Panax notoginseng/chemistry*
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
;
Feces/chemistry*
10.Mechanism of Qingrun Decoction in alleviating hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic rats based on amino acid metabolism reprogramming pathways.
Xiang-Wei BU ; Xiao-Hui HAO ; Run-Yun ZHANG ; Mei-Zhen ZHANG ; Ze WANG ; Hao-Shuo WANG ; Jie WANG ; Qing NI ; Lan LIN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3377-3388
This study aims to investigate the mechanism of Qingrun Decoction in alleviating hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) rats through the reprogramming of amino acid metabolism. A T2DM rat model was established by inducing insulin resistance through a high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The model rats were randomly divided into five groups: model group, high-, medium-, and low-dose Qingrun Decoction groups, and metformin group. A normal control group was also established. The rats in the normal and model groups received 10 mL·kg~(-1) distilled water daily by gavage. The metformin group received 150 mg·kg~(-1) metformin suspension by gavage, and the Qingrun Decoction groups received 11.2, 5.6, and 2.8 g·kg~(-1) Qingrun Decoction by gavage for 8 weeks. Blood lipid levels were measured in different groups of rats. Pathological damage in rat liver tissue was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining. Transcriptome sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were performed on rat liver and serum samples, integrated with bioinformatics analyses. Key metabolites(branched-chain amino acids, BCAAs), amino acid transporters, amino acid metabolites, critical enzymes for amino acid metabolism, resistin, adiponectin(ADPN), and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway-related molecules were quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The results showed that compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased serum levels of total cholesterol(TC), triglycerides(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), and resistin and significantly decreased ADPN levels. Hepatocytes in the model group exhibited loose arrangement, significant lipid accumulation, fatty degeneration, and pronounced inflammatory cell infiltration. In liver tissue, the mRNA transcriptional levels of solute carrier family 7 member 2(Slc7a2), solute carrier family 38 member 2(Slc38a2), solute carrier family 38 member 4(Slc38a4), and arginase(ARG) were significantly downregulated, while the mRNA transcriptional levels of solute carrier family 1 member 4(Slc1a4), solute carrier family 16 member 1(Slc16a1), and methionine adenosyltransferase(MAT) were upregulated. Furthermore, the mRNA transcription and protein expression levels of branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase E1α(BCKDHA) and DEP domain-containing mTOR-interacting protein(DEPTOR) were downregulated, while mRNA transcription and protein expression levels of mTOR, as well as ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1(S6K1), were upregulated. The levels of BCAAs and S-adenosyl-L-methionine(SAM) were elevated. The serum level of 6-hydroxymelatonin was significantly reduced, while imidazole-4-one-5-propionic acid and N-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)anthranilic acid levels were significantly increased. Compared with the model group, Qingrun Decoction significantly reduced blood lipid and resistin levels while increasing ADPN levels. Hepatocytes had improved morphology with reduced inflammatory cells, and fatty degeneration and lipid deposition were alleviated. Differentially expressed genes and differential metabolites were mainly enriched in amino acid metabolic pathways. The expression levels of Slc7a2, Slc38a2, Slc38a4, and ARG in the liver tissue were significantly upregulated, while Slc1a4, Slc16a1, and MAT expression levels were significantly downregulated. BCKDHA and DEPTOR expression levels were upregulated, while mTOR and S6K1 expression levels were downregulated. Additionally, the levels of BCAAs and SAM were significantly decreased. The serum level of 6-hydroxymelatonin was increased, while those of imidazole-4-one-5-propionic acid and N-(5-phospho-D-ribosyl)anthranilic acid were decreased. In summary, Qingrun Decoction may improve amino acid metabolism reprogramming, inhibit mTOR pathway activation, alleviate insulin resistance in the liver, and mitigate pathological damage of liver tissue in T2DM rats by downregulating hepatic BCAAs and SAM and regulating key enzymes involved in amino acid metabolism, such as BCKDHA, ARG, and MAT, as well as amino acid metabolites and transporters.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Rats
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Insulin Resistance
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Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics*
;
Male
;
Liver/drug effects*
;
Amino Acids/metabolism*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Humans
;
Metabolic Reprogramming

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