OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Shexiang Tongxin Dropping Pill (STDP) in treating stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome by exercise duration and metabolic equivalents. METHODS: This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled stable angina patients with phlegm-heat and blood-stasis syndrome from 22 hospitals. They were randomized 1:1 to STDP (35 mg/pill, 6 pills per day) or placebo for 56 days. The primary outcome was the exercise duration and metabolic equivalents (METs) assessed by the standard Bruce exercise treadmill test after 56 days of treatment. The secondary outcomes included the total angina symptom score, Chinese medicine (CM) symptom scores, Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ) scores, changes in ST-T on electrocardiogram and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: This trial enrolled 309 patients, including 155 and 154 in the STDP and placebo groups, respectively. STDP significantly prolonged exercise duration with an increase of 51.0 s, compared to a decrease of 12.0 s with placebo (change rate: -11.1% vs. 3.2%, P<0.01). The increase in METs was significantly greater in the STDP group than in the placebo group (change: -0.4 vs. 0.0, change rate: -5.0% vs. 0.0%, P<0.01). The improvement of total angina symptom scores (25.0% vs. 0.0%), CM symptom scores (38.7% vs. 11.8%), reduction of nitroglycerin consumption (100.0% vs. 11.3%), and all domains of SAQ, were significantly greater with STDP than placebo (all P<0.01). The changes in Q-T intervals at 28 and 56 days from baseline were similar between the two groups (both P>0.05). Twenty-five participants (16.3%) with STDP and 16 (10.5%) with placebo experienced AEs (P=0.131), with no serious AEs observed. CONCLUSION STDP could improve exercise tolerance in patients with stable angina and phlegm-heat and blood stasis syndrome, with a favorable safety profile. (Registration No. ChiCTR-IPR-15006020).
Humans ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Angina, Stable/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome ; Placebos ; Tablets

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of serum cytokine expression in the hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)sero-clearance in patients with severe hepatitis B.Methods A nested case-control trial was conducted on 14 inpatients with severe hepatitis B admitted in our hospital from 2006 to 2020.Of them,7 patients(aged 36.57±3.15 years)achieved HBsAg sero-clearance within 1 year after the onset of hepatitis B flares(with abrupt rise of ALT level to＞5 times the upper limit of normal during HBV infection)and were assigned into HBsAg clearance group,while the other 7 patients(aged 34.14±2.97 years)only obtained HBsAg decreased less than 1 g within 1 year after the onset(HBsAg non-clearance group).Then,multiplex liquid-chip assay based on Luminex xMAP was used to detect the expression levels of 48 cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-2 in serum samples of these 14 patients.Results The serum levels IFN-γ,IL-2Ra and SDF-1α were significantly lower in the HBsAg clearance group than the HBsAg non-clearance group(P＜0.05),but no statistical differences were observed in other 39 cytokines between the 2 groups.And there were 5 cytokines having no mutual expression in both groups.The copy number of HBV DNA was positively correlated with serum HGF(r=0.675,P=0.008)and SDF-1α levels(r=0.587,P=0.027),while negatively with IP-10(r=-0.600,P=0.023)and MIG level(r=-0.640,P=0.014).Meanwhile,a positive correlation was found between HBsAg titer and IL12-p70 level(r=0.593,P=0.025),and a negative correlation between HBsAg titer and TNF-α level(r=-0.609,P=0.021).In addition,the serum total bilirubin level was positively correlated with the expression of SCGF-β(r=0.543,P=0.045).Conclusion Three differentially expressed cytokines and some cytokines related to HBV DNA level and HBsAg titer are found,which may provide new insights into the underlying immunological mechanism of HBV virus clearance caused by hepatitis flares.Meanwhile,it also provides potential biomarkers for HBsAg serological clearance in patients with severe hepatitis B.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between diabetic nephropathy(DN)and diabetic retinopathy(DR)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)based on imaging and clinical testing data.Methods Totally 600 T2DM patients who visited the First People's Hospital of Ziyang from March 2021 to December 2022 were included.The fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography were performed on all these patients and their age,gender,T2DM duration,cardiovascular diseases,cerebrovascular disease,hypertension,smoking history,drinking history,body mass in-dex,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure and other clinical data were collected.The levels of fasting blood glu-cose(FPG),triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipo-protein cholesterol(LDL-C),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c),24 h urinary albumin(UAlb),urinary albumin to creati-nine ratio(ACR),serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured.Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors associated with DR.DR staging was performed according to fundus images,and the convolutional neural network(CNN)algorithm was used as an image analysis method to explore the correlation between DR and DN based on emission computed tomography(ECT)and clinical testing data.Results The average lesion area rates of DR and DN detected by the CNN in the non-DR,mild-non-proliferative DR(NPDR),moderate-NPDR,severe-NPDR and pro-liferative DR(PDR)groups were higher than those obtained by the traditional algorithm(TCM).As DR worsened,the Scr,BUN,24 h UAlb and ACR gradually increased.Besides,the incidence of DN in the non-DR,mild-NPDR,moderate-NPDR,severe-NPDR and PDR groups was 1.67％,8.83％,16.16％,22.16％and 30.83％,respectively.Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of T2DM,smoking history,HbA1c,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,24 h UAlb,Scr,BUN,ACR and glomerular filtration rate(GFR)were independent risk factors for DR.Renal dynamic ECT analysis demonstrated that with the aggravation of DR,renal blood flow perfusion gradually decreased,resulting in diminished renal filtration.Conclusion The application of CCN in the early stage DR and DN image analysis of T2DM patients will improve the diag-nosis accuracy of DR and DN lesion area.The DN is worsening as the aggravation of DR.

ObjectiveTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the breast cancer subtype with the worst prognosis, and lacks effective therapeutic targets. Colony stimulating factors (CSFs) are cytokines that can regulate the production of blood cells and stimulate the growth and development of immune cells, playing an important role in the malignant progression of TNBC. This article aims to construct a novel prognostic model based on the expression of colony stimulating factors-related genes (CRGs), and analyze the sensitivity of TNBC patients to immunotherapy and drug therapy. MethodsWe downloaded CRGs from public databases and screened for differentially expressed CRGs between normal and TNBC tissues in the TCGA-BRCA database. Through LASSO Cox regression analysis, we constructed a prognostic model and stratified TNBC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the colony stimulating factors-related genes risk score (CRRS). We further analyzed the correlation between CRRS and patient prognosis, clinical features, tumor microenvironment (TME) in both high-risk and low-risk groups, and evaluated the relationship between CRRS and sensitivity to immunotherapy and drug therapy. ResultsWe identified 842 differentially expressed CRGs in breast cancer tissues of TNBC patients and selected 13 CRGs for constructing the prognostic model. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, and other analyses confirmed that TNBC patients with high CRRS had shorter overall survival, and the predictive ability of CRRS prognostic model was further validated using the GEO dataset. Nomogram combining clinical features confirmed that CRRS was an independent factor for the prognosis of TNBC patients. Moreover, patients in the high-risk group had lower levels of immune infiltration in the TME and were sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-fluorouracil, ipatasertib, and paclitaxel. ConclusionWe have developed a CRRS-based prognostic model composed of 13 differentially expressed CRGs, which may serve as a useful tool for predicting the prognosis of TNBC patients and guiding clinical treatment. Moreover, the key genes within this model may represent potential molecular targets for future therapies of TNBC.

Objective To observe the effects of ritodrine hydrochloride,phloroglucinol and magnesium sulfate on serum sex hormones and fetal protection effect in patients with threatened abortion after 20 gestational weeks.Methods Patients with threatened abortion(after 20 gestational weeks)underwent fetal protection treatment were retrospectively enrolled.According to cohort method,they were divided into group A(ritodrine hydrochloride injection 100 mg+5％glucose injection 500 mL for intravenous drip,continued infusion after uterine contraction inhibition for 12-18 h,oral ritodrine hydrochloride tablets),group B(of phloroglucinol injection 40 mg+5％glucose injection 500 mL for intravenous drip,drug withdrawal after uterine contraction inhibition)and group C(magnesium sulfate injection 20 mL+5％glucose injection 100 mL,magnesium sulfate injection 40 mL+5％glucose injection 500 mL for intravenous drip after rapid intravenous drip,continued infusion after uterine contraction inhibition for 12 h).The onset time,disappearance time of uterine contraction,levels of serum sex hormones[progesterone(P),estradiol(E2),human chorionic gonadotrophin β-subunit(β-hCG)],adverse drug reactions and response rate of fetal protection in the three groups were observed.Results There were 40 cases in group A,38 cases in group B and 42 cases in group C.The onset time in group A,group B and group C were(1.71±0.34),(2.29±0.23)and(4.51±1.12)h,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The disappearance time of uterine contraction in groups A,B and C were(1.34±0.32),(2.24±0.26)and(2.36±0.28)d,and the difference between group B and group A,between group C and group A were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).After 3 d of treatment,levels of serum P in group A,group B and group C were(78.64±10.34),(69.35±10.52)and(68.76±11.13)ng·mL-1;E2 levels were(672.25±85.63),(623.25±92.31)and(624.12±93.65)pg·mL-1;β-hCG levels were(6.95×104±1 258.65),(6.75×104±1 274.43)and(6.70×104±1 327.59)mU·mL-1;the difference between group B and group A,between group C and group A were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The incidence rates of palpitation in groups A,B and C were 25.00％,0 and 9.52％,the difference between group A and group B was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The incidence rates of headache in groups A,B and C were 2.50％,2.63％and 26.19％;the difference between group A and group C,and between group B and group C was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The incidence rates of fatigue in groups A,B and C were 5.00％,0 and 19.05％,and the difference between group B and group C was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The incidence rates of gastrointestinal discomfort were 5.00％,0 and 11.90％,and the difference between group B and group C was statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The response rates of fetal protection in groups A,B and C were 92.50％,94.74％and 73.81％,and the difference between group A and group C,between group B and group C was statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The onset time of ritodrine hydrochloride is short,which can be the first choice for disease control.Phloroglucinol is comparable to ritodrine hydrochloride in terms of fetal protection effect,which has better advantages in adverse drug reactions.Clinically,phloroglucinol can be considered for patients with poor tolerance to ritodrine hydrochloride.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering activity of LFBEP-C1 in high glucose-fed Caenorhabditis elegans(C.elegans). Methods In this study,the fermented barley protein LFBEP-C1 was prepared and tested for its potential anti-obesity effects on C.elegans.The worms were fed Escherichia coli OP50(E.coli OP50),glucose,and different concentrations of LFBEP-C1.Body size,lifespan,movement,triglyceride content,and gene expression were analyzed.The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Results Compared with the model group,the head-swing frequency of C.elegans in the group of LFBEP-C1 at 20 μg/mL increased by 33.88%,and the body-bending frequency increased by 27.09%.This indicated that LFBEP-C1 improved the locomotive ability of C.elegans.The average lifespan of C.elegans reached 13.55 days,and the body length and width of the C.elegans decreased after LFBEP-C1 intake.Additionally,LFBEP-C1 reduced the content of lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels.The expression levels of sbp-1,daf-2,and mdt-15 significantly decreased,while those of daf-16,tph-1,mod-1,and ser-4 significantly increased after LFBEP-C1 intake.Changes in these genes explain the signaling pathways that regulate lipid metabolism. Conclusion LFBEP-C1 significantly reduced lipid deposition in C.elegans fed a high-glucose diet and alleviated the adverse effects of a high-glucose diet on the development,lifespan,and exercise behavior of C.elegans.In addition,LFBEP-C1 regulated lipid metabolism mainly by mediating the expression of genes in the sterol regulatory element-binding protein,insulin,and 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling pathways.

Aim To explore the ameliorative effects of berberine(BBR)on diabetic nephropathy(DN)in mice and investigate its potential mechanisms through transcriptomic analysis.Methods 8-week-old db/db mice were randomly assigned into four groups:model group(DN group),BBR 50 mg·kg-1 group(BBR-L group),BBR 100 mg·kg-1 group(BBR-H group),and empagliflozin 10 mg·kg-1 group(EMPA group).Age-matched db/m mice were used as the control group(NC group),with eight mice in each group.Each group received intragastric administration once daily for eight weeks.After the treatment,serum,u-rine,and kidney samples were collected to evaluate re-nal function indicators and observe renal pathological changes.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in kidney tissue were identified through transcriptomic a-nalysis,followed by KEGG and GO enrichment analy-sis.Potential targets were further validated using mo-lecular docking,molecular dynamics simulations,West-ern blot,and immunohistochemistry.Results Both BBR and EMPA significantly reduced fasting blood glu-cose levels in DN mice,improved renal function,and alleviated renal injury and fibrosis.Compared to the NC group,855 DEGs were identified in the DN group,while 194 DEGs were identified in the BBR-H group compared to the DN group.KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the mechanisms underlying BBR's effects on DN were primarily related to type 1 diabetes and bile secretion pathways.Molecular docking results demonstrated a strong binding affinity between BBR and FXR and a moderate binding affinity with SHP.Molecular dynamics simulations corroborated the doc-king results.FXR and SHP protein expression signifi-cantly decreased in the DN group compared to the NC group.At the same time,BBR treatment significantly increased the expression of these proteins compared to the DN group.Conclusion BBR may mitigate DN-in-duced renal injury by modulating bile acid and lipid homeostasis through the FXR-SHP pathway.

Based on GC-MS and network pharmacology, the active constituents, potential targets, and mechanism of essential oil from Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis(EOGFA) against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury were explored, and the effective constituents were verified by experiment. To be specific, GC-MS was used identify the constituents of the volatile oil. Secondly, the targets of the constituents and disease were predicted by network pharmacology, and the drug-constituent-target network was constructed, followed by Gene Ontology(GO) term enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment of the core targets. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the binding affinity between the active constituents and the targets. Finally, SD rats were used for experimental verification. The I/R injury model was established, and the neurological behavior score, infarct volume, and pathological morphology of brain tissue were measured in each group. The content of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), and the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) by Western blot. A total of 22 active constituents and 17 core targets were screened out. The core targets were involved in 56 GO terms and the major KEGG pathways of TNF signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and sphingolipid signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the active constituents had high affinity to the targets. The results of animal experiment suggested that EOGFA can alleviate the neurological impairment, decrease the cerebral infarct volume and the content of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and down-regulate the expression of VEGF. The experiment verified the part results of network pharmacology. This study reflects the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of EOGFA. The mechanism of its active constituents is related to TNF and VEGF pathways, which provides a new direction for in-depth research on and secondary development of Gleditsiae Fructus Abnormalis.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Network Pharmacology ; Oils, Volatile ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Interleukin-6 ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Reperfusion Injury ; Cerebral Infarction

Aim To explore the protective effect of Yishen Huashi Granule (YSHS) on streptozotocin (STZ) - indueed diabetes nephropathy (DN) in mice and its possible mechanism. Methods The STZ induced DN mice model was established, which was randomly divided into model group, YSHS group and YAP inhibitor Vertepofin group, and the eontrol group was also established. The intervention was started eight weeks after the successful modeling with the course of four weeks. Urine protein concentration before and after intervention in each group as well as serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (Bun) levels after intervention were measured. After the treatment, the mice were sacrificed, and the pathological changes of glomeruli were observed by light microscope HE staining. The protein expression of YAP, p-YAP S127 and CTGF were detected by Western blot, and the mRNA expressions of YAP, CTGF and podocyte functional proteins nephrin, podophyxin and WT1 were detected by RT-PCR. Results The biochemical indexes of YSHS group were better than those of model group, and HE staining showed that the pathological injury of glomeruli was improved. In the model group the protein expression of YAP, p-YAP (S127) and CTGF as well as the mRNA expression of YAP and CTGF increased, while the mRNA expression of nephrin, podocalyxin and WT1 decreased. After YSHS treatment, the protein expression of YAP, p-YAP S127, CTGF and the mRNA expression of YAP and CTGF decreased, while the mRNA expression of nephrin, podocalyxin and WT1 increased. Conclusions YSHS can reduce urinary protein, protect renal function and alleviate glomerular pathological injury in DN mice. Its possible mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of YAP in renal tissue, the reduction of CTGF expression level and the up-regulation of podocyte protein mRNA expression.